A few years back—OK, let’s call it 40—a father’s responsibilities were relegated to bread-winning, assembling toys and giving a good pep talk every now and then. Flash forward to 2014, when the average family man now changes diapers, sits on teddy bear tea parties, and hits the playground regularly. Today’s dads are stepping up their game.

To honor the man who does everything (we’ll forgive him for leaving the toilet seat up or forgetting to stock the diaper bag), we’ve compiled a list of great Father’s Day gift ideas. Whether you’re the daughter of a great dad, or the life partner of a magnificent man who’s helping you raise some rocking kids, you’ll find something here that’s worthy of the man (or men) in your life. And no, that doesn’t mean another tie, a bottle of cologne or soap-on-a-rope. Here are 10 unique and fun ways to show your love for those wacky, lovable and doting fathers on June 15. … //READ MORE

Not since the 1960s has the cocktail culture occupied such a prominent place in the home. Today, not only bar carts but entire rooms in the house are being devoted to the art of mixing drinks. Nowhere is this more apparent than at the current Decorator Showcase in San Francisco, where designer Reba Jones dedicates a small space to the “endless pursuit of blending.” Powerful elixirs, nostalgic cocktail recipes and vintage barware line the shelves of this sexy red room tucked into a corner of the spacious mansion. Also on display at Showcase, “Dad’s Honey Hole” is designer Sunny K. Merry’s tongue-in-cheek nod to the private bar of days gone by, “where a man could be himself without judgment.” Gentlemen’s magazines, wallpaper featuring pin-up-girl images, and a full bar nestled inside a steamer trunk make this a room Don Draper could kick back in. Now, only one question remains: Who’s gonna design a drinking hole for the ladies, complete with cosmos and couture? Sistas need a sanctuary, and we need it now!

During a recent dinner with several mom friends, the discussion turned to the stay-at-home vs. go-back-to-work debate. Now, this is a hot topic that many women start thinking about from the day that little plus sign appears on their pregnancy-test applicator. It’s a subject on which everyone—from mothers-in-law to politicians—seems to have a strong opinion, and those opinions can get pretty heated. When women begin judging one another, it can become downright nasty. I know a few stay-at-home moms who are righteous about their choice, as well as a couple of career-driven moms who view themselves as superior for remaining in the work force. Thank goodness, the majority of my friends fall somewhere in between, understanding that this is a decision every woman must make for herself, that there’s no one right answer and, most important, that children raised by both working moms and stay-at-home moms will most likely turn out absolutely fine.

Still, everyone has something to say on the topic. At this gathering of close friends, guards dropped and the women at the table got honest and emotional talking about the often-agonizing decision of whether to head back to a work and leave your baby in someone else’s care, or stay at home to enjoy your child but put the brakes on your career. One of the moms said she knew the moment she got engaged that she wanted to stay home to raise a family full time. (“My mom and grandma and great-grandma did it—I guess it’s in my DNA,” she said.) Another woman insisted she was destined to work until the day she died. “As much as I love my kids, I would be bored out of my fucking mind … //READ MORE

If you’re a lover of reality TV, you may have heard the clear, mesmerizing vocals and hauntingly beautiful lyrics of singer-songwriter Melissa Giges. Her music has been featured on shows like MTV’s Real World, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club and Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. And her heartfelt debut album, Evident, won her a loyal following that traveled way beyond the reality-show circuit.

Next month, Giges returns with her second album, Just When I Let Go, an introspective yet raw exploration of relationships. The album’s first single, “Audience,” is an empowering look back at an emotionally draining union (“You took anything I’d give/Then you’d offer the breath when I couldn’t breathe.”) that enables Giges to flaunt her … //READ MORE

When a heterosexual man meets a woman for the first time, chances are he will, consciously or subconsciously, judge her approachability, her attractiveness and her potential for a great romp in the sack. If he’s a more sensitive guy, he might also try to gauge whether she’d make a good wife or mother. But when a heterosexual woman meets another woman for the first time, she will judge her ability to be a good friend…and her potential as a post-retirement roommate in a split-level ranch house in Miami.

My closest pals don’t know that I’ve already designated which of them will be the Rose and Blanche to my Dorothy, God forbid I’m a widow when it comes time for me to trade my stilettos for orthopedic shoes. (As a neurotic, native New Yorker, I allow myself to play the “God Forbid…” game on occasion.) And I have several back-ups in mind, in case my top roomie picks are unavailable by then—that is, if they are still married, living in a nursing home, or otherwise, ahem, checked out. One of the chosen ladies, like the Rose character, has a heart of gold, a slightly airy temperament and, most important, an endless supply of wacky childhood stories. The other is a sophisticated city gal whom I can definitely imagine evolving into a fun-loving geriatric sexpot, persuading everyone in the house to … //READ MORE

Nidhi Chanani says she wants to make people smile. That’s why, three-and-a-half years ago, the Calcutta-born artist committed to churning out a drawing every single day and posting it to her website, Everyday Love. “I wanted to share those little moments in life that make people happy, that put a smile on their face.”

No one would dispute that her lively, colorful images are smile inducing. Sometimes romantic, often whimsical and always cheerful, they depict handsome young couples in love, strolling over bridges, snuggling in bed or wandering through moonlit city streets. They show mothers and daughters baking together or braiding one another’s hair; women alone, daydreaming over a cup of tea, playing acoustic guitar or riding a bicycle across a gorgeous landscape; and cuddly zoo animals frolicking against natural backdrops. Much of Chanani’s art is a love letter to her City by the Bay, with cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks featured prominently. But she also pays homage to her Indian heritage and dabbles in other romance-inspiring metropolises, including New York. … //READ MORE