Father's Day Tiebreakers

THIS YEAR, LET DAD DEFY GRAVITY OR MAKE MUSIC WITH LASERS

OK we’re all aware of the classic Father’s Day gifts: power tools, shirts, golf balls and - heaven forbid - ties. Certainly, he’ll love the new duds that Mom picks out for him, but don’t you want to surprise him with something really different this year? Here are a couple of ideas.


For the Music Lover: We’re not all born with musical talent, but that doesn’t matter with the Beamz Music Performance System at the Sharper Image. It’s a laser-based invention that allows anyone to create music, regardless of talent or training. Use your hands to break the laser beams, which generate sounds from hundreds of different instruments. It has a rhythm track and covers 19 music genres. Definitely a unique gift. Beamz Music Performance System, $600, at the Sharper Image or www.sharperimage.com to watch a demo.For the Music Lover: We’re not all born with musical talent, but that doesn’t matter with the Beamz Music Performance System at the Sharper Image. It’s a laser-based invention that allows anyone to create music, regardless of talent or training. Use your hands to break the laser beams, which generate sounds from hundreds of different instruments. It has a rhythm track and covers 19 music genres. Definitely a unique gift. Beamz Music Performance System, $600, at the Sharper Image or www.sharperimage.com to watch a demo.

For the Adventurer: How about an out-of-this-world experience: A zero gravity flight. Steven Hawking did it. So did Martha Stewart. And Ron Howard and Tom Hanks used the same technology to film “Apollo-13.” Zero-G (Zero Gravity Corp.) has been around since 1993 and is the only company in the U.S. to offer FAA approved weightless flight service. It’s the same technology used by NASA to train astronauts, and they do it without going to space. Fliers undergo a brief training session before boarding G-Force One. The entire flight experience is about 90 minutes, during which fliers experience Martian gravity (1/3-gravity), lunar gravity (1/6-gravity) and zero gravity. Cost is about $4,000, unless you’re up for the Zero-G Platinum Experience, which is a personalized adventure with Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut and moonwalker. It includes, among other things, a weightless flight experience guided by Aldrin, dinner with him, photography and video of the event, a personalized flight suit and a Champagne re-gravitation party. The cost of this once-in-a-lifetime event is $8,900 a person. Zero gravity flights, $4,000-$8,900, www.gozerog.comFor the Adventurer: How about an out-of-this-world experience: A zero gravity flight. Steven Hawking did it. So did Martha Stewart. And Ron Howard and Tom Hanks used the same technology to film “Apollo-13.” Zero-G (Zero Gravity Corp.) has been around since 1993 and is the only company in the U.S. to offer FAA approved weightless flight service. It’s the same technology used by NASA to train astronauts, and they do it without going to space. Fliers undergo a brief training session before boarding G-Force One. The entire flight experience is about 90 minutes, during which fliers experience Martian gravity (1/3-gravity), lunar gravity (1/6-gravity) and zero gravity. Cost is about $4,000, unless you’re up for the Zero-G Platinum Experience, which is a personalized adventure with Dr. Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut and moonwalker. It includes, among other things, a weightless flight experience guided by Aldrin, dinner with him, photography and video of the event, a personalized flight suit and a Champagne re-gravitation party. The cost of this once-in-a-lifetime event is $8,900 a person. Zero gravity flights, $4,000-$8,900, www.gozerog.com