Consult the Child Within to Find Gifts for Your Man

It's often said that under the skin of a grown man is an eight year-old boy – dressed in Superman pajamas, craving milk and cookies, building backyard tree forts, and obsessed with toys and video games. Every boy grows up, typically bringing those tastes along with him, and at no time during the year is that more evident than during the holiday season.

It can be difficult separating the men from the boys when shopping for your hubby, your best friend, or your co-worker. So to make the already hectic holiday shopping season easier, it helps to don your own set of Hulk Hogan underwear and really immerse yourself in that ageless, boyhood mindset.

Narrow your options down by honing in on this man's true desires. Here are some gift ideas, found locally and online, that are sure to bring back that eight-year-old grin in any grown man.

For the Handy Man

Nothing provides a man with more self-gratification than the opportunity to build or to fix. His hands have seen all kinds of labor – from building that first tree house, to tending to his father's lawn, to changing his first car's oil – and there's no reason for those hands to be ill-equipped to tackle the countless tasks that need tending to.

Look no further than Yorktown's own go-to store for all things fix-it, , located at 247 Mahopac Ave. off of Route 6 in Yorktown Heights. Owner Bob Ackerman and his family of tool-nuts can guide you through their 10,000 square foot store filled with masculine under-the-tree goodies and stocking-stuffers.

"The biggest selling tool… is called the MultiMaster at $299," said Ackerman, who quotes the oscillating tool as doing everything from sanding, to sawing, to stripping. "Every contractor or hobbyist that buys it is upset that they haven't had it for 10 or 20 years."

As the economy is changing, he said, people are focusing on less expensive gifts. This year the store is focusing on gifts below $100 and below $50.

"Very popular this year are our high quality flashlights, our Leatherman [multi-tools], and our DeWalt cordless drills for $90," he said. "We're a big boy's toy store."

For the Outdoorsman and Exercise Enthusiast

Since his days as the high school soccer team captain, this man has craved competition. While most of his friends may have opted for a life of couch potato lethargy, the competitor battles daily with himself, conquering his previous bests simply for the pleasure of knowing his body's strengths and ability. And in Yorktown, outdoor sports are a way of life.

Help the man on your list hit the rail trail in style at , a local shop overflowing with mountain bikes, road cycles, and everything necessary for the novice cyclist to the professional triathlon-er. And if you're not in the hunt for a $2,700 specialized road bike, the store also offers excellent prices on all-terrain bikes, BMX's, and even a "Gifts Under $100" section in the store and on their website.

"Some of our more popular gifts under $100 are some great cycling socks, wool-blend socks, cycling computers and lights which are all hot items this time of year," owner Tom Walsh said. "We sell a lot of gloves and shoe covers so people can extend their cycling through the colder weather."

A couple of other popular items include Garmin GPS products, wrist-worn products as well as bike-mount products.

"After a ride, you can download and view your heart rate, the route, the elevation, distance, speed and time, and more," Walsh said. 

For the Adventurer

For those more intrepid adventurists, you might also consider visiting Outdoor Bound Adventures, a New York City based website that caters to outdoor enthusiasts who crave the extreme. The site offers excellent rates on everything from day trips ("Beautiful six-mile hike in Minnewaska State Park with six spectacular views" for $59) to multi-day trips ("Survival in the White Mountains - Introduction to winter survival skills, including snowcave construction in the backcountry!" for $395) to more intense adventure trips ("Peru Trek: Hike to Machu Pichu" for $1,795).

Before he departs, stop in at The Rugged Boot and Shoe for a pair of boots he'll never take off his feet. This Mohegan Lake store offers some of the finest leather boots and shoes on the market. From Bostonian to Wolverine, this local favorite will fit his shoes with computer precision.

For the Imbiber

Nothing screams "Holidays!" like a frosty mug of beer. Yet something about snowfall, freezing temperatures, and the warm softness of the living room sofa or recliner rejects the very idea of a beer run. Who wants to trudge through snow and sleet to grab a beer for the big game?

This season, chip in with your siblings and head to Atlantic Appliance Co. in Yorktown for a one-of-a-kind Kegerator that will provide fresh, draft beer year-round. Dad, grandpa, or your husband will thank you kindly for this perfect addition to the Super Bowl party festivities.

"We sell Viking, Summit, and Marvel Kegerators," said Bill Hriskonich, a sales associate. "The prices vary from $1,000 to $2,500, and we have one-year, no-interest financing. [Kegerators] provide fresh keg beer, as opposed to canned beer, and the plus side is you save money buying a keg, and it's fresher."

The Atlantic Appliance Co. is located at 50 Triangle Ctr. in Yorktown Heights.

And if lugging a keg in through the front door isn't your idea of a "Merry Christmas," try a home beer brew kit that will count towards hours of alchemy in the kitchen and, hopefully, a tasty pint on a cold, winter's night. Homebrewers Outpost the online site for all things home brewing, offers starter kits ranging from $99.95 to $499.95.

Hoping to slim down your husband or dad's beer belly? How about upgrading his taste to a nice single malt Scotch? at 1873 Commerce St. in Yorktown Heights offers packages for those last-minute gifts.

"We've got a couple nice gift sets," said Lewis Stern, the store's manager. "Glenmorangie for $39.99 with two snifter glasses, and we also have a gift set of Glenlivet 12 year with two glasses as well at $49.99."

Last Minute Online-Finds

It goes without saying that most of us procrastinate our giving until the very last minute. In those rare cases, shop for the man on your list at some of the following websites:

www.ThinkGeek.com – This site offers a wide array of electronic gadgets, unique (and masculine) toys, and stuff you won't find anywhere else. Take a peek at the USB Drum Kit or Electronic Rock Guitar T-Shirt for the music lover. Or check out the countless bells and whistles that will please any man-child.

www.NFLShop.com – Look no further for customized jerseys of his favorite NFL team, complete with last name and favorite numbers, just in time for the playoffs. Check out the MLB and NBA sites, as well, for similar gifts.

www.Amazon.com – The obvious solution for all things last-minute. Still-hot items from last year include the second version of the Kindle, along with countless e-books, and virtually everything else under the sun.

Men, with all their brains and brawn, are simple creatures to please. Keep in mind that all men, young and old, will forever possess the quintessential joy that comes with being a boy at heart. Shop with that sentiment in mind, and you'll be sure to bring out the boy in the man this Christmas morning.