Itinerary: Father’s Day

As if it isn’t difficult enough to find a gift for your father figure on his birthday or Christmas, along comes Father’s Day. Somehow the Mother’s Day standbys--flowers or chocolate--seem inappropriately unmanly. And how many ties and bottles of after-shave can one man use?

In fact, if Father’s Day seems like a bit of a troublesome afterthought, that’s because it is, somewhat. Mother’s Day got its start in 1907 and was recognized by a presidential proclamation in 1914. But Father’s Day was first suggested in Spokane, Wash., in 1910, though the White House didn’t take notice until 1966. It didn’t become an annual event until 1971.

So dear old dad got the short end of the stick for the better part of the 20th century. This weekend, here are some alternatives to ties and after-shave.

Today

Mothers and daughters seem to create most of the melodrama, but in Neil Simon’s play “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” the tension is between a screenwriter father and the 19-year-old daughter he hasn’t seen in 16 years. She’s hitchhiked across the country to see him--and to work in Hollywood.

The production at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (14900 La Mirada Blvd., $35. [562] 944-9801) is directed by Jules Aaron. Though Simon’s 1980 play has a contrived setup, according to Times reviewer Daryl H. Miller, actors Gregory Itzin and newcomer Amy Brewczynski bring a real poignancy to their roles.

“I Ought to Be in Pictures” plays tonight and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Friday

What’s as American as Mom and apple pie? Dad and baseball.

The Dodgers and the Angels engage in an interleague series this weekend, starting Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Edison Field (2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, $4-$55. [714] 634-2000).

Despite their power hitters, the Angels are getting hammered in the American League West by the unstoppable Seattle Mariners. The Dodgers have a winning season so far and are fighting to reach the top of the National League West. But none of that matters in terms of local pride.

The Dodgers and Angels also face off Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

Saturday

If the kids are too young to make the decisions on what to do with Dad, maybe a fishing lesson should be on the list.

The Southland’s many piers are good for throwing out a line, but for the very beginner, there’s a Family Fishing Derby (Polliwog Park, Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Redondo Avenue, Manhattan Beach. [310] 802-5419) from 9 a.m. to noon.

Just bring a pole, says coordinator Craig Blumenthal, and the city of Manhattan Beach will provide the worms. Polliwog Park has a pond where kids can catch catfish and maybe a crappie. The program is free, but afterward you have set the fish free, too.

Sunday

Fewer restaurants have embraced the Father’s Day brunch concept than Mother’s Day, but here’s some options: The Belvedere at the Peninsula Beverly Hills (9882 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills. $68. [310] 788-2306) has a champagne brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort (21100 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach. $34.95. [714] 960-7873) hosts its annual brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. And Cha Cha Cha Encino (17499 Ventura Blvd., Encino. $24. [818] 789-3600) serves a California-Caribbean buffet from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Then, honor the bonds of fatherhood at “The Kid,” Charlie Chaplin’s first feature. The 60-minute silent movie stars a young Jackie Coogan--he was about 6--as the streetwise kid raised by Chaplin’s tramp. But things get complicated when the child’s mother comes looking. It runs at 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Silent Movie Theatre (611 N. Fairfax Ave., L.A. $9, adults; $6, seniors and students. [323] 655-2520).