It's so easy to do. If you're going to spend the dough, just drop by your favorite street. Go to Old South Pearl Street or Tennyson Street or South Broadway. Check out the galleries -- many host small-works and affordable art shows this time of year. Or hit the road this weekend on Small Business Saturday, when the second annual Denver Independent Boutiques Small Business Saturday Boutique Crawl will put out the red carpet all over town and show you the way.
See also: - Cash Mobster - Purple Friday - Photos: Modest in Scale showcases small-scale art for the holidays - The real story behind "Black Friday" - Black Friday 2011: A soul-crushing compilation of humanity at its worst
In addition to offering trunk shows, extended hours and open houses all day Saturday, participating businesses will be handing out a Passport to Local Holiday Shopping, which entitles the bearer to special deals and a chance to win prizes, beginning November 24 and continuing through December 8. What are you waiting for?A roundup of what you'll find at DIBs businesses follows; for more information visit the DIBs Facebook event page or find DIBs online.
I Heart Denver, Denver Pavilions
Show your love for local businesses by posing in I Heart Denver's "I'm a Local Shopper" photo booth, while browsing the store's all-Colorado mix of one-of-a-kind goods from local crafters, designers, printers and artists. And while you're there, stop to kibbutz with the shop corgi, Denver Picard.
This cozy hole-in-the-wall on Tennyson Street sells a well-curated mix of vintage and new merchandise, from retro dinettes to handmade jewelry. And Jolly Goods will be giving its all on Saturday, with extended hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., welcoming coffee and muffins for earlybird shoppers, as well as numerous specials throughout the day. With your passport, you'll also get The first 100 DIBS Holiday Passport holders get $5 off a purchase of $35 or more and $20 off a purchase of $100 or more. There's more? Yes! ten percent of the day's proceeds will benefit a local dog rescue.
Denver's hipster paradise, coexisting alongside the Meadowlark, is throwing a trunk show, along with food, drinks and coffee from its on-site coffee bar and extended hours. You'll leave laden down with hand-screened tees, leather jewelry and other all-local merchandise.
Mona Lucero Design Boutique, LoHiThe sad news is that after this final holiday season, Mona Lucero will be shutting the doors on her her longtime LoHi boutique to pursue new options as a designer and artist. The good news is that the shop, celebrating its tenth anniversary, will be full of Lucero's softly sophisticated designs and accessories, not to mention her charming presence. Lucero, a Westword Mastermind, will be serving up refreshments and hosting a $25 gift-card giveaway, too.
Continue reading for more places to shop. Rakun, Art District on Santa FeMeghan Throckmorton's cute little shop in an old house is stuffed full of affordable clothes, jewelry and knitted caps, much of it from local crafters and designers. Throckmorton, one of the founders of DIBs, will offer refreshments, extended hours and classic holiday movies on Saturday; with your Passport, you'll also get free gift wrapping and, with a $10 purchase, an exclusive Rakun stocking-stuffer.
Along with gorgeous handknits and jewelry, cloth handbags and even handmade ties for men, Thread will lay out a spread of treats and drinks, host a make-and-take upcycled sweater craft and, with your passport, a ten percent discount.
Fabric Bliss, Art District on Santa Fe
This small-scale fabric and notions shop specializes in trendy, modern patterns, as well as sewing workshops and some hand-sewn merchandise. Fabric Bliss will offer passport bearers a 15 percent discount on fabrics and yarns.
Night & Day Vintage, Golden TriangleThe perfect little antique and vintage shop Night & Day Vintage is a tchotchke wonderland, located just west of Broadway in the Golden Triangle. While you're browsing, enjoy some wine and chocolate.
Susan Dillon's millinery outpost is way more than a hat factory -- it's an art studio of a sort, where Dillon crafts her magical headpieces from felt, cloth, feathers and embellishments, and no two are alike. On Small Business Saturday, enjoy cookies and cider and special discounts on both ready-to-wear and custom chapeaus at Kitty Mae. Free gift-wrap is also part of the package.And other shops on the tour include the following; visit them online for more information.
Fast Geek Boutique, Golden Triangle
Hazel and Dewey, South Broadway
Find information on hundreds of other arts and entertainment events in our online Calendar.
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