Shopping & Services

Little Horse got its start in Boulder but is now settled into three separate buildings in Louisville, where owners Mike Price and Adriane Hirsch reside. Each space has the feel of a collector's eclectic living room or attic, furnished with mid-century classics, vintage stereo equipment, antiques, curiosities and shelves of old books and vinyl records. Price and Hirsch, who also host vinyl nights at the nearby Por Wine House, have multiple enthusiasms to share with their customers. Drop by sometime and pull up a Bertoia chair.

We call it the Tumbleweed Tour. Visitors who want to experience Denver old and new in just half an hour should head to the 1600 block of Wazee Street. On one side of the street is Rockmount Ranch Wear (1627 Wazee St., 303-627-7777), the classic Western-wear company run by the Weil family since Jack A. Weil created the snap-button shirt in 1946. The turn-of-the-last-century warehouse building has been lovingly restored, and today holds a retail outlet full of boots, shirts and Western accessories; there's even a museum of classic Rockmount designs. If this shop is good enough for visiting rock musicians, it's definitely good enough for you. And from a historic look at how the West was worn, you can cross the street to see what's winning the West today: recreational marijuana. The LoDo Wellness Center (1617 Wazee St., 303-534-5020) looks like a Banana Republic store inside — except the stock is all pot-related, right down to the thoughtful bottles of Visine — and on the outside boasts a fading mural by artist William Matthews. After a visit to both spots, you'll be drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

Last year, Visit Denver closed up its old visitors' center on the 16th Street Mall while it outfitted a spanking-new Tourist Information Center just off the mall, one outfitted with B-cycle bikes hanging overhead, a big screen filled with images of Colorado, old-school brochures, and touch-screens to tell you about the latest attractions. But the real draw is the shop in back, which offers all-Colorado products, including T-shirts that are actually made in this state (thank you, Coloradical) and miniature versions of the Big Blue Bear. This is one-stop shopping — for both info and souvenirs.

A day at Four Mile Historic Park is sort of like a day of time-traveling — except there's no DeLorean required, and you don't have to leave this urban oasis smack in the middle of Glendale in order to be transported back to the 1800s. The park is open year-round, and visitors can explore Denver's oldest standing structure, a former stage stop, as well as other authentic cabins and barns, a covered wagon, a tepee and a chicken coop. There's also an orchard and gorgeous swale beyond a peaceful meadow, often the site of special festivals on the holidays.

History tours of Boulder and Denver, brewery tours all over, nighttime ghost tours: Banjo Billy delivers the goods with funk and flair. Patrons can pick their seats on the hicksterish bus (try the recliner, the couch or, uh, the saddle); they also get to vote on just how much they want to hear about various attractions along the route. The knowledgeable guides breeze through the ninety-minute tour with field-tested patter, and it's all over before anybody can quiz you on your expanded knowledge of local culture and trivia. 0x000A

Like an unofficial historian of local commercial lore, Tom Lundin offers a daily dose of Denver in pictures via The Denver Eye. Photographs of Googie-style signs, mid-century-modern motor hotels and Victorian-era theaters share space with vintage restaurant menus and now-defunct department-store advertisements as the page pieces together the Mile High City's past. Though the project started out as a full-fledged website, Lundin moved The Denver Eye to Facebook so that folks could pore over photos and share their own stories inspired by his massive collection of images from Denver's past century-plus.

facebook.com/thedenvereye

Hosted by Nebraska native and Colorado transplant Cory Helie, Welcome to Denver dishes up in-depth conversations centered on what makes this city so great. Like an unofficial guide to the Mile High City, Helie invites comedians, musicians, filmmakers, artists and writers to talk about their favorite spots to find live music, comedy, food, weed, beer, sports and more. The podcast's mix of Helie's neo-Coloradan view and the voices of tried-and-true native spirits creates a perfect blend of information and conversation about all things Denver.

Readers' choice: Whiskey and Cigarettes

Former KBPI DJ Eddie Barella and high-school buds Jason Newcomer and Chris Barr take to the airwaves every Monday night to interview newsmakers, local and national artists, and the occasional mother of a fangirl in this music-centric podcast. The weekly live Internet radio show is broadcast on Idobi Radio, the most-listened-to alternative-music stream in the world, according to Triton Digital's 2014 stats. Since the podcast debuted in 2011, the trio has interviewed dozens of bands and artists — including Mark Hoppus, Matt & Kim, Laura Jane Grace and Weezer — and its audience has grown to 50,000 listeners per episode. As a bonus, the hosts often make on-air prank calls; one time, they dialed an angry Jay Leno's home number. Catch this threesome broadcasting from assorted Denver bars and venues, or tune in to idobi.com at 6 p.m. Mondays to catch the show live.

This city is changing — and as it grows, the We Are North Denver blog wants to make sure the pre-boom history of north Denver isn't lost forever. Community leader, spoken-word artist and activist Bobby LeFebre, wife Claudia Hernandez-Ponce and friend Carlos Mireles keep their fingers on the pulse of their 'hood, reporting goings-on and creating an online space where all voices can be heard. We Are North Denver offers a rich mix of news, history and commentary from residents interested in retaining the city's spirit and culture in the face of exploding development.

Servicios de la Raza has come a long way since it began as a small group of individuals providing mental-health services for Denver's Chicano/Latino community more than four decades ago. Over the years, it has become a critical resource, offering substance-abuse programs, youth-education services, domestic-violence survivor support, food and health assistance, job training and more. As Denver has grown, Servicios has grown with it — and has continued to help the ever-expanding global-immigrant, low-income and Spanish-speaking populations feel at home in the Mile High City.

Thanks to the Internet, fangirls have ample content to consume. Sometimes, though, there's a downside to having too much information — especially when it's scattered. That's why University of Denver senior Raine Giorgio launched NerdNest (mynerdnest.com), the first-ever social-media sharing device and one-stop shop for fangirls (and fanboys, too). The free, gender-neutral site, released this winter, is the best place for fans to make their own nests — mini-blogs, essentially, where they can aggregate content in a safe environment.

Not since the halcyon days of coach Sonny Lubick have the CSU Rams been so much fun to watch. During an NCAA era when small-conference schools are supposedly irrelevant, the squad was impossible to ignore, thanks to signature performances like a hard-fought road win over Boston College. Major credit is owed to quarterback Garrett Grayson, who went from being a virtual unknown to a hot NFL prospect over the course of a few short months. But the team as a whole was the football equivalent of the Little Engine That Could, and even though its bowl defeat to Utah was disappointing, it couldn't ruin the gridiron memories that preceded it.

Readers' choice: University of Denver Pioneers Hockey

It's the rare spot that combines cheesy production values with celebrity star power and vintage-ad satire — but this commercial for local company Bailey's Moving & Storage pulls off that tricky trifecta. It begins with a man clearly overwhelmed by the task of packing up all his stuff. Fortunately, a trio of Bailey's experts arrives, with the one in the middle catching every item the customer hurls in his direction. And no wonder! Seconds later, he opens his shirt, Superman-style, to reveal that he's Chris Harris, Broncos cornerback! Then, as a capper, Harris nods to the '70s-vintage Mean Joe Greene Coke commercial in which the Pittsburgh Steeler tosses a jersey to a kid — except Harris gives the boy who calls out to him a Bailey's work shirt. Score!

There's a perception that any television personality can excel on the radio, but this rarely proves true: TV and radio call for distinctly different skill sets, and plenty of people who've made a good living reading what others have written flounder when required to speak for themselves. But Susie Wargin, who's best known at this point for her work at 9News, is a natural, for logical reasons: She's a radio veteran, having worked at both KTCL and KBPI (and doing sideline reporting for KOA) in addition to her on-camera sports anchoring and reporting. Now she's proving to be just as adept as an afternoon-show talker, interacting smoothly and wittily with co-host Dave Logan, whatever the subject. Her warm demeanor may not make drivers forget about being stuck in traffic, but thanks to Wargin, those jams seem a lot more tolerable.

Readers' choice: Slacker and Steve

Kyle Clark has a couple of things that many other TV anchors lack: a personality and a sense of humor. He boasts legitimate journalistic skills, too, as last year's encounter with a talking-point-fixated Representative Mike Coffman demonstrated, so he's not out of his depth when the subjects demand straightforward, serious delivery. But Clark also knows how to subtly comment on material with a simple shift of tone when doing so is appropriate, and he's comfortable tweaking the conventions of the form, most memorably during his manifesto about boring photos of snowy patios. Oh, yeah: His eyes are nice, too.

Readers' choice: Kyle Clark

Weather is important to TV viewers in Colorado, which is why stations dedicate so many of their resources and so much of their time to its coverage. But when the forecast is within the normal range, even the flashiest graphics can't disguise the dullness of many weather purveyors. That's when Lisa Hidalgo's skills shine through. She's not just funny, she's downright sassy, with a rare ability to keep viewers watching even when the conditions haven't changed for a week straight.

Readers' choice: Kathy Sabine, 9News

Unlike those stations that make their personalities conform to rigid hairstyle standards — to the degree that all of them look as if they're wearing identical helmets — Fox31 allows staffers to express themselves by way of their follicles, and sports reporter Raul Martinez takes full advantage. His coiffure is bracingly youthful, proudly peaking on top and frequently jutting out in different directions, hipster-style. The result is cool in a way that TV hair usually isn't — but we wish it were.

Readers' choice: Kyle Clark

For TV personalities insecure about their hair, we imagine it would be a terrible burden to work at the same station as Corey Rose, our 2014 Best Hair winner, and the possessor of enough of the stuff to keep Locks of Love fully stocked for years. But there's no backdown in weekend anchor Christine Nöel. Rather than compete with Rose in terms of sheer volume (a losing proposition if ever there was one), she counters with a sleek, modernistic mane that suggests a brunette flower just about to open. Don't rest on your laurels, Corey. It's on!

Readers' choice: Adele Arakawa

Since 2009, Eden Lane has been hoofing her heels all over Denver to cover the burgeoning performing-arts and media beats, using a scant crew to grab an interview with new talents and introduce them to the world via her weekly, self-produced In Focus show on Colorado Public Television (Channel 12 to those in Denver). Always professional, effervescent, creative and dressed to kill, Lane's recent openness on living life as a trans woman just might bring her to national eyes as a role model for how journalism should be done.

Sitting quietly on Broadway for nearly four decades, Studio Lites has long been the secret place to grab some "club wear," as the sign advertises on its storefront. But if you're one of Denver's elite drag performers, this store is your refuge from the standard department-store ladies' section: Here a size-12 men's foot can find its Cinderella-slipper match, and a chorus of goddess-like wigs calls you over to play. The expert staff at Studio Lites will gladly guide you through everything you need to transform into a true diva.

Larimer Street stretches from the Auraria campus to the River North area — and all along the way, you'll spot fashionistas scattered among the students, downtown businesspeople, edgy RiNo artists and tourists venturing off the 16th Street Mall. Historic Denver meets the contemporary city along Larimer, and the result is often a stylish mash-up. If you want to focus your fashionista people-watching efforts, you can't beat the 1400 block (Larimer Square), which boasts a mix of trendy restaurants and stores, many featuring local talent. Be sure to look your best if you're headed that way: You never know who you'll run into.

Over the years, Ironwood has settled comfortably onto its foundation, and it now glows with an aura of history that makes its museum-like collection of oddities, treasures and specimens from the natural world seem timeless. And like a museum or a library, Ironwood is also a place where you'll want to bide your time, turning objects over in your hands and leafing through the pages of fascinating and beautiful books. But unlike at a museum, you can buy the pieces so stunningly curated by owners Alyson Two Eagles and Jeff Childress. Drop by and fall in love with the ever-changing stock of butterfly wings, growing plants, antique objects, books and art.

Readers' choice: Fancy Tiger Crafts

Studio Colfax is at least half a family affair, dreamed up by the sister duo of Rebecca and Sarah Tischler, who, with the help of friends Sara Bruce and Marguerite Specht, opened the artisan boutique on Colfax Avenue last summer. And like the eclectic street itself, the shop is a mixed bag of mysteries and delights. Here you'll find original jewelry pieces and gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, hand-sewn silk panties right next to fancy letterpress stationery and comic art by Colfax-lover Karl Christian Krumpholz. In keeping with the rhythm of the avenue outside, prices are affordable and the vibe is relaxed; drop in next door at Cafe Max for an after-shopping cup of coffee or glass of wine.

Readers' choice: Tattered Cover Book Store

Samuel Schimek's Colorado-centric I Heart Denver, which began as a temporary project and grew into a thriving downtown business, keeps doing its magic on the second level of the Denver Pavilions, where it caters to tourists and locals alike. But in spite of its stock of Denver-stamped merchandise and T-shirts, it's far from just another cheap curio shop: I Heart Denver also serves as a local-artist incubator by selling one-of-a-kind handmade and small-run items created in Colorado, and rewarding its suppliers with high returns. And here's something to look forward to: Schimek hopes to open a second store later this year as part of Southwest Plaza Mall's big makeover in Littleton.

Readers' choice: Tattered Cover Book Store

These days, when you don't even need paper tickets or boarding passes to get on a plane, having a U.S. Post Office in an airport might seem like a quaint relic of the past. Quaint, until you realize that you forgot to sign that contract you must get in the mail before you head to Japan. Or that you're still carrying around your parents' anniversary card because you didn't have a stamp. That's when this post office will come in very, very handy. And then there are those edibles you forgot to hide in the dirty laundry in your luggage...although you know it's illegal to send marijuana through the mail, don't you?

Readers' choice: Tattered Cover Book Store

Charlotte Elich's well-honed retail formula for her 5 Green Boxes store on South Pearl Street — a lovely blend of repurposed furniture, whimsical housewares, fun and stylish clothing and accessories, and other serendipitous finds — is a perfect fit with the vibe at the renovated Union Station, though Elich has had to rein in her stock for the tiny LoDo space. Still, the shop is tourist-ready with its sophisticated brand of kitsch, and filled with things that are meant to be used and to last. Denver can always use more of the humor and eclecticism that Elich has in store for us.

Whatever part of their paychecks outdoor-loving Denverites still have left after paying for their lift tickets and filling up their Outbacks with gas usually ends up getting spent on Platte Street, where three of Denver's biggest outdoors stores are clustered next to each other. Located in the old Denver Tramway Company building, retail giant REI's flagship store (1416 Platte St., 303-756-3100) is a multi-story emporium of everything from sleeping bags to bikes to GPS units, with meeting rooms for classes on the upper level, a climbing wall, and an in-store Starbucks whose deck looks out over the Platte. Across the street, Wilderness Exchange United (2401 15th St., 303-964-0708) is one of Denver's best spots for new and used climbing gear, skis and apparel. And from its base in the bottom level of the Natural Grocers building, Confluence Kayaks (2373 15th St., 303-433-3676) sells boats and teaches paddling skills in an in-store pool and nearby Confluence Park.

The neighborhood businesses of Old South Pearl Street seem to have a way of handling growing pains while still making the shopping and dining hordes welcome. And that just might be the secret to the business corridor's ongoing success: By catering to the neighborhood's needs and wearing a world-class face, these merchants and restaurant owners not only host a summer farmers' market and other seasonal festivals and sidewalk sales, but they handle changes like pros. Case in point? This year, the district became the first shopping area in Denver to install bike corrals — one in front of Stella's Coffee Haus (1476 S. Pearl St.), and the other at Black Pearl Restaurant (1529 S. Pearl St.) — along the busy street, where parking is at a premium. Each one parks twelve bicycles within a space that's one car wide, allowing at least 24 bodies at a time to leave their cars at home.

Readers' choice: South Broadway

Thriving in the heart of Denver for over a quarter of a century, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center defies categorization — and attracts hordes of tourists as well as local shoppers ever year. Far more than just your average mall, Cherry Creek offers a high-end shopping experience through retail experts like Nordstrom, Hyde Park and Neiman Marcus, as well as more down-to-earth service at spots like Apple, Gap and Sephora — a combination no other commercial area in the state provides. The center also offers luxury seating for weary shoppers, fancy restrooms, two Starbucks locations and a bevy of food options at all price ranges, not to mention a playground for kids. And later this year, the best will get even better when Cherry Creek adds a four-story Restoration Hardware (complete with its own cafe), along with 38,000 more square feet of shopping space.

Readers' choice: Cherry Creek Shopping Center

Thriving in the heart of Denver for over a quarter of a century, the Cherry Creek Shopping Center defies categorization — and attracts hordes of tourists as well as local shoppers ever year. Far more than just your average mall, Cherry Creek offers a high-end shopping experience through retail experts like Nordstrom, Hyde Park and Neiman Marcus, as well as more down-to-earth service at spots like Apple, Gap and Sephora — a combination no other commercial area in the state provides. The center also offers luxury seating for weary shoppers, fancy restrooms, two Starbucks locations and a bevy of food options at all price ranges, not to mention a playground for kids. And later this year, the best will get even better when Cherry Creek adds a four-story Restoration Hardware (complete with its own cafe), along with 38,000 more square feet of shopping space.

Readers' choice: Cherry Creek Shopping Center

When it first opened, Aspen Grove featured the usual suspects, links in national chains lined up in an outdoorsy Colorado setting. But increasingly, Aspen Grove has become a cultural draw, too, with the addition of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, which pulls in people from across the metro area with its savvy programming. For the past few months, the center has also featured a pop-up art gallery featuring Plein Air 365 x5, artist Ted Garcia's series of paintings created after he vowed to paint a new piece every day for five years; that show's run has been extended several times. And soon Aspen Grove will be home to a suburban Tattered Cover, which is moving there from Highlands Ranch. Yes, there are still national outlets here...but now, while you're picking up a Pier One pillow, you can score a lovely, original landscape to go with it.

Readers' choice: Belmar

At his man-enclave in Jefferson Park, entrepreneur and corporate dropout Mark Snipe shows a keen and creative eye for menswear that's preppy without defending the status quo. Snipe (in case you're wondering, Sully is his dog) told us before his grand opening last year that his style inspirations are "Ralph Lauren, along with Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart," and that says it all: He laces the classics with surprising bursts of color and texture. And — cherry on top — he sources his tailored looks from all-American vendors, in a range of price points for every wallet.

This colorful addition to Platte Street is packed with premium goods, staples that every man needs to build a perfect wardrobe, including dark raw denim and crisp button-up shirts. Owners Daniel Armitage and Darin Combs oversee the fashion here, making sure every product they carry and every brand they represent is sleek, resilient and masculine. The shop offers more than fashion, though, with everything from candles and magazines to unique accessories rounding out the inventory. Armitage and Combs joined forces to open Armitage & McMillan last March, and business is booming. Men ready to ditch the lumbersexual look should start with a visit to this one-stop shop.

This flower of a boutique blossomed from a seed that Megan Timlin planted under the moniker Stritch last fall. Although the shop has since been rebranded as Whorl, the team behind it remains dedicated to making sure that stylish women in Denver have a place to pick up fashionable threads from local and national designers alike. Whorl is a mecca for all the things a conscious and chic girl needs: luxurious fashions hand-picked by people who live and breathe style. Whorl also stocks original works of art, candles and live hanging plants for those seeking quality home furnishings. Looking good, Denver.

Designer, community builder and Westword MasterMind Tricia Hoke teamed up with her tech-savvy entrepreneurial partner, Charlotte Genevier, to hatch a plan for putting Denver designers on the map without sucking up their limited cash flow. The result is the Cotery, both a service platform and a built-in marketplace that makes the business end of launching a line much simpler for an artist who is happiest creating designs. And it's incredibly easy: Designers are invited to submit limited-run lines of apparel that are crowdsourced for pre-sale to buyers. If there's enough interest in the line online, the prepaid garment orders will be manufactured and shipped. Too easy to be true? Not at all. Seeing is believing — and we're seeing the fashionable results all over town.

Prada? Kate Spade? Stella McCartney? Jimmy Choo? The once unaffordable comes much closer to matching what your pocketbook can cover at Ali's Closet, a friendly resale boutique with a twenty-year track record and a discerning eye for better-brand quality. The long-lived project of founders Casey and Carol Burnette, Ali's favors ritzy stock that's definitely on the high end, but you can shop like a lady here and get no snark. And that's priceless.

After spending 27 years on a storied block of East 13th Avenue, counterculture-apparel hub FashioNation made its way to 1594 South Broadway last year. Now bigger and better than ever, the shop has even more space for showing off its vinyl wearables, one-of-a-kind rockabilly party dresses and the largest selection of Dr. Martens in the state. Kids have their very own section of cool clothes and accessories here, too: FashioNation offshoot Babysitter's Nightmare is now a store within the store. Owners Pam and Paul Italiano take pride in being the local alternative-lifestyle shopper's dream closet as well as a magnet for world-renowned rock stars: the guys in Ministry, the Damned and Green Day all stop by for great clothes and excellent service whenever they're in town.

Every woman's running jacket offered by this Englewood-based online boutique is "sewn by the CEO," Sarah Vander Neut. And what jackets! SVN offers an astonishing array of patterns, colors and materials, all with attention to comfort and durability. Vander Neut has given considerable thought to what you might need during a hectic workout in just about any situation: thumb holes, a watch hole, reflective patches, hoods that adjust to accommodate a hat or ponytail, plus lots of pockets and spaces for hydration, your iPod and more. You go, girl.

Catering to steampunks, goth queens, Victorian-fetish-ball attendees and every fancy human in between, ArtsMyths is a specialty apparel shop unique to this city. Hats, corsets, crowns and masks for all occasions can be found year-round at the distinguished shop, along with an assortment of stockings, jewelry and accessories to make your costume pop — or just liven up your everyday apparel. The mother-daughter duo of Tiffany and Lynn Smyth run the magical fashion factory, where they also offer custom wearable pieces made from leather, feathers, fabric and every other material imaginable.

Children of the '80s, rejoice! Someone found that secret spot in your brain where all those favorite action figures, Atari games and other pop-culture rarities have been gathering dust and made it real. Walking into this quaint storefront — with the mantra "STAY GOLD PONY BOY" printed on the entrance — is akin to a Marty McFly-level time slip, where you can not only touch, but procure all those items that made your rad youth worth living...and that your mom was totally wrong to throw out.

1874 S. Broadway

Maybe it's a stretch to call Buffalo Exchange a thrift store, but it does recycle gently worn garb at more affordable prices. And what garb! Because Buffalo Exchange specializes in still-stylish clothing in tip-top condition, this spot is a destination for the hipsters of South Broadway, not to mention the rest of the city's budget-conscious trendsetters. If you're looking for bottom-of-the barrel deals, there's still a big ol' Goodwill waiting for you right down the road, but if you're looking to do fashion a favor on a dime, stay right where you are. In a throwaway world, Buffalo Exchange keeps the best and brightest sartorial pieces.

Readers' choice: Buffalo Exchange

Assemblage artist Paul Moschell creates boundary-breaking hats — whimsical, fantastical, found-object creations — that made their debut in a pop-up shop last spring. A new venture for Moschell, the hats can be worn as an out-of-this-world fashion statement, but they also work as sculptural artworks. Who doesn't need a pillbox chapeau covered with tiny plastic babies with a bird on top, or a red riding helmet bestudded with feathers, glass eyeballs and horse teeth? A tip of the hat to them.

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is an inquisitive child's (and adult's) dream hangout, and its gift shop just continues the exciting learning experience. Complementing the museum's regular exhibits on space exploration, dinosaurs, ancient Egypt and wild animals from all over the world, the shop offers books, interactive games, educational toys, apparel and accessories for all ages that are equally worldly. This is one spot where kids won't mind going shopping. But there's just one problem: With all the puzzles, sticky things, glowing devices and even costumes to try on, the store can be as as much fun as the exhibits, and it can be tough to peel the kids away.

Readers' choice: Denver Art Museum

Looking for a little something special for Mom, or maybe a birthday present for Dad? The Molly Brown House Museum stocks an assortment of great gift items, everything from Victorian-styled jewelry to history books to coffee cups celebrating women's suffrage — all guaranteed to float above the other flotsam and jetsam your parents will receive. You might even consider augmenting the gift with a couple of tickets to tour the house once occupied by Margaret Brown, a stone mansion saved more than forty years ago by the group that would become Historic Denver.

Laura Lambrecht named her Louisville boutique for Frida Kahlo, the iconic Mexican painter and cult heroine, who loved traditional garb like handcrafted embroidered huipils and woven rebozos made by village artisans schooled by their mothers and grandmothers. Lambrecht treasures the same colorful textiles and crafts, and so has filled her Bella Frida shop with handmade Mexican imports, including apparel, Talavera pottery, oilcloth and folk-art works of all kinds. Stopping in here is the next best thing to shopping at a Mexican street bazaar.

Bag designer Kerrin Pogozelski found her calling in a leatherwork class, but it took time and a few deep breaths before she felt ready to make her first handbag. Her novice creation sold even before she'd finished the last stitch, and Buxiejo Bags — a one-woman business based on old-world techniques — was born. Pogozelski works with a patchwork of beautiful and decorative leathers and fabrics to create bags with funky personality and style. Each one is unique, just like you. Shop for Buxiejo bags online or look for Pogozelski at local craft markets.

Inspired by the elaborate lamps she saw during her travels in Europe, and after completing an apprenticeship, Linda Grove revived the fine art of creating custom lampshades. That was almost three decades ago, and since then, Grove's Lili Marlene workshop has popped up in different locations around Denver. But now she's settled into a South Inca Street spot with a perfect neighbor: Table M Lamp Restoration, making this the place to go when you want to revive one of those beautiful old lamps from Grandma's attic. Go ahead: Light up your life!

lilmarlenelampshades.com

tablem.com

An impressive small business with an international presence, Rosy Rings sprang from humble roots when Shannon Cumberland began manufacturing hand-poured botanical candles with an old Crock-Pot, dented molds, essential oils and beeswax in her Denver kitchen. Today, Rosy Rings operates out of a 30,000-square-foot facility here, and Cumberland buys her wax by the ton; she's also expanded to potpourri, sachets, diffusers and home fragrance sprays. While a lot about candles has changed since the '90s, the laborious process hasn't. A single botanical candle takes two days to make, contains natural products like beeswax and soy wax, and requires glassware with 40 percent recycled content. That's one of the reasons you won't find Rosy Rings in Target anytime soon — but you can buy the handmade candles online or at 150 local retailers, including the Artisan Center, the Perfect Petal, and Artemisia and Rue.

Really, Peppermint never quite went away, in spite of its integration a few years ago into its sibling store, the male-oriented SoulHaus, in the splendid EZE Mop complex. But owner Stephanie Shearer, who also runs Pandora on the Hill over on 13th Avenue, brought the little-girly store back in 2014, after a little primping. Peppermint is once again a sweet spot for browsing through all the hip jewelry and trinkets, novelty gifts, clever accessories, toiletries and housewares that made people love the shop in the first place.

For many years, Ninfa Laughlin's Alchemist, a toiletry shop and perfumery with an old-world feel, held forth alongside the Artisan Center on Third Avenue in Cherry Creek North. It was a place where you could spend bundles on elegant European soaps and Kneipp herbal remedies and luscious botanical creams and pure scents — or just splurge on a lovely French tortoiseshell comb. Laughlin left the business several years ago when the rent got too high, and the subsequent owner failed to keep the store going. But now Laughlin, a customer-service-savvy shopkeep, is back in a new space not far from the old one — at just the perfect time to reintroduce Denver to Europe's best natural skin products and perfumes.

facebook.com/thealchemistdenver

Run by BFFs Lynn Till and Robin King, R.L. Linden got its start as a kitchen-based beauty business focused on providing friends and family with skin care made from only the good stuff. As the two partners began sharing their plant-based products with consumers, R.L. Linden's sales skyrocketed, so they opened a store in northwest Denver. But even though business is booming, the operation is still small and hands-on. The duo's facial cleansers, perfumes, teas and balms are all made with 100 percent natural ingredients, come in eco-conscious packaging, smell delicious and work wonders. This business is a beauty.

The vintage truck stops here: When Tara Dover couldn't cram one more beautiful item into her La Lovely Vintage Boutique on wheels, she grew her little rolling empire of commerce by adding a brick-and-mortar home, Vintage Cottage, to the trail she'd already blazed in her 1957 Shasta canned-ham trailer, Lucy. Located in a downtown Littleton home near Main Street, Vintage Cottage has a little more of everything, from handpicked vintage clothing to cute doodads and furniture, thanks to its increased — and stationary — square footage. Currently, the shop is on a twice-monthly market schedule and open Thursdays through Sundays on the first and third weekends of each month; call or check out facebook.com/vintagecottageco for store information or to find out where Lucy will be rolling next.

Your taste isn't West Elm or Crate & Barrel, nor does it lean exactly toward South Broadway's antique chic. Mid-mod is cool but hard to do right, and American Furniture Warehouse just doesn't turn your head. If you're looking for something funky and ethnic and eclectic, head to Stapleton's Rare Finds Warehouse, which offers a global perspective on furniture that's refreshing and down-home all at once. The selection includes architectural salvage and both new and antique pieces from around the world, some repurposed for contemporary use, making this just the place to find furniture that's anything but run-of-the-mill.

From the name alone, it would be easy to assume that Turn of the Century Antiques has the same type of inventory as so many other shops along Antique Row: vintage furniture and housewares. But assume that and you'd be wrong. Because when you step inside, you're just another face in the crowd: This store is packed with French, German and American dolls from the past hundred years, along with beautiful apparel to fit each tiny figure. A South Broadway mainstay for more than forty years, Turn of the Century is run by the mother/daughter team of Diane and Rachel Hoffman, who are happy to share a wealth of information about their stock. They also offer appraisal services and full-service, museum-quality restoration of dolls.

Ryan Kvande's kinetic sculptures make for attractive objects even when stationary. But start spinning these elaborately carved, mandala-like wooden wheels within wheels, and the soothing effect is, as Kvande puts it, "like getting lost staring at a campfire." Each piece is meticulously handmade, dyed rather than stained to highlight the grain, and mounted with instrument-grade stainless-steel bearings to keep the fire whirling as long as possible.

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A community abounds inside Level 7, where gamers can play, discuss and geek out safely and securely. So when a thief wandered into the store in early December and brazenly snatched an expensive video-game system, owner Elijah Taylor calmly gave warning and then used some simple self-defense moves to take down the punk and restrain him until police arrived. The moment was less a video-game-styled episode than a human response from the keeper of a safe home for fans.

Looking for an obscure, culty or important work of cinema on Blu-ray or DVD? The first stop on your shopping list should always be Twist & Shout, an independent home for music and movies whose shelves are stacked high and deep. Big-box stores have nothing on Twist & Shout when it comes to connecting you with the latest entries to the Criterion Collection or as thorough a catalogue as you desire for a certain genre. And if the store doesn't have what you want, the staff will order it for you. Drop by after taking in a movie at the nearby Sie FilmCenter to continue expanding your cinematic horizons.

If poster design is one of the final frontiers of art these days, then Jay Shaw is our Jean-Luc Picard, boldly taking posters where no posters have gone before. Inspired by the style of certain Polish artists who find subtle and clever ways to advertise a film and leave a haunting mark, Shaw has made waves with his work on Mondo (mondo-world.com) and has drawn the attention of the Criterion Collection (his Repo Man art is a professional best...so far), Drafthouse Films, major film studios and even first-time filmmakers (some guy named Ryan Gosling). Check out Shaw's work at kingdomofnonsense.com and you'll never look at poster art the same way again.

Joe Oliver, Joe McGrory, Matthew Therrien, Jeffrey Kristian Morris and Kelly Brown aren't household names — yet — but these creatives are ready to save the world with their imaginations and their pens. Thanks to their new collective, Laser Party, which is as strong as a Voltron cat, the young artists are spilling ink on great posters for films, events, comics and more, printing "fine-art collectibles" by rad people, for rad people. Get ready to party, folks.

Launching a bricks-and-mortar bookstore in the Age of Amazon requires an abiding faith in the idea that price isn't everything — that serious readers care about community, selection and ambience, too. Father-son team Kevin and Ben Gillies have crafted City Stacks around a collection of intelligent fiction and nonfiction, with an emphasis on urban living and design. They've also stocked their espresso bar with high-quality products from local suppliers, including Cake Crumbs scones, Corvus Coffee and some killer hot chocolate from Ritual Chocolate. With so much good stuff on their side, it's easy to read global, buy local.

Lois Harvey is captain of a beautifully chaotic ship at West Side Books, where piles of books and magazines stretch from floor to ceiling. Don't see what you're looking for? Harvey will look through her stacks of paper treasures for you — because chances are good she has a first or second edition somewhere in this modest literary haven. If the desired book is nowhere to be found, Harvey will happily order it for you and then kindly contact you the old-fashioned way — via telephone — once it arrives. Whether you're stopping in to pick up a specific title or just wandering in on a lazy Sunday to browse, both the inventory and the environment at West Side Books are worth a lengthy visit.

An impressive array of equipment and software awaits innovators of all ages on the fourth floor of the Denver Public Library's Central branch — as well as workshops to help you figure out how to use it all to make your own videos, games, music, crafts and more. You can Photoshop and sew, record and edit, even make use of a 3-D printer to turn designs into reality. The lab is open to different age groups at different times — and you don't even need a library card to participate.

Steve Fast is about to become a brewhouse-hold name. You can spot Fast's work not only in the Barrel Room at Denver Beer Co., but also in the tap room of the recently opened Ratio Beer Works. For both locations, Fast hand-carved most of the tables, chairs and other small wood items, such as the magnetic check-holders. His unique and original carvings are perfect for the city's burgeoning craft-brewery scene and the spirit of artistic collaboration engendered there. Also a creator of handmade clocks, children's furniture and cabinetry, Fast has talents that extend far beyond the brewhouse — but as long as people need places to sit while enjoying a lovingly crafted IPA, his skill and attention to detail will keep brewers knocking at his door.

It's becoming a do-it-yourself world — and that's not a bad thing. Especially not for stonemason Jonathan Fessler and educator/artist Delanie Holton-Fessler, a couple who are banking on DIY as a livelihood. Together they opened the Craftsman & Apprentice, a 700-square-foot workshop-for-hire in City Park West, where they offer workshops and camps for all ages; they also invite people to book their own craft parties here, taking advantage of the shop's well-stocked library of tools. There's a retail component to the space, too, where the owners showcase a select array of roughhewn, handmade work by local craftspeople. Craftsman & Apprentice is open by appointment, workshop or chance, and if they happen to be around, Fessler and Holton-Fessler love chatting with the curious.

Want to learn how to craft a quality skateboard or master every detail of preparing a gourmet meal? Soulcrafting is the brainchild of entrepreneur Bryan Muir, whose DIY switchboard aims to connect people hankering after new skills with those who can teach them. Through this one-stop marketplace, you can hook up online with bicycle builders, home-brewing geniuses, motorcycle mechanics, gardening professionals and just about any other expert you can think of; they set their own prices for specific experiences. Can't find what you're looking for on Soulcrafting's extensive web page? Muir also offers a concierge service that can help you track it down. From there, it's strictly DIY.

In one fell swoop, Blake Adams made the flea market more man-friendly — in a unisex, fun way — with the Denver Flea (denverflea.com), which pops up in different locations and collaborations to suit the season while mashing up its merchandise with free craft beers at the door (to all who RSVP in advance) and good eats to cure the mid-shopping munchies. This is no garage-sale flea market, either: Quality vintage items and handmade crafts by local artisans are what's on sale, and those snacks come from a fleet of the city's better food trucks. And the fun doesn't stop there: Along with its vendor booths, the Denver Flea has built-in activities for all ages. This is definitely a market catch.

In one fell swoop, Blake Adams made the flea market more man-friendly — in a unisex, fun way — with the Denver Flea, which pops up in different locations and collaborations to suit the season while mashing up its merchandise with free craft beers at the door (to all who RSVP in advance) and good eats to cure the mid-shopping munchies. This is no garage-sale flea market, either: Quality vintage items and handmade crafts by local artisans are what's on sale, and those snacks come from a fleet of the city's better food trucks. And the fun doesn't stop there: Along with its vendor booths, the Denver Flea has built-in activities for all ages. This is definitely a market catch.

Josh Sampson had a big idea: to create a portable eating experience on the level of the Brooklyn Flea food market he'd frequented before moving to Colorado. And TheBigWonderful — an outdoor, sustainable foodie marketplace with its own craft-beer garden and fun and games to entertain the whole family — more than lives up to its name. The market, with its locally sourced vendors, food trucks, live music and more, will return for another season of weekly Saturday outings on May 2, and Sampson has launched a couple of sister events: the Denargo Farm & Truck food-truck park and the Friday Night Bazaar, both at 3530 Brighton Boulevard. Will his wonders never cease?

While bigger, seasonal farmers' markets crop up from May through October to take advantage of Colorado's harvest, Denver Urban Homesteading is still the place to go for year-round local meats, dairy, baked goods and other farm-fresh products. It's open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday (unlike the weekly parking-lot markets), and since it's indoors, customers don't have to worry about sprinting for their cars with every thunderstorm that blows through. Choose from excellent cuts of beef and pork from Callicrate Beef, fresh produce from Wise Acre Farms, pasture-raised chicken and duck eggs, and honey from regional beekeepers. Visitors can also purchase cow and goat shares for raw milk and pick up their weekly allotments here. The market also offers classes on urban beekeeping, backyard chicken- and goat-raising, composting and small-plot gardening, and even brings in chicks and baby goats that are cute enough to inspire you to start your very own urban farm.

Readers' choice: Boulder County

"No Farms, No Food" is a bumpersticker cliche that happens to be true. The people who run the Boulder County Farmers' Market (and its Longmont sibling) know that farming's a hard and uncertain job and that farmers need customers and support. They also recognize that the fresher and more local the food, the more delicious it is. That's why the produce sold at these markets is locally grown, much of it in the county, though the fruit can come from as far away as the Western Slope. The beef, goat and chicken come from Colorado-raised animals, too. While you can get delicious baked treats and some packaged and prepared items at the Boulder County Farmers' Market, the primary focus is on food you'll take home and cook. And if you need to know how to prepare that artichoke, what to do with pork fat or how to grow your own garlic, the farmer's right there to tell you.

For a growing gardener, Sunflower Farm is Colorado's version of Disneyland. This non-commercial, 55-acre working farm began as an experiment in customizing a farm around the interests of children. Over the past twelve years, it's become a local treasure. Century-old shade trees are festooned with tire swings and a series of connecting treehouses; while their parents look at lovely views of alfalfa fields, kids can gaze at pigs, baby calves and roaming peacocks or play in the sandbox. There are also pony and tractor rides and a zipline for those seeking bigger thrills.

UCF gardens are more than community gardens: They infill neighborhood spaces with growing things instead of condos; they create a learning environment for children; and they provide fresh produce for Denver's food-desert neighborhoods as well as for social-service nonprofits like Warren Village. Currently, UCF runs four garden farmstands, where folks pay what they can for food grown with love by gardeners of all ages: Gabrielle's Garden, at 832 Kalamath Street; Celebration Community Urban Garden, at Iowa Avenue and Birch Street; Chaffee Park Community Urban Farm, east of Federal Boulevard on 52nd Avenue; and Columbian Elementary School, at West 40th Avenue and Federal. This is one concept we'd love to see keep going — and growing.

Although the metro area is blooming with good farmers' markets, few evoke the charm of a European market — the kind you'd find nestled along a brick lane, overflowing with perfect baguettes, heady cheeses, rare heirloom tomatoes and other gourmet fixings. Behold Le Jardin Secret, which entered the market last summer. Tucked away in Larimer Square's Bistro Vendôme courtyard, it has just the right vibe, right down to the mimosas you can drink as you browse (Vendôme's liquor license extends into the courtyard). Brought to life by chef Jorel Pierce (who was then at Euclid Hall and now oversees sibling Stoic & Genuine), this secret garden — which rolls out on Saturdays from June through August — yields goodies from such Denver foodie landmarks as the Truffle Cheese Shop, Western Daughters Butcher Shoppe, Sugarmill and more.

Aspiring foodies will adore Sticky Fingers Cooking, a mobile school that teaches children ages two and up gourmet scratch-cooking techniques, instructing them on the preparation of global concoctions (think dragon noodles and lemon-ricotta pancakes) using child-safe knives and organic produce. The organization's main offering is after-school cooking classes, which are taught weekly at 130 Colorado schools. But Sticky Fingers also cooks up delectable small-group summer and spring-break camps, which are open to the public and held at Stir Cooking School. Additionally, the Sticky Fingers staff offers in-home instruction — cleanup included — and parties at Stir, with prices starting at $150 for private groups of up to a dozen kiddos.

If you noticed a rise in manic behavior on the 16th Street Mall in the past year, the fault might lie with It'Sugar at the Denver Pavilions, Colorado's first link in a gargantuan national chain of candy stores that claim to do everything sweet and bad for you, bigger and badder than anyplace else. The proof is in the packaging: At It'Sugar, you can walk out of the store with a five-pound keg of gummy bears or the "world's largest box" of any of several popular candies, from SweeTarts to Nerds, or a one-pound Snickers bar. Sweet!

Imaginations run wild at this magical — and delectable! — gem bursting with confections, nostalgia and lots and lots of gnomes, most hiding among woodland creatures and offbeat fairy decor. All eighty varieties of chocolates and candies are handmade with quality ingredients in Gnome's Nook workshops in Littleton and Boulder, and the gnomes are locally manufactured, too. Big kids can rent the venue and its attached patio for charming, unique events catered by nearby restaurants.

Cousin Ebo, a four-year-old Weimaraner, is the perfect host at Djuna, greeting customers like a sleek, silvery maître d'; he's a particular hit with the ladies. His warm, quiet welcome fits in perfectly with the restrained elegance of Djuna's offerings, which run from fine art and linens to antiques and architectural salvage. The attentive (but far from pushy) employees are part of the charm of this place, and Cousin Ebo lets you know that he, too, appreciates your patronage — or even just your presence.

Colorado Animal Welfare League's Lisa Petri cares about the welfare of animals not just in Colorado, but also around the world. Petri accepts abandoned animals from across the country, and also frequently travels to other countries, like Grand Bahama, to spay and neuter stray dogs — in some cases, bringing them back to Colorado for adoption. With a growing network of foster homes, CAWL works to ensure that displaced dogs and cats are taken off the street and placed in safe and caring environments before finding forever homes. Becoming a foster parent can be the best way to make sure that owning a dog is right for you, and this organization is the best place to find a lifelong pal.

There's a sense of fun in Ken Carrick's Parker-based online doggie boutique, what with all the over-the-top pajamas, hound snoods, robes and bling available to accessorize your four-legged fashion plate with. But that's no reason to turn up your nose at the handcrafted blankets, bandannas, pillows, beds and more that the site has to offer, all designed with your pet's comfort in mind. Barking Bitches even has a couple of items that might appeal to cats — and as any cat lover knows, appeasing Kitty is no walk in the park.

Dogs love ice cream, but dairy doesn't always agree with dogs. Husband-and-wife team Matt and Meg Meyer have a solution that will appease the pooches behind those big puppy eyes berating their owners for not sharing a cool treat — and that solution is cool treats for dogs. The Bear & The Rat is named after the two four-legged members of the Meyer family, of course, and instead of ice cream, the business blends probiotic-rich frozen yogurt into flavors like peanut butter and banana, peanut butter and bacon, and pumpkin, packaged into pints or single-serving cups. Find it at many metro-area King Soopers locations, or at Whole Foods and natural pet stores. It's a tail-wagging delight!

National pet-food stores are in ruff territory these days, with a lot of high-profile problems, so Pam and Carl Holzapfel started their own pet-supply store in order to fill a particular niche: a place that carried only U.S.-made, healthy yet affordable pet foods and treats. They named their Aurora shop, Betty & Wilma's, after their two dogs, and they don't stop their service at just offering quality products; they believe education is the key for responsible pet owners who want to think outside the (big) box.

Denver International Airport went to the dogs (and cats) in December when the ultimate airport convenience — a luxury pet resort where you can drop off your pet on your way to check in for a flight — debuted at DIA's WorldPort facility. And luxurious it is: Amenities at the 24-hour pet hotel (sorry, dogs and cats only) include suites with flat-screen TVs (for Fido-friendly programming, of course!), play areas and a pool for dogs, and individual bungalows for kitties, complete with fish tanks and window ledges for keeping the felines frisky. Veterinary and massage services are also available. Now when you leave town, everyone gets a vacation!

Thirty years ago, the discovery of a roost of bald eagles on the grounds of this former weapons plant helped spur a massive cleanup, one that transformed one of the metro area's most polluted sites into a 15,000-acre refuge for wildlife — and the rest of us. The nine-mile, self-guided Wildlife Drive, open seven days a week, is the perfect way for the busy urbanite to get acquainted with the arsenal's grasslands, wetlands and woodlands while catching a glimpse of some of the 330 species of wildlife to be found here, including bison, raptors, deer and coyotes. Hiking, birding and a two-hour bus tour are also available, all ways to reconnect with nature without ever leaving the city of commerce.

Wildlife, like Reese Witherspoon, belongs in the wild — not in your basement or attic. AGD has a spectrum of non-lethal removal methods for snakes, skunks, squirrels, birds, bats and other varmints who have set up house without invitation. The company's reluctance to use poisonous chemicals is more humane not just for the unwelcome visitors, but for the human customers, too.

The name Bound by Design conjures up different meanings, like a sense of quality and integrity, or a passion for art. But the root of the name actually goes back to the community that helped start the tattoo-and-piercing business. "Modern piercing started with the S&M community," says owner Patrick Scarano. "Bound by Design was kind of a throwback to that." The shop has been open since 1991 and has changed owners since then — but the vibe of the shop, and its name, remain the same. "We kept the name after the previous owner passed away because it was so ingrained in the community," Scarano adds.

Readers' choice: Th'ink Tank

When it comes to tattoos, most would agree that quality beats out a bargain. Luckily for ink collectors, Marion Street offers both with an all-day tattoo marathon every Friday the 13th. The day features a flash sheet of fun, silly tattoos that changes every year, and each tat costs just $13. "We see it as a great way to give back to our regular clients and the neighborhood we tattoo in," says artist Nate Stephens. "We feel that everyone should have the opportunity to be tattooed in a clean, reputable shop." Marion Street started the marathons in 2013 and now sees at least 150 people go through its doors every Friday the 13th — and while other shops may have the same tradition, this one has made its mark with its original designs (pizza slices, dinosaurs, sombreros) and welcoming atmosphere.

One of the first community-style acupuncture spots to hit Denver, Pin & Tonic delivers affordable alternative medicine to locals with health issues ranging from stress, fatigue and back pain to fertility and digestive problems. After an initial $40 visit, treatments are $20 to $25 per session, which is about half what you'd pay at a private clinic. Patients also have access to affordable Chinese herbs individually mixed into teas or tinctures, plus a massage therapist and a reflexologist. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins can usually be accommodated during normal business hours, which are listed online.

Fluff Bar promises "a drink, a drink...a blast" — but not the kind of "fluff" that porn fans might be expecting. A blow-dry here is strictly a hair-raising experience, but it's not all dry: Fluff Bar also serves champagne and cocktails.

Readers' choice: Curl Up & Dye

When it comes to dab rigs, the sky's the limit: People spend thousands on technical glass pieces that filter cannabis residue and recalculate water ratios while delivering smoke to their lungs. Finding the best rig is tough — but finding the best accessory for your rig is simple: It's made right here in Colorado. Joel Halen's Honey Hole isn't just a domeless quartz nail piece, it's the domeless quartz nail piece. The quartz means cleaner hits and a longer life, and the cupped design is perfect for taking massive dabs without overloading the nail itself. Halen blows the Honey Hole for 10mm, 14mm and 18mm male and female pieces, as well as drop-ins for direct-inject bubblers. You can find it at many local dispensaries.

Cannabis-infused edibles are readily available in this state, of course, but if you have special dietary needs, it's not always easy to find something uplifting that won't wreck your digestive system. And anyone who's tried making edibles at home is well aware of what a pain in the neck it is to infuse your own oils or butters; between the Crock-Pots and cheesecloth, you're looking at hours of work and a big mess to clean up. So it's fair to call Brandon Shepherd, the local food scientist behind the Mota Pot, a bit of a hero. The Mota Pot drastically reduces the amount of time it takes to infuse the material of your choice, bringing it down to just minutes on the stovetop, and the no-mess straining method means you'll be ready to cook or bake that much sooner. Gluten-free vegan pot brownie, anyone?

If dispensaries are like restaurants, then Sour Diesel is the cheeseburger and fries of marijuana: Everyone grows it, but some people do it way better than others. It's a great barometer for a shop's quality, because if the store isn't doing Sour D right, it probably isn't getting much else correct, either. Thankfully, L'Eagle Services grows it proper. The buds are 100 percent organic-fed, slow-dried and cured for at least a month, giving L'Eagle's Sour D the full citrus/fuel smells and flavors you expect from this strain. The buds are a potent package that consistently put us into a euphoric, spacey mood after just two or three puffs. The shop offers both medical and recreational herb, meaning that anyone 21 and up can head in and walk out with a bag of this glowing-green ganja. And if it's available, we highly suggest the Sour Diesel bubble hash from L'Eagle, which is expertly made, dried and cured.

Readers' choice: Sweet Leaf

Wanna talk to Sampson? Too bad — but you can take Sir Smoke-a-Lot's advice: "When life is hard, pick up the card with the smiley face." We don't know how happy you'll be when you leave the Mr. Nice Guys dispensary (our pot critic has yet to review it), but just the name and joint-smoking smiley face on the sign are sure to give you a laugh as you wonder how funny Half Baked would be today if you watched it sober.

Readers' choice: Good Chemistry

If you think all vape pens are created equal, you've never been to Rocky Mountain E-Cigs. With more vape varieties than some dispensaries have marijuana strains, these two stores have the perfect vape pen for your type of usage — whether it's vaping small amounts of flower or huge globs of hash oil. The shops also carry all of the "mods" to help your current vape work better, from new atomizers and batteries to air-flow carbs and oversized oil tanks. And if you're one of those who use a vape for nicotine as well as for THC, the shops carry a wide range of flavored oils and e-juice refills. Still smoking herb? Get with the times and get a vape.

Readers' choice: E-Cig of Denver

There are dozens of head shops in Denver, all carrying roughly the same bongs, papers, pipes and one-hitters. But only one shop can lay claim to the most expensive and extensive glass collection in the state: Illuzion Glass Galleries. Even if you don't have the dough in your wallet to afford one, it's worth stopping in just to see the hand-blown, functional glass smokeware valued at $20,000 or more and made by some of the world's best glass artists, including Ryan "Buck" Harris. But not everything here is prohibitively pricey: The shop carries a wide range of affordable, colorful glass pieces that fit just about any budget, including pipes blown in-house by staff glass artists as well as visiting blowers. The shop also carries all of the papers and rolling accessories you could ever want, as well as pipe pouches and carrying cases to fit pipes of all shapes and sizes.

Readers' choice: Heads of State

Want to try a new strain? Something you've never heard of before? We do, too, which is why we were so pumped to find Holistic Life. This shop doesn't look like much on the outside, but don't be fooled into thinking it's another low-rent Lakewood dispensary — far from it. Holistic Life's selection of rare genetics and in-house crosses is second to none in metro Denver, and the grow quality is phenomenal. True Colorado Kong, actual Golden Goat, real-deal Girl Scout Cookies, Gorilla Glue, Bordello and Holistic Life-bred Ron Burgundy will blow your mind even before your first toke. Everyone on staff knows their stuff, too, and they'll be happy to nerd out with you about strain lineage, genetics, growing and anything else pot-related.

Though it's right on the edge of the metro area, Golden's Rocky Mountain Organic Medicine looks like a mountain cabin — the kind that quietly, discreetly pumps out the type of top-notch cannabis that Colorado is known for cultivating. While the selection isn't huge, the quality of such strains as pre-92 OG Kush, Purple Whitefire, Maple Kush and a killer White Fire OG (which was the best pot our marijuana critic smoked in 2014) make a visit highly worth your while. And we mean highly.

If edible cannabis is your thing, you're probably tired of the same old flavors, dried-out cookies and boring candies. We were, too, which led us to Pure's in-house edibles business, Colorado Cannabis Company, and its grandma-level baked goods and treats: fresh, sweet apple fritters, creamy-delicious white-chocolate macadamia-nut cookies, crackers — even gluten-free offerings like Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispies treats. Want to make your own? Stop by and snag a jar of in-house cannabis butter made with CO2-extracted hash oil.

The MMJ America name sounds misleadingly corporate for a shop carrying the quality of cannabis that it does. But what stands out even more than the fire-green pot on the shelves of these three stores is the array of its daily deals and patient perks. Like to roll up mild joints? Great. For each gram of pot you buy, MMJ America will match you a gram of shake for a penny. Buy more than five grams, and you get a gram of kief, a 50mg edible or two pre-rolled bud joints for a penny. Members also get cheap ounces (at $40 less than non-members), free birthday bags of pot and — best of all — a friend referral that nets you an eighth every time you send someone over to become a member.

Smoking tar-like, crumbly chunks of pressed hash is so last century. These days, if you can't see through the amber glass of the super-purged shatter oil you're putting in your high-end vaporizer pens or dabbing on your $400 oil rigs, then you're not truly enjoying your concentrates. In the cutthroat world of concentrates, there are plenty of critics — but they all seem to agree that Green Dot Labs makes the tippy-top of the line in Colorado. Not only does Green Dot produce for clients, but it also produces extremely flavorful and potent extracts from its own in-house grow operations with super-rare genetics like Gorilla Glue, Poison OG, Alien Grapevine, Tiger's Milk and San Diego Cat Piss; they're available at many local dispensaries.

If you live in Denver and have friends or family visiting, odds are they're curious about what a pot shop is really like — even if they don't smoke or want to purchase anything. Don't take these tourists to the drab, boring shop around the corner with a few jars in a glass case and a lone stoner behind the counter. Instead, blow their minds at the cannabis market that is the Green Solution. Customers follow a set flow through the store, starting at the pot-food deli area, which features baked goods much more diverse than the brownies that your mom's friends were eating in college. After that, it's hash and concentrates — and then you move on to the buds. Each strain is on display in all its glory behind glass, making it easy for even clueless newbies to note the color, shape and size differences between strains. Finally you move on to the paraphernalia and pot-themed sandals, frisbees, towels and more before checking out at a cashier station straight out of a Hollister store. You can be sure that your visitors will never look at pot the same way again.

Though she has put her Twirling Hippy Confections business to the side (for now), Jessica LeRoux hasn't stepped out of the cannabis arena. Always one to speak her mind (often with a string of well-placed curse words), LeRoux has become a fixture at the State Capitol and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment over the past year — live-blogging from committee meetings about the goings-on of politicians and state officials trying to force more regulations on medical marijuana patients and caregivers. With more meetings than ever to attend, LeRoux has blown through a car transmission just trying to keep up — but she's not giving up. Somehow, she still manages to keep the community informed through daily Facebook updates and e-mail chains. A friend of the late Ken Gorman, LeRoux lives up to the spirit of that famous Colorado pot activist.

Good Chemistry has always bucked the trends. It was among the first medical shops to offer all strains at $25 out the door for an eighth. Since that time, it's worked hard to keep its price-conscious customers happy while still delivering solid mid- to high-grade buds of Grape Ape, Lavender and an in-house gem of a strain, Ingrid. The same is true on its recreational side, which was among the first in the metro area to do away with $50 recreational eighths of pot, replacing them with far more reasonable $30 offerings. And ounces go out the door for $240, a refreshing change from dispensaries still trying to charge an arm and a leg for a nug.