Shopping & Services

We gave Curating the Cool an award for the Best Highbrow Junk and Eclectica in 2014 for good reason: The place is a veritable paradise for junkyard pack rats and all lovers of one-of-a-kind furniture and plain old stuff — really good stuff — with a constant turnover of new/old merchandise that keeps things fresh no matter how often you visit. But it just so happens that late last year, the purveyor of antiques and curiosities had a little extra space to fill. Grooves & Games took up the challenge, bringing in its own handpicked stock of vintage vinyl, retro video games and toys galore as a pop-culture counterpoint to Curating the Cool’s more decorative focus. Come in and play!

When seamstress Jil Cappuccio left Denver for her native California, taking the bulk of her line with her, Kirsten Coplans — her partner in the Broadway handmade boutique Sewn and the creative behind the charming Pearl repurposed clothing line — recognized that she was left with an empty spot in her day-to-day merchandising mix. Serendipity led Coplans to fill that space with help from the cozy, vintage-inspired Night & Day Vintage boutique, fresh from the Golden Triangle, which made the place cozy again. Both boast a Best of Denver track record from awards given in past years, and Albuquerque-based Little Red Thimble makes it a triumvirate with a mix of vintage accessories and one-of-a-kind baby items tucked into crannies on the shelves: Just two more reasons to love this down-to-earth meeting of the retail minds.

Piece by piece, Denver’s built environment is getting a makeover — but Save the Signs is working hard to make sure that the city’s commercial history is not lost in the changes. A few years ago, photojournalist Corky Scholl began sharing images of the vintage illuminated signs that once greeted travelers along Colfax Avenue on Facebook. These days, Scholl uses the social-media hub as a way to get the word out about endangered neon signs across the country. He’s also expanded his project to include photos, stories and videos about the architects and artists who contribute to Denver’s visual urban landscape. More than just a place to commune online and talk about the Mile High City’s good ol’ days, Save the Signs is also a nonprofit that raises money to restore classic signage. Scholl’s efforts have saved the wacky neon of Colfax icon Sid King’s Crazy Horse Bar and downtown jazz joint El Chapultepec’s glowing corner sign, among others.

facebook.com/savethesignsoncolfax

The Art brings a modern beat to Denver that fits right in with the spirit and architecture of the Museum District. Designed to blend in with Daniel Libeskind’s Hamilton wing of the Denver Art Museum and neighboring Museum Residences, it puts on a welcoming face for Broadway, where traffic used to pass by a blank parking-lot wall. But the best treasures are saved for those who get to walk in: A collection of artwork curated with a sharp eye by former DAM modern-art czarina Dianne Vanderlip adorns the interior, with works by artists both internationally known and locally revered. The beautifully envisioned and ultra-comfy rooms also sport art from the collections, and each floor has a theme specific to an artist. The fourth-floor, open-to-the-public restaurant is aptly named Fire; a huge firepit on the open-air terrace just outside the glass-walled eatery beckons those looking for an urban experience, with some of the best views of Broadway and beyond — not to mention creative and well-presented food. Want to really get to meet the cultural spirit of a town when you visit? The Art is a great place to start, for out-of-towners and curious locals alike.

If your vision of hostels comprises those bare-bones spots you backpacked to when you were traveling through Europe — when you were so broke you had to debate whether to pay extra for the luxury of a hot shower — Hostel Fish will come as a surprise. The upscale hostel, which opened last year in the renovated Airedale building, right above Ophelia’s, has everything a young business traveler (or a social older business traveler) could want: a great setting right at the edge of LoDo, tech-savvy services, and accommodations that range from solitary to communal. Get in the swim at Hostel Fish.

hostelfish.com

Most “lifelong learning” programs seem cobbled together, a way of occupying professors’ free time while providing a little extra “enrichment” to their institution. But the University of Denver’s popular and varied offerings range from art- and music-appreciation courses to writing workshops and cooking classes, culture-soaked trips abroad, lectures on current events and more. The instructors include some faculty but also quite a few professionals in various fields, immersed in the topics they’re presenting. Think of these sessions as booster shots for the mind and spirit, without the tedium and hefty tuition bills of full-time higher education.

The cops just shut down your DIY gallery opening because you were charging for beer. A website just lifted your image without permission. What’s an artist to do? Contact Colorado Attorneys for the Arts, a new program offered by the thirty-year-old Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, which recognized that the demise of Colorado Lawyers for the Arts left a major hole in services available for local artists. Through CAFTA, the CBCA will connect qualifying artists and creative organizations with volunteer attorneys who’ll help them through the legal thicket so that they can concentrate on what they do best: make art.

303-282-5135

cbca.org

Tap into your creative side with a craft class at Craftsman and Apprentice. Whether you’re interested in baking, wood carving, knot tying or hand lettering, this creative factory has you covered. Craftsman and Apprentice opened in late 2014, and its classes — offered for kids and adults in a very hands-on teaching style — quickly started selling out. It’s a great place to acquire a new skill or just have fun with friends. Either way, it’s never too late to learn.

craftsmanandapprentice.com

What better way to improve your capabilities as a nature photographer than to spend a little time outdoors with John Fielder, the state’s renowned chronicler of epic landscapes, hidden meadows and delicate wildflowers? Fielder’s workshops last from one to three days and involve classroom sessions and field shoots in places such as Telluride (nice for fall foliage) and the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness, with the aim of bringing the skills of “practiced beginners” or intermediate shutterbugs into sharper focus.

Reborn at a time when Denver had demolition on the brain, the 1400 block of Larimer Street was dubbed Larimer Square fifty years ago and soon after named the city’s first historic district. The turn-of-the-last-century buildings that were saved along this one-block strip of downtown have continued to survive all of Denver’s booms and busts, and today Larimer Square is a must-visit destination for tourists and Denver residents alike. With international stores such as John Fluevog, as well as hometown retailers like Cry Baby Ranch, Larimer Square offers an eclectic mix for the discriminating shopper. The food options are equally diverse, with The Market serving up coffee and pastries at an old-school sidewalk cafe while chef-driven restaurants like Rioja and Bistro Vendôme offer an elevated dining experience. In Denver, nothing compares to Larimer Square — where the Old West meets the modern world.

Opened last year on the West Colfax strip in Lakewood by the mother-daughter team of Rose Whitlock and Alisha Mullins, Lost Love is a salute to mid-century kitsch and simpler times, when most kids wanted to be cowboys and cowgirls, and circle skirts and Bakelite jewelry were in vogue. You’ll also find retro fashions here, from open-toed shoes and ’60s shifts to rockabilly duds and Mexican resort wear, as well as wacky lamps and collectible figurines. Your favorite anachronisms are alive and well at Lost Love.

9797 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood

303-862-4685

facebook.com/Lost-Love-697187857084317

One of Denver’s most vibrant shopping districts, Antique Row — from 1200 to 1800 South Broadway — is renowned for its collections of antiques stores; staples such as Black Tulip and Corky’s have been bringing collectors and estate-sale diggers to the area for decades. But there’s more than just vintage housewares and hard-to-find furniture along the seven-block stretch: Shoppers can also scout out the perfect painting at Brushstrokes Studio-Gallery, revel in handmade costumes and masks at Artsmyths and peruse the costume jewelry at Somewhere in Time; afterward, they can stop in at Black Crown Lounge for refreshment and hear live jazz at La Cour. Wander the blocks to find a world of surprises: On Antique Row, dozens of local merchants, businesses and restaurants are just waiting to be discovered.

antique-row.com

There’s a lot going on inside the quaint two-story carriage house that’s home to Weathervane Cafe. The initial draw of this coffee shop is a menu of great coffee, vast tea options and a rotating selection of small plates and local sweets coming out of the petite kitchen. But Weathervane’s self-described “retail pantry” is reason to stay for a little more to drink — and a lot of shopping. The uncluttered shelves of this pantry hold many delightful things: locally made jewelry, jams, pickles, honeys, tonics, housewares and even apparel. From healing bee pollens to decorative houseplants and distinctive pottery, this hip general store is a best-kept-secret one-stop shop for gifts, especially during the stressful holiday season.

A notoriously misunderstood player in Denver’s history, Colfax Avenue still works hard to showcase its role as the vibrant city thoroughfare it was intended to be. Fortunately, ColfaxAvenue.com is shining the spotlight on what Playboy magazine once called “the longest, wickedest street in America.” Founded and run by Anistacia and Johnny Barber, ColfaxAvenue.com regularly publishes photos, personal stories and news updates that prove that the 26-mile-long main street, though still wild, is definitely welcoming. Whether you’re looking for throwback images of the gone-but-not-forgotten Eddie Bohn’s Pig ‘N Whistle or Mammoth Skating Rink (now the Fillmore Auditorium) or a tribute to Pete Contos — owner of the Satire Lounge, Pete’s Kitchen, Pete’s Greek Town Cafe and many of the other Pete’s-named businesses in the city — ColfaxAvenue.com is worth repeat visits.

After more than three decades in Cherry Creek North, the Wizard’s Chest decided to leave its quaint castle for a bigger, better kingdom on 4th and Broadway. Going from 8,500 to 18,000 square feet, Denver’s beloved home base for Magic: The Gathering aficionados, puzzle masters and costume seekers creates a magical new world from the ground up. The store brought in artist and designer Lonnie Hanzon to craft the perfect facade for the new fortress of fun. Hanzon — who’s been involved with the Wizard’s Chest since its early-’80s beginnings — is the magician behind the store’s iconic and bold castle aesthetic, and the new spot is just as whimsical and inviting as the original. Plus — abracadabra! — there’s parking.

303-321-4304

wizardschest.com

Ever since Fifty Two 80’s opened its doors two years ago, filled to the brim with every bit of pop culture that defined that tubular decade, the store’s Denver Broncos memorabilia section has been front and center, no matter how the team has performed on any given Sunday. And while those classic pieces were a big draw during this winning Super Bowl season, there’s still plenty left. So if you want to show off your team-rooting roots with a T-shirt or tumbler bearing that classic D logo with the sneering horse (a true throwback to the Elway era), then make your way to this South Broadway site to stock up for next year. After all, it’s never too early — or too late — to be a fan.

1874 S. Broadway

720-363-9231

the80sareawesome.com

Curiosities abound within the walls of Ironwood, a shop specializing in decorative pieces for the home and human. Peek through the store’s looking glass of a front window to see its uncommon treasures sparkle. Among other things, you’ll find succulents and precious gems sharing shelf space with books and jewelry made from animal teeth. Inside, Ironwood wears its minimal square footage well, hosting art shows in which paintings and collages harmonize with the merchandise. Live music and small parties have been a part of the retail store’s life, too, adding to the cozy house-show vibe. This old soul of a store has settled so nicely into the South Broadway ‘hood over the past few years that you would swear it’s been a part of the city’s identity for decades.

Readers’ choice: Buffalo Exchange

The magic begins before you even set foot inside Spirit Ways, with fairies peering out from underneath beautiful crystals and glass art hanging from ribbons in the store window. As you enter, you’re greeted by the smell of incense and a staff of experts, ready with answers and information about all things metaphysical. For seasoned witches, wizards and spellcasters, Spirit Ways carries a great selection of healing herbs and crystals, essential oils, ceremonial apparel and more. Beginners just entering the magical realm can find tarot-reading instruction manuals, spell kits and lots of guidance from a rotating staff of in-store intuitives and spirit guides, available by appointment. For nearly twenty years, Spirit Ways has been enhancing Colfax with its enchanting inventory and spellbinding presence. Magic, indeed.

Readers’ choice: Twist & Shout

I Heart Denver expanded late last year with a second store at Southwest Plaza in Littleton, giving us even more of this retailer to love. But don’t miss the place where it all started, on the second level of the increasingly vibrant Denver Pavilions: More than 150 artists and designers from Denver and Colorado sell their products at I Heart Denver, and the array of items — from original artworks to hand-screened Colorado-centric tees — is amazing at both the downtown location and the new space. No matter what you walk away with — and it’s likely to be a big bag of goodies — you can feel good knowing that you’ve shown some local love.

Readers’ choice: Tattered Cover

Did you forget to pick up gifts for the folks you left behind? No problem. Head to the center of the C Concourse, where Out West stocks an amazing array of Western and Southwestern-themed products — some actually made in the region rather than in China. (The owner, Avila, is based in Albuquerque.) You’ll find Native American handcrafted pottery, hats, belts, toys, jewelry and T-shirts. And in case you’re headed off on a business trip and neglected to pack proper apparel, you can even pick up an outfit that won’t make you look too much like an extra in a Wild West show. There’s a second store in the main terminal, but browsing here is a great way to pass the time when you discover that your flight’s been delayed.

C Concourse

303-342-6446

avilaretail.com

Readers’ choice: Tattered Cover

Tennyson Street has seen its share of turnover, much of it caused by a morass of a construction project five years ago, which decimated many shops along the beleaguered drag. But like America after the recession, Tennyson is back in business, with a fresh mix of shops, galleries and eateries that seem to click — and appear to have staying power. Sip some wine and browse for books at BookBar, shop for pre-loved secondhand garb at Clotheshorse, spoil your pet at Mouthfuls, find a handmade treasure at Jolly Goods or spruce up your man at Spruce — and when you’re ready to take a load off, find a table at such popular restaurants as Parisi, El Chingon and Hops & Pie. Tennyson Street is back in the game.

tennysonst.com

tbbadenver.org

Readers’ choice: South Broadway

Just up the street from the home base of Animal Planet’s Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet is one of the city’s best-stocked boutiques for pampered pets. At Mouthfuls, one of the main attractions is the signature “bone bar” that allows Chumley (or Rufus or Bella) to sample and approve exotic treats — cheese-and-liver stars, dinner-mint bones, you name it — before their owners shovel heftier portions into bags for purchase. You can also order mix-and-match samplers from a virtual bone bar online. Your canine companion may be leading a dog’s life, but that doesn’t mean it has to be ruff.

Central Denver is lousy with new buildings — or would that be that most of the new buildings are lousy? Not all of them, fortunately. Around Union Station in the Platte Valley, there are several recently completed structures that have been well designed and constructed out of distinctive materials. Most of those are fairly nice, and one, the Triangle Building, is positively great, already a distinctive landmark in that part of town. Taking the very sculptural form of a sharp-edged wedge nearly completely clad in black glass, it looks as much like an art object as it does an office building, which is what it is. Developed by East West Partners, the building was designed by one of the city’s most artistically distinguished architectural firms, Anderson Mason Dale Architects. The firm has done a number of other exceptional projects not far from the Triangle Building, including the handsome pair of mid-rise pavilions bracketing Union Station and CU Denver’s Student Commons Building, a stone’s throw away on Speer Boulevard.

1550 Wewatta St.

Steffan Tubbs has made a career in Denver radio by doing the little things better than anyone else. Instead of keeping the focus on himself via outrageous statements or loony stunts, he’s a facilitator whose main goal is to make those around him shine, be they other members of the KOA team — including co-host April Zesbaugh — or the people he’s interviewing. He’s smart, efficient and well-prepared, sharing the news and information listeners need during morning-drive time so professionally that it’s easy to overlook his skills. But rest assured, he has them in abundance.

Readers’ choice: Slacker

The 9News morning show hasn’t just topped its time-slot ratings for decades; it’s dominated them in ways that are exceedingly rare for any local broadcast. And Gary Shapiro, who took over as host of the program in 1989 (six years after joining the station), is a big reason why. Cohorts have come and gone over the years, but Shapiro’s been a constant, shifting from serious breaking news to goofy hijinks with a casual effortlessness that can’t be taught. He may not be the brashest element of the program, but he’s the glue that holds it together.

Readers’ choice: Kyle Clark

In mid-2014, when former 9News staffer Eric Kahnert took over as anchor of the 10 p.m. 7News newscast following the retirement of Mike Landess, media observers anticipated big changes. But while Kahnert is more intense than was the smooth, sophisticated Landess, the program has stayed true to its goal of presenting as much news as possible, including the tougher stories that TV outlets tend to ignore these days. The return of old-school investigator Tony Kovaleski aids in this mission, as does a veteran cast that includes co-anchor Anne Trujillo, sports snarkster Lionel Bienvenu and weather forecaster Mike Nelson. It’s a broadcast that won’t waste your time. Instead, it makes the most of it.

Readers’ choice: 9News

Daybreak isn’t your average morning show. Co-anchor Tom Green is the least perky person on the planet — which is a very good thing in this context — and his wry sense of humor and off-kilter way of viewing the world carries over to the other members of the team: fellow anchor Kim Posey, forecaster Chris Tomer, reporter Heather Mills, traffic pro Vicky Evans, and, especially, entertainment expert Chris Parente, the hippest man on Denver TV. The program delivers the important news of the day, but without falling into predictability — a seemingly impossible trick that the Daybreak crew pulls off on a daily basis.

Given that most weather forecasters draw from the same data, delivery is key. And in this respect, Greg Dutra excels. Yes, he’s mighty easy on the eyes — something that can’t be said about most weather pros. But he also has a wicked wit — watch YouTube for the reference to adult diapers that broke him up during a broadcast on the Iowa station where he worked prior to his 2014 arrival in Denver — and a relaxed rapport with his cohorts. He’s worth tuning in for even when the weather isn’t doing anything special.

Readers’ choice: Kathy Sabine

Local TV hairstyles are typically so generic that we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that staffers are all wearing the same wig, trading it off during commercial breaks. So give Melissa Garcia points for going her own way. Her auburn locks are long and so straight that it sometimes seems as if she’s just climbed out of a pool. This is a high-maintenance coiffure that plenty of on-air journos would eschew for fear of looking weird during stand-up shots if the wind whipped up. But we’ve never seen Garcia appear anything other than totally put-together, no matter the circumstances. How does she do it? Only her hairdresser knows for sure.

Readers’ choice: Kathy Sabine

Chris Parente, the engine that fuels CW2’s Daybreak, last won our Best Hair prize in 2011 — and five years down the line, his coiffure is even more astonishing. Less-resilient follicles treated to what we can only imagine is a regular regimen of heavy-duty industrial styling products might have turned weird, kinky and unmanageable — or, worse yet, given up entirely. But Parente’s proudly idiosyncratic ‘do continues to stand tall season after season. It’s an inspiration (and a challenge) to dudes everywhere.

Readers’ choice: Kyle Clark

Inviting local successful women from an array of industries and disciplines to the stage to share their power moves is how Bad News Babes Club goes down. Business owners, butchers, artists and motorcycle-club leaders offer sold-out crowds insight into the work they do through bi-monthly conversations and Q&A sessions. The lecture series/party keeps it casual with drinks, snacks and a rotating selection of extracurriculars — such as chemical-free mani-pedis and on-the-spot tattooing — on deck. Serving to empower others through the experience and knowledge of fellow wise women, Bad News Babes Social Club is yet another great creation from Tran Wills. A longtime small-business owner herself, Wills has become a central influencer on Denver’s retail, art and fashion communities and has designed a brand-new way to take the bore out of networking.

facebook.com/badnewsbabessocialclub

Bigfoot, Yowie & Yeti might just be Denver’s wackiest boutique. As the name implies, it caters to a rare breed — the Bigfoot enthusiast — and, of course, it takes one to know one. Store owner Michael Johnson has a predilection for Abominable Snowman lore, and he helps lead Sasquatch hunts as a founder of Sasquatch Investigations of the Rockies, a group that — you guessed it — traipses about the Colorado high country in search of evidence that the mythical creatures are real and live right here in the Rockies (see evidence catalogued at sasquatchinvestigations.org). Whether or not you’re a true believer, a visit to Bigfoot, Yowie & Yeti should be made at least once in a lifetime, if only to stock up on yeti-centric T-shirts and hats, mugs, Sasquatch field guides, Bigfoot bandages and lunchboxes, and — this is a must — hairy Bigfoot slippers. It never hurts to have a great gag gift in the closet, and every item you buy helps fund further Bigfoot research.

2346 S. Colorado Blvd.

303-284-6322

bigfootyowieyeti.com

Casa Bonita’s not the only game left in the near-ghost town that was once the JCRS Shopping Center — now renamed the Lamar Station Plaza by the strip mall’s new owners. Businesses are moving in quickly, including the Gallery of Everything, a longtime Lakewood consignment gallery and gift shop that also shelters a couple of other businesses under its wing in its new location: Kristen and Bob Autobee’s highly selective Red Herring Art Supply, which focuses on hard-to-find items, and Sandy Nyland’s Wings Aloft, an outlet for her clever handmade bird shelters. In the spirit of the 40 West Arts District — of which this aggregate is a member — the venue is by, for and all about artists and art-making (and providing housing for our feathered friends).

6719 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood

303-232-0086/720-427-5339

gallery-of-everything.com

redherringart.com

By early last year, Brad Evans was fed up with the ugly structures sprouting up all over Denver. And soon the founder of the Denver Cruisers was on a roll with Denver FUGLY, the Facebook page he started to document some of the aesthetic disasters in this fast-growing town. “There’s all this shit going up,” he told us at the time. “Stucco boxes that have no use for being built. People are being lazy.” But not Evans, who regularly posts not just his most recent fugly discoveries, but attractive options around the world. And the group’s members weigh in regularly, making Denver Fugly a place that’s really building for a better future.

facebook.com/groups/DENVERFUGLY

For more than twenty years, Jeff Lee and Ann Martin, two longtime Tattered Cover employees, used their paychecks to subsidize a dream: the Rocky Mountain Land Library. Today their dream is close to reality: Thanks to a planning grant from the Borgen Family Foundation, the historic Buffalo Peaks Ranch by the ghost town of Garo in Park County will soon boast a residential library as well as a repository for more than 32,000 books on natural history and the West. In the meantime, the couple hosts occasional pop-ups in metro Denver. Book ’em!

Buffalo Peaks Ranch

Park County

landlibrary.wordpress.com

Libraries truly are for everyone. Ever responsive to its unique clientele, which includes homeless patrons seeking to plug into public computers, the Denver Central Library added social worker Elissa Hardy to its staff last spring to help match people on the street — or those who just have problems they can’t afford to treat — with housing opportunities, counseling and services. “Sometimes our customers don’t even know they need help, and that’s where I come in — to assist them in ways that make them feel comfortable and supported,” says Hardy, who is one of the first social workers in the nation to be employed by a public library. In a town where the homeless are constantly being shuffled around with no real place to go, this is a small step toward recognizing that the daily human tragedy taking place on our streets won’t go away simply by ignoring it. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of a national trend in public service.

Not wild about bossy book groups? Do you distrust those computer-generated “recommended for you” lists spewed out by Amazon and Netflix? Simply by filling out a brief request form online, detailing your favorite (and least-favorite) subjects, authors and titles, you can get a customized reading list from the Denver Public Library that’s actually been prepared by a living, breathing, fellow book lover. No more bum leads, no more lame suggestions that if you liked Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essays, you should check out Where’s Waldo?. This list’s for you.

Tucked in the back of Black Eye Coffee in its airy LoHi location is a pop-up enterprise that’s just the right fit for the area’s bohemian vibe: a once-refrigerated 1930s display case that now houses a chill selection of independent and imported magazines, from Delayed Gratification to Kinfolk to Life & Thyme. Walled In’s selection, which includes paeans to design, niche markets and unconventional journalism, doesn’t try to compete with the huge inventory of the big-box chain stores, but rather provides an eclectic and welcome alternative to the prefab — just like the coffee shop itself.

3408 Navajo St.

walledinmagazines.com

Those of us who still love to read books (the kind with pages made of paper) pay a high price to do so — which is why waiting for tomes to be discounted makes so much sense. Problem is, the titles that wind up in the budget sections at most book shops tend to be former mass-market bestsellers you passed up the first time around — for a reason. In contrast, Boulder Book Store boasts a huge, and hugely unpredictable, variety of markdowns, including literary fiction by cult authors whose work most retailers don’t bother to stock. The opportunity to see it all in one place, as opposed to searching for individual items online, makes it much simpler to discover your next favorite book for a price you can afford.

Think of Local Editions as a public service to Colorado authors: The store deals only in books published by locals in all genres, though you’ll be surprised at how much variety the marketing model generates. Owner Ron Vejrostek, who is in the tax and finance business and has written a book on the subject himself, calls the shop a “mini book store,” as it deals with only about 100 titles at any given time, but his tender loving care is evident in the nook, which is small enough to display all books facing out. And because Vejrostek strives to provide patrons with the most pleasant of book-browsing experiences, there’s also a coffee bar, with hot java available for a mere buck.

Heaven for a bookworm? Holing up in a private room above a bookstore sounds like just the thing, and that’s a real possibility that exists right here in Denver, on Tennyson Street. Already responsible for crafting an inviting venue where you can sip wine or nosh on tea sandwiches while you browse the shelves for something to read, BookBar owner Nicole Sullivan converted an upstairs apartment into an Airbnb destination and called it BookBed. It’s the perfect getaway for vacationers who like privacy and the ambience of an urban neighborhood — and if they happen to be bookish, new reading material is just a staircase away, along with the strollable shops and friendly eateries of the Berkeley Shopping District. Book it, Denver!

Although you can occasionally find rare local records at record stores around town, they’re usually sitting unappreciated on a shelf or in a bin. A better choice is to head straight to Wax Trax, which has the best selection of local music — past and present — at a reasonable price. The 45s section of the vinyl store includes choice artifacts from Denver’s past, including ’90s indie pop, ’80s and ’90s hardcore and weirdo releases unique to this city. Also, in the Just In bin at the entrance, you can sometimes find old Ministry twelve-inches, way-out-of-print Fluid vinyl and early Pinhead Circus records.

Although Illuzion considers itself more of an art gallery than a head shop, the last time we checked, you could still smoke out of the $5,000 pieces of glass inside. Featuring the work of local and nationally recognized glass-blowers, who incorporate everything from nature to pop-culture icons to alien life into their art, Illuzion’s gallery may inspire more browsing than buying. But there are still hundreds of less expensive, more traditional options for sale here.

Readers’ choice: Purple Haze

Lovebirds and co-owners Becca Miller and Taylor Romero opened their one-stop shop last summer as a way to simplify the shopping experience for men. The Tennyson Street menswear boutique and style consultancy has good taste — and an in-store barbershop — already built into the concept. Much more than a standard retail space, Spruce offers haircuts, grooming, styling help, modern apparel and upscale leather accessories like shoes and bags, all with a lumbersexual edge. Guys are invited to make an appointment for services and fill out a style profile. Welcome to the grown-up world of manshopping.

Its comes as little surprise that Denver’s best beard trim is in RiNo, where anyone without cuffed-up jeans and well-manicured facial hair is liable to be looked at funny — but maybe the furry neighborhood just needed a woman’s touch. Whether you get Ali, Bridget, Katie or Niki at the Usual, you’re going to walk away looking flyer than ever, with a fresh cut above (no matter the hairline) and a precisely trimmed coat of manliness that’s sure to make the females fawn. Afterward, head next door to Our Mutual Friend Brewing on 28th and Larimer for a pint and check out your hipster approval rating.

2828 Larimer St.

303-297-1672

theusualbarbershop.com

You don’t have to be a burner (a Burning Man enthusiast) or even have plans to visit the windblown playa at Black Rock City, Nevada, to walk in the door at Burners Boutique — but if you are, you’ll never again have to wonder how to outdo yourself at next year’s high-desert DIY arts-and-culture fest. Run by burners with a flair for out-there costuming, the store is a year-round go-to for everything from tutus and tights to vintage garb and desert-strength goggles, perfect for intergalactic land travel and/or Halloween, whichever appeals most. Looking for something better than a sheet with two holes for a costume this October — or anytime? Visit Burners Boutique, a costume shop like no other — because, really, what is life but a never-ending masquerade?

127 Kalamath St.

720-588-2876

burnersboutique.com

It’s been a rough year for the East High School Angels, what with a police officer getting injured during a protest march and a brief lockdown situation over a gun scare. But the staff of the Spotlight has handled those stories and others with surprising maturity and insight. With the encouragement of advisor/teacher Mark Ajluni, the paper has tackled racial identity and diversity, checked out a nearby methadone clinic, and celebrated local artists and overachievers — all while still finding time for the usual silly stuff about high-school romances and senioritis. Journalism is one trade where you learn by doing, so the students at East are learning plenty.

facebook.com/EastHighSpotlight

It could be argued that Denver’s vegan community is centered around Nooch Vegan Market. The shop, now located in Baker after moving from its Larimer Street address two years ago, offers a wide range of products that are 100 percent vegan and cruelty-free — a claim that, currently, no other shop in Denver can make. Nooch is not only a place for longtime vegans to stock up on specialty items like the Follow Your Heart’s Vegan Egg; it’s also a place where new vegans, or those thinking about making the leap, can go to ask questions of the knowledgeable and helpful all-vegan staff. Nooch also throws community-engagement events like its annual Vegan Prom, with proceeds going to benefit Peaceful Prairie Animal Sanctuary. When it comes to strictly vegan businesses, Denver has some catching up to do when compared with cities like Portland and San Francisco, but thanks to Nooch, vegan awareness and education will continue to grow in the Mile High.

As the little sister of the long-lived and perfectly run Horseshoe Market in Berkeley (winner of numerous past Best of Denver awards), the Jefferson Park Farm & Flea is still growing into itself after its first full season of mixing up the best in open-air local-produce shopping among a curated selection of craft and flea vendors. But there’s no doubt that market founder Amy Yetman’s concept is a good one, from its placement on the street in a changing neighborhood looking for an identity to its emphasis on keeping the world small by supporting local businesses and encouraging people to pitch in and help one another. When the market opens again in May, urban farmers will be invited to bring donations of excess produce for area food pantries. In return, contributors will be awarded with discount coupons good at market vendor booths — and that’s just one example of how Yetman is making the world a better place through conscientious marketing. This year’s JP Farm & Flea will run monthly on second Saturdays from May through October.

When the Horseshoe first hit the Berkeley neighborhood in 2010, it was the hottest thing in flea markets: The seasonal market’s wondrous mix of food, antiques, clothing and finely crafted wares struck a new note with shoppers and earned our Best of Denver award for three years running. Well, guess what? This year’s market is bigger and better than ever. Horseshoe founder Amy Yetman says it all: “The Horseshoe still keeps growing in terms of fans, vendors and customers. And the Horseshoe is still the Horseshoe: nothing too fancy, and welcoming for all — a wonderful community event where folks can shop for interesting lucky finds both vintage and handmade, eat awesome local food, and generally have a great time.” Amen.

Readers’ choice: Denver Flea

Unlike many of the markets that have sprouted up across the metro area, the Boulder Farmers’ Market is true to its name, a place designed so that local farmers can sell their goods and customers can meet the people who produce their food. You can stop by a stall and ask the farmer why your tomatoes at home are dying or how he’d prepare his chard. You can discover new and interesting vegetables you’d never find in the store, buy amazing plants for your own garden, and learn just how that goat was raised. The market also boasts baked goods, coffee, honey, jams, breads, soaps and flowers, as well as a spot where you can sit and enjoy your treats — or just watch the passing parade. And the Boulder Farmers’ Market continues to grow, with a popular offshoot in Longmont and, this summer, a market down at Denver’s Union Station on Saturdays.

Readers’ choice: South Pearl Street Farmers’ Market

The most devout of farmers’-market devotees go into shock sometime around January every year, just when the snow seems the deepest and the likelihood of ever getting to browse fresh produce the old-fashioned way again feels irrevocably doomed. Four Seasons can’t guarantee locally grown heirloom tomatoes or Western Slope peaches in the dead of winter, but it doesn’t throw in the towel when the main harvest season has ended: Even in January, you can find Colorado-grown potatoes and onions in the bins, along with small-batch cheeses, raw milk, jams, baked goods and other handcrafted foods, as well as handmade artisan goods. With spring in the air, expect to find bedding plants and early vegetables in-store, and in the summertime, more vendors will spring up under tents outdoors to accommodate the full bounty of the prime growing season. Grab your shopping bag: Four Seasons is a year-round proposition.

7043 W. 38th Ave., Wheat Ridge

720-560-4468

fourseasonsfam.com

Kind Love’s reputation for stellar genetics has been well known since 2010, but until last year, only medical patients were able to experience the frosty, terpene-filled buds that are standard at the Glendale dispensary. Luckily for recreational tokers, Kind Love recently opened its doors to the 21-and-up crowd, and most of us haven’t looked back. The pot shop’s cuts of Alien Rock Candy, Brodello and White Fire OG made our strain reviewer’s list of the 10 Best Strains of 2015 — and two of those were bought at different dispensaries and later discovered to be Kind Love wholesale flower. Aroma, potency and taste are all thoroughly covered in any one of the thirty-plus strains in the shop’s library, leaving you with one helluva decision at the bud bar.

Life is too short to drive from place to place all day just to get 1,001 things done — and to try to add a little enrichment and social consciousness to your schedule, to boot. Save some gas and head to Sol Shine, where you can shop for trendy, eco-friendly, fair-trade garb made in the USA, then practice your poses and asanas in the in-store yoga studio, all without leaving the building. Daily classes are only $15 a shot, with packages available. Need to relax after perfecting your upward-facing dog? Sol Shine is also a gallery, serving up cocktails and local art monthly at third-Saturday receptions.

Some juices taste great, while others are like licking a piece of bubblegum off the floor. How to know which ones you like? A stop by Mistery Vapor Bar can fix that: The laid-back, fourteen-seat vapor bar here gives customers the opportunity to taste-test anything from the huge selection — about forty right now, with more on the way all the time — and chat with like-minded vapers, as well as the friendly and knowledgeable staff, which is particularly devoted to helping beginners get their vape on. The selection of mods (clone and authentic) means finding just the right experience, and Mistery sells batteries, atomizers and oil tanks for pretty much every brand out there. Also, each day brings a different special — for instance, Tuesdays mean 20 percent off tanks, while Fridays bring $9.99 15ml bottles — and if you’re looking for more interaction, the store sponsors vape nights at local bars and clubs (check the online calendar for more info). Can’t make it to the shop? The online version of the store features all of their juices, as well as free shipping.

1355 Santa Fe Dr.

303-825-1120

misterystores.com

Readers’ choice: RiNo Vapes

Our publication is no stranger to L’Eagle: The dispensary has won numerous awards in our yearly top-ten lists and Best of Denver editions for its talent in the grow room. But the shop also claims one of the finest budtenders in town: Courtney Clark. A pot encyclopedia packaged in a bubbly, pint-sized sweetheart of a woman, Clark can talk shop with master growers or make nervous first-timers feel comfortable about strains and pot products they’ve never tried before. “I know quite a bit about cannabis, but I still ask Courtney what I should take home with me,” says L’Eagle co-owner Amy Andrle. Clark’s knowledge and love for her shop’s products is hard to put a lid on as she describes Strawberry Cough or indica baklava bites, leaving you smarter — and smiling — on your way out.

Social media can be a tricky form of communication for folks in the public eye. As a newscaster, 9News’s Kyle Clark takes a brave step into the modern world of communication and dares to engage with friends and foes alike on his various Internet channels. His Twitter account is on fire, challenging viewers to talk politics, sports, beer and crime stories with him throughout the day. Through social media, Clark answers questions, collects anecdotal data and shares behind-the-scenes photos from his life at the news desk. His atypical news-delivery style has been a topic on Reddit, and he’s made national news for his humorous rant about viewers sending him snow-covered patio photos during winter storms. Whatever newsworthy events happen around the world — or on the set of 9News — know that Kyle Clark and his hashtags will be there to cover it.

instagram.com/KyleClark

Almost every dispensary in Colorado has some sort of promotion or daily deal that promises you a sweet price on eighths, grams of wax, pre-rolled joints and so on — but none of them have been as clever as the promo by the Grass Station and Oskar Blues. Shortly after the release of Oskar Blues’ Pinner Session IPA — an IPA with a pot-inspired name, full hop flavor and less alcohol than usual — the Grass Station began offering one-cent pinner joints to customers who brought in an empty can of the beer, which just happened to have “Sip. Sip. Give.” on its label. The pinner-for-a-Pinner deal didn’t last long, but it will forever stay in our memory as yet another ingenious marketing strategy by the Longmont brewery.

Not that there aren’t plenty of dispensaries in Denver that do a great job of making first-time pot shoppers feel comfortable (there are), but Good Chemistry’s welcoming ways are tough to beat. Thanks to dimly lit boutique interiors that are hip — but not too hip — and employees who are happy to talk about strain genetics and personal experiences, few demographics would feel sketchy in either of its two locations. In fact, after reading through one of the strain-effects charts that Good Chemistry provides for shoppers’ information, you’re apt to feel much more comfortable than you did before you walked in. With symbols for words like “amplify,” “relax,” “relieve” and “sleep” next to each strain, the charts provide a more personalized — and detailed — shopping experience.

Everyone loves cheap weed, and if that cheap weed happens to be good, then all the better. Unfortunately for us, those two qualities don’t usually go hand in hand at a dispensary. Lightshade is the exception to that rule. The Denver dispensary chain has found a nice balance of potent strains and low prices, with skunky cuts of Juicy Fruit, Orange Herijuana and Primus OG at $9 per gram and $30 per eighth — and those aren’t daily specials or discounted strains. Every day and every strain will hold the same resin-glazed price tag — no coupon or positive Yelp review necessary.

Your old man is in town and disapproves of your newly found freedom, and you don’t want him to continue living in the dark. What to do? Go to the Clinic. On top of award-winning strains and some of the most knowledgeable budtenders in town, the Denver-born chain is known for its charitable contributions, which includes hundreds of thousands of dollars given to the National MS Society since 2010 and annual donations to Colorado’s PrideFest. If the pot-for-a-good-cause route doesn’t work, take him to the annual Clinic Charity Golf Classic to hit some balls after a joint of the clinic’s barrier-breaking Durban Poison. There’s not a man out there who hates both weed and golf.

If not by virtue of being one of the only cannabis-friendly classes to stay around longer than six months, Puff, Pass & Paint’s award is easily earned by the warm, funky vibe created by local artist Heidi Keyes every Thursday and Saturday as she walks students through a self-described experience of “Canvas and Cocktails, but with a cannabis twist.” Keyes will take you on a step-by-step journey to a trippy painting as you consume as much (BYO) pot as you choose, but if the haze inspires you to go off on your own, she’s just fine with that, too. And if you want to do more than smoke and paint, keep an eye open for periodic Bob Ross-themed classes, Puff, Pass & Pottery sessions, and cannabis-oriented cooking classes.

2087 S. Grant St.

puffpassandpaint@gmail.com

puffpassandpaint.com

Unless you grew up in Denver, the name Pig ‘N Whistle may not evoke much nostalgia as you drive by the medical dispensary on West Colfax Avenue. But anyone who remembers boxer Eddie Bohn’s famous complex — a motel, barbecue joint and lounge on the Fabulous 40 strip patronized by such celebrities as Jack Dempsey and Roy Rogers — can’t help but appreciate the skunky-smelling homage sitting right where the original Pig once did. Sadly, Bohn’s place burned down in 2010, but the pot shop that rose from its ashes remains committed to keeping the Pig’s memory alive — as well as doing a little burning of its own.

Readers’ choice: The Giving Tree of Denver

This sister act run by Laurel and Lindsey Tate has long been the reigning shoe palace on Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall (it won our Best Store on the Pearl Street Mall award in 2009), but the feet of D-town’s most discerning shoe freaks have been cheering loudly since the pair opened an outpost on South Gaylord Street last summer. Their secret? The Tates don’t think high-end shoes in luscious colors with trendy styling should hurt. It takes a good eye — and a little science — to pick out a shoe that looks good and is good for you, too. Now Denver fashionistas have a go-to for that.

twosolesisters.com

Most car dealership pitchmen stick in viewer’s minds because they’re loud and crazy (we’re looking at you, Dealin’ Doug). But Kent Stevinson of Stevinson Automotive is the exception that proves the rule, doling out humor that’s decidedly low-key, and all the more amusing as a result. “Meet the Dragon” is a case in point: In the commercial, the not-exactly intimidating-looking Stevinson appears wearing a karate gi as he says, “Follow me on Facebook to get special offers, model updates and more. Follow me down a dark alley, and you’ll meet the dragon” — after which he strikes a supposedly fierce fighting pose that wouldn’t scare a three-year-old. It’s the funniest nine seconds you’ll spend all day.

When a store houses its Blu-ray and DVD section a hundred feet from one of the city’s best movie theaters, the items on offer had better be on point. As it happens, the folks at Twist & Shout are always up to the challenge. While big-box corporate stores continue to deplete their selection of physical media, indie charmer T&S goes all in, bulking up not just on quantity, but on quality and variety, too. From foreign greats to lowbrow comedy, from Antonioni to Zhang Yimou, it’s all there — and if it’s not, staffers can order it for you.

It’s been more than a decade of interviewing bands and making prank phone calls (and fun of each other), but the boys are still at it. The Eddie, Jason and Chris Show is broadcast live every Monday night on idobi Radio — the most-listened-to alternative-music stream in the world — but the podcast is created right here. The three best friends and Denver natives — Eddie Barella, Jason Newcomer and Chris Barr — are online-broadcasting pioneers, having started live-streaming their show during the dial-up days, before podcasting was even a thing. More than 70,000 listeners tune in each week to catch interviews with bands like the Mowgli’s and the Undead, but the trio has been known to make appearances around Denver at events like Holiday ManCraft and the Underground Music Showcase. Listen to the show live at 6 p.m. MST on idobi.com, or download the podcast episodes on iTunes. Either way, Denver’s sounding mighty good.

ejcshow.com

Readers’ choice: Whiskey and Cigarettes

Music and liquor have a long history together, so it’s not that big of a stretch to think that a record store in a bar might be a good idea. Of course it is! Longtime bartender Darin Bowman saw the beauty in that and took a chance on it by opening Bowman’s Vinyl and Lounge on South Broadway late last year, creating an instant hangout for experienced album-flippers and lounge lizards alike. With a bar in front and a selection of used and new vinyl — with listening stations — in the back, Bowman’s is also branching out as a live-music venue, aiming to bring the connection full circle. It’s the best of both worlds: Drop in and give it a spin.

Peter Isakovic — aka the Lodo Drum Guy — runs a small but mighty instrument operation out of his loft in downtown Denver. Don’t let the name fool you, though: While Isakovic does have plenty of drum kits in stock, he also carries a constantly rotating selection of guitars, amps and more. This not-so-secret, appointments-only home shop is the ideal place for both first-time players and longtime musicians to find exactly what they’re looking for. Lodo Drum Guy’s “test drive and swap” policy allows musicians to bring back an instrument post-purchase and trade it in for another, so no need to worry about buyer’s remorse: Isakovic’s got the Denver music scene’s back.

lododrumguy.com

Clothes, shoes and accessories, small household appliances, bicycles: Whatever you need, Peak Thrift has probably got it. And even if you don’t come up with a good bargain, you’ll know you’re making a good impact on the community. Started by Urban Peak, a program that provides services to youth experiencing homelessness, Peak uses the thrift-store model to offer employment and other opportunities for the young people it serves, teaching sufficiency to at-risk teens and young adults. But Peak Thrift, near the intersection of 49th and Pecos, comes through for the consumer, too, offering a wide selection of current styles and gently used home goods. The friendly and knowledgeable staff, bright and airy sales floor and eclectic rotating stock make Peak Thrift a thrifting destination — and a place to see the youth of Denver flourish.

urbanpeak.org

Readers’ choice: Buffalo Exchange

Once upon a time, there was Nest — a children’s clothing store that opened in 2010 along the busy Sixth Avenue retail strip near Cherry Creek — and it was good. Owner Caroline Evascu not only has a flair for picking out ultra-cute, sturdy kids’ wear, but she plies her trade with a helping of community spirit, accepting in-store donations of gently used baby clothing for WeeCycle and offering weekly giveaways from the store’s popular and exclusive Tea Collection. Last year, Evascu took her empire up a level with a move down the street to a larger space, where she also opened a tween-sized counterpart to Nest in an adjacent building just around the corner; more recently, she put the finishing touches on Firebird, a Montessori-flavored toy and book shop a block away that offers classes for the little ones in your life. Inside Firebird, there’s even a micro-business called Elevated Scraps that makes fabric mobiles, soft sculpture and banners perfect for kids’ rooms and parties. Word is Evascu has yet another concept up her sleeve for the original Nest space — more on that in the future — and, pssst: The original Nest also has a store in Boulder.

2940 E. 6th Ave.

nestchildrensboutique.com

585 Milwaukee St.

hatchedbynest.com

2800 E. 6th Ave.

firebirdbooksandtoys.com

FashioNation has been bringing alternative style to the Mile High City since 1987, consistently sticking to its mission of presenting unique attire at affordable prices. One of the first independent retailers in the country to carry Doc Martens, as well as one of the area’s early vendors of Manic Panic hair dye, FashioNation has stayed one step ahead of the mainstream curve. The spacious South Broadway store is well stocked with bullet belts, kitten heels and leather jackets for adults, but its secret weapon is the wild apparel available for kids and babies. In-store offshoot Babysitter’s Nightmare carries the coolest diaper bags in town, along with tutus, mini-Mary Janes and onesies for wee ones. Since the store’s inception, owners Paul and Pam Italiano have maintained creative control of FashioNation’s inventory, picking out every platform boot and military jacket that makes it onto the rack.

1594 S. Broadway

303-832-2909

vixensandangels.com

Another new business that recently popped up in Five Points, Station fits the neighborhood like a glove: Offering a blend of streetwear on its racks and street art on its walls, the boutique and gallery brings a new vibe to Welton Street that has appeal for the neighborhood’s hip-hop and artist communities alike. Owner David Bywater proudly stocks clothing brands new to Denver, including one-of-a-kind artist T-shirts and caps, as well as art books, collectible toys and spray paint, and he hosts monthly art openings featuring scads of street artists with local and international cred, from Colorado native 84pages to London’s Mr. Penfold. Hop on your skateboard and fly on over.

stationdenver.com

Ily and Iley opened in April 2015 in lower Highland, raising the bar for boutique shopping in Denver. Co-owners and stylists Ilyse Mark and Bailey Lemak began their business after running into each other in Miami and New York; luckily for us, they decided to settle in Denver. In addition to two floors full of fashion, Ily and Iley carries a unique range of specialty jewelry, accessories, plants and home decor, as well as a selection of vintage pieces handpicked by the owners. The result is a lifestyle store that reflects the pair’s ongoing romance with modernity, bohemian flair and timeless style.

2525 15th St.

303-284-3814

ily-iley.com

High up on Lookout Mountain, the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave — part of the Denver Mountain Parks systems — honors William F. Cody, aka Buffalo Bill, a legendary character of the Old West and sometime Denver resident (we had to fight Wyoming to keep Cody here permanently) who was the first great marketer, according to museum director Steve Friesen. The museum is filled with exhibits celebrating Cody’s life and the way in which he affected our view of the West: At one point the showman was the most famous man in the world. But it’s the gift shop next door — in a log structure that was the first building on this stunning site — that really shows how the West was fun. It’s full of much more than rubber tomahawks, though; you’ll find great jewelry, a big book collection, art and clothing along with the kitsch.

Readers’ choice: Denver Museum of Nature & Science

Candles for rituals, crystals and herbs for healing, tarot decks and astrology guidebooks — whatever you need to enhance your spiritual practice, Goddess Isis Books & Gifts has got it. Reiki masters and plant-medicine specialists feel at home in this metaphysical marketplace, but the average soul looking to explore the world of the divine can find tools and guidance at the all-inclusive magick shop, too. More than just a retail store for ceremonial goods, Goddess Isis is also a learning and event center. Take part in a Friday-night séance or introduce yourself to paganism through a Wicca 101 class. Whatever your field of sacred interest, this humble temple has a full calendar of events and educational opportunities to serve the community.

store.isisbooks.com

Anyone who’s frequented the Tennyson Street retail district in Berkeley over the past ten or fifteen years knows that the strip has seen many changes. Several rounds ago, a boutique called Silvana L’Amour, a shop of global curiosities and girly things owned by worldly Denverite Silvana Vukadin-Hoitt graced Tennyson before disappearing along with so many other businesses that have come and gone from the street. But Vukadin-Hoitt hasn’t given up: She recently returned to Tennyson with Silvana Mondo, an art gallery and home-decor display room that once again reflects her unique intercontinental view of arts and culture. It’s the place to find killims and folk carvings, tribal jewelry and antique furniture from around the world — and, for a lark, a chance to have your future told in the patterns left in the bottom of a cup by Turkish coffee grounds, by appointment. Vukadin-Hoitt is a woman of great taste and many talents.

4420 Tennyson St.

720-739-0399

silvanamondo.com

Garrett King has spent years exploring the great state of Colorado through his lens, and he’s gained speed on Instagram as a brand ambassador for Collective Nomads. The founder of @ALifeExploring and co-moderator of @ColoradoInstagram, King has earned big-name sponsorships over the past year, including NAU Clothing, the ASUS computer, Teva and many more. King’s aesthetic is faded and surreal, depicting the fantasy Colorado life you’ve always dreamed of. A self-proclaimed wanderer with close to 80,000 followers, King has hiked many a mountain to reach the top as the state’s best Instagrammer.

instagram.com/shortstache

Readers’ choice: @milehighandhungry

Dot by dot, Rachel Paton’s tattoo art is a lesson in the beauty of patience. The hand-poke tattooer adheres her work to clients’ bodies using the no-machine-necessary stick-and-poke process. Paton’s black-ink-only illustrations are sharp and imbued with a sense of magic — celestial imagery, witchy symbolism and gothic and Western themes are prominent in her handiwork. The hand-poke artist’s tattoos are 100 percent original: She collaborates with clients to build an idea, then goes to work creating a one-of-a-kind design in her style. Getting a tattoo from Rachel Paton means owning a piece of the Denver artist’s work that will never be replicated. Fair warning: The shop is moving later this year, to an as-yet-undetermined location.

Even before a client sits down in a chair, a tattoo shop can make an impression with its name. Kitchen’s Ink, a friendly shop on Santa Fe Drive, not only does excellent tattooing and piercing, but also displays art and offers other shopping opportunities. In fact, you’ll find just about everything here but the kitchen sink.

Readers’ choice: Think Tank

A classic name for a classy place: Perms may have gone out with the ’80s, but Permanent Basis remains a fixture in this rapidly changing central Denver neighborhood.

700 E. 1st Ave.

303-778-6912

Readers’ choice: Big Hairy Monster

The new wave of beauty products is toxin-free, and former beauty-industry exec Kathryn Murray of the beauty boutique Aillea rode it right to 14th and Larimer in 2015, bringing a curated selection of all-natural, chemical-free cosmetics, cleansers, fragrances and creams that smell just as nice — if not nicer — than the old-fashioned, non-natural kind. The result of Murray’s personal search for safer, kinder products in an industry overrun by unregulated and unhealthy secret formulas, Aillea gathers the best of her next-generation finds in one place to share with Denver faces.

1408 Larimer St.

303-997-6209

aillea.com

Soapmaking is an art of beautiful alchemy in the hands of the Spinster Sisters — in reality not a pair of siblings, but just one woman, Kelly Perkins, who was determined to school herself in the basics of the craft in search of a better, more natural bar of soap. Over the years, her line has expanded to include dozens of variations on the basic tool of cleanliness, as well as lotions, shaving products, scrubs and other products — all made from simple, raw ingredients and conscientiously packaged — that have been available for years at selected shops across the nation and locally at artisan markets. Since last spring, the faithful also have been able to flock to the brick-and-mortar flagship, Spinster Sisters Microsoapery, in downtown Golden. Make the pilgrimage, and clean up your act.

Seven Sins Salon has made a name for itself in the metro area by offering free and discounted services to any bands playing here. Since it opened last October, Gwar, Velvet Acid Christ and Birthday Massacre have stopped at the Lakewood shop to have their hair and makeup done before their Denver shows, and the lineup continues to grow. Bands can sign autographs and take photos with fans, and the salon’s owners have a bar full of Jägermeister and other spirits ready in case a party starts. Get your own ‘do did at Seven Sins, and while the toner’s setting, you just might end up throwing back a few with the boys in the band. The motto here says it all: “Beauty is only sin deep,” which strikes a chord with anyone looking for a hard-core color job or cut that will turn heads on the stage or the dance floor. But anyone who dances to a different drum is welcome to take advantage of the salon’s rock decor and friendly service. Rock on. 0x000A