Gift Guide 2018: From Colorado With Love

Home & Entertaining

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

The duo behind New Collar’s sleek custom furniture designed this powder-coated steel planter to add a pop of color to a back porch or sunny living room. $99; New Collar Goods
Chosen By: Laura Medicus
How You Know Her: Owner of Denver interior design firm Laura Medicus Interiors
“I love the furniture that New Collar Goods has been producing. They are a really sweet, young couple out of Denver that make minimal, elegant yet affordable furniture with a little bit of a midcentury vibe.”

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

Paired with porcelain magnets sculpted by Boulder artist Liz Quan, this four-foot-long magnetic board—made of richly grained walnut—is the most chic way to keep track of your grocery list. $250; Liz Quan Studio
Chosen By: Megan Moore
How You Know Her: Owner of Mile High City interior design firm Dado
“The walnut adds a warm touch, as opposed to the typical cold look of a metal magnetic board. And the magnets are simply beautiful—a sculptural, artistic approach to something that’s generally thought of as a utility.”

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

That one friend obsessed with throwing dinner parties? He’ll love this professional-grade denim apron to protect his duds from sauce splatter—and its convenient pocket to keep recipes close at hand. $90; Valentich Goods
Chosen By: Cindhura Reddy
How You Know Her: Owner of both Spuntino and Namkeen in Denver; earned a spot on Zagat’s 30 Under 30 list in 2014
“Beautifully made, durable aprons from Valentich Goods are a gift I think any chef or home entertainer would love. The husband-and-wife-run company is based out of Denver as well.”

A hand-printed, gold-metallic illustration of nine felines graces this 17-ounce glass made in Counter Couture’s Denver studio by husband-and-wife team Kaelin Tillery and Richard Duggan. *$14*; Counter Couture, 303-917-3157, counter-couture.com

Babies—or snoozy adults—will love gazing at Blade & Knoll’s hand-carved mobiles, made in Denver from cherry and walnut hardwoods by sculptural artist Christina Graziano. *$140*; Blade & Knoll

The Denver company behind these cute dog beds—made of two Oaxacan wool rugs sewn together and stuffed with recycled materials—donates a portion of its profits to Underdogs Animal Rescue. *$199* for a small bed; Acorn & Oakleaf

We were happy to learn this five-inch-diameter ceramic bowl, molded by Denver sculptor Matt Jones, is food-safe—but if you just can’t bear to soil it with soup or cereal, use it to hold keys or jewelry instead. *$40*; Jones Ceramic Art

Java just tastes better when it’s brewed using the Hario V60 pour-over set included with this old-timey brass stand, dubbed the Curator, from Fort Collins. *$199*; the Coffee Registry

Rebekah Espitia of Denver’s Bekahmakes stitches charming patterns onto natural cotton and linen framed by embroidery hoops. We love her roughly seven-inch-diameter Summer Waves Colorblock design. *$65*; Bekahmakes

The Sneerwell’s patinaed, six-ounce stainless-steel flasks may look like they were recovered from a pirate ship, but they’re designed in the Mile High City and most at home by a Colorado campfire—filled with whiskey, natch. *$65*; The Sneerwell

Culture

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

An original oil painting by Denver artist Stevon Lucero often sells for more than $1,000. A surreal print is a less expensive—but just as striking—way to get his work on your artsy friend’s wall. $20 (sans frame); Stevon Lucero, 303-455-7354
Chosen By: Molina Speaks
How You Know Him: Poet, filmmaker, and musician; co-host of Brown Genius podcast
“Stevon Lucero captures both the past and the future in a seamless and dreamlike fashion. Someday, he will be remembered as one of the world’s artistic masters.”

Look for the “whimsy pieces” in Boulder’s Liberty Puzzles’ handcrafted wooden jigsaws: animal- and character-shaped pieces that fit into maker Chris Wirth’s works of art. *$65*; Liberty Puzzles, 2526 49th St., Boulder, 303-444-1442

Instagram-famous Loki the Wolfdog’s adventures in his home state of Colorado and beyond were tenderly captured by human Kelly Lund and collected in a coffee-table-worthy book. *$20*; Tattered Cover Book Store, multiple locations

Each monthly bundle from Denver startup Vinyl Me, Please includes an exclusively pressed LP, a print, and a cocktail recipe, all delivered to your favorite audiophile’s door. Starting at *$29* for one month; Vinyl Me, Please

Food & Drink

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

“Raymond Snead has really embraced the Boulder food industry, and his small-batch bitters are delicious and great for the home bar.”
Cocktailpunk founder Raymond Snead often uses Colorado ingredients, such as Montmorency sour cherries from the Western Slope, in his bitters—but never includes overpowering sweeteners. $12 for two ounces, Cocktailpunk
Chosen By: Bobby Stuckey
How You Know Him: Co-owner of Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine and Denver’s Tavernetta; winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program in 2013

Kaleidoscopic bonbons made by chocolatier Victoria Shearer in her Cherry Creek North shop come in flavors familiar (raspberry) and unusual (Scotch). *$25 for a box of nine*; Victoria’s Chocolates, 2615 E. Third Ave., 303-355-0654

The Prohibited Provisions team grinds fresh ingredients into garlic pastes (try them in a marinade or dip) in its Mile High City kitchen. We can’t get enough of the aromatic Vindaloo Curry blend. *$10*; Prohibited Provisions

Dry Land Distillers and Longmont Dairy created this DIY eggnog kit containing everything you need to whip up 16 servings, including Dry Land’s pure cane rum. *$120*; Dry Land Distillers, 471 Main St., Unit B, Longmont, 720-600-4945

Sports & Outdoors

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

Designer Jenny Jurek and her husband, Boulder ultrarunner Scott, made the North Roll travel pack with Velcro pockets you can rearrange to fit the needs of your sport or vacay. $80; Ultimate Direction, 6235 Lookout Road, Suite B, Boulder
Chosen By: Kara Goucher
How You Know Her: Two-time Olympian who competed in the 5K and 10K in Beijing and the marathon in London
“The organization aspect is just incredible. You have the ability to roll it out and spread it open easily, which makes it so versatile.”

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

The gleaming, metallic-finish top sheets on Iris Skis’ CX 105 Crossovers keep powderhounds looking sharp on the slopes while protecting the
Boulder-made skis’ bamboo interiors. $1,200; Iris Skis, 440-488-0887
Chosen By: Austin Porzak
How You Know Him: First person to ski down Boulder’s First Flatiron; has schussed all of Colorado’s fourteeners
“Skiing is a true art form that needs style to complement it, so Iris Skis are the perfect gift for any skier. Every pair is crafted with a ton of care.”

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

When you’re lugging everything you need to survive in the wilderness, a shelter weighing just two pounds and three ounces, like the Tiger Wall UL2 tent from Steamboat Springs’ Big Agnes, is a lifesaver (or, at least, a back-saver). $400; Big Agnes
Chosen By: Kim Hess
How You Know Her: Climber based in Steamboat Springs; has scaled Mt. Everest
“I’m a huge fan of the simple single-pole architecture system Big Agnes uses—it’s easy to put up and take down, even for a camping beginner.”

Created by a mother-daughter team, ThePureBag’s antimicrobial mat carriers are made of silver-embedded, bacteria-resistant vinyl to ensure the yogi in your life stays healthy enough to perfect that praying mantis pose. *$98*; ThePureBag

Stuffing stockings with Vail’s Cirque Mountain Apparel’s funky cotton-poly blend socks—perfect for hiking, skiing, or just sitting by the fire—is so meta. $15; Cirque Mountain Apparel, 970-845-1150

The ideal sunglasses for your clumsy pal who’s always losing her pair in the river, these sleek Garden of the Gods shades, made using multicolored balsa wood laminate, actually float. *$60*; Colorado Glasses

The longboard craze started in Hawaii, but the B10X all-terrain board, with a motor to power up hills and durable wheels for off-roading, is built for Colorado. *$500*; Atom Longboard, 212 Sutton Lane, Colorado Springs, 719-884-1000

Technology

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

The newest toy from Boulder’s Sphero may have bright lights and a sleek design, but the Bolt is more than just a pretty robo-face: Using an app, kids can program the baseball-size gadget to zoom around obstacle courses and play games. $150; Sphero
Chosen By: Andrea Perdomo
How You Know Her: Co-founder of Revolar, a local tech startup that makes GPS-enabled, wearable personal safety devices
“The Sphero Bolt allows kids and adults to be creative and have fun while learning. I love this product for anyone of any age who is curious about coding.”

From its perch on your shoe (a clip secures it to the laces), this personal training device from Boulder’s Stryd assesses your, well, stride—and then sends that data and suggestions to a smartphone app to help you run more efficiently. *$199*; Stryd

No window space in your microapartment? No worries. Growing fresh herbs anywhere is easy thanks to Denver-based Edn’s SmallGarden 2, which comes with built-in LED lights and an app that helps you care for your plants. *$199*; Edn

Fashion

Illustration by Michael Hirshon. Photograph by Paul Miller

This hooded coat features super-compressible synthetic down, making it the easiest-to-pack outer layer you’ve ever owned. $179; Topo Designs, 2500 Larimer St., 303-954-8420
Chosen By: Pete Drago
How You Know Him: Co-founder of Jiberish, a RiNo store that sells hip men’s clothing to everyone from rapper Redman to Denver Broncos players
“Topo brings that vintage camping vibe into everything they produce. The Puffer Hoodie is lightweight and would be great for layering or just grabbing a coffee.”