Push Pin Your Town: Golden Triangle’s Night & Day Vintage

I wanted to get this out this past Saturday, but it just didn’t happen.  I am taking full advantage of sleeping in until noon while I can!  After a late lunch/early dinner at Rubios, love their fish tacos, and a screening of Identity Theft, HILARIOUS, the blog post sort of didn’t happen.  So here it is just, in time to give you some Valentine’s Day gift ideas…

A couple weekends ago I had a selfie date.  I headed downtown for the Denver Art Museum’s free day sponsored by Target.  I love this little area where culture meets community.  There’s the Denver Public Library and Denver Art Museum side by side and the new Denver Court House where I said, “I do,” and then  there is one of my favorite coffee shops, Rooster Moon.  On Broadway, bordering the triangle, you have the fancy  Djuna furniture store, and Tony’s Market, where I used to spend a fortune on ingredients for A meal when I lived nearby.  Blocks into the angular hunk of Denver proper you have the renowned restaurant Cuba Cuba, STILL on my to-go list, nestled in next to PBS and Denver Health offices.  Posh residence lofts fill in here and there, and retail is slowly popping up.  I have to say that I was a little unimpressed with my trip to the DAM.  It is unfortunate that they host a Free Saturday when there are no shows up to be seen.  I saw a couple pieces that belong to the DAM, but sadly nothing new.

This was a neat piece from an African artist made of unraveled liquor bottle tops.

This guy’s sweater complimented the art wouldn’t you say?!

I had some time left on my meter so I decided to stroll around the block and see a shop I had passed when trying to find parking.  Night & Day Vintage was what I ran into and I was glad to have stumbled upon it.  April marks their one year anniversary!  A very sunny and warm February Saturday, shed the most beautiful natural light on all the treasures inside.  Shop owners Amy and Anna were most helpful and attentive, not to mention crafty!  They make several items sold in the shop including clutches made from vintage table cloths.  Along with the well loved, they carry numerous local designers and new items as well.  The quirky mens’ ties with animals sewn on are by a local, Coat Check Girl ties, $34 each.  There was also a very earthy jewelry line, very Pamela Love-esque, near the cash wrap by another local, Jessica Thomas of Crow Jane Jewelry, and very reasonably priced!  Little pendants by Lani Robertson of Objects of Affection caught my eye sitting in a little muffin tin.  If you have a small foot- size 6 or 7- they have a great selection of vintage shoes, and really awesome boots by American label Zodiac!  Lacey nighties, gloves, old school metal lunch boxes you’d see on scaffolding- there really is something for everyone in here.

Ties Up-Cycled and sewn by local- Coat Check Girl- $34 each

Local artist Lani Robertson of Objects of Affection makes unique pendants.

Vintage Boots by Zodiac- $42 and $45

LOVED this jewelry by local Jessica Thomas of Crow Jane Jewelry

These are made by the owners from vintage table cloths!

So, did your Valentine just get a new place?  Get them a vintage set of shot glasses that can’t be find anywhere else!  Instead of chocolates, give a vintage rhinestone brooch or envelope clutch that will last much longer!  Does your Valentine have a new job?  Give him his first lunch in a vintage box with a handwritten love note!  Much better to give your sweetie something unique and thoughtful than something you clearly picked up at the grocery store on the way home.  As for me, I did not buy hubby a Valentine gift from here, but I did put thought into it don’t you worry.  I did however find a few things to add to my wishlist, and maybe I can share that with him!  So are you ready for the big HEART day?!  What do you plan on giving your sweetie?!

Push Pin Your Town: South Broadway’s Fancy Tiger

With a little more free time on my hands, I am very excited to get out and explore my Denver again! I started this series Push Pin Your Town a while ago, but going to make it a more consistent feature. So hope this hits your inbox or feed just in time for your morning coffee and hopefully gives you just enough inspiration to get you out the door and somewhere new!

Today was the first day of February and what a glorious blue sky, shunshine-y day it was! I had an errand to do downtown so I thought, why not head over to one of my favorite hoods, South Broadway. I first met my hubby living in a teeny studio off 1st and Sherman, before it got all hipster (sorry), and boy has the area changed! I had not been in Fancy Tiger Clothing’s new digs yet- I know, horrible me…so I made a point to be leisurely and spend some time in the shop yesterday afternoon, and soak it in. Matthew Brown, the owner was on hand to share a few tips on designers and product with me. If you were there last night, then you caught their amazing art opening for First Friday, “Five + Two= Yellow,” by the talented, not to mention gorgeous, Andi Todaro, who I have had the pleasure of meeting here and there around town at various events. Her work is really something to see…if there is any left! The prices are TOO good, a colorful, geometric wooden piece would be a lovely Valentine gift for your partner- preferably the one who lives with you so you can enjoy the work yourself!

Fancy Tiger was everything I remembered and more. Friendly, price point attainable for the young professional, and of course, full of awesome merchandise with the right amount of quirk, a cat adorned bib on a gray dress for example, all housed in a perfectly open and bright new space with plenty of natural elements like wood floors, succulents and a huge old limb hanging in the middle proudly displaying necklaces. I was glad to see familiar lines I had seen at the old location including Tulle and Gentle Fawn, and as always, I was excited to discover new local artists which the shop is chalk full of!

The cutest shop girl Lara, yes with cool spelling, is an art student and also sells her line of metal jewelry, Strange Ritual, in the shop. REALLY want a pair of her earrings or one of her rings. After snapping pics of my favorite things and chatting up Lara, I could have gone on longer, I headed across the street to one of my favorite ice cream shops for a treat, Sweet Action. I opted for a two scooper. Chocolate Hazelnut and Toasted Hazelnut Brownie. Tasty…but I should have went with the Brown Sugar Banana!

Yummy organic beauty products from local company Fig & Yarrow that I am going to try…

And boy oh boy did I really see myself carrying this awesome canvas and leather bag! Made in the U.S. of A. folks! By Brooklyn designer Billy Kirk. ($308.00, but take 25% off!) I could totally see me throwing in a diaper changing pad/pod and using it as a chic and discreet diaper bag. Roomy enough! Matt Brown swears by his belts too…

Okay, in all honesty I thought this was a clutch, but turns out it is an iPad case, by another talented local, Hot Butter. Lara told me she usually sources all of her fabrics from right next door at Fancy Tiger Craft. She also makes very vibrant and fun fabric wallets too. This guy is only $36. I would totally use it as a day clutch.

Initial necklaces! Simple, easy, everyone wants one, and if you’re shaking your head no, you wouldn’t refuse one as a gift…

Little wallets and pouches for what nots. Heart wallet by Fluffy- $24

Polka Dot tank by Gentle Fawn, new for Spring- $78

Sweater, the softest, by L.A. based Knitted Dove (here’s that quirk I was talkin’ about!)- $94, but 50% off!

Green pleated skirt in a sturdy fabric by L.A. line Dear Creatures– $94, but take 50% off! (Can’t wear this with a bump, sigh…)

Stud earrings by Lara, Strange Ritual.

Hope this little feature inspires you to get out and explore our town! See the sights, shop the locals, support small businesses! South Broadway is the perfect place to do all of that. Where do you go when you head to South Broadway? Anyone try that new Punch Bowl Social yet? One of my favorite places is Sketch Wine Bar… which I will have to make a date of post baby. FYI, these are definitely NOT the only places I go when headed out on SOBO. There’s Decades, True Love Shoes & Accessories, Buffalo Exchange….sigh…So much to see, too little meter money! Until next time…

Oh…oh! And…a GREAT time to come see Fancy Tiger would be next Saturday, February 9th! Why? Because a local yocal named Rebecca Anne Tischler, a talented seamstress and Jill-of-all-trades, (she is also the Creative Director of Denver Design Incubator) will be hosting her trunk show with beautiful little handmade bloomers & undergarments…from 6-9 pm. Ooh la la! Surprise your guy!

XO,

Glo

Prepping for A Little Person

It would be very odd if my blog did not naturally flow into SOME talk of baby type stuff.  After all, there is a tiny person growing inside of me and will soon become my full time job.  So fashion aside, there are other things on my mind needless to say.  For example, wrapping my head around what exactly, and how much, extra crap I’ll need.  They say babies don’t need much, but boy does the baby market have first time parents fooled!  I am super thankful that we have very kind and generous friends and family who have taken the leap into parenthood before us and have been awesome enough to save their necessities and offer them to us for when the time comes.  So thankful for that!  It is very exciting though, when it’s your first, to see what there is out there in the market and decide for yourself and make some decisions too.  There seems to be new products every year, not to mention you have to be careful with all the recalls, and there are genius inventions, gadgets and gizmos to make parenting “easier.”  As time marches on, so does the look and design and functionality of baby products.  Some upgrades for the better, some classics can never be replaced, and some staples still relevant today.  I thought I would start surfing the net, read reviews and check the blogosphere for what I have in mind to register for baby girl.  Here’s part one of her registry wishlist.  From the practical, diaper sacks to politely dispose dirties while in public so as to be invited back, and a car seat, to the unnecessary, but cute, stuffed animals for the nursery.

From left to right: Purple striped beanie ($5) and jammies ($10) both by Zutano, available at Target/ Maxi Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat in Black ($189.99) available at numerous stores as seen here on Amazon.com/ Bassinet by Arm’s Reach Concepts Mini Convertible Bassinet/Playard ($142.99) also available at Target.com/ Stuffed Hippo ($19.95) via TheLandofNod.com/ Numeric Storage Bins for organization ($12.95 each) via TheLandofNod.com/ The “Perry Necklace” by Chewbeads (also a teether for babe and completely safe and non-toxic) $36.50 and available locally at Nest Boutique/ Arm and Hammer diaper sacks and dispenser for on the go available on Target.com