Simons: Best Colorado Deals — Nov. 23

Janet Simons

Local retailers have deep ties that reverberate throughout the community. This week’s offerings feature several local businesspeople who are facilitating donations to food banks and social service agencies or are engaged in projects specifically designed to strengthen the metro area’s economy.

Angel Book Project, Friday, Nov. 27, through Monday, Dec. 21, Kazoo & Company toy store, 2930 E. Second Ave., 303-322-0973, www.kazootoys.com.

Help your children learn about philanthropy through Kazoo & Co.’s Angel Book Project. A child who selects an angel star from the store’s Christmas tree will learn the name of a youngster selected by Denver Social Services who needs books. The child, with the help of a parent, then can select and purchase an age-appropriate book. Kazoo & Co. will make sure the designated child receives it and will donate an additional 10 percent of the total sum toward book purchases.

Buy Local Week Kick-Off Event, 6 to 10:15 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E. Yale Ave., 303-777-1003, www.swallowhillmusic.org, www.milehighbiz.org.

Sampling of local food and drink, auction to benefit nonprofit Mile High Business Alliance; concert by local musicians Cliff Eberhardt and Chris Daniels; concert tickets, $17; advance purchase highly recommended.

Consignment Row of Aurora Black Friday Festivities, Friday, Nov. 27, Little Tykes Trading Post, 15250 E. Hampden Ave., 720-870-7191; Celine’s Designer Boutique Resale, 15254 E. Hampden Ave., 303-680-5544; and Leta’s Loot Recycled Treasures, 15256 E. Hampden Ave., 303-617-5668‎.

All three of these consignment stores at the intersection of East Hampden Avenue and South Chambers Road in Aurora – Little Tykes, which offers children’s clothing and accessories; Celine’s, which offers women’s clothing and accessories; and Leta’s Loot, which offers home furnishings and accessories — will offer “phenomenal” early-bird specials from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and give an extra 5 percent discount all day to customers who bring in a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry.

Christkindl Market Grand Opening Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, Arapahoe and 16th, south of the Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower, downtown. Market runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Friday, Nov. 27, through Thursday, Dec. 24, with extended hours for the Channel 9 Parade of Lights, 303-534-6161 or 720-308-2921, info@denverchristkindlmarket.com.

Vendors from Germany and other European countries and local artisans offer traditional handmade ornaments, wooden figurines, candles and gifts, as well as authentic German food, pastries, candy, beer and Glühwein.

Fold Your Own Evening Bag, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27; Saturday, Nov. 28; Friday, Dec. 11, and Saturday, Dec. 12, Kozo Fine Arts Materials, 10 E. Ellsworth Ave., kozofineartmaterials.com, 303-733-2730.

Buy heavyweight metallic paper in any of six colors for $9, follow simple folding instructions and wind up with an evening bag suitable for a gift or a night on the town. Be sure to check out Kozo’s holiday sale, which runs through Dec. 24. Canvas is half price, books are 20 percent off; color sets are 30 percent off. This combination store and art workshop also offers an unusual selection of gifts, including star lanterns, Chinese scarves and handbags, calendars featuring the works of local artists; bamboo brush holders and Thai lamps.

Printed Page Bookshop Food for Thought Drive, through Dec. 20, 1416 S. Broadway, 303-722-1846, www.printedpagebookshop.com.

Trade nonperishable food items for books. Food donations go to East Denver FISH, 303-722-1846, a small nonprofit emergency food pantry that has operated continuously in the Washington Park area since 1974 and is the only local organization that makes home deliveries of groceries. FISH delivered groceries to more than 2,800 area residents in 2008, about half of whom were children.

“Everyone knows that times are very hard for some of our neighbors. But not everyone knows that food banks are under extraordinary stress to meet the basic needs of their clients. In our own small way, Printed Page wants to help. Our 11 book dealers have more books than we can display, and East Denver FISH has more need than they can meet, so they’re a perfect match,” said Printed Page co-owner Dan Danbom.

Sous le Lit Shoes Clothing and Accessories free fashion classes, to be scheduled by the shopper and the store by e-mail, info@sousleit.com, or through one of three locations: 1550 Platte St., 303-455-1622; 2340 W. Main St., Littleton, 303-798-0432; The Streets at SouthGlenn 6879 S. Vine St. Unit B7-710 Centennial, 303-730-2741, www.souslelit.com.

“How to Transition Your Summer Wardrobe into Fall.” Don’t buy a whole new wardrobe; learn how to transform the one you already have. “How to Dress for Your Body Type.” Ever wonder why your best friend looks better in high-waisted jeans than you do? Maybe they’re just not right for your body.

Studio Bini Grand Reopening, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 27, 4020 Tennyson St., 720-255-2739, www.studiobini.com.

Local designer Linde Julien just can’t help herself; she’s driven to create adorable funky-retro children’s clothing. So about a year and half after closing her store on Speer Boulevard, she’s reopening in the Highland neighborhood, where she had her first store. Stop by and check out the locally designed (in Denver) and sewn (in Aurora) girls’ long-sleeve dresses and swing coats, infant to 6x; and boys’ paisley shirts and plaid cowboy shirts, infant to 6. There will be munchies.

UpScale Plus & UpScale Princess women’s consignment 17th Anniversary Celebration, through Dec. 5, 3890 Kipling St. (39th and Kipling), Wheat Ridge, 303-420-5423, www.upscaleplus.com.

Just mention Best Colorado Deals when you check out at this landmark women’s consignment store for women of all sizes, and owner Christine Metzger will give you a 40 percent discount on the most expensive item in your purchase – including leather coats, glitzy party dresses and jewelry.

Urban Homesteading Indoor Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays, 200 Santa Fe Drive, www.denverurbanhomesteading.com.

This new enterprise offers high quality local foodstuffs from small local farmers and food purveyors dedicated to organic and sustainable practices. The market debuted Nov. 21 with 11 farmers and “hundreds of hungry and appreciative customers,” and it is expected to grow steadily, according to James Bertini of Denver Urban Homesteading, james@denverurbanhomesteading.com.

INDenverTimes publishes Janet Simons’ weekly Best Colorado Deals column usually on Mondays. Simons is author of the Colorado Smart Shopper and a veteran Rocky Mountain News shopping columnist. Be sure to catch Janet’s deals, highlighted each Friday on the 4 p.m. newscast at 9News.

Tell Janet about the wonderful stores, fantastic deals and amazing shopkeepers you know about by sending an e-mail to Janet@bestcoloradodeals.com, and subscribe to her e-mail list at BestColoradoDeals.com.