The dog days of summer have a few holidays mixed in you might not be aware of.

1) July 2: World UFO Day

2) July 11: National Free Slurpee Day (get it, 7/11?)

3) July 14: National Nude Day

4) July 21: National Hot Dog Day

5) July 31: National Mutt Day

The post French’s 5 | June 2021 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

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New government restrictions are on the way due to COVID surges across the region. This has impacted everyone, including our local art scene, in serious ways. Firehouse Art Center is here to bring some ease to this global pandemic by presenting COVID safe events for our community. 

Are you ready to step foot into another gallery? Miss being surrounded by the fresh smell of canvases and paints? Don’t worry, art lover, Firehouse Art Center has found a way to safely open with their new restrictions. 

There are many different heartwarming events that Firehouse Art Center will be holding the rest of this year. Now, if you are ready, brace your eyes for their newest upcoming events.

Starting November 13th, they are opening to the public for walk-ins available Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm.  If those days don’t fit into your busy schedule you can make an appointment, 24 hours in advance, to come on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. 

With new restrictions comes new guidelines, including a limit on patrons allowed in the gallery. Right now, the gallery is operating at 50 percent occupancy. So, if you and your friends are expecting a fancy night at the Firehouse Art Center, you should call ahead. A 6 ft. distance is also required between gallery patrons. Masks will be mandatory and, upon entering the building, you will be asked to use sanitizer.  

Events will still be offered virtually and in person. The first event, Inktober, will be on November 13th from 6:30-9 pm. You will be able to stream this from the moon if wanted. The Livestream will be on Facebook and there will also be an in person attendance option for those of you who are dying to show off that sparkly new dress or elegant tux. During this event you will have the great honor of meeting the residents of the gallery and students who are showcasing. 

If you are interested in going and viewing student works, you can find them at the Firehouse Art Center in Studio C from November 11th– 25th. The artwork will be available to view during their Inktober event. For those that will be attending via livestream, you can join them from 6-6:30 pm. If you decide to attend in person, they will be going for the entire time. 

On Saturday, November 28th Firehouse Art Center will also be participating in Small Business Saturday. The following day, Sunday, November 29th will be Artist Sunday. Between 12 pm and 5 pm on the 28th and 29th artists, artisans, and craft makers will be showcased at the gallery. 

Buying these pieces could make great holiday gifts and help support local artists. 

Along with these events, the Firehouse Art Center is also dedicating an area to the Front Range Community College Student Show, which will be judged and awarded by cross recruited Denver art critic, writer and curator Michael Paglia. These are pieces that students have made during these tough pandemic times. You can find these pieces in the gallery. 

With Boulder County beginning a level red lock down, more virtual options are being offered. Starting from the moment you are reading this to December 9th you can purchase one of Firehouse’s sweater making kits. These kits will come with felt appliques, pom poms, bells, glue and glitter glue, and other spunky holiday items. You can choose to buy your decorations with a sweater for $35, or if you already have your favorite sweater and just want the design elements this will be $15. For families they will be offering discounts when you purchase multiple kits.

If you are stuck and having a hard time coming up with your own christmas sweater design, then you can join the Firehouse Executive Director, Miss Elaine, for some help. She will be holding a free facebook livestream on December 10th where she will also be creating her own DIY sweater. 

If you thought making your own christmas sweater wasn’t cool enough, there will also be a fashion show fundraiser held on December 17th, but make sure you enter by the 15th. If you purchased a kit, then this includes the 5$ entry fee for the fashion show. 

The show will consist of pictures of everyone’s holiday sweaters up for the contest. You can vote on Best Design, Ugliest Design, Most Colorful, Best Family Picture, and many more, 1$ = 1 vote. To enter into this contest it is $5 per photo entry, unless you purchased a kit. You can enter with either your own sweater or the sweater from the kit. For the winner there will be prizes. For more information on this check out their event website.

On this same night the Firehouse Art Center will be holding a live zoom session. During this session you can expect to learn about how the Firehouse has been connecting the community to art and culture over the past 35 years. 

This coming Spring of 2021 Firehouse will be having a collaboration with BMoCA, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, for the new Studio Project Internship. This project is to reach and engage with a larger range of younger high schoolers online. To apply for this opportunity, submit an application byil Friday, December 11th, at 5 pm.

BMoCA has been doing Studio Project Internship for quite some time. Studio Project Internship is a great way for high school students to become engaged. Through this project subjects like art, art making, and social issues will be discussed. 

The interns will get the opportunity to work with local art activists, partner with nonprofits, and plan events to share their artwork they made during this program. More information on this program can be found on this website. 

As a non-collecting institution BMoCA thrives to be a catalyst for creative experiences. They “present rotating exhibitions and programs that stimulate active participation in the global dialogue about contemporary art”. 

Every year this museum serves over 100,000 people. They have 9 exhibitions and over 500 programs presented for their audience of all ages and backgrounds. BMoCA is located at 1750 13th street in downtown Boulder, CO. They can be contacted at 303.443.2122 or you can look at their website for more information.

Another feature that will be available are zoom art classes. The first session of these will begin on December 1st. More information on these classes can be found on the website.

Go get involved in some of these amazing local art events and show love for your artistic community. 

The post Firehouse Art Center: Winter Events, COVID Ready  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

All of the sensations that come with the holiday season are returning: The warmth of gratitude in the belly, the it’s-been-too-long bear hugs from loved ones, the welcome crispness in the air and, admittedly, the little kid in us ready to salivate over gifts. Do you think everyone feels like this? We sure do hope so.

As one of the happiest, wealthiest, and most educated cities, we, sadly, lack a culture of giving. In 2015, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that Colorado has the lowest giving ratio compared to our neighbor states. Out of 64 Colorado counties, BOCO crept away with its tail between its legs, with a ranking of 44. Let’s do better this year.

Take a moment, think of those in need. To them, the holidays may be lonelier and the crisp in the air more biting. Giving this holiday season can be exhilarating and sharing a small act of kindness can go a long way. You may help a single mom support her kids, or a child who can’t remember the feeling of having enough. No matter what you donate, giving back matters. You have the goodness in your heart to do good. If you feel inspired (which I’m confident you will), make giving into a holiday tradition.

BOULDER COUNTY AIDS PROJECT

BCAP has several upcoming holiday events as well as a list of item that the community can help with to improve the lives of people living with or affected by HIV and AIDS. Every November, BCAP puts together a holiday food drive to provide meals to homes impacted by HIV. Holiday baskets include donations of turkey or ham, cranberry sauce, canned or fresh sweet potatoes or yams, canned corn, green beans, bags of stuffing, pie shells and cans of pumpkin. Gift cards to local grocery stores and fresh fruits and vegetables are also appreciated for families who don’t celebrate traditional holidays. BCAP also operates two food pantries that rely on donations to remain full with nutritious foods which are especially important for supporting a diet infected by HIV or AIDS. They have a list of things they need year-round online. Personal hygiene and cleaning supplies such as shampoo, soap, deodorant and toilet paper, are always wanted, Executive Director Ana Hopperstad emphasizes. She also suggests that gas cards or bus booklets are exceptionally helpful so clients can get to their medical appointments.

On Dec. 2, local radio station KBCO sell the years’ worth of live studio recordings in a one-of-a-kind CD which is called the KBCO Studio C CD release. BCAP is a beneficiary of this event. The community can help by purchasing the CD or volunteering.

Two more holiday events are BCAP’s World AIDS Day Concert on Dec. 3 and the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus on Dec. 8. The holidays brings out the caroler in everyone, so why not attend either of these concerts and sing along to support BCAP. Tickets will be available on BCAP’s website.

IMAGINE!

Serving all ages with developmental disabilities, these people are creating a world of opportunity for all abilities. All year long, they work to provide educational and therapeutic services, job training and placement, recreation and leisure activities, behavioral health services, support and much more.

Imagine! Holds an annual gift giving drive that lives through the generosity of the community. In the office, they put up a tree sculpture (about the middle of November) with specific gift tags for each individual. If you can’t make it to the office, they also have wish list
that you can check out online. They ask for all types of gifts from iPads, books
and games, to couches, kitchen sets and bedding for their homes.

“If we can provide them with some of these gifts, it’s a simple way of saying ‘Hey, we see you, we know you’re here, and you’re important to us and the community,’ said Public Relations Director Fred Hobbs. “This is a very tangible way of expressing that you too are part of this community of Boulder and Broomfield county.”

People can also volunteer to not only deliver the gifts to their houses, but be the one to see how bright the smiles are.

BEADFORLIFE

Buying jewelry that makes a difference makes that piece of jewelry so much more beautiful. Bead for Life empowers women in Africa by teaching them entrepreneurial skills through their Street Business School and selling their handmade necklaces. Bead for Life has learned that the women who go through their training are increasing their income by 211%. When buying their carefully crafted jewelry, we’re repaying them by lifting them out of poverty, feeding their families and giving women and their children the opportunity to attend school.

The community can help by purchasing beads online, or shopping in the Boulder studio. These gifts are wrapped with a
deeper meaning and a story originated in Uganda.

“Since we’re entering the giving season, we welcome any type of donation, so we can empower more women around the world to lift their families from poverty by becoming successful businesspeople,” said Co-founder Torkin Wakefield. She reflected on Rose, a Street Business School graduate who now is a businesswoman who sells her colorful jewelry confidentially.

Let’s gift colorful jewelry to our loved ones to put more color into their lives and the daily lives of the woman in Uganda.

THERE WITH CARE

With compassion and care, as the name of their organization suggests, There With Care reaches out to families during the critical phase of a medical crisis to give families the support, money, and spirit they need.

They post a wish list regularly which you can find on their website, or Amazon, with foods such as canned tuna and macaroni and cheese, or diapers and clothing for babies in NICU. During the holiday season, they have three programs for the community to open their hearts to: Thanksgiving meal program, holiday meal and gift program, and team delivery. Sponsoring a meal personalized for each family (ham, turkey, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) can make the holidays a lot brighter for families who don’t have the spirit or time to cook. The wish lists for each family remain private to the individual who sponsors them. Team delivery is a program where volunteers can have the honor of delivering the meals and/or gifts to families. This means wherever the families are – whether at home, in the hospital or even the Ronald McDonald house. Each of these acts of kindness spreads the holiday spirit one meal at a time.

“We get letters [from families] that they wouldn’t have been able to get anything for their children or siblings because they can’t get out of the house or they don’t have the time or the money or they might not have the ability to go do it,” said Volunteer Director Kelly McGahan. “And they wouldn’t have had a meal.”

HUMANE SOCIETY OF BOULDER VALLEY

The contagious tail-wags, meows and cuddles from the dogs, cats and small animals are only a few reasons to give back to them during the holidays. They depend on us as humans to take care of them and it’s the least we can do for them as they wait for one of us to give them
their fur-ever home.

Browse through their wish list on Amazon to support the care-taking and enrichment of each unique animal who stays at the shelter. Choose from toys to stimulate their playtimes to milk replacement and bottles to take care of the newborn orphaned animals who are lost without their mom. The wish list can be found on Amazon, or on their website.

“Every donation will touch a life by providing a critical safety net of food, shelter, love, medical care, behavioral support, and more, to better serve our animals and the community the following year,” said Development and Communications Coordinator Nick Walsh. “Individual contributions are the reason we can serve over 7,000 animals each year, finding new loving homes for pets, maintaining strong relationships, and reuniting lost animals with their guardians.”

COMMUNITY FOOD SHARE

By donating extra cans of beans or foods we might throw in the trash because of an unexplainable fear of expiration dates, we serve one in eight people in Boulder and Broomfield counties who are struggling with buying food. Our donations help fill the aisles of the food bank with millions of pounds of fresh food and pack the selections with variety where families can stock carts with fresh fruits, vegetables, snacks, meats, eggs and more.

Their annual Let’s Bag Hunger food drive during Nov. 10-14 asks individuals to donate or drop off non-perishable food items at King Soopers stores in Boulder, Lafayette, and Louisville.

On their website, they have a regular list with their most needed items which include: nut butters, soups, cereals, canned tuna and chicken, baby food and formula, beans, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta and sauces and rice.

BOULDER SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS

Each year, 1,500 homeless adults seek help from the Boulder Shelter who proudly opens their doors. In the shelter, they’re protected from the vicious wind and fed to ease stomach pains. On their website, they have a list of goods and foods they need most. Donations they need most include travel size toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bath soap, deodorant and goods such as disposable razors, shaving cream, Kleenex, Q-tips, sunblock, lotion, earplugs, reading glasses and Chapstick. Winter wear such as hats, gloves, and large size winter jackets are also a must this holiday season.

Taking care of the people in our community takes care of everyone.

WILDLANDS RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS

We love the beauty we see in every direction from the Flatirons, walkable hiking trails, and grass free of trash. This Colorado nonprofit helps heal the land our community travels on.

Their adventurous wish list is packed full of useful restoration supplies: shovels, drills, tarps, fencing, gloves, axes, first aid kits, closed trailers, a fuel-efficient vehicle, storage space, projectors, crawl hauler, software, non-perishable food for when their projects are weekend-length, trowels, loppers, and pruners.

For specifics, contact them or check out their website.

BLUE SKY BRIDGE

Children who are going through trauma don’t get to experience the holidays as much as other kids. This nonprofit dedicates their time to protect them from future abuse and make them and their families feel as comfortable as possible with serious intervention, forensic interviews, counseling and family support.

Their wish list includes specific, yet simple, items that can help children relax and feel like the active kid that they are. Card and board games for all ages, colored pencils, coloring books, gel ink pens, healthy snacks, juice boxes, water bottles, Mandala coloring books, markers, stress balls, stuffed animals (must be new or gently used with no religious affiliation), and Play-Doh – the simple joys of life that can turn around a child’s day.

SAFEHOUSE PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE FOR NONVIOLENCE

Escaping an abusive relationship and starting over is possible with support. This domestic abuse shelter has needs you can meet. There is a year-round list on their website seeking supplies for both shelter and residents. Donations help with a begin a fresh start.

Safehouse Progressive Alliance also holds a Gift Card Drive. Volunteers are also welcomed to cook a holiday meal for the shelter.

*BONUS CHARITY – YOUR LOCAL YMCA

Dive into a swimming pool. Take a class. Let the kids play. The Y counts on community for
the supplies to help youth; specific supplies, at that. Books and new art supplies for preschoolers at YMCA Inspire Preschool in Longmont; board games and new art supplies for K-6th graders in After School Programs; new crayons; new or gently used toys and dress up clothing for Child Watch programs at Y in Boulder, Lafayette, and Longmont.

The list of nonprofits that need donations goes on…Thank you in advance for your holiday generosity. Tell them Yellow Scene sent you.
• A Woman’s Work
• Boulder Valley Women’s Health
• Intercambio Uniting Communities
• Boulder Housing Partners
• National MS Society
• Eco-Cycle Inc.
• Realities for Children Boulder
County
• “I Have A Dream” Foundation
of Boulder County
• Zonta Foothills Foundation
• Out Boulder County
• American Cancer Society –
Relay For Life
• Bridge House
• Bonfils Blood Center
• Social Venture Partners Boulder
County
• Attention Homes
• Sister Carmen Community
Center
• Agile International

The post 2017 Giving Guide: Nonprofit Wish lists To Give Life To This Holiday Season appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Boulder

ZUNI

A certified member of the Indian Arts and Crafts Association, Zuni offers stunning Native American arts from across the Southwest. What Zuni does, providing a place for these artists, is extremely important in a tourist, materialist culture that hocks imitations and trinkets. Some of Zuni’s most wonderful offerings are their Zuni Fetishes – small carved animals representing the incarnation of a living spirit that represent the totem animals of the six cardinal directions. By taking thoughtful care of the fetish the spirit imbues its keeper with guidance.”
ZuniBoulder.com
303.443.9575
1424 Pearl St, Boulder

TOPO DESIGNS

A topo is a type of map, which works because the products at Topo Designs will serve you well no matter where on the map you find yourself, functionally or stylistically. The company’s MAP Pact Initiative mean you can feel good about wearing the company’s clothes or carrying their bags. The MPI is a philosophy that guides every decision the company makes, so as to “protect our communities.” “We act on decisions to be responsible in the fabrics we choose, the products we make and the lifetime warranty we offer…we have developed a plan for people to engage and improve their communities, natural places and spaces around where they live.”
TopoDesigns.com • 720.255.2932
935 Pearl St, Boulder

MOMENTUM

Momentum is the place you need to know. They practice charitable giving,y partnering with local non-profits and organizations. Every Black Friday they donate a percentage to local non- profit rather than having specials. This years’ proceeds will go to Harvest of Hope Pantry. They’re also closely affiliated with the Fair Trade Federation to be socially and ethically conscientious with their business practices. Their mission is to create and inspire change by providing socially responsible choices for everyday purchases. All their products are crafted by the human hand, and the artisans who create them are ensured a fair and livable wage. We work hard to know where our products come from, and to make sure the materials and fibers used to make them are sustainable.
FairTradeWinds.net
303.440.7744
1625 Pearl St, Boulder

SAVVY ON PEARL

You know you’re woke and world savvy when you make EVERYONE who walks in the door feel welcome! Savvy on Pearl wants to make sure customers know that their spot is a friendly environment and a safe place to be themselves, regardless of their gender, creed, religion, race, or any other identity. The world needs more places so out about loving everyone. They have also started to create their own Colorado themed t shirts and have really enjoyed being able to design them, screen print them and sell them all at the local level.
#LocalIsLife
SavvyOnPearl.com • 303.440.3989
1114 Pearl St, Boulder

SPINSTER SISTERS

They donate 50 percent of profits from their Hand and Foot Salve to the Children’s Hospital of CO. For each bar of Dirty Dawgy Pet Soap sold, they donate 50 percent to Freedom Service Dogs of America. This December, at their Soaps and Cider events taking place on the 2nd, 9th, and 16th, they will be donating 10 percent of store proceeds to Colorado State Bee Keeper’s Association (12/2), Girls, Inc. (12/9), and Foothills Animal Shelter (12/16). On top of all that, they use wind power at their production site and their Cherry Creek North store. Finally, their shrink wrap is made of plastic made from corn, meaning it is entirely biodegradable. All of their products are biodegradable and Leaping Bunny certified.
SpinsterSistersCo.com • 720.618.642
1102 Pearl St, Boulder

BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (BIFF)

Boulder International Film Festival is a way to give back beyond the traditional gift in a box. Instead of a packaged, manufactured ‘thing’, give an experience. Supporting BIFF (coming Feb 22-25) with a Pass or Gift Certificate means not only supporting the arts in Boulder, but learning and experiencing the world through film, through interactions with filmmakers and film lovers. BIFF is meaningful, sustainable, local (and a heck of a lot of fun)! Get your loved ones a pass to experience all the magic Boulder’s big screen has to offer.
Biff1.com • 303.449.2289
2338 Broadway, Boulder

EL LORO JEWLERY

El Loro began with two couples who wanted a place to share their treasures. 40 years later, El Loro is one of the oldest stores on Pearl Street and remains a locally owned business true to its founding principles: appreciation for and awareness of global and local art and culture, a welcoming environment for people of all beliefs and lifestyles, and active participation in the community. El Loro has donated to and participated in countless charity auctions and fundraising events the last 40 years, prioritizing giving back to the community. They also carry many fair-trade items from around the world, and have longstanding relationships with communities in Guatemala, Malaysia, Bali, and more.
ElloroBoulder.com • 303.449.3162
1416 Pearl St, Boulder

BOULDER ART MART

A Boulder landmark since 1989 in the heart of the Pearl Street Mall, the Art Mart features retail arts and crafts from over 300 local, national, and international artists, helping to keep arts alive nationally and making sure we’re cultured locally. They are committed to bringing unique photography, jewelry, arts, crafts, and gifts together for Coloradans, with tens of thousands of individual items, including photography, paintings and prints, jewelry, pottery, woodwork, glass, Colorado keepsakes, clothing and scarves, furniture, and more.
ArtMartGifts.com • 303.443.8248
1326 Pearl St, Boulder

RAMBLE ON PEARL

Ramble on Pearl has beautiful stock when you walk through the front door. Everything is cleanly laid out, and the fabrics dazzle. But the store’s exceptionality doesn’t stop there. Ramble is a social enterprise which, according to their info sheet that you can grab at the register, “operates a job training program through its boutique clothing.” Connie Minden, the stores founder, started the program. Ramble hires “adults with developmental and intellectual needs who need support in finding employment, and, after an apprenticeship at our store, help them find longterm employment in the community.”
RambleOnPearl.com • 303.442.2267
1638 Pearl St, Boulder

Lyons

RED CANYON ART COMPANY

When you walk through a store, you don’t usually notice the displays–the tables, the cases, the glass boxes–but rather what’s in them. But Connie, the owner of Red Canyon Art Gallery since 2014 (the shop was founded in 1990), thinks about everything in her store and its impact on creator and buyer alike. This includes the shelves and glass panes through which customers peer at the local treasures. “All of this was recovered from ReSource in Boulder,” Connie says. This thoughtfulness extends to the items she sells as well. A large percentage of Rock Canyon’s display are consignment pieces. There are paintings, handmade jewelry, and other cool fashion accessories. Most of the items are made by local Front Range or Coloradobased artists, but Red Canyon also carries a number of international fair trade brands.
RedCanyonArt.com • 303.823.5900
400 Main St, Lyons

Longmont

USED BOOK EMPORIUM

In the 21 years since it opened, the Used Book Emporium has helped build a community of readers—which should, hopefully, lead to ever-more woke people—through their summer reading program. They partner with the Longmont Library to reward kids for reading with coupons that they can redeem for books at the Emporium. The more books they read, the greater the rewards they receive.
UsedBookEmporium.net • 303.776.6561
346 Main St, Longmont

SMALL PLANET E-BIKES

Being woke applies to the environment as well. If we don’t save our planet from the ills we’ve caused, it’s mutually assured destruction for all. Small Planet E-Bikes, founded in 2009, wants to“help save the world from fossil fuel pollution and automobile gridblock.” That’s a goal we can get behind…in the bike lane. They hope to get you on an electric bike. Many of their bikes get the equivalent of 2,000 mpg, so not only will you be doing your part to solve global warming, you’ll be saving money as you cruise around town!
SmallPlanetEBikes.com • 303.532.2879
724 Main St, Unit A, Longmont

CRYSTAL JOYS

All the pieces at Crystal Joys are “handcrafted with love.” The natural gemstone jewelry sparkles in brilliant colors. Set a spending
limit for yourself before going in, because you’re going to want to buy everything. What makes Crystal Joys particularly woke are the craftsmen and women themselves who make the pieces on display. The store works with Sample Supports to “provide meaningful employment to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Through this opportunity, members of this community build self-esteem and learn valuable job skills, while earning a competitive wage.” #Woke
CrystalJoys.com • 720.526.6183
360 Main St, Longmont

YORE

Yore has a code of ethics, a sense of responsibility. They believe that practical goods means more than just stuff that’s cheap, but goods that are practical, useful and coming from responsible makers and manufacturers. Yore knows we vote with our dollars for the kind of world we want to see, so they source their products from responsible locations in the US and Europe, as well as stainless steel products from South Korea (which is the only place they can source those goods). With a “mission to provide customers with quality made, well designed, responsibly manufactured goods that are practical for everyday use,” you can’t go wrong shopping at Yore.
Yore.us • 720.340.3381
381 Main St, Longmont

CRACKPOTS

Crackpots is a pottery studio where you can come in, pay for the supplies and studio time, and paint whatever fun-shaped bowl, plate, mug, or other item your heart desires. Each year Crackpots partners with Our Center—a nonprofit that helps the hungry, the homeless and others get back on their feet—for “Empty Bowls” program. The store donates studio time for people to come in and paint bowls, all of which are then sold at an event at Longmont High. People buy tickets to the “Empty Bowl” event at the school, which gets them two bowlfuls of soup and a painted bowl of their choice. All the proceeds from the event go to the Our Center and their life-saving and changing programming.
CrackPots.com • 303.776.2211
505 Main St, Longmont

SIMPLY BULK

Simply Bulk has over 100 different items to choose from. You can have all those delectable snacks and not feel guilt pangs about the non-biodegradable plastic wrappers we contribute to landfills. Simply Bulk’s motto appeals to the thrifty consumer in all of us: “Pay for the product, not for the package. Over the seven-and-a-half years that Simply Bulk has been around, they’ve seen a growing interest in their business model. They just received the 2017 Environmental Sustainability Award from Longmont’s Economic Development Partnership, and are in the process of being certified for electricity and waste reduction with Boulder County’s PACE agency, having previously been certified for water usage.
SimplyBulkMarket.webs • 303.678.7069
418 Main St, Longmont

MUD & MADDER

Mud & Madder is a new collaboration. Everything owners Simi and Lindsey sell is handmade in-house and is 100% local. Simi wrote to YS, “Longmont is rich with talent and we want to make sure to feature that, but without going through the traditional channels
of wholesale and consignment. We want the makers to keep the majority of their profits and be able to be there to represent their own products… We also strive to empower others to make things by hand… something that seems to be a forgotten art. We want to revitalize that … by offering DIY workshops. We’re just in the beginning phases, but hope to be a place where you can come learn a craft and continue to pursue that craft at home.”
MudAndMadder.com • 720.938.2684
712 Main St, Longmont

THE HOP: MOBILE VINTAGE

The Hope is #woke: They choose to be a small footprint mobile business that brings life back into pre-loved garments and goods for other people to love again. Encouraging their customers to embrace who they are and what they love through the unique way they like to dress and style themselves. Importantly, they also firmly believe in sending body positive messages and offer a variety of sizes and encouraging everyone to find what makes them feel beautiful (or handsome). Kristie and her husband, the owners, believe that people should embrace who they are and what they love and they encourage people to do that through what they wear. Respect.
AtTheHopShop.com • 720.544.1693

ICE BOX KNITTING

IBK has amazing, international fare. Their Dohm knit caps are designed on antique hand flat machines, using no no power to make, and even the lights in the knitting room are run on solar power! Their Merino and Cashmere wool comes from Zegna-Baruffa, a 160 year old Italian yarn manufacturer. The Alpaca originates in Arequipa, Peru, collected and processed from Indigenous farmers. And the American Bison is gathered from Texas to Montana. Xob is their Upcycled brand, where they use sweaters from the thrift industry to create unique one-of-a kind hats and accessories. Upcycling at it best makes IBK almost as woke as can be.
IceBoxKnitting.com • 303.485.7112
1111 Delaware Ave, Longmont

MAGIC FAIRY CANDLES

What’s not to love about a place called Magic Fairy Candles? Lisa Patchem writes that the store strives for the “betterment of humanity. From a place of compassion, we create products which may be used as catalysts for awareness.” One of the store’s most popular product lines is its Phases of the Moon line candles, mists, bath bombs and bath salts. Other woke aspects are the gift bags they’ll be using, fair trade products made by Freeset, which “helps women of sex trafficking”. Finally, they donate 10 percent of all profit to local nonprofits. Notably, three specific Longmont Candles that you should consider buying, benefit nonprofits like the Firehouse Art Center, Our Center, and Willow Farms.
MagicFairyCandles.com • 720.771.0359
634 Main St, Longmont

Louisville

LITTLE HORSE BOOKS AND VINTAGE

Louisville downtown is packed with all thegoodies. One goodie that’s easy to miss, is Little Horse. Here you’ll find a shop that is “focused on architecture, furniture, and graphic design from the Mid-Century Modern period” and a glorious collection of local memorabilia, records, record players, and more. Mike Price, the owner, supports theNew Vista High School internship program
to help at risk kids get job experience, gives to numerous local charities annually, and donates to Choose Kindness based in Loveland, which helps with child literacy.
LittleHorseVintage.com • 303.242.5382
820 Main St, Louisville

MUDSLINGERS

Mudslingers sounds dirty and it is. You go in and get all Ghost with it, or maybe just take a class with the owner, John Hansen, who’s been teaching pottery in the area for 20 years. A place to learn a new skill, especially an ancient art form, is an important place. It gives in knowledge, in skill, and in the beauty of empowering community to create. Mudslingers “offers studio space on a monthly basis to more experienced potters as well as a variety of classes for all levels including children” and is funded in part by the Boulder County Arts Alliance.
MudslingersPottery.com • 303.926.0996
920 Main St, Louisville

THE SINGING COOK

The Singing Cook is an apt name: after wandering around this store, you’ll be singing its praises to any foodie or aspiring chef. While the Singing Cook has normal items, you’ll find all sorts of unique and unusual kitchen accessories here, too, several of which benefit great causes. Jennie, the Singing Cook’s proprietor, said she carries “a line called Blessing Basket in which the artisans are from underdeveloped countries and the baskets they make supplement.” Another cool gift idea you’ll are the Louisville Museum mugs, 15% of the profits from which Jenni donates to the Louisville History Foundation.
SingingCookStore.com • 720.484.6825
728 Main St, Louisville

Lafayette

TRI: THE RESTORATION INITIATIVE

This just might be hipster heaven. Looking through the men’s section, there was literally nothing we didn’t want, from the ties, to the shoes, to the antique razor. The Restoration Initiative–TRI for short–is a store in Lafayette that sells vintage items, Colorado artisan wares, and fair-trade items. In addition to what the acronym actually stands for TRI is a fitting name considering the stores three product categories and its three founders. The founders go to India several times a year to research and source fair trade goods to stock in their elegant showroom. A portion of the proceeds from many of the items they sell go directly towards sponsoring “individuals and organizations working end human trafficking around the world.”
Tri-Socials.com 720.502.4463
107 S Public Rd, Lafayette

CHOCOLATERIE STAM

Beautiful is a word that comes to mind. Chocolaterie Stam is a delicatessen shop with a heart that sings. Music is a foundational element that speaks to the heart of Lafayette’s Chocolaterie Stam. They may have a store in Lafayette, Colorado, but this is real chocolate. The Stam company is “a modern chocolaterie steeped in old-world, Dutch traditions.” Since 1913, the Stam family has been proudly handcrafting these wondrous confections. The two Lafayette location owners know each other because they’re both alumni of the same youth musical organization. In Lafayette, they had a vision of having an active player piano to capture the hearts and imagination of small children and inspire them to pursue music. “We acquired a beautiful grand piano and since opening have had over 20 different young musicians perform live in store.” They’ve had “3 recitals and countless hours-long piano and vocal concerts within the store, as well as offering our piano free of charge to local piano teachers to give young musicians the opportunity to play in public within a magical and supportive environment.” #MusicallyWoke
103 N Public Rd Unit B, Lafayette,
Facebook.com/StamColorado
303.800.8201

BELLA FRIDA

Want to shop local but look global? Then look no further than Bella Frida. Laura, the store’s owner and founder, is all about celebrating handmade goods, whether they be from Guatemala, India or New Mexico. “We work with artisans, as well as purchasing from fair trade, ethical lines,” she said. “We believe fashion can change the world for the better if it is cerated fair and ethically.” A prime example of Bella Frida’s offerings include jewelry from Catori Life, a New Mexico company that donates 30 trees through the Eden Project for every piece of jewelry sold.
BelaFrida.com 303.386.4301
101 ½ East Chester St, Lafayette

ANSPACH JEWELRY

This seems weird, and is is to a degree, but Anspach’s owner has been a staple of the local community for decades, giving back as a coach, community leader, and philanthropist for longer than his store’s been around. When you shop Anspach, not only are you getting gorgeous jewelry pieces, you’re giving back to someone who has given back so much. Community is as much about giving as getting. And supporting businesses that have supported community for so long is a worthy use of our holiday dollars, whether seeking an engagement ring for a Winter proposal or an anniversary gift for the person you’ve shared so many wonderful years with.
AnspachsJewelry.com
303.665.5313
101 S Public Rd, Lafayette

BOULDER BODY WEAR

Boulder Body Wear is the place to go for all your dance, yoga and lifestyle apparel. They’ve got beautiful, highly functional pieces that are, where possible, sourced from socially responsible companies. But what makes BBW particularly woke are its community-focused initiatives. Their founder, Amy, says the store “offers all of the dance and yoga studies in the area discounts on supplies to make sure that if someone wants to be part of a program they have the things they need to do that. Being a part of a dance group can be life changing.” Just as #woke are the need-based supplies scholarships offered, enabling those who may not otherwise be able to to reap the joys and benefits of dance to do so.
BoulderBodyWear.com 303.447.9100
2859 Arapahoe Rd, Suite 104, Lafayette

ELIZABETH’S EMBELLISHMENTS

“Elizabeth always knew what she liked in terms of aesthetics, even as a young child,” and that continues today. EE’s carries “gifts for women and the home; items for the creative and crafty individual, as well as items for those that wanted something special to feather the nest.” She also carries with her the weight of Karma, which began in “2006 with a vision of effective altruism where creative artisans of Africa could be given the dignity of meaningful work by bringing their handiwork to the global marketplace.” Elizabeth’s is a part of bringing that goodness to us.
ElizabethsEmbellishments.com
303.926.7133
611 S Public Rd, Lafayette

The post 2017 Locavore Holiday Guide appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

A Jew, a Catholic and a pharmaceutical company vice president walk into a bar. The Catholic buys a round of vodka drinks, and the VP cracks a joke of Jewish nature.

It wasn’t that funny.

But the ensuing conversation turned into rousing hilarity, or at least the topic of a sociology paper. It turns out, I was the Jew, the VP was my brother’s boss, and the Catholic, well, umm, that was my brother. This was just a few years back, we were both in our 20s and this was the first time we’d ever realized we sided with different religions despite living under the same roof for nearly two decades. True story.

We grew up in a split religion household. Dad came from a strict Catholic upbringing. Mom’s mom was nothing without her Jewish guilt. But by the time I was brought into this world—almost five years after Big Bro—the rents had figured out that they’d raise us in a non-denominational manner with a side of both religious cultures.

In full disclosure, the Harkins family wasn’t the model of practicing either religion. We did the big holidays. When December rolled around, we’d light the menorah and pick out a Christmas tree too bushy to fit in the living room. As a small child getting both Hanukkah and Christmas gifts, I thought I was the luckiest kid on the block.

There were Easter brunches and seder dinners.

I can remember going to church once or twice with my dad and attending more than a handful of bar mitzvahs when I was on the cusp of becoming a teen. But for whatever reason, whenever prompted, I simply answered, “Jewish.” Many of my closest friends were Jews, perhaps that’s why I sided with my mom’s religion. Or maybe it’s because the Jewish faith follows a matriarchal lineage. Or maybe because I’m a momma’s boy. There’s really no explanation. So basically, I became an Irish-Jew with an extra helping of Judaism, which is about as rare as the Sarajevo Haggadah.

Meanwhile, my older brother coasted through life thinking the menorah was just a tiny piece of our holiday celebrations. He liked the Christmas tree better, dammit!

We’re sitting in an empty nightclub in LoDo on a quiet Monday evening when all of this is revealed. Mike, the VP, was in shock.

How could two brothers—two very close brothers, to boot—never realize this throughout countless conversations, squabbles and family gatherings over the years?

It is a little mind-boggling, but since we were never that religious, it’s not totally surprising. In fact, the holidays were simply about family and giving, so it wasn’t really an issue whether one of us preferred sacrament wine while the other Manishevitz.

If there’s a moral to be taken from this story, it’s this: It doesn’t matter what religion you subscribe to (if you’ve even signed up for one at all), the holidays are a time to celebrate family, give thanks for everything you have and buy a nice little something for loved ones.

Although getting gifts during Hanukkah and on Christmas is still pretty freakin’ cool.

The post A Moment of Clarity appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.