The Don’t Panic Gift Guide

Get Out of The House and Shop Local

During the last-minute flurry of holiday gift shopping, make it a day to remember by getting off your computer, skipping the Amazon panic (will it ship or won’t it ship on time?), and gliding through our local neighborhoods instead. It is literally as easy as picking a street like Tennyson, 32nd Ave., or the surprisingly awesome mix of indie shops at the Edgewater Public Market for a one-stop-shop for everyone on your list. Feeling adventurous? We’ve highlighted some cool, old-school antique shops like Peter Damian in Wheat Ridge and Treasures Outlet near Regis that offer incredibly unique finds plus warm, welcoming owners who truly love what they do and want to share their stories.

Since it is the season of giving, merchants are creating unique philanthropic moments, too. Lariat on Tennyson St. is supporting Family Tree with diaper donations for women in financial need. If you donate $5, you will receive 15% off of your purchase. XO Gifts to Go donates a percentage of sales from their incredible Colorado tees to save our National Parks. Zero Market, a refillable collection of organic vegan body and home products embraces the Good Earth with their philosophy, “Good things come in no packages.” The truly over-the-top Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory on West Colfax is selling gingerbread houses to help put roofs over people’s heads by donating 100% of the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity. They’ve also created a gifty marketplace that features local Colorado partners whose ingredients are in their ice cream, plus an entire shop of baked goods and truffles created by their pastry chefs. Locals helping locals defines the spirit of the season.

From cheap and cheerful finds to decadent splurges, DON’T PANIC!!! North Denver’s got you covered. Be safe. Be healthy. Wear your mask. From our family to yours, happy holidays.

Cheap & Cheerful Surprises under $20

Perfect dorm room art that won’t break the bank. Classic album sleeves, $3

Treasures Outlet
4949 N. Lowell Blvd.

Perfect stocking stuffer gift cards of any denomination; Pint glasses, $5

Hops & Pie/Berkeley Donuts
3920 Tennyson St.

Children’s books and stuffie toys, $10 and up

Book Bar
4280 Tennyson St.

Unique plants and succulents, $12 and up

Stalk Market Co Edgewater Public Market
5505 W. 20th Ave.

Homemade truffles, holiday cookies, toffee, biscotti, and cocoa from the sweet chefs at Santa’s Factory, $2-12

Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory
4411 W. Colfax Ave.

Photo by Harry Warters

Earth-friendly home and body care refillable concoctions, tinctures, spices, hand sanitizers, and teas, $0.16 per oz and up

Zero Market Edgewater Public Market
5505 W. 20th Ave.

Nifty Giftys under $50

Beautiful floral arrangements, plants & gifts. Ceramic vases, $25-40

Fern & Bloom
4014 Tennyson St.

Cozy kids faux fur hats, $26-20; plush soft toys, $16

Real Baby
4315 Tennyson St.

Personal fitness training gift cards are the perfect way to tee up the new year, $25 and up.

Vitruvian Fitness
7605 W. 44th Ave.

Pop the cork with Bonaquisti’s new Blanc de Blancs sparkling white wine. $30

Bonaquisti Wine
4640 Pecos Street

Mango wood bread boards, $22-50

Luna & Jasper
3640 32nd Ave.

Great selection of unusual cookbooks and all the beautiful things that go with them, $30 and up

Perfect Petal
3600 W. 32nd Ave.

Wooden yarn butlers help unwind without the tangle. Made by a local 15-year-old boy, $35-40

The Tangled Ball Edgewater Public Market
5505 W. 20th Ave.

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.
Truly awesome collection of antique finds.

Mid century swan, $40

Connie’s Antiques & Treasures
3832 Tennyson St.

A spin-off of Extraordinary Gifts, this shop features an homage to Colorado tees. The creative and colorful “Wild Tribute” collections in adult and kids sizes give back 4% of proceeds to the National Park Service, $30-35

XO Gifts to Go
3843 Tennyson St.

When You Can Splurge

Tasteful and dead-cool antique and collectible shop in Wheat Ridge. Exquisite and unusual Indian turquoise and coral jewelry collection, $180-$1,250

Peter Damian Fine Jewelry & Antiques
7220 W. 38th Ave.