53 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | having to worry about the sculpting and kiln processes? Pottery studio Ceramics in the City has plenty of good options to choose from. And no, nothing close to that dinky knickknack you painted at a birthday party in seventh grade. Whether it’s a soap or butter dish, a garden gnome, an ashtray — or hell, your own pipe — Ceramics in the City has something for every taste. You can easily book a session online, pick out your piece and get creative with your painting. Ceramics in the City will fi re it up in the kiln, and your mas- terpiece is ready to pick up within a week. Best Photo Booth Stanley Marketplace 2501 North Dallas Street, Aurora stanleymarketplace.com Vintage-style photo strips are having a big moment right now. For the perfect shot, look no farther than Stanley Marketplace. Located on the second fl oor of the mixed- use urban marketplace, the unassuming photo booth provides sharp, high-contrast black-and-white portraits with a cute retro background. The pictures that result are higher quality and more flattering than those from any other photo booth we’ve tried in the metro. So stop by the Stanley to grab a new Instagram profi le picture, and check out one of the dozens of local res- taurants and businesses while you’re there. Best Mobile Music Recording Moon Magnet moonmagnetmusic.com Reed Fox received a 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Colo- rado — and his work with Moon Magnet is a big reason why. The two-time Meow Wolf grant recipient is a noteworthy musi- cian in his own right, as witnessed by the accomplishments of his band déCollage. But he’s also dedicated to passing along his knowledge, and Moon Magnet — a music school, mastering studio, record label and DJ production company — has proven to be an excellent platform. The facility teaches everything from learning how to play an instrument to releasing a recording to the public within ninety days. As an added bo- nus, Moon Magnet teachers actually make house calls: They’ll drive to you! Best Place to Buy a Piano If You Have $280 Grand to Drop Steinway & Sons 56 Steele Street steinwaycolorado.com In the summer of 2025, Cherry Creek got its own luxury piano store, Steinway & Sons. Steinways are like the Ferrari of pianos, elegantly crafted and coveted by pop stars, universities and symphonies. An immense concert grand that can play itself comes with the heftiest price tag, while the cheapest pianos run around $7,200. A store like Steinway & Sons is something of a novelty these days, when most people are buying electric instruments at Guitar Center. But playing a Steinway is like hav- ing a whole orchestra at your fi ngertips. Best Place to Buy Your First Guitar Wedgles Music & Loan 1122 Broadway wedglesmusic.com Part used music store, part instrument repair shop and part loan services and shop, Wedgles Music & Loan is tucked into an unassuming storefront next to a convenience store. But inside is an amaz- ing treasure trove of used instruments — from electric and acoustic guitars to fl utes, violins, synthesizers, trumpets and other equipment, such as amps and pedals. Stop in and you might be drawn to a mandolin with a butterfl y inlay or an accordion with pearlescent buttons, but don’t be surprised if you fall in love with an affordable guitar and fi nally decide to start learning to play. Best Place to Expand Your Musical Sensibilities on a Budget Recollect Records 1255 Delaware Street recollectrecords.com Vinyl collecting is an expensive hobby. Depending on what you’re hunting for — whether it’s a Record Store Day exclusive or an alternative speciality pressing — an afternoon of digging can easily set you back hundreds. If you’re building up your collec- tion, but you’re on a budget, Recollect Re- cords has you covered with its backroom, which is fi lled with $3 bangers. Stop by this humble boutique and stock up on un- heralded gems from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s without breaking the bank. Remember to bring airpods to sample stuff you’ve never heard: An afternoon of artistic discovery awaits. Best Store for Used Vinyl, Books and Gaming Stuff Black & Read 6655 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada blackandread.com If you’re a nerd of any stripe, you owe it to yourself to check out Black & Read, partic- ularly now that the store’s moved twelve blocks south to a well-lit, larger space with plenty of room for geek goodness. Do you amass music? Accumulate comics? Pile up paperbacks? Gather up gaming goods? You’ll fi nd it all shelved neatly at Black & Read — except for that im- Shopping & Services continued from page 51 continued on page 59
