59 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | pressive hoard of in-process collectibles stacked up by the front doors. Paraphras- ing what Tolkien once wrote of Smaug’s treasure-pile: To say that your breath will be taken away is no description at all. Best Place for Locally Made, Colorado-Themed Gifts A Touch of Colorado 7278 West Alaska Drive, Lakewood facebook.com/atouchofcolorado/about Want to celebrate the state and its creatives? A Touch of Colorado, Belmar’s locally owned gift shop, is fi lled with a vast array of prod- ucts created by Colorado artisans and art- ists, including hand-thrown mugs, tiny pots, ceramic sculptures, soaps and Maruca bags. There’s also a large selection of hats, T-shirts, sweatshirts, scarves and baby presents that you won’t see in typical Colorado souvenir shops, along with hot sauces, honey and jams. The inventory changes often, and there’s something for every budget. Best Store for Paper Snobs Pen Pals 3490 South Broadway, Englewood penpalsstore.com Listen, we understand: There’s nothing more satisfying than writing a letter, jour- nal entry or note on thick, high-quality paper with a nice, smooth pen. Opened by local art-scene and craft-show regular Judy Gehrke-Gilbert at the end of 2024, Pen Pals sells fountain pens, unique stationary and handmade greeting cards (that are much more aesthetic than the ones you’d fi nd at a grocery store). Collage artists will also want to check out this place, which stocks pack- ets of vintage bits of paper and ephemera just waiting to be turned into a work of art. Best Free Bookstore BookGive Service Station 4890 Lowell Boulevard bookgivedenver.org The BookGive Service Station name is lit- eral: The store’s location is a former gas pitstop. But the “Service” part has a dual purpose. BookGive offers books to any- one who shows up, no questions asked – and the tomes on display are typically high-interest, recently published works, as opposed to stuff that’s been molder- ing in Grandma’s attic. But the nonprofi t also solicits donations and partners with education-oriented organizations ranging from Denver Public Schools to the “I Have a Dream” Foundation to make sure read- ers of all ages have access to pages worth turning. Since 2019, BookGive has donated 500,000 books and counting. Its hours are limited, but its generosity is boundless. Best Used Book Sale Whale of a Used Book Sale 15200 West Sixth Avenue, Golden Twice a year, the Jefferson County Library Foundation hosts the biggest used book sale in the metro area to raise funds for the coun- ty’s public libraries. The event is truly every collector’s white whale, with over 80,000 books, CDs, DVDs offered each round. Catch the event in late May or late Octo- ber at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, or check out the Whale’s Tale Bookstore in Colorado Mills for a more limited selection of used books available year-round. Best Comic Book Store Vision Comics & Oddities 5809 South Broadway, Littleton facebook.com/visioncomicsoddities The new home of Vision Comics is way more than just bigger and better. It’s also badder, as befits a place that advertises “oddities” in its signage. Yes, it carries comic books, and even produces some of its own — so cool that they’re consistent sell- throughs. And it stocks toys, too, new and vintage. But the decor alone is worth a look: a giant, cymbals-clapping possessed mon- key glaring down from the rafters; a huge skull with a Game of Swords throne inset in the mouth, and much more that will fi ll nightmares in the best possible ways. Best Comic Auction Joe the Mad Titan whatnot.com/user/joethemadtitan instagram.com/joethemadtitan Artist and illustrator Joe “the Mad Titan” Rollman has become known for his work at various conventions around town, and shows at venues like Ink Comics Art Gal- lery. Last year, he did battle with cancer, and while he emerged victorious (yo, Joe!), the American healthcare system is such that his deductibles still amounted to well into six fi gures. So he and wife, Lady Jaye, decided to part with their comic and art collection on the auction site Whatnot ev- ery Thursday night and Sunday morning to work to defray the costs — and it’s been such fun that they might just keep going once the medical bills are paid. Best Dog Manicure: Praise the Paw 433 East 17th Avenue praisethepaw.com Jennifer “Mama” Foreman, Paradise, and the rest of the team at Praise the Paw do it because of the love. That much is clear. Oh, they offer fantastic services, too; everything from nail trims to ear cleaning to full ca- nine makeovers can Shopping & Services continued from page 53 continued on page 60
