60 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | CONTENTS | be had in their 17th Avenue storefront. But the joy they have in seeing your dog is worth the cost almost on its own. The key is the relaxed atmosphere: Dogs do better when they know they’re in a good place, among good people. Best Support for E-Commerce Entrepreneurs saltbox 4800 Dahlia Street saltbox.com/location/denver A stylish facility just north of Park Hill, saltbox provides support for small and me- dium e-commerce companies by providing warehouse space, packing stations, ship- ping and receiving services, camaraderie and other logistical support for a growing business. The two content studios allow users to create for social media, and confer- ence rooms are available for meetings and presentations. The saltbox also partners with the Denver Economic Development Corporation on special programs. Best Free, Low-Tech Way to Listen to an Audiobook Denver Public Library Playaway 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway denverlibrary.org/meet-playaway The much-requested Playaway is a palm- sized, nonsmart device that holds pre- loaded popular fi ction and nonfi ction titles for adults and children alike. As with a simple tape recorder, the only buttons are play, pause, forward, reverse and volume. No internet is needed, only a AAA battery, and it plugs into headphones, a speaker or your car’s audio jack. The simplicity ap- peals to all ages. Best Petite French Library Alliance Française de Denver 7701 East First Place, Unit A afdenver.org Alliance Française de Denver, a local chap- ter of the international group dedicated to spreading the French language, has a cozy, newly remodeled French library. While the library is small, the selection is not so pe- tite, with more than 1,500 books available for checkout Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The collection includes clas- sic, contemporary, and children’s books for all levels of French. Anyone can check out up to fi ve books for thirty days. But fair warning: The overdue fee is 25 cents per item per day. Alors. Best Way to Appreciate Literature and the Creative Community Denver Public Library Lineup 10 West 14th Avenue Parkway instagram.com/thelibrarylineup Programming at the Denver Public Library has undergone a major overhaul under the direction of Jessie de la Cruz, who brought back the popular citywide reading program One Book One Denver after a decade-long hiatus. Other events include the lively and rollicking Battle of the Books, where the audience votes for which of fi ve local cre- atives does the best job of describing a life-changing book. A more introspective option is the Silent Pages Society, with participants meeting up to read their own book in different lo- cations, including a recent visit to the light rail N line. Best New Library Lena Archuleta Library 3300 West Nevada Place, Unit 2 denverlibrary.org/lena- archuleta-branch-library Funded by the 2021 RISE Bond at a cost of $6 million, Denver Public Library’s 28th and newest branch is part of the Blossom House campus, a lively neighborhood hub with a teen makerspace, hydroponic farm, com- munity kitchen, gathering spaces and early childhood education program. The li- brary has movable shelving to accommodate events and programs, and there are photos of beloved educator Lena Archuleta throughout. Her campaign for equal education for all led her to become a teacher, librarian, and eventu- ally Denver’s fi rst Latina principal. Best Way Get Certifi ed Colorado Native Plant Society 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 911 conps.org If you’ve spotted a small yard sign pro- claiming “Certifi ed Native Plant Garden,” the homeowner has earned that distinc- tion by committing to gardening with native plants from state ecosystems with the guidance of the Colorado Native Plant Society. Incorporated in 1976, its mission is to conserve native plants (defi ned as those that were present prior to Columbus’s voy- age). Today, the society offers scholarships, workshops, webinars, fi eld trips and pre- sentations such as Insect-Plant Interac- tions and Native Shopping & Services continued from page 59 continued on page 62 ILLUSTRATIONS BY GETT Y IMAGES
