30 APRIL 4-10, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | Best Gift to Colorado John Fielder’s Colorado Collection History Colorado Center 1200 Broadway 303-447-8679 historycolorado.org Legendary photographer John Fielder passed away in August 2023, but not before he presented Colorado with an incredible gift to remember him by. His- tory Colorado is now the steward of John Fielder’s Colorado Collection, an assort- ment of more than 6,000 photographs. Fielder spent fi fty years traveling Colo- rado’s 104,984 square miles, capturing the changing landscape in more than 200,000 photographs — many of which landed in books and on walls across the state. And now they’re easier to access than ever. After culling through his work, Fielder donated thousands of photographs to His- tory Colorado in January 2023; the collec- tion is now digitized and easily searchable by the public, which can download favor- ite photos. History Colorado also sells giant, exclusive Fielder prints for a very reasonable price, and you can see his work at the museum whenever you visit. Best Endangered Old-Timey Souvenir Shop Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave 987 1/2 Lookout Mountain Road, Golden 720-865-2160 buffalobill.org The Pahaska Tepee Gift Shop & Cafe was created atop Lookout Mountain over a century ago, when the body of William F. Cody — Buffalo Bill to you — was entombed high on a hill overlook- ing the plains that he had explored and celebrated. At one point, Buffalo Bill was the best-known celebrity in the world, reaching Taylor Swift heights of fame. In 1921, working with the City and County of Denver, Johnny Baker, his foster son, cre- ated a building modeled after Buffalo Bill’s hunting lodge in Yellowstone Park and opened a museum there; decades later, a modern museum was built nearby, and the Pahaska Tepee was turned into a cafe and the best souvenir shop in Colorado, full of trinkets both historic and old-timey tacky. But now this frequent Best of Den- ver winner is in danger of being closed and redeveloped by the city, unless Denver residents prove they can’t be buffaloed. Best Souvenir Shops in Metro Denver Abstract Denver Multiple metro locations 720-937-9722 abstractdenver.com Sometimes a tourist needs more than a cowpie Frisbee as a memento of their visit to Denver. Sometimes a local needs more than another concert poster to remember where they live. Time to head to Abstract Denver, which has four locations in metro Denver as well as a robust online presence. These are much more than souvenir shops; they’re full of smart art and clothing with original designs, all celebrating the local scene. If you can’t find something here you covet, you just aren’t looking. Bonus points for the pop-up at 303 16th Street; if stores like this are what we can expect once construction is (fi nally) complete, the 16th Street Mall might be deserving of becoming a major destination again. Best Possible Celebration of Denver Museum of Denver museumofdenver.org It’s got a brand-spanking-new website, an impressive lineup of supporters and a lot of big ideas. So far, though, the Museum of Denver only exists in cyberspace — but it’s a concept worthy of becoming a physi- cal reality. Whenever local historian Ja- son Hanson traveled to different cities, he would always visit their museums, and he always wondered why Denver didn’t have its own; he pitched the idea for a Museum of Denver to other civic-minded volunteers like former Denver City Council members Kendra Black and Mary Beth Susman. Now all it needs is a lot of funding and maybe, just maybe, permission from the city to take over the McNichols Building, putting a fa- cility devoted to Denver in the heart of the city and adding another landmark to Civic Center Park. Best E-Scooter Route Downtown Denver Tour This collection of bike lanes, trails and shared-use sidewalks provides an invigo- rating tour of downtown Denver with mini- mal risk of being hit by a car. Start at Union Station and take 20th Street to the South Platte River Trail for a quick ride through Commons Park, then hop on the Cherry Creek Trail by Elitch Gardens and take it to West 14th Avenue and Civic Center Park. Circle the Capitol, the Denver City & County Building and the Denver Art Museum, then head back downtown. You can’t hit the 16th Street Mall, but you can get close by taking 15th Street to Wynkoop Street, then ride through McGregor Square to Coors Field and return to Union Station. Lookin’ good, Denver! Best Tours of Denver Aaron’s GreenRides 2890 Brighton Boulevard, #121 720-724-7247 aaronsgreenrides.com Want to see ground-level Denver but would rather have someone else do the work? With Aaron’s GreenRides, you can choose from seventeen pedicab tours, including South Broadway, City Park, Capitol HIll and the South Platte Trail — enjoying the ride while learning about Denver history. Aaron’s pedicabs come equipped with lights and music, and also offer VIP treat- ment for weddings, birthday parties and private events. Best Way to Explore Colorado’s Agricultural Roots CSU Spur 4777 National Western Drive 970-297-4321 csuspur.org Yeehaw! Although the transformation of the National Western Center is far from complete, Colorado State University’s con- tribution is done, and it’s corralled quite a following. In the three buildings that com- prise CSU Spur — Terra, Hydro and Vida — you can learn all about water, growing food, health, sustainability and veterinary medi- cine. At Vida, you can view animal surger- ies through a window (and a monitor) and watch horses engage in equine therapy; at Terra, you can explore a rooftop garden and discover what’s wrong with your planet; at Hydro, you can explore how water short- ages are endangering the planet. Admission is always free, with special activities on 2nd Saturdays. Best Low-Tech Reason to Have a Denver Public Library Card Cookbook Collection 720-865-1111 denverlibrary.org Given the high cost of dining out these days, it might be time to up your cooking game. Whether you’re planning a dinner party, looking for easy weekday dinners or want to master Indian food, visit the Den- ver Public Library — with 25 branches and two bookmobiles citywide — for inspira- tion. Among the latest in the collection of over 7,200 cookery titles are Misunderstood Vegetables: How to Fall in Love with Sun- chokes, Rutabaga, Eggplant and More, and Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time. Best High-Tech Reason to Have a Denver Public Library Card Tutor.com 720-865-1111 denverlibrary.org The Denver Public Library has live tutors available online from 3 to 10 p.m. every day, offering homework help in a wide range of subjects, as well as test preparation for kindergartners through twelfth-graders. Adult learners, job seekers and college stu- dents can also benefi t from the rigorously vetted tutors, who must show profi ciency in their subject area and expertise in an online environment. Best Workforce Program Denver Indian Center 4407 Morrison Road 303-936-2688 denverindiancenter.org Since 1983, the Denver Indian Center has supported the Native community by offer- ing guidance, support and a place where people can meet and honor Indigenous cultures. But the facility also offers help for maneuvering the world outside its doors: Members of federally recognized tribes can choose to join Parenting in Two Worlds, Honoring Fatherhood and the Workforce Program, which includes career counsel- ing, résumé workshops, GED assistance, and funding for job training. Best Way to Beat Your Swords Into Plowshares Guns to Gardens Metro Denver gunstogardensdenver.org Want to get rid of that gun you inherited? Help make the community safer by trans- forming your unwanted (and unloaded) fi rearm into a garden tool by dropping it off at a Guns to Gardens event. Trained volun- teers dismantle the parts, which are forged into garden tools. It’s anonymous, and you’ll receive a gift card for your surrender. Best Cremation Memorials Memento Mori mementomoriglass.com The sculptural glass works that Danelle Rains makes for Memento Mori are aglow with color, but what really catches your at- tention are the sparkling fl ecks found in the swirling hues. They add a potent energy to the pieces, and once continued on page 32 JAY VOLLMAR
