All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Niwot's Conoco Gas Station is home to healthy potted green plants nice enough to be last minute holiday gifts.
The Nook inside the Niwot Market has decorative and functional items that make great stocking stuffers and hostess gifts.
We're in the home stretch of the holiday shopping season, and for those of you with a few names left to check off your gift list, be sure to consider one of the dozens of unique items from the artists, growers and crafters that call Niwot and Gunbarrel home.
Gas up and grab a gift
When you fill 'er up at the Niwot Conoco in the Cottonwood Shopping Center, don't just drive off - go inside where you'll find a treasure trove of charming gifts for your loved ones. You'll be stunned by the corner of the store loaded with healthy green potted plants. Would you believe there are $1 used books, your favorite snacks and candies sitting next to some very tempting less familiar treats, tons of decorative knick knacks and puzzles, and seriously, so much you didn't know you wanted or needed?
Here's a fun idea for a kid gift – create your own coupon for whatever denomination feels right along with a guaranteed interesting visit to the gas station where the coupon can be spent. It may take a few dozen times up and down the aisles to decide what to spend it on, but it will be a blast to go exploring.
Gifts from Niwot and Gunbarrel-based Foodie Favorites
Everyone likes to eat, and Niwot is home to unique world-class food and beverage options. Even better, gift certificate options where your friends or family can choose their own gift means it will be sure to be a hit with them. Options for food include Cottonwood Square standards like the more relaxed Niwot Tavern or newly opened fine dining staple Farow. Second Avenue destinations range from newly renamed Italian spot Cimminis (formerly Pinnochios). If you head to Gunbarrel, you can give someone the gift of either a sweet or a savory pie at Tip Top Pies or a nice night out at Apertivo.
If your foodie focuses on beverages, there are plenty of world-class breweries you can buy from and support area businesses. Head to Fritz Family Brewers, Avery Brewing, Beyond the Mountain Brewing or Gunbarrel Brewing. They've got both beer and merchandise that will please anyone on your shopping list.
For the art lover in your life
The Left Hand Valley is home to dozens of talented painters, designers, sculptors, makers, and crafters, so it's not hard to come by artwork that is as beautiful and unique as the region it comes from.
Local potter Mark Rossier makes his home in Niwot, as well as his nature-inspired ceramic and wood-fired creations, which are for sale in his showroom online and at 400 Franklin Street. Also from Niwot is critically acclaimed painter/photographer David Bjorkman, whose recent work includes photos taken on Niwot trails and can be found on the back wall of Fly Away Home. The Courier's own Ann Whitehill handcrafts fine leather bags that are as functional as they are stylish - visit annwhitehillstudio.com.
Exhibits of local artists and creators are regularly featured on the walls of many Niwot businesses, including Winot Coffee, Little Holiday Shops, Fly Away Home, Inkberry Books, and Old Oak Coffee. Or, head over to osmosis art and architecture, where you can purchase prints of the winning entries from the 2021 Why Not Niwot juried art show, or artwork from other local artists, including Gunbarrel painter Lamya Deeb
Support the local pollinator population
Bees, butterflies and other flying insects and animals play a critical role in the life cycle of flowering plants, including most fruit and vegetable species. Ensuring the health of these pollinator populations is critical, and it's becoming easier than ever to do so.
If someone on your list has a sweet tooth, pick up some honey from local cultivators Jeff and Dawn Server at Meadow Lake Honey, and help support the local bee population. For the gardener in your life, give a gift card to The Flower Bin or Harlequin's Gardens, along with a list of pollinator-friendly flowers. Harlequin's also has supplies for the budding beekeeper in your life.
Niwot in watercolor
Niwot's historic downtown is a frequent subject of resident and renowned artist Jane Langdon, whose graceful style evokes warmth and nostalgia. Pick up a print of her vibrant watercolors at one of many Niwot retailers, including Little Bird, Wise Buys Antiques, osmosis art and architecture, and Niwot Market.
Support local food producers
Give the gift of fresh, locally-sourced produce, meat, or dairy products with a share in one of the area's many Community Supported Agriculture programs, such as nearby Kilt Farm (8140 Oxford Rd, Longmont) or Ollin Farmss. (8627 N. 95th St., Longmont).
Shares start as low as $12 per week for singles, with seasons typically lasting from April or May to November.
Make a charitable donation on someone's behalf.
Colorado Gives Day was Dec. 7, but it's not too late to make a gift donation to one of the dozens of local organizations that serve the Left Hand Community. 2021 has been an especially difficult year for many of these groups, as their fundraising activities were severely curtailed due to pandemic restrictions. Even a small monetary gift could help maintain Niwot Children's Park, provide transportation to the elderly, or therapeutic services for the disabled.
Niwot Market has you covered
Niwot Market offers a wide range of local products for your holiday home and table, as well as gourmet chef-prepared foods from their deli. While you're there, check out Pebble Art Jewelry for offerings from local jewelers, such as Kate Head; Juniper & Twine, for a unique floral creation; and The Nook's boutique shelves in the produce section featuring small very giftable decorative and useful household items. Don't forget to show support for your favorite independent grocer with a "Niwot Market" emblazoned T-Shirt, tote bag, or hat.
Special shops right around the corner
Bruce Rabeler and Liz Gould aren't just co-owners of Niwot's eclectic LLittle Bird (122 2nd Ave.), they are also talented creators in their own right. The local landscape features prominently in Rabeler's photography, which can be found in a 2022 calendar or for purchase online. Little Bird also carries Gould's handcrafted jewelry and a line of artisanal soaps.
A Few of a Kind Vintage + Mercantile (124 2nd Ave.) may be a newbie on the retail scene in Niwot, but it took no time at all for it to feel like the shop totally belongs here. The modern mercantile does what its name suggests - offers rare wonderful items that are simple and special. And there are new goods all the time in a range of prices...some tantalize the tongue, some the eyes, others the nose. There are hats, candles, cocktail mixers, journals, and distinctive found items.
Treat yourself or a loved one at Niwot Jewelry - Niwot's family owned jewelry store has something for everyone, from affordable to extravagant! Visit niwotjewelry.com.
Make them so much merrier
Don't fret about these gifts being the right size. It's easy to find a present at Starbuds that fits just right. If you want to give pain relief, relaxation, mood elevation, or general merriment, the Niwot recreational marijuana dispensary has experts to help guide you through the decision making process. There's a multitude of cannabis products to choose from - edibles, creams, flower, and accompanying supplies.
Nothing will raise your family and friends' spirits more than when you show up for festivities with a bottle or two from Niwot Liquor. A gorgeous bottle of whiskey or wine is sure to bring a smile to the recipient. The extensive beer selection and the well-curated hard liquors make gifts from this little store a big hit.
Feeling a little French?
Belle Terre Floral in Cottonwood Shopping Center is fantastique with its luscious bath bombs, candles, and colognes, along with ornaments, clothing, bags, exotic candies, and super special succulents and houseplants. Owner Sarah Cioni's greeting cards with her own still-life flower photos are gorgeous keepsake gifts. And oh yeah, there are flowers too...lots and lots of stunning flowers.
Still stumped?
For that hard-to-buy recipient on your list, consider these out-of-the-box options.
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