The Journal dug up the following gift suggestions for locals who are still looking for something special to fit under their Christmas trees. Or perhaps locals would like to offer some of these gifts to their friends and families who arent lucky enough to live in the small city of Cortez, nestled around some of the most wondrous lands in the world. Cortez is known for its unique pottery and Native American jewelry but here are some suggestions that are practical, others are precious, but all exude Cortezs captivating charm. Got Coffee?
A stop at Silver Bean Coffee, 410 ½ W. Main St., for a sip of locally brewed beans could help rev your engines before shopping til you drop. While driving through, people can pick up a ceramic or stainless steel travel mug ($7 to $11) for the coffee lovers on your list. Silver Bean also sells one-pound bags of coffee and offers gift baskets.
Spruce Tree Coffeehouse, 318 E. Main St., is the place to stop for a warm beverage. Spruce Trees newest, 12-ounce bags of Feliz Hanukwanz fair-trade, coffee-bean blend ($11) could please coffee lovers who like to celebrate either Christmas, Hanukah or even Kwanzaa. Locals also might enjoy the humor in Spruce Trees new, 16-ounce, stainless steel travel mugs with no-slip grips and chrome lids ($10.75) that bare the slogan The second-best way to wake up in the morning. Besides a multitude of other drink containers, it also sells DVDs ($5.95) produced and directed by Cortezs David Boyer. The coffeehouse sells a slew of historic and humorous books many signed by their local authors, and bigger-ticket items like framed art from local artists, such as its current black-and-white landscape photography exhibit by Janet Chanay. For more, visit sprucetreecoffehouse.com.
Give the Gift of Culture
Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., still has some of its annual Merry Miniature art and ornaments for sale. The exhibit has a variety of unique paintings, Christmas tree ornaments and other hand-crafted goods made by local artisans at a variety of prices. Proceeds go to the artists and the citys cultural center. For more, visit cortezculturalcenter.org.
Mesa Verde Museum Association inside Colorado Visitor Center, 928 E. Main St, is a hot place to stop for gifts from Mesa Verde National Park without having to make the winding trip up to the park. It offers a variety of books and other gifts, such as Mesa Verde Pottery bowls and mugs, hand-painted ornaments ($12.95) and miniature-pottery earrings ($39.99). Its racks of books include The Story Behind the Scenery ($11.95) written by one of Mesa Verde National Parks most renowned interpretive rangers, Linda Martin. All proceeds go back to the park. Membership to the nonprofit association gets shoppers 20 percent discounts at the store and 15 percent discounts at other national parks. For more, visit mesaverde.org.
Time to Eat
If you need to shop while grabbing some local grub, The Farm, 18 E. Main St., sells its own salad dressings ($6) in Asian peanut, ranch, raspberry vinaigrette and Rikkis Mediterranean flavors. It also offers a variety of locally made products, such as CJs Creations aprons by Joyce Armstrong, books, tea towels, pottery, all-natural Encantos lip balm ($3.90), soap ($6.60) and body care ($8.80), Sister Root Medicinals and CDs by local musicians.
Mr. Happys Bakery & Cafe, 332 E. Main St,, sells coffee mugs ($6), wine glasses ($6) and tie-dye T-shirts ($16-$18) with its Mr. Happys logo. For more, visit Mr. Happys on Facebook.
If youd like to give the gift of beer and more, Main Street Brewery, 21 E. Main St, offers coffee cups, hats, hoodies, fleeces, sweatshirts, vests, pint glasses, shot glasses and pilsner glasses all with the slogan Avoid heart attacks, drink beer. It also sells its all-natural, locally brewed beer made with first-use water from Lizard Head Watershed in Southwest Colorado. A bottle of its famous Schorzenboomer Doppelbock ($4.40) is perfect for lovers of a dark amber ale. Or its porter, pale ale, honey raspberry and crystal wheat brews are also sold by the bottle. For more, visit Main Street Brewery on Facebook.
Quilters Unite
Cortez Quilt Company, 40 W. Main St., is the place to shop for quilters, sewers, crafters, scrappers and anyone who enjoys cozy quilts on cold nights. It sells aprons, books, classes, Christmas-ornament-making supplies, Dresden Plate pin cushions, holiday and every-day cards, cotton-quilting and fleece fabrics, notions, patterns, purses, table runners and quilts that vary in price and size all of which are locally made. One of its books for sale, Favorite Recipes From Quilters by Louise Stoltzfus includes More Than 900 Delectable Dishes from devoted homemakers who enjoy cooking almost as much as quilting. For more, visit cortezquiltcompany.com.
Fitness folks
A smart place to shop for people who like to stay fit as much as they like to stay warm at Christmas-time is Hight of Wellness Health and Fitness Specialists, 8 W. Main St. It is selling BPA-free travel bottles with its logo printed on the bottles insulating sleeves ($6). If youre shopping for local exercise enthusiasts, Hight of Wellness offers a variety of wellness and fitness classes and programs. For more, visit hightofwellness.com.
Another place where the gift of fitness awaits is at the Cortez Recreation Center. Gift certificates for punch passes, monthly or annual passes can really get the heart rate pumping. Go to www.cityofcortez.com for more information.
A Gift Your Mom Wouldnt Give You
For those looking to give the gift of wear-able art, Curtis Ragan, 501 N. Broadway, is offering coupons for $100 for custom, freehand and flash tattoos that are good for up to one year.
Time to Ship those Gifts
Mane Shipping, 404 W. Main St., offers a variety of unique gifts. Among its shipping supplies and other, hand-crafted items, Mane Shippings owner, Nancy Evanson, offers all of her Aunt Pattys hand-made purses ($28), clothes-pin bags ($6), tea towels ($9), tissue holders and Annie Dolls ($35) for sale. For more, visit Mane Shipping on Facebook.
Gardens, Nurseries and Florists
Cliffrose Garden Center, 27885 Highway 160, offers an enchanting ambience and a slew of Christmas and holiday gifts, both inside its shop and in its backyard and nurseries, which are filled with living Christmas trees, wreaths and other plants. Besides featuring an enormous variety of gifts for gardeners, Cliffrose also offers Christmas decorations and ornaments of all kinds, shapes and sizes. Cliffrose features a fair-trade corner filled with hand-made art and other goodies, such as Log Cabin Specialty dip and dessert mixes ($2.50) and wind chimes made of upcycled materials hand-crafted by local artisan, Rose Burk. For more, visit cliffrosegardens.com.
Flower Cottage, 30 N. Market St., also offers a variety of potted plants for Christmas gifts. Flower Cottage also offers flower baskets and bouquets arranged by its talented florists. A peek into Flower Cottages shop windows shows its wide variety of longer-lasting, artificial arrangements and centerpieces that are perfect gifts who people who love to entertain or just need a little more Christmas cheer in their homes. Or if youd like to give your own floral arrangement, Flower Cottage offers a variety of empty baskets, containers and other materials for DIY arrangements and centerpieces.
Let It Grow Nursery & Garden Market, 90 Mildred Road, offers seasonal decorations, plants, coffees and teas, books and unique Melissa and Doug toys for children of all ages. For more, visit letitgrownursery.com.
Dolores and Mancos
If youre looking to stretch your shopping dollars into nearby towns, Sideshow Emporium & Gallery, 411 Central, Dolores, and Zuma Natural Foods, 121 Railroad Ave., Mancos, are worth a stop for fun gifts with a unique flavor. Sideshow Emporium offers a variety of vintage clothing, funky knee socks, knitting needles and yarn and other fun gifts, such as its wool hats with antlers. For more, visit and Sideshow Emporium & Gallery on Facebook.
Zuma Natural Foods offers shelves upon shelves of beans, flours, spices, teas, coffee, honey, drinks, gluten-free fare and other dry goods. Its jars of honey and Udis gluten-free bagels are great gifts for organic-food fanatics. For more, visit zumanaturalfoods.com.