Valentine’s Love: Great Deals for Public Radio

Wrapped in Red at the New Sheridan Hotel

Here’s an opportunity for twofold love. Snatch up a great deal on travel and treats while supporting community radio. I’ve listed some exciting gifts below that you can give your Valentine and at the same time you’ll be showing support for KOTO, our homegrown NPR station here in Telluride, Colorado. All proceeds from these gifts benefit KOTO. You’ll notice that you don’t even have to go to T-ride to take advantage of them. All you have to do is contact me with your pledge and I’ll let you know if you’re the lucky recipient of these fine premiums. It’s first come, first served, so go ahead and e-mail me your choice along with your contact information and I’ll let you know if you’ve scored a great Valentine’s gift for your sweetie.

TELLURIDE ONLINE BOUTIQUES

$60. pledge: Indulge in a scrumptious avalanche of chocolate from Telluride Truffle, one of the country’s top chocolatiers. This Signature Gift Box contains truffles, hot chocolate mix, dark chocolate and peppermint bark as well as some of the most outrageously-good cookies in the world. Owner Patty Denny has graciously offered to ship this yummy bundle anywhere in the country. Valued at $80., including ground shipping.

Gorgeous Goodies from Telluride Truffle

$40. pledge: Serenade a sweet lady with an Italian silk scarf and scarf ornament from Alpen Schatz, a Telluride boutique specializing in alpine treasures of the finest quality. You may even chose a heart-shaped scarf ornament to mark the occasion. Alpen Schatz also showcases high-end accessories for your pup. Owner Mary Dawn DeBraie has, in fact, been invited to set up a mini boutique at the Hotel Pennsylvania in conjunction with the Westminster Dog Show in New York City, February 11th-15th. If you’re in the vicinity, do stop by! Scarf and scarf ornament valued at $55., including ground shipping.

Silky Sensations from Alpen Schatz

$20. pledge: Wow yourself or a loved one with a one-pound box of toffee from Ruth’s Toffee. I sent my Mom a box for Christmas and she’s still talking about these out-of-this-world confections. If you want to triple your love karma, place lots (or at least one) order with Ruth. This lovely lady lost most of her prized possessions when her house burned down after the holidays. She’s amazingly positive though which is certainly why her toffee tastes like chocolate-y almond love. Valued at $25., including ground shipping.

ALL THE ABOVE PURVEYORS ALSO OFFER A 10% DISCOUNT TO BONJOURCOLORADO.COM READERS. Visit my Shopping Page to find out how you can receive this added markdown.

TELLURIDE TRAVEL, SPA AND BEAUTY PROVIDERS

$175. pledge: Imagine spending a night with your hunny wrapped in cosseted elegance at Telluride’s renowned New Sheridan Hotel. Boy, that’s something that even I haven’t had the chance to experience yet. I have had a moonlit soak in their rooftop hot tub though and I can tell you that’s reason enough to line up a stay at this destination hotel. When in T-ride, do not miss this historic gem, even if you just stop in for a drink at the bar! One-night stay valued at $250.

True Serenity: Mountain Lodge Treatment Room

$100. pledge: Treat someone special (perhaps yourself!) to one of the best massages of your life, provided by Darren Miller, from Rolling Relaxation Massage, within the cozy confines of the handsome Mountain Lodge at Telluride. Darren has generously donated a 90-minute massage which includes use of the pool, hot tubs and sauna. Valued at $150.

$80. pledge: Enjoy a one-hour Custom Massage at the Fairmont Franz Klammer Lodge’s Himmel Spa, a chalet-inspired healing space where pampering and therapeutic touch reign supreme. Valued at $120.

$80. pledge: Your significant other might enjoy a one-hour Oxygen Facial at the Himmel Spa while you’re having your neck and toes rubbed. Yes indeed, life is always better à deux, especially when it comes to Valentine’s celebrations. Valued at $130.

Both of the above treatments include same-day access to the pool, hot tubs, spa and fitness facilities. Sounds like a must to me.

Franz Klammer’s Heavenly Himmel Spa

$75. pledge: Offer a deep breath of oxygen to your loved one. How great is that? You can if you pick up this offer for a one-hour session in a hyperbaric chamber, provided by Telluride Hyperbarics. This treatment works wonders for altitude adjustment or just general fatigue. And as for the originality factor, it wins this roster hands down. One-hour session valued at $110.

$20. pledge: Shape up with style. Would it be a too-obvious hint for you to offer your guy a men’s haircut by Rosa Lea at Salon 7? Hmmmm. Maybe, but it all depends how you frame it, right ladies? With a little finesse, he’ll love you for treating him to some extra babying. I’d call that a win-win. Rosa Lea’s men’s cuts are valued at $30.

ROMANTIC GETAWAY OUTSIDE OF TELLURIDE

$80. pledge: Enjoy a soak (or more!) and a suite—perhaps the honeymoon suite—at the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs in lovely Ouray, Colorado for a one-night stay. Now that sounds like the right formula for love and relaxation. Valued at $140.

Please note that some restrictions may apply on all or some of the above.

There you have it, the best Valentine’s win-win around. Remember if you want to make a pledge, contact me. If you’re the first, I’ll give you the O.K. then ask you to pay your donation to KOTO. Once that’s done, I’ll put you in touch with the purveyor. To avoid any confusion, I ask you to not contact the radio station directly UNLESS I give you the go-ahead.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the above people and establishments for your donations to KOTO’S Winter 2011 fundraising drive. Your donations are GREATLY APPRECIATED.

For those of you not “in the know,” KOTO is a rare breed, one of only a handful of community-sponsored radio stations in the country. People all over the world tune in to www.KOTO.org on the Internet for much of our programming including the full coverage of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and quirky, little programs such as my own Travel Fun. O.K., maybe my show isn’t so offbeat, but I do enjoy having the flexibility to be eccentric enough to offer programs that cover a broad spectrum of topics from Sex, Travel and Fun to Humor and Travel. You can check out some of my past shows right now which have been posted as podcasts at BonjourColorado.com.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you! May we all make sure to reserve a big place for love in our hearts each day of the year.