Bonjour Colorado

Great Online Boutique Recommendations: Valentine’s 2010

If you’re a woman, you’re likely thinking your gift to your hunny will be a fresh bikini wax—for you, not for him! But still, as much as he’ll appreciate that, you’ve got to come up with something more. Why not offer him some chocolates? Or even better, Vodka? Telluride provides some of the best of both and Bonjour Colorado readers enjoy discounts from our mountain town’s top-of-the-line purveyors, Telluride Truffle and Telluride Vodka.  Type in promo code Paris 10 in the Redeem Coupon Box to receive a 10% discount on Telluride Truffle online orders.  Mention Bonjour Colorado to Telluride Vodka to receive $5. off every bottle you purchase.

Alpine-Inspired Scarves and Scarf Ornaments from Alpen Schatz

Alpen Schatz, another authentic Telluride boutique, is also offering a special 10% discount to BonjourColorado readers; just type in Bonjour upon check out.  I love their Italian silk scarves embellished with heart scarf ornaments, just the sort of ever-lasting Valentine’s Day keepsake I’d gift to myself.  Who can beat hearts and flowers anyway?  Plus all the scarves are awash with edelweiss, an alpine flower that symbolizes happiness.

Chocolate Financiers from Patisserie Colson

Looking to satisfy zee French in you, your lover, brother or mom?  Go directly to Patisserie Colson to shop for tins of refined sweets that will delight your most discerning gourmands.  Their financiers and rugelach serve as the perfect accompaniment to a pot of strong tea or hot chocolate.

If you want to conjure up memories of the beach, think salt water taffy.  Forbes Candies has been wrapping their sweets in sea breeze and sunshine since 1933.  I discovered them on a trip to Virginia Beach last fall and each time I nibble on a piece of their salt water taffy, I’m transported back to the sand and the surf of the Atlantic. Other specialties include fudge and brittle, both of which come in a ship’s cargo-load of flavors.  Enter Bonjour at check out to receive a 15% discount on orders of $30. or more.

For those particular to specialized poufing and pampering, you’ll love the natural products and remedies made by Kneipp.  From Arnica Revitalizing Spray to Lavender Balancing Herbal Bath to Almond Blossom Dry Skin Body Oil, Kneipp has created many extraordinary products that promote a holistic approach to finding good health and well being.  Now that’s what I call a gift of love.  No wonder they’ve been around since 1891.

And I bet you never imagined you could experience so much tradition and savoir faire with online shopping.

Oh, and don’t forget to include that special love note, even if the gift is for yourself.

Great Deals for Public Radio: Winter 2010

It’s winter fundraising at KOTO, one of the few entirely community-supported radio stations in the country. It has been six years that I have been doing my Travel Fun talk show on KOTO, a program that has allowed me to deepen my ties with Telluride and to forge travel connections with a variety of people and places all over the world. I’m thrilled to be a part of such a family!

As in recent fundraising campaigns, I’ve obtained some very exciting premiums that you can win in exchange for a pledge to KOTO.  Fellow D.J. Chuck Burr has helped me with these efforts and together we have pulled together a show that will surely tantalize your trip planning ponderings.  Tune in today at 6:20 p.m. mountain time to this special live program at KOTO.org.  Here’s a preview of what we’re offering:

Ashland, Oregon Package

Chuck lives most of the time in this lovely northwestern destination.  He’ll be talking about Ashland’s allure and why its stunning scenery and charming town are worth checking out.  This package includes a two-night stay at Ashland’s Black Swan Inn, a soak for two at Chozu Bath and Tea Gardens and two tickets to the renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the oldest and largest professional nonprofit theaters in the country.  The value of this package is $420.; it can be yours for a pledge in the amount of $250.

Telluride Temptations

Rustic Elegance/$200. pledge: Two nights in a one-bedroom condo at the handsome Mountain Lodge in Telluride. Approximate value:  $500.-750.

Valentine’s Day Treatment/$100. pledge: Delight in an organic Belgian chocolate and Kona coffee scrub, followed by a luxurious massage with organic dark chocolate body butter, valued at $189., at The Himmel Spa at The Fairmont Heritage Place Franz Klammer Lodge.  That sounds like ninety minutes of yum, yum to me. Read about my take on this charming spa here.

Exciting Dining Experience/$75. pledge: Receive a $100. gift certificate to the new Palmyra restaurant at The Peaks Resort & Spa.

Perfect Turns/$75. pledge:  Join an adult group lesson, valued at $130., at Telluride’s most awesome Ski & Snowboard School.

Magnificent Massage/$75. pledge: A ninety-minute massage, valued at $150., with Darren Miller, from Rolling Relaxation Massage, to be provided at Mountain Lodge Telluride.  You may contact Darren at 970-369-5193, 303-257-6070 and rollingrelaxation@hotmail.com.  Read more about this expert healer here.

Rosa Lea and Jackson from Salon 7

Lady’s Locks/$35. pledge: A woman’s haircut, valued at $50., by Rosa Lea at Salon 7, my favorite stylist in town.  You can reach Rosa Lea at 970-708-1266 and rosalea_davis@hotmail.com.  I also wrote about her here.

Peaks Pampering/$30. pledge: Receive a Spa Access Day Pass to The Peaks Spa.  Four passes have been donated.  Approximate value:  $45. each.  Read more about The Peaks Spa here.

Voulez-Vous/$30. pledge: A one-hour French lesson, valued at $50., avec moi! Go to my About page to learn more about me.

Gorgeous Guy/$20. pledge:  A man’s haircut, valued at $30., by Rosa Lea at Salon 7.  (See contact info. above.)

Some Original Ideas

Your Own Tour Guide/$30. pledge: As the author of four books on France, I know a fair amount about Paris and the provinces. This pledge, valued at $50., will grant you a one-hour travel consultation with me on Paris and/or the French provinces.

Blah-Blah Blog/$100. pledge: You, your product or service (or maybe all three) get to star in one of my many postings at BonjourColorado.com.  Approximate Value: Priceless.  Let me spin you and/or your goods into a fun story!

Please note that certain restrictions may apply.  All pledges will be taken on a first-come basis.

Call the studio (970-728-4333) as of 6:25 p.m. mountain time today to make a pledge for any of the above offers.  You may also write me a note on my Contact Page.

Thank you to the above individuals and establishments for your geneous donations.  I encourage my readers to support these fine businesses.  Thanks to all for showing your love for Telluride’s unique public radio station!

Telluride’s Ultra Luxe Mountain Spas

Capella Spa Telluride: Better Than What the Romans Could Imagine

Hmmmm. There’s nothing like spa-going after a day in the mountains. Whether you’ve been out skiing, hiking or just wandering around taking in the sites, a visit to a spa in the mountains seems so much more deserved, so much more of a must. Maybe it’s the contrast of the rugged scenery and the high altitude sun with the soothing interiors of such cosseted spaces.  At elevations of close to 10,000 feet, the spa experience is indisputably enhanced tenfold. And if you’re lucky enough to find yourself sitting in a heated pool or a hot tub with snowflakes falling gently down around you, you’ll truly understand why spas and mountain destinations go together like robes and slippers. (My favorite visual is one of steam billowing up from outdoor heated pools and tubs, a common occurrence throughout winter and most summer evenings at spas in the mountains. When you’re in the middle of that misty scene, you can’t help feeling otherworldly.)

In Telluride, we’re truly spoiled. Maybe it’s because our mountains are so mighty that we boast such heavenly spas, super luxurious enclaves housed within the finest hotels of Telluride Mountain Village, the heart of the ski area. The little known secret is that you can enjoy these superlative spas for the price of a treatment or in some cases a day pass: Access to them is not reserved exclusively for their hotel guests.

Indoor or Outdoor at The Peaks? Why Not Both?

I wasn’t in Telluride long before I descended upon the Spa at The Peaks Resort, by far the largest and most impressive of all the Telluride spas. (Actually the Spa at The Peaks Resort ranks as one of the finest in the Rockies—-even in the country. It’s consistently the recipient of many recognitions including Spa Finder magazine’s 2009 Reader’s Choice Award in Best for Winter Sports.) Magnificent panoramic views of some of the most spectacular mountains of the Rockies grab you here, so much so, in fact, that even the locals that frequent this vast facility delight in the vistas provided at The Peaks.

I’m a black liner—that’s to say I love doing laps, swimming end to end, entirely transfixed on the black line at the bottom of the pool. This is what draws me to the Spa at The Peaks on a somewhat regular basis and when I’m there I also love reveling in their many relaxation options from lounging poolside (indoor and outdoor) to soaking up the heat in the sauna and in the steam. Their fitness room—outfitted in the finest state-of-the-art equipment—has unfortunately eluded me so far. I took a yoga class there once—just the antidote for too many days of skiing—but I have not made it back to anymore of those wonderful sessions nor the pilates and spinning they offer either. I guess I’m just part fish, yet some day soon I’ll give the rest more of a try. Oh, how I envy the tourists that come here and don’t have to worry about trotting back to their desks.

The Coed Sauna at The Peaks: The Place to Go After the Pool with Your Hunny Of Course

I’ve had a number of treatments at the Spa at The Peaks over the years and certainly my spray tanning session ranks among the most memorable. The others have all been incredibly relaxing and healing. Perched at some 9,500 feet, many of the treatments here focus on the restoration and nourishment of your skin; indeed you’ll find some of the best skincare products and estheticians in the country nestled in to this sunny mountain spa. I experienced an ISUN facial recently, one of the newer additions to the spa’s menu of treatments. A seemingly endless variety of these 100% organic skincare products were expertly applied for the cleansing, exfoliation and hydration of my skin. The aromatherapeutic benefits were extraordinary and afterward my skin felt revitalized, moist and fresh. Concocted in our own backyard, not far from Telluride, these nationally-recognized ISUN products, are on sale in The Peaks Spa Boutique along with a bundle of other spa goods including workout clothing and scented candles.

One of Many Fireplaces to Choose from at The Himmel Spa at The Franz Klammer Lodge

If you’re looking for a cozier, more European-inspired setting, book an appointment at The Himmel Spa at The Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge. I love the warm, wood, chalet-inspired décor here. Be sure to leave plenty of time to enjoy the spa’s indoor and outdoor hot tubs. And I suggest you sit and sip a cup of tea at the snuggly fireplace nook located at the Lodge’s reception area. That’s truly Old World elegance at its finest. The massage therapists here—especially Darren and Marianne—are among the best. For further relaxation and revitalization, add an Oxygen Service to your treatment. I found it lovely to sit and breathe in copious amounts of O2 before my massage, but you can also enjoy supplemental oxygen throughout your whole treatment. Wow, that’s what I call mountain therapy! Leave time to shop for a wide range of healing therapies and fun togs in The Himmel Spa Boutique.

Soaking and Shopping at The Himmel Spa

Envelope yourself in earth-toned luxury at the Capella Spa, the newest addition to Telluride’s bastions of beautification and well being. The look here is one of subdued elegance, just like the Capella Hotel and Resort itself. It will surely make you want to speak in hushed tones and tiptoe around their indoor pool. I’m dreaming of savoring a cinnamon-dusted hot chocolate, sitting in my robe and slippers on their outside deck overlooking the slopes.

Spa Treatment Suite at Capella Spa, Fabuleux!

As for the Capella Spa services, know that most of the dimly-lighted treatment rooms boast a private steam shower. Truly this is an establishment that prioritizes intimacy and supreme relaxation. Looking for something that is the ultimate après ski experience? Try a Fire and Ice Pedicure. Your feet will love you. The combination of hot stone massage, cooling menthol lotion and warm booties will set you right for another fantastic day on the slopes. These special shea butter booties are sold in their spa boutique along with an array of other up-to-the-minute products including vegan nail polishes, paraben-free creams, yoga mats and lots of other irresistible treats.

Shopping for the Holidays and a Brand New You for 2010 at Capella Spa Boutique

Have I convinced you yet? Spa-going in the mountains is truly the best. It’s so good that I suggest you set aside at least a few hours to fully benefit from all that is offered. Soaking and shopping alone takes over an hour! It’s all so good that you might even want to take a day off from your mountain activities to fully enjoy it all. Just don’t say I said so.

The Peaks Resort & Spa, 136 Country Club Drive, 970-728-6800, www.thepeaksresort.com

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge, 567 Mountain Village Boulevard, 970-728-3318 and 888-728-3318, www.fairmont.com/klammerlodge

Capella Telluride, 568 Mountain Village Boulevard, 970-369-0880, www.capellatelluride.com

Telluride’s Beauty Boutiques

Mountain Therapy at Mountain Lodge Telluride

I love the notion of a beauty boutique.  I frequented Beauté Boutique in the seventeenth arrondissement of Paris for many years.  It consisted of a sectioned off little space where (mostly) women had a variety of body parts attended to with the efficacy and regularity of a man’s visit to the barber shop.  It was a totally no frills operation but women maintained their monthly appointments for a short menu of treatments that included waxings, pedicures and facials.  “In France, all this is part of la hygiene personnelle,” la directrice once explained to me.

The approach in Telluride is not too unlike what I encountered in Paris.  Here the salons and spas are considerably more inviting than my neighborhood beauty boutique in Paris but these purveyors of poufing and pampering are indeed accustomed to meeting the needs of an equally demanding clientele.  In Telluride, many women remain just as committed to maintaining their beauté as the French.  This sort of fervent dedication to spas and salons is somewhat unusual in America but in my Rocky Mountain town where the air is often single-digit-humidity dry and the sun beams hard and bright most days of the year, personal upkeep is more of a necessity than a luxury.  

If you’ve ever had to deal with wiry, brittle hair, feet with fissures and cracks as impressive as a river canyon and skin as tight and thirsty as a stretch of sun-baked mountain road above tree line, than you have a sense of the ongoing battles fought by the people (especially women, needless-to-say!) of Telluride, locals and visitors alike.  No one is spared, no matter how much water you drink and how often you turn on your humidifier, we all duke it out.  No one wants to end up looking like a puckery old miner.  And, of course, we’re not about to curtail our outdoor activities.  Come wind, rain, snow, scorching sun or bitter cold, we ski, hike and bike to our heart’s content and there’s no quantity or quality of skin or hair care product that can completely protect us from what Mother Nature throws our way.

Most visitors land graciously in the luxury spas located in our grandest hotels (more on those later), but Telluride’s charming little beauty boutiques are not to be overlooked, especially since these gems are largely frequented by locals, the very people that need these services the most.  I’ve come to know and greatly appreciate a handful of estheticians, stylists and massage therapists that have made me feel whole, healthy and hydrated time and time again, so I thought I’d share a few of the names in my directory with you.

Magical Fingers Providing Expert Skin Care at Studio G.

For superb skin care, I recommend Studio G., a lovely little day spa that focuses on total skin wellness.  Ginger Medrick, the driving force behind this fresh-as-a-tropical-rainstorm boutique, has assembled a team of highly skilled women equally committed to superior quality skin care.  Signature treatments include The Wellness Facial and the Deluxe Clinic Facial which includes a Lactic Lift and Oxygen Blast.  Advanced skin peels, eyelash and brow tinting, UV-free airbrush tanning, make up applications and more round out Studio G’s menu of services.

I’ve frequented Atmosphere for years, mostly for regular waxings, and have found each one of this spa’s estheticians to be extremely well-trained and delightful company.  (Waxings are not the most relaxing treatments in the spa-osphere, so it’s essential to have someone adept enough to create a quick, pain-free and pleasant experience.  Girl talk is a must.)  I decided, however, to try out something different one day in an effort to break out of my routine waxings.  I always enjoyed the soothing, zen-like space of Atmosphere, but I hadn’t yet been introduced to their inner sanctum, a tiled treatment room that features a Vichy Shower, a wide sweeping wand with five shower hands that can soak and rinse you as you lie sleepily on the treatment table.  Cynda, a long-time therapist in Telluride, buffed, moisturized, massaged and polished me with all the quickness and skill of a magician.  (That’s exactly what you want when you’re bathed and pampered by a total stranger.)  First I was exfoliated, then slathered in mineral mud and wrapped cocoon-like in plastic “to cook.”  A heavenly scalp massage followed, until I was finally rinsed by the miraculous Vichy Shower wand and then dried with warm, crisp sheets.  All this transpired without me fulling realizing what had happened to me in my complete nakedness.  (Thank goodness for the Vichy and for Cynda’s expertise and discretion since I had achieved such a state of relaxation that I couldn’t imagine being any way but horizontal.)  End result:  deep relaxation and tingling, ultra-hydrated skin that made me feel brand new.

Great Shopping and More at Aromatherapy

I love how sexy it makes me feel to put pedicured toes into hiking or ski boots.  And in Telluride, most estheticians are sure to take this into account, trimming nails and filing calluses so that your feet shine in both sandals and outdoor footwear.  I enjoyed hanging out in the comfy, casual boutique of Aromatherapy, not minding a bit the time it takes for toes to dry.  Owner Michelle Davis first opened an aromatherapy store on Long Island and one look around this bright and breezy boutique confirms that this is a woman who knows her redolent products.  You’ll find them in the form of everything from perfumed pillows to scented candles.  Thankfully Michelle’s select offerings don’t stop there; she stocks a supply of fun and sensual loungewear and casual wear on a regular basis along with lots of other girly goods.  

For hair, I have remained loyal to Rosa Lea at Salon 7 ever since I moved here over six years ago.  A local’s and second home owner’s favorite, Rosa Lea regularly provides a great “cut and color” for women and men.  (Children love being in her chair as well.)  She’s sweet and caring and known to find just the right look for everyone that walks through her door.  Now if I could only make my hair as glossy-looking as she does.  (I think the secret is not to rush the blow dry and have lots of rich products at hand.)

I broke out of my hairstylist habits once recently to try out Shayla, another long-time Tellurider, that also boasts a strong local clientele.  She moved here from Hollywood where she worked in a salon in Melrose.  “Women in Telluride get their hair done to simplify their lives,” Shayla told me.  “In Hollywood, they’d have something done to their hair every two weeks to maintain their extensive colorings and highlights.”  I’m sure T-ride has been a delightful change for her even though her supply of conditioners likely dwindles as fast as a starlet’s success on the silver screen.

Hmmmm.  Massage.  Where else can you find so many sore muscles and aches and pains than in a mountain town?  I’m nearly convinced, too, that this wretched dryness must be making our bones brittle and hurting as well.  I don’t go for any froufrou massages here and I don’t know anyone else that does either.  We all need healing in this rugged environment and I’ve been lucky to find two healers that have hung out their shingles in quaint spaces both in the town of Telluride and in Telluride Mountain Village.  Lupe Eckenrod has been consistently voted the local’s favorite massage therapist for a number of years.  Her touch is firm, deliberate and a welcome relief to all ailments big and small.  Darren Miller works out of a few spaces including Mountain Lodge where he woos his clients with his healing hands and his array of essential oils.  Best to call in advance for both.

I’ve completed my tour of favorite Telluride beauty boutiques.  At least for now.  You can bet that this town keeps many people gainfully employed in the health and beauty sector.  We understand more than most what it means to take care of yourself, inside and out.  Our definition of beauty boutique might be slightly different from the norm.  But as my French beauty maven explained to me, it’s about personal hygiene.  Yes, of course, and lots of hydration, too.

Studio G., 226 W. Colorado Ave., 970-728-8700, www.studiogskin.com

Atmosphere, 250 W. San Juan Ave., 970-728-0630, www.telluridespa.com

Aromatherapy, 191 S. Pine St., 970-728-9515, www.aromatherapydayspa.com

Salon 7, 300 Mahoney Dr. (at the base of Lift 7), 970-369-0050 or 970-708-1266

Shayla,224 E. Colorado Ave. (2nd floor), 970-728-1558 or 970-708-2308

Lupe Eckenrod, 970-708-0692

Darren Miller, 970-369-5193 or 303-257-6070

Beauty Products Roundup for the Holidays and 2009

Some of Booth's Bootiful Booty

My Clarins obsession (see my Clarins posting) spurred a whole series of discoveries and contemplations of many other wonderful potions, lotions and beauty enhancers that I thought I’d share with you. Best of all many of the goods on my current wish list offer great value and are readily available at totally affordable prices. Most can also be purchased online, so there’s still time for last-minute holiday shopping.

Booth’s skin care products will keep your skin satiny soft and smelling luscious well into the new year. Their Tahitian Monoi Body Soufflé seems good enough to eat and as the label says, you can apply it all over your body in the morning. Or evening. Or morning and evening. Or morning, noon and evening. Well, you get the idea. You’ll likely even want to share it with a loved one!

CARGO'S PlantLove Lipstick

Looking for a gift idea that won’t impact your wallet? How about a tube of lipstick, a small yet always much appreciated mini luxury item? CARGO, the innovative cosmetic line that was launched nearly ten years ago and that also ranks as a favorite among the stars, has come out with PlantLove lipsticks, luscious tubes of color that are exciting both for their environmentally-friendly packaging and the precious cargo inside. No mineral oils or petroleum are contained within the botanical formula of their lipsticks yet they glide on to your lips like soft butter on bread. Made entirely of corn, the tube is also covered with flower paper embedded with real seeds that you supposedly just have to moisten and plant. Not sure how well that works but they do look pretty.

Why not consider a bottle of quality shampoo for you or the last few on your list? Only if it’s one of Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree blends. Specially infused with Australian Tea Tree Oil, these formulas care for your hair and scalp with the help of many moisturizing and invigorating properties. The Tea Tree Lavender Mint is particularly good for triggering your daily dose of shower-aromatherapy.

Here in the mountains I’ve learned not to mess around with my skin care which is why I’ve started to use Skin Medica TNS Ultimate Daily Moisturizer with an SPF of 20 on a daily basis. I’m sure you’ve all heard that some sunscreens can do more harm than good. You can be ultra safe with this sun protection and all other Skin Medica products since this is a company focused on enhancing skin appearance and reducing the signs of aging.

And here’s the latest update from Bobbi Brown, another of my favorites: You can now buy the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual at booksellers nationwide. Click here to have a sneak-peek at the video. May we all feel beautiful and good in our skin throughout this new year and forever!