Art & Culture Colorado Denver Fashion & Style Podcasts Travel: Art & Culture Colorado Denver Fashion & Style Podcasts
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Denver Art Museum Salutes Yves Saint Laurent and More
One of Many Engaging Displays at the YSL Show in Denver
“Rien n’est plus beau qu’un corps nu.
Le plus beau vêtement qui puisse habiller une femme ce sont les bras de l’homme qu’elle aime.
Mais pour celles qui n’ont pas eu la chance de trouver ce bonheur je suis là.”
—Yves Saint Laurent
I’d loosely translate the above as follows:
Nothing is more beautiful than a naked body.
The most beautiful clothing that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves.
But for those who don’t have the fortune to find this happiness, I am there.
One of Many YSL Ball Gowns on View at the Denver Art Museum
Wow! That’s how I feel about the above and that was my reaction after visiting Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective at the Denver Art Museum (DAM) recently. Wow, wow, wow. What a gorgeous show. Men, please keep reading and listen to the below podcast. Even those of you that might not have an interest in fashion will surely be dazzled by this extraordinary exhibition.Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most legendary fashion designers, opened his first couture house in Paris in the early 1960s at a time when the world would experience great change, especially for women.
From a historical perspective, the YSL retrospective is fascinating. It’s a dynamic show that examines the many external events that influenced this man’s forty years of creativity through a variety of media including photography and videos.
But let’s get back to the women. This man loved women. So much so, in fact, that he primarily worked on live models so that he could take in their gestures, their movements, their élégance. “He really had a goal of making women feel loved and empowered from what they were wearing,” says Tara Moberly, from the press department of the DAM, in our below interview. Indeed and this show-stopping exhibition offers a stunning look at Yves Saint Laurent’s work throughout his illustrious career. From the wall of colors that showcase the couturier’s vast collection of swatches to the black on black display of his famous tuxedos to the grand finale of ball gowns, this exhibition provides a feast for the eyes at every turn.
Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping: Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping
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Valentine’s Shopping Recommendations
Telluride Truffle's Velvet Heart
Austrian Gem Heart and Chain from Alpen Schatz
Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, it’s time to focus on love. Yes, that’s right I’m talking about Valentine’s Day and you still have time to order a special something online for your sweetie, your mom or dad, your daughter who’s away at school, your mother-in-law or that dear friend you want to remember. There’s no need to fuss, just go ahead and let my handpicked selection of purveyors send the package off for you.
Telluride Truffle has earned my affection with their medium velvet heart filled with incredibly beautiful and delicious hand painted, glossy chocolates. Ruth’s Toffee, another local favorite, continues to rate as my all-time favorite for toffee. Type in promo code Bonjour in the coupon box for Telluride Truffle and mention Bonjour Colorado to Ruth to receive a 10% discount on online orders.
Looking to really make a statement? Select an Austrian Gemstone Heart from Alpen Schatz, a European-styled boutique and online shopping emporium based in Telluride. Colorado. These precious gem hearts come in three different sizes in a variety of stones including rose quartz, crushed crystal, onyx, turquoise and more. Handcrafted by a master jeweler in Salzburg, Austria, these heirloom-quality treasures surely show your love for this Valentine’s and forever. If you’re working off of a smaller budget, consider Alpen Schatz’s Italian silk scarves and alpine scarf ornaments, also offered in a variety of colors and styles. Type in Bonjour upon check out to receive a 10% discount on online orders.
Being Green Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping: Being Green Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping
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More Online Shopping Recommendations
Beautiful and Edible Treats for the Doggies
The heck with ordering from Amazon or Lands’ End, why not be more original and shop from a quaint online boutique? I’m thrilled to see that mom-and-pop Internet businesses continue to open daily, so let’s patronize them as much as possible. These little shops and shopping offers—whether online or on your street corner—make up the soul of America.
For pampered pups, order some freshly-baked dog treats from My Dog’s Bakery, a business recently located to Ridgway, Colorado. I can’t say they’re delicious, however, they are yummy-looking and surely lovingly made.
Perfect Popcorn
Have a food snob on your list? If it’s one that has a penchant for popcorn, you absolutely must send him or her a selection of nibblies from 479degrees popcorn. Their slick packaging impresses the most discriminating connoisseurs as much as their gourmet flavors such as Black Truffle & White Cheddar, Fleur de Sel Caramel, Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt and more. As for the 479 degree part, that’s apparently the best temperature for popping the corn!
Super Soft Base Layers from Cinnamon Wear
Practical is a good way to go for gift giving, too. Practical, stylish, breathable and sustainable are even better. Check out the base layers and more from Cinnamon Wear, a Telluride, Colorado-based business. Many of the pieces are so well-cut that they can be worn on their own. Think sexy après-ski.
Have a fashionista on your list? How about Yves Saint Laurent: the Retrospective Gift? It comes with two VIP tickets to the YSL exhibition opening at the Denver Art Museum in March, the lavishly illustrated catalog from the original exhibition in Paris and a chance to win tickets to the exclusive YSL opening gala. Of course all this arrives exquisitely wrapped in a pink and black box.
Check out Sustainable Futures for lots of eco-friendly gift ideas—I love the shopping here! The Women’s Bean Project, based in Denver, also provides different options for socially-conscious gift giving. They have a Giada DeLaurentis Lentil soup mix that’s perfect for the New Year. Lentils are considered a food that brings fortune, so they are often consumed at New Year’s, especially by the Italians.
Have to run now, but check back tomorrow since I should have a few more recommendations. It looks like UPS is late today.
Colorado Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping Telluride: Colorado Fashion & Style Food & Wine Shopping Telluride
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My Best Online Shopping Recommendations
Singing, Dancing Marmot Skier from Alpen Schatz
I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas! If you’re like me, you’re behind with your shopping. Or maybe you’re thinking of just a couple more people you’d like to add to your list.
I’m a big advocate of shopping locally or shopping during your travels, however, we all have friends and family that live far away that we want to remember during this season of giving. And sometimes, too, the truly unique products can only be found online. Avoid those dreaded post office lines and take advantage of the convenience of sending something directly to their door.
The below online boutiques figure among my favorites, mostly because of the quality and uniqueness of their products and the charm of their stores. EVEN BETTER, THEY ARE ALL OFFERING A 10% discount to Bonjour Colorado readers. Be sure to enter Bonjour in the promo code or mention Bonjour Colorado to receive this added value.
Happy Shopping!
Telluride Truffle Gift Selections
Nothing says Christmas like chocolate. At Telluride Truffle you can choose among their decadently rich truffles, cookies, chocolate sauce and hot chocolate mix for the chocolate lover on your list. Shop here for superior quality products wrapped in elegant packaging for gifts that embody the sophistication and good taste of our world-renowned mountain town. Type in promo code Bonjour in the Redeem Coupon Box to receive your 10% off.
Swiss Dog Collars from Alpen Schatz
Here’s another boutique that embodies the authentic spirit of Tellluride, Colorado. Alpen Schatz features a treasure trove of fine European products for men, women, children and pets. Bestsellers include handcrafted Swiss dog collars that make every pup stand out in a crowd. You’ll also love their beautifully-made home accessories, table arts and Christkindlmarkt decorations. Type in Bonjour upon checkout to receive your special 10% discount.
Catnip-Filled Snake from Purrfect Play
Who doesn’t want to spoil their pets at holiday time? If you (or your friends and family) have a cat, you absolutely must order some of Purrfect Play’s organic cat toys. They are the best ever—I promise you. My two babies delighted in months of sniffing, snuggling and kicking with these products, all made from organic, natural fibers. I have not tested Purrfect Play’s dog toys but I can only imagine that they’re a big hit with the pups as well. Type Bonjour into the cart to receive 10% off.
Ruth's Toffee
No time to make homemade candy and deliver them to the people you want to remember? Yeah, right. Just send them some of Ruth’s melt-in-your-mouth almond toffee, a confection artisanally made by a family-owned business not far from Telluride, Colorado. It is so good that you must order some for yourself at the same time. Mention Bonjour Colorado to receive the 10% discount.
Art & Culture Beauty Fashion & Style Food & Wine Paris Writing & Books: Art & Culture Beauty Fashion & Style Food & Wine Paris Writing & Books
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Drooling Over Pastry Paris
"Pastry Paris: In Paris, Everything Looks Like Dessert"
“The fine arts are five in number, namely: painting, sculpture, poetry, music, and architecture, the principal branch of the latter being pastry.”
—Antonin Carême (1783-1833)
The above quote surely served as inspiration for Susan Hochbaum in the creation of her darling book, “Pastry Paris: In Paris, Everything Looks Like Dessert” (The Little Bookroom). A luscious treat, enticing enough to devour in one sitting, “Pastry Paris” takes my vote for the best gift-y book of the season. Lovers of Paris, pastry, history and beauty will savor it like a best-loved dessert.
“It’s hard not to love a city with a pâtisserie on nearly every block, where pastries are sold all day long to People who never get fat.”
This is how Ms. Hochbaum begins “Pastry Paris,” a clever little delight that pleases by its words, photography and design. Who has not been mesmerized by the candy-colored allure and sheer artistry of French pastries? Did you know that most of these masterpieces boast very particular names such as Religieuse, St. Honoré, Paris-Brest and the well-known Eclair? These names—with only occasional variations—are the same throughout all of France, names that have been used in most cases for centuries for the same scrumptious little cakes featured in bakeries like jewels in a showcase.
In “Pastry Paris,” you’ll learn that each pastry possesses its own story, its own special place in la culture générale of France. From Brioche to Madeleine, Ms. Hochbaum tells a tale about all of France’s beloved gâteaux as she takes you along to many of Paris’s most famous pâtisseries and landmark sites along the way. This is one visual stroll through Paris that cannot easily be forgotten.
To be extra special, I suggest you offer “Pastry Paris” with a selection of fine, French pastries.
For now, indulge in this glorious celebration of Paris pastries from Ms. Hochbaum and me by clicking here.
Colorado Denver Fashion & Style Hotels Restaurants Shopping The Rockies: Colorado Denver Fashion & Style Hotels Restaurants Shopping The Rockies
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Cherry Creek: One of America’s Top Spots for Chic Shopping, Lodging and Dining
City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks, Dressed in Holiday Style. It's Christmastime in the Mile-High City.
Where are you shopping this weekend? With only two weeks left until Christmas, I’d say there’s a good chance you might find yourself in a store. Many Americans will be hitting the mall, a dreaded chore for some unless you’re lucky enough to experience the Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver, one of the world’s premier showcases for quality goods from sunglasses to kitchen accessories to classic and up-to-the-minute fashions. Think Tysons Corner and Bal Harbour Shops—if you’ve been to either of these renowned shopping areas you have a good idea of what to expect at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. From Burberry to Juicy Couture to Montblanc to Keihl’s and many more, the finest American and European brands reign here in great force. Macy’s, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus anchor this alluring complex where even during this busy retail season, shopping is a delight. You’ll also find an Apple store among the mall’s 160 retailers, reason alone to hit this celebrated shopping place in Denver. Their jewel-like Ice Palace where Santa Claus holds court distinguishes itself by having a Santa that signs to deaf and hearing impaired children. Indeed, this is not your ordinary mall.
I suggest you plan to spend at least a couple of days in this most gentrified part of Denver. You’ll also want to take in Cherry Creek North, a lively shopping district next to the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, comprised of over three hundred upscale boutiques, galleries, restaurants, salons and spas within a sixteen-block area. I love the leisurely feel of this area where you can shop at big and small emporiums such as Crate and Barrel, Eileen Fischer, Loro Piana, Lands’ End and many more. Why, there’s even an Hermès.
Me at The Lark
Looking for an even more boutique-y shopping experience? If so, you’re my kind of shopper. Just about a mile away from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and Cherry Creek North, you’ll find a handful of shops worth the detour. Within the Country Club part of Denver’s Cherry Creek, I visited a few quaint stores that remind me of the sort of off-the-beaten-path boutiques I’d bring people to in Paris during one of my Chic Promenade shopping tours. (My official entry into the travel world came via a shopping service I founded in Paris during the late eighties.)
Don’t we all want to go where the locals shop? That’s becoming more of a rarity these days and all too often everything looks alike no matter where we go. Clearly the fashionable ladies of this well-heeled neighborhood have done a good job of patronizing this conglomeration of shops north of Speer near Downing Street since the ones I visited appear to be thriving.
You’ll want to stop first at The Lark (1219 E. 4th Avenue, 303-744-7464), a warm and inviting table arts and home decor shop that’s been here for forty years. Owners Jane Smithers and Jill Livian present gifts galore, all tastefully displayed on large wooden tables, endearing tableaus that showcase a festival of colors and textures, no matter the season. “We like to offer tradition with a twist,” Jane tells me. “I try to find things that look expensive but aren’t,” she continues. With backgrounds and extensive knowledge in interior design and decor, clearly these two ladies know how to pull together a look with great style. “Most Denver home decor shops have gone contemporary,” Jane explains to me. At The Lark you’ll find stylish lamps, frames, dinnerware, glassware, linens, decorations and more that exude such elegance and verve they’ll always be in fashion.
Lewis Bobrick Finds
Next door at Lewis Bobrick Antiques (1213 E. 4th Avenue, 303-744-9203), Native American arts and crafts vie for attention alongside western paintings, Persian rugs and sometimes even Italian ceramics from the sixties. “Anything with a patina works for me,” Lewis Bobrick explains, a well-respected dealer that’s been at this location for fifteen years. “Most things find me,” he responds when asked where he procures such an eclectic array of art and antiques. After digging a little more, I also learn that Mr. Bobrick spends a lot of time with pickers in Santa Fe. Ah-ha!
Bargain hunters must take in La Cache (400 Downing, 303-871-9605), a consignment shop benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Denver, which occupies the corner spot of Downing and 4th Avenue. How about snatching up a Prince Charles and Lady Diana souvenir plate for $22.? Or a cut-glass bowl, perfect for your next dinner party? You’ll find all kinds of collectibles, table arts, paintings and furnishings here, all finely-made treasures likely dropped off by the ladies of this tony part of Denver. It’s an old-fashioned store filled with old-fashioned goods that sell at old-fashioned prices. Still though they’re turning a nice profit because La Cache has raised close to three million dollars for the Children’s Hospital since their opening in the mid eighties.
HMK Enchantment
For a whiff of Old World charm, wend your way around the corner and peek into HMK (408 Downing Street, 303-321-5878), a darling floral and home accessories shop filled with more sentimental gift ideas. Truly this reminds me of the sort of neighborhood florist I’d find tucked away on a side street in Paris.
Voilà, that concludes this chic promenade through Denver. Bet you didn’t realize that Denver and especially the Cherry Creek district of the mile-high city offered such extraordinary shopping. Mais oui, from big names to lesser-known boutiques, there’s something for every taste and budget, every season of the year.
Where to Stay
JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek
JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek, 150 Clayton Lane, 303-326-2700
This JW Marriott in Cherry Creek is a must. No other establishment epitomizes the sophistication and naturally refined style of this renowned Denver neighborhood than this stunning hotel. Good news, too: a recently-completed five million dollar renovation of this seven-year-old establishment has rendered it more sleek and spectacular than before. The color palate in most of the rooms features dark blues, with hints of magenta and orange, perfect hues for accenting the sunsets that captivate you from most of their guest rooms. Overall, I love the warm, contemporary vibe of this JW Marriott and I’m sure you will, too.
Sunset View at JW Marriott Denver
Where to Eat
Second Home Kitchen + Bar, 150 Clayton Lane, 303-253-3000
Down-Home Urbanity at Second Home
Located within the JW Marriott Cherry Creek, Second Home Kitchen + Bar evokes a sense of style and ease that we all crave, especially after a big day of shopping. I love how the notion of urban sophistication translates into the menu of this Sage Restaurant Group concept dining establishment. You can savor a plate of artisanal cheeses or charcuterie with fine wine or come with the kids (in their pajamas, if you want) for Sunday brunch. Other upscale comfort food selections include Chicken & Waffles, Wild Mushroom Risotto, Grilled Romaine Salad, Brick Oven Pizzas, Sugar Mama’s Rum Cake and many more delectable offerings. Never has home cooking tasted so fresh and flavorful. Their lively bar scene rates as one of the best in Cherry Creek as well.
Yummy Dessert at Second Home
Elway’s, 2500 East First Avenue, 303-399-5353
Elway's
If you’re looking to take up the swank a notch, book a table at Elway’s Cherry Creek, conveniently situated at the edge of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Their booths and tables fill with a big business crowd at lunch, creating a club-y feel akin to major cosmopolitan centers. In the evening, the scene slips into a decidedly more intimate mode. At all times, the sleek, Art Deco-inspired decor of this elegant space provides a soothing backdrop for a break from the busy-ness of the Cherry Creek retail scene. Whether you come for lunch or dinner, you’re sure to wow yourself over their beautifully prepared seafood and steaks. And for desert, you can order Elway’s crème brulée by the spoonful. But I suggest you don’t, since it’s so exquisite you’ll want to gobble up a full portion unless, of course, you hardly have room after your Maine Lobster Tail or Grilled King Canyon Buffalo Ribeye.
Elway's Crab Cakes
This Just In
Elway’s Vail recently opened and is now serving après ski and dinner daily. Check them out at 174 East Gore Creek Drive, 970-754-7818.
Fashion & Style Girl Talk Paris Shopping: Fashion & Style Girl Talk Paris Shopping
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Reaching Out to Victoria, Paris and Wolff & Descourtis
Toucan Rouge Scarf
I’ve been thinking tons about my friend, Victoria Wolff, lately. Perhaps it’s because with the change of seasons I brought out my marvelous collection of scarves and shawls. Silk, cashmere, wool and challis wonders that exude all the charm and sophistication of Paris. My collection of them grew throughout my eleven years in Paris and I know they will be an essential part of my wardrobe until I’m old and grey. Most of these jewel-toned creations come from Wolff & Descourtis, Victoria’s shop in the Galerie Vivienne, a highly-regarded, family-owned textile business dating back to 1875.
Wolff & Descourtis in the Centuries-Old Shopping Passageway of the Galerie Vivienne
Victoria's Silk & Wool Treasures
Victoria and I had been out of touch for quite some time. I sent her an e-mail a while back but never received a response. (She can be very Old World and I like that!) So I decided to call her in Paris. I had recently heard about Rebtel, a phone service that offers inexpensive calls abroad, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was a snowy Saturday morning here in the Rockies, which made it late in the afternoon in Paris. I figured she’d be at her shop. What a perfect time to call.
La Reine Victoria: Queen of Parisian Scarves and Shawls
She knew it was me as soon as I said “Victoria?” And then it happened, we were instantly connected as though I was chatting right there with her in her shop, something we had done countless times when I was living in Paris. We typically speak French together but this time, Victoria launched into English (her mother is British) and I followed. During my five-minute free test call with Rebtel we covered a wide range of subjects from our personal lives to work. I learned that her parents were still living, people I was always very fond of, but she had suffered a terrible ski accident that had altered her life greatly.
Côté affaires, Victoria explained that her business was doing well, thanks largely to Wolff & Descourtis’s fine reputation and loyal following. Her devoted American clientele continues to show up and buy, although now it’s more like once a year rather than twice. Most of the other boutiques of the glittering Galerie Vivienne are struggling. “It’s very difficult everywhere,” Victoria declared. “And there are already sales,” she continued, something truly amazing in a country that once held sales but twice a year in January and July.
An electronic voice came on to signal that I only had sixty seconds left on my Rebtel test call. “I’ll call you back,” I said to Victoria in a much hurried voice, thinking that we still had so much ground to cover—we hadn’t even talked about our love lives! “Or maybe you have people in the shop?” I suddenly realized.
“Yes, I do, so I should go now,” Victoria replied. “But I promise to be more in touch—I will reply to your e-mail.”
I mumbled something about my blog but thought that that was perhaps futile. Maybe she’ll read this post, maybe not. One thing’s for sure: people, places and goods of quality never go out of style. My friend Victoria has all three.
Wolff & Descourtis, 18 galerie vivienne, 2nd arrondissement Paris; tel.: 01.42.61.80.84; www.galerie-vivienne.com.
Go to Maribeth’s Books and scroll down to read my complete description of Wolff & Descourtis.
Art & Culture Fashion & Style Mountain Living Music & Dance Telluride The Rockies Travel: Art & Culture Fashion & Style Mountain Living Music & Dance Telluride The Rockies Travel
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Ferraris, Blues, Brews and the Rocky Mountains
Ferraris Flanked by the Rocky Mountains
Ferrari epitomizes design and style. The Rockies furnish some of the most dramatic and outstanding views in the world. Put the two together and you’ve got one helluva good-looking scene. Add a little blues, brews, and bountiful helpings of food and wine and you’ve got a number one formula for a spectacularly good time. That’s just what you’ll get throughout most of southwestern Colorado this weekend, especially in Telluride when the Ferrari Club of America Rocky Mountain Region is due to cruise into town on Saturday, one of the peak days of the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. Yes, over thirty of these beauties will be lined up on the center lane of Telluride’s main street for all to admire.
“We’ll be there rain or shine,” says Fred Bishel, club member and tour coordinator. “Only a blizzard will stop us,” he adds. From a near-vintage 1988 model to a brand-new 2011, in a regalia of black, silver, yellow and the iconic Ferrari red, this cavalcade of some of the world’s most magnificent cars will be traveling through southwestern Colorado as part of their fall foliage tour. Their journey begins Friday on the Skyline Drive outside of Canon City where they’ve obtained special permission to drive in the opposite direction on this stunning route. From there, they go to Gunnison for lunch and then Grand Junction in the evening. It’s no surprise they’re making Gateway Canyons, home of the Gateway Auto Museum, showcase of the private collection of Discovery Channel’s founder John Hendricks. It’s a key stop at 9 a.m. Saturday before heading to Telluride for lunch. By Saturday evening, these fine Italian specimens (I’m talking about the cars not the drivers although I haven’t met any of them yet!) will be claiming forty parking spaces on Durango’s main drag—what a sight! Sunday they’re off to Pagosa Springs, then over Wolf Creek pass to end with a fundraiser in Saguache. Members of the club will be chatting with admirers and handing out schwag at every stop.
If you love beauty, don’t miss this happening. It’s rare to see so many Ferraris assembled together. The last time I saw such a showing of these magnificent works of art was over two decades ago at an exhibition entitled Hommage à Ferrari at the Fondation Cartier, located outside of Paris in Jouy-en-Josas at the time. Leave it to a world-renowned jeweler to recognize the splendor of this celebrated brand.
Yet to see these sparkling gems set within the stunning vistas of our majestic Rocky Mountains, it looks like we’ll likely out shine them.
The Official Ferrari Tour License Plate
Read Always on My Mind: Telluride Blues & Brews Festival and Willie Nelson to read my take on this year’s lineup. Check out Gateway Canyons: One Big Discovery to learn more about this gorgeous resort.
