Gifts 2005

Southern fun
University Hill and South Boulder offer a myriad of gift-buying options
by Tyler Wilcox

Still not done with your holiday shopping? Time is running out! Fortunately for you, the Boulder Weekly 11th Hour Gift Guide is still here for you, guiding all procrastinators to the very best retail spots all along the Front Range. We're nice like that. This week, we'll explore the shopping options available on University Hill and in South Boulder, or SoBo.

The Hill

University Hill (more commonly referred to as just "The Hill") is, unfortunately, known for its frats and sororities, its annual student riots and those killer keggers that stretch 'til the break of dawn. But there's actually a rather lovely shopping district on the Hill, with dozens of places to hunt for gifts. Running neck and neck with Bart's in the competition for best Boulder record store is the long-running Albums On The Hill (1124 College Ave.). Once you descend into the store's subterranean locale, you'll find yourself surrounded by walls and walls filled with used and new CDs, bins filled with cheap, classic vinyl and all other types of musical miscellany. It's a small space, but you'll be amazed how much the staff manages to cram in there. Guitars galore can be bought at the Guitar Cellar (1209 13th St.). And they aren't kidding—the store is quite literally a cellar. But you can't beat its selection of acoustic and electric guitars, as well as amplifiers, strings and any other necessary accessories.

If you've got an artist (or an aspiring artist) in your circle of friends, make a stop at Art Hardware (1135 Broadway), the most extensive art supplies store in town—oil paints, watercolors, brushes, canvases—they've got it all, and more.

For the people behind The Mac Shack (1301 Pennsylvania Ave.) the Macintosh isn't just a computer: it's a way of life. Any Mac-based software or accessories you may need, they'll be able to provide. There's also a wide selection of delightful iPod-related products for you to choose from. And everybody loves those iPods! I hear you might be deported if you don't have one...

Unique and intricate floral arrangements that can add that special holiday vibe to a living room or office can be found at The Art of the Flower (1144 13th St.).

The Hill is also home to some of the coolest clothing stores in all of Boulder. First up, there's the kitschy second-hand boutique, Lola's Vintage Clothing (1203 3rd St.). If you're looking for that classic AC/DC 1980 tour shirt, chances are Lola's has got it, along with a bunch of other timeless (and not so timeless) fashions. Meow Meow (1118 13th St.) has racks upon racks of hip women's wear. Also on the vintage tip is Stellar Clothing (1203 13th St.), where you'll find all kinds of strange and wonderful duds.

For the ridiculously hale 'n' healthy Boulderite in your life, the Hill has plenty of sporting goods-type shops. The finest skateboarding shop in Boulder can be found on the Hill in the form of Meta Skateboard (1121 Broadway #103). For owner Sam Hines and his expert staff, skateboarding isn't merely a hobby: it's a passion. If you have a skater you're shopping for, do yourself a favor and check this place out. You can thank me later. If it's a cycling enthusiast you're shopping for, there's Full Cycle (1203 13th St.), which has a wide array of bikes and bike gear for you to choose from. To find the perfect stocking stuffer for the angler in your family, make some time for Kinsley Outfitters (1155 13th St.), a fully stocked shop with thousands of fly fishing-related products. Finally, any CU student looking to lose his or her "freshman 15" will thank you endlessly if you get them a gift membership at the best gym on the hill, which is called, uh, Gym on the Hill (1211 13th St.).

Want to get a gift that will scar someone for life—in a good way? Buy a gift certificate at any one of the several tattoo and/or piercing parlors the Hill is home to. The biggies are K & K Piercing (1301 Pennsylvania Ave.), Rock Star Tattoo (1119 13th St.) and Tribal Rites (1100 13th St.), all of which will have you looking like a biker in no time.

South Boulder

The southern region of this fine city may not be quite as packed with shops as The Hill or Pearl Street, but SoBo has still got its fair share of places that deserve your holiday dollars. You still have some of those holiday dollars, right?

It's every red-blooded American male's fantasy to have his own private brewery. And now you can help him make that fantasy a reality. The Beer Store (637 S. Broadway), located in the Table Mesa Shopping Center, is devoted to helping home brewers handcraft the best beer possible. Everything needed to get a microbrewery started is here. Near The Beer Store is the Culinary School of the Rockies (637 S. Broadway, Ste. H) an esteemed cooking institution that offers gift certificates for intensive five-day technique courses and a variety of popular two- to three-day workshops. It's an easy, quick and delicious gift for anyone who is interested in learning more about food and cooking. If you don't feel like cooking, grab lunch next door at Mickey C's (637 S. Broadway, Ste. G), which offers sandwiches, fruit, espresso drinks, salads and Boulder Ice Cream, good even in the most frigid winter. And you can work off all that ice cream at Mountain's Edge Fitness Center (693 S. Broadway).

Also in the Table Mesa Shopping Center is Laund Ur Mutt (637 S. Broadway, Ste. P), a good place to check out if you're looking for a gift for a pet or a pet lover. In case you haven't heard, knitting is hot! It's no longer just for grandmothers—the kids are getting in on it, too. So stay ahead of the curve and buy some gifts at Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins (635 S. Broadway, Ste. E), a store that has every kind of knitting-related product. If you're looking to do some woodworking, try Liberty Hardware (691 S. Broadway). After you've worked up an appetite, stop in at the South Side Walnut Café (673 S. Broadway) and enjoy a hot meal, some yummy pie and terrific espresso drinks. Ask David to make you the latté with the little hearts drizzled across the foam. Caffé Solé (637 S. Broadway, Ste. R) offers excellent coffee as well and gift cards for those who want to share the buzz. For a family-friendly restaurant with great brew, stop in at Southern Sun (627 S. Broadway). The kids can have burgers and be noisy, while you suck suds.