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Have an artsy heartsy February 14

Carrie ClickPost Independent Arts WriterGlenwood Springs, Colorado CO
Kelley Cox Post Independent
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Everybody can buy a box of corporately crafted chocolates and a cute, mass-produced Valentine’s Day card for that someone special. However, for a truly unique Feb. 14 celebration, local artists, entertainers, artisans and concert venues make it easy for art and music lovers to show their affection in a variety of original ways. Here are a few ideas to make this year’s Valentine’s Day giving memorable.

There’s absolutely nothing mass produced about the fine chocolates at The Chocolate Moose. Located under the Grand Avenue Bridge in Glenwood Springs, owner John Bellio concocts creations such as caramel salt cups, which consist of dark chocolate with rock salt and caramel; fire flowers, made with cayenne and dark chocolate; and cognac and dark chocolate, among many other varieties. You can custom order a selection in any size and assortment for your beloved. Bellio knows he’ll be busy on the lead-in to Valentine’s. “We’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting today,” he said, “and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Feb. 11 to 14.” You can also indulge your sweetheart in a chocolate cupcake or two at Cakes and Cuffs, also on Grand Avenue in Glenwood Springs. Baked fresh daily right in the Roaring Fork Valley, other flavors are also available at this bakery and lingerie store.

At the Wyly Community Art Center in Basalt, hand-crafted greeting cards created by local artists say “I love you” in a way Hallmark cards only dream of. In Glenwood Springs, the Book Train and Gallery 809 also have good selections of original cards, as does Midland Arts Company in Rifle, among others.



Mountain Valley Textiles and Gifts, between Grand Avenue and the Garfield County Courthouse on Eighth Street in Glenwood Springs, is another good source for locally made purchases. Run by Mountain Valley Developmental Services in Glenwood Springs, the weavers have developmental disabilities. They make beautiful scarves, shawls and many other items ideal for Valentine gift giving.

There’s nothing like a good old-fashioned hard-copy book written by a local author to connect you with another. Book Train has a good supply of books by locals Meredith Ogilby, Hal Sundin, Jim Nelson, Anita Witt and more to give you a lot of options.



Misty Frontella, one of the owners at Midland Arts Company in Rifle, teaches pottery and jewelry making at Colorado Mountain College. Now many of her students, such as Lindsey Johnson and Rene Fisher, are creating their own ceramics, earrings, bracelets and necklaces, too. Check out Johnson’s and Fisher’s jewelry line, Stranded, and you’re likely to find a piece that fits the style of your sweetie. Johnson’s work can be found at Gallery 809 and Midland Arts Company, while Fisher’s work is available at Midland Arts Company.On the higher end – think engagement and wedding rings – a visit to The Resident Goldsmith, again adjacent to the Grand Avenue Bridge, is in order. Here, Steve Spangler, who’s been working in the valley for decades, has inventory to choose from, or he can create a custom piece for you and yours, working with you to make a piece of jewelry as personalized as you’d like.

Our communities are loaded with talent, and a couple of tickets to any or all of the choices below is sure to be hit, depending on you and your beloved’s tastes:• Big band: Symphony in the Valley’s Symphony Swing dinner-dance is on Feb. 24 in Rifle and Feb. 25 in Glenwood Springs. • A locally produced play: Current and upcoming choices include the bawdy “Dangerous Liaisons” presented by CMC Theatre, and Thunder River Theatre Company’s production of “The Cherry Orchard” in late February and early March.• Dinner theatre: Glenwood Vaudeville Revue has a new show running on Fridays and Saturdays. • Live music: In addition to local bars and nightclubs hosting music acts, Carbondale’s Steve’s Guitars has live music most weekends and the Performing Arts Center at the Third Street Center in Carbondale has a regular schedule of bands.Check out the Music • Art • Theater • Events briefs on the next page for more information on these entertainment choices.

Located near the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts’ Gift Shop has paintings, pottery and mixed media pieces available for purchase. Or give a gift certificate to your Valentine to take a class. Guitar, piano, voice, dance and art lessons are all available. Artist’s Mercantile & Gallery on Cooper Avenue in downtown Glenwood Springs is currently featuring local photorealistic artist Ricky Lively whose paintings of local landscapes, aviation and wildlife will make you do a double take. Purchase a gift certificate so your honey can pick out his or her favorite. In Glenwood Springs, Gallery 809, Main Street Gallery in both Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, Kahhak Fine Arts and Ravenheart Gallery in Carbondale, the Redstone Art Center in Redstone, and Midland Arts Center in Rifle all give you opportunities to give a gift or certificate.

Giving fresh flowers is a wonderful gesture, but how about giving your main squeeze flowers that last and last? Farrier and blacksmith artist Molly Ring of Peach Valley makes daisies out of horseshoes; they’re available at Midland Arts Company in Rifle.Glenwood Springs-based artist Mary Noone is at Main Street Gallery in Glenwood Springs from 5:30-8 p.m. today, painting live. “I am painting flowers in honor of Valentine’s Day,” Noone said.


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