Here’s one of our staff writer’s favorite places to shop locally | Opinion

Editor’s note: This is part of The Know’s series, Staff Favorites. Each week, we offer our opinions on the best that Colorado has to offer for dining, shopping, entertainment, outdoor activities and more. (We’ll also let you in on some hidden gems).

Here’s a suggestion for a holiday gift to your community: Close out of Amazon, skip the lines at Target and shop locally.

Denver is full of local hidden gem boutiques and Christmas markets that can help anyone work their way through their Christmas list this year. My favorite shop for eclectic gifts is eXtraOrdinary (XO) Gift Co., with a location on Tennyson Street and another in Wheat Ridge.

I came across XO Gift Co.’s Tennyson store when I was dropping off a package next door and needed a thoughtful card to go with it. There seemed to be something for everyone there, and I couldn’t stop myself from picking up an extra tea towel and hat with funny sayings that were perfect for my friends.

XO Gift Co., which Kat Furr opened in 2013, offers handmade, upcycled and unusual gifts from vendors around the country, with 50 percent of the products made in Colorado. There’s artisan jewelry, quippy tea towels and mugs, Colorado sweatshirts and hats, baby clothes and toys, plants, pillows and art.

Furr said the most popular item right now is a craft cocktail mix with which you can infuse your alcohol. I am a big fan of the baby section, since my new nephew was born in October and he absolutely needed a Colorado onesie.