Hi friends! Happy November, and happy holiday season🎄🎁✨ We’re switching it up this month and doing something special! I’ve collected some of my favorite Denver local businesses and have combined them into the ULTIMATE Denver Holiday Shopping Guide. I even have some exclusive discount codes for the readers of this newsletter (that’s you!). I love gift giving season, and it makes the season even more special when the gifts we give also help local Denver businesses. If you keep scrolling, you’ll find a short round-up of my favorite holiday pop up bars and of course the influencer tea section. Happy shopping!
Beyond shopping at local markets such as the Cherry Creek Holiday Market, the Denver BAZAARS, and the Christkringle Market, I’ve got the next best thing, while also saving you some cash. 💰 See below for some of my top Denver gift recommendations, including those who I think the gifts would be perfect for.
Booze & Restaurants
Why I love them: Distilled in Denver and the perfect ready-made cocktails
Who they would make good gifts for: The drinkie in your life, the cocktail connoisseur, dads & uncles
Code: RAYNA20 for 20% off online purchases
Why I love them: Hard Kombucha drinks that get you turnt
Who they would make good gifts for: Any of the healthy-minded girlies in your life, older sisters
Code: RAYNA20 for 20% off online purchases or mention ‘Rayna’ for 20% off in their taproom
Why I love them: Woman-based and Denver grown company
Who they would make good gifts for: The hostess with the mostest, those who love to impress their friends with pretty drinks
Promo: Receive 10% off when mentioning this newsletter at any of their Holiday markets: 12/1 - 12/3: Boulder County Farmer's Market Holiday Market 12/1 - 12/24: Park Meadows Holiday Market
Why I love them: I am a proud Postin-hoe, you simply cannot go wrong with getting someone Postino for a gift
Who they would make good gifts for: The wine lover in your life (or even the foodie), moms
Code: RAYNA20 for 20% off annual Wine Cult membership
Why I love them: They’re the coolest distillery I know with the best gin
Who they would make good gifts for: Cocktail snobs (hi, it's me!), and the friend/family member that loves a good G&T
Promos: Receive $2 off their new Up All Nitro Four Pack when you mention “Rayna” in store
Why I love them: A Colorado staple! Anyone can find a beer they love here, and that’s coming from someone who isn’t a beer drinker
Who they would make good gifts for: Your boyfriend, brother, and anyone who loves sitting outside, drinking a cold one with their dog
Code: 20% off food and beer at your local DBC taproom (Platte St, Arvada, Lowry, Downing, and Littleton (coming soon!). Stop by your local DBC taproom and show this gift guide email to your server or mention “Rayna20”
Clothing
Why I love them: An iconic Denver business, producing some of the best, high-quality streetwear
Who they would make good gifts for: Your partner, your younger siblings, and anyone & everyone that loves to throw on comfy clothing, but still look put together
Why I love them: A cute, women’s boutique, selling on trend clothes, shoes, hats and accessories
Who they would make good gifts for: The fashionista in your life and anyone who loves to stay on trend
Code: RAYNA20 for 20% off online purchases
Why I love them: Run by an incredible female designer who transforms thrifted items into one-of-a-kind clothing
Who they would make good gifts for: The trendsetter in your life, the person who is always wearing something a little out-there
Code: RAYNA for 40% off their Etsy store
Why I love them: A women-owned golf clothing company
Who they would make good gifts for: The golfer in your life, or the person who loves to wear cute workout clothing in their day-to-day
Code: RAYNA10 for 10% off your online order
Why I love them: Clear, fashionable bags that you can take with you into any of Denver’s sports events, concerts, or venues
Who they would make good gifts for: The concert goer/sports lover/raver in your life
Code: RAYNA for 10% off online purchases
Skincare & Self-Care
Why I love them: Skincare that doesn’t break the bank and is crafted with natural ingredients
Who they would make good gifts for: The skin care queen, the self-care guru
Code: RAYNA20 for 20% off online purchases
Why I love them: The best facial spot in Denver, Heyday is truly revolutionizing facials. Each appointment is different and tailored to your skin and what it needs
Who they would make good gifts for: The person who needs to take some time for themselves to relax
Activities/Miscellaneous
Why I love them: They’ve been adding a lot of fun, adult only events
Who they would make good gifts for: The animal lover, want-to-be vet in your life, or for your friend that has young children
Code: DZRAYNA23 for 20% off annual Zoo membership subscription
Why I love them: A new Denver local business that has rage rooms for adults and for kids
Who they would make good gifts for: Your friend who just got out of a relationship, the person in your life who could use a rage outlet, and people with kids who love to get crafty
Code: RAYNA10 for 10% off your first rage
Why I love them: A queer-owned and women-run bookstore
Who they would make good gifts for: The book lover in your life
Code: Receive 10% off a store membership and 10% off your purchases when you mention ‘Rayna’ at checkout
Holiday Pop Up Bars
Tis’ the season for Christmas Pop Up Bars! A popular question in my DM’s is which pop-up is my favorite, and I’m here to answer that question. See below for my top 5 Denver Holiday Bars:
Blazing Bright at the Hilton Denver Inverness
Miracle Bar underneath Union Station
Foxy-Shotski Crafting Night at Reynard Social
Surfin Santa at The Arvada Tavern
Big Holiday Energy Pop Up at Call to Arms Brewing
Influencer Tea
November is the month of gratitude, right? When we sit and think about all that we are grateful for. And I’m grateful for a lot. I wanted to take this month’s influencer tea section and say thank you. First, thank you to my readers. We’ve grown this newsletter to over 600 subscribers which is exciting for the few months we’ve been doing this. I want to say thank you to my friends and family who are constantly showing up for me and supporting me through this crazy life I get to live. Thank you to all of the PR companies who offer me amazing opportunities and trust me to make successful content for their clients. I want to give a huge thank you to my friend, Maria, who helps me produce and edit this newsletter-without her we wouldn’t be here. And the biggest thank you to my followers, thank you for trusting me to show you Denver and share this city that I love so much.
Next month’s newsletter will be a short one as I am getting ready to go into hibernation (read: 2 weeks of disconnecting from social media) at the end of this year. But for all my nosy readers who were hoping for some real tea 😉…. all hope is not lost. I’ve been brewing on something for a while now. Trying to find the right words to say. I think come January, it’ll be ready to be served.
Love all the gift ideas!