The Scene: GG Cosmetics, Aktiv, La Colombe Coffee Roasters, Baba & Pops, Blue Ruby & Sublimelight Studios
The Scene is a special announcement section, submitted by businesses. It covers fashion, retail and dining news, events, promotions, real estate listings, new brands, stores, and products. New Stores // Brands // Hires // Events // Products // Dining - Contact us for submissions
Photo: Shel Francis Creative // Founder Germany Gabrielle
Photo: Shel Francis Creative
NEW BEAUTY BRAND // GG COSMETICS: This new beauty brand has been created by Germany Gabrielle and is a Vegan, Gluten-free, and Cruelty-Free brand with absolutely no chemicals. ‘GG’s Cosmetics was created with inspiration from my mom and her dream to sell lashes, we decided to do so much more. We have a full line of many different cosmetic products all made right here in Colorado. We have Mink Lashes, Eyeshadow, Mascara, and Lip gloss with beauty packages filled with cosmetic accessories. These items will be available on December 19th, pre-orders will begin December 11th @ Midnight. In the spring of 2021 we will be launching a facial serum and liquid highlighter,’ explained Gabrielle. @gg.s.cosmetics
BRAND SPOTLIGHT // AKTIV // STANLEY MARKETPLACE
Owners of Aktiv, Leslie and Kate
For Coloradans planning to spend even more time outside than usual this winter, a new boutique inside Stanley Marketplace has a hearty collection of stylish and functional winter wear. Aktiv was founded in 2018 by Leslie and Nate Axvig. They’d just returned to Colorado after a few years in Oslo, where they’d fallen in love with Nordic style. They had a hard time finding their favorite Scandinavian clothing brands here in the U.S., so they decided to do something about it, launching Aktiv as an online boutique. Aktiv carries 24 different Scandinavian brands, many of which aren’t available anywhere else in the U.S.
This September, Leslie and Nate opened their first brick and mortar inside Stanley Marketplace, in between Stanley Beer Hall and Cheluna Brewing Co. and across from Qi-Lin. The new Aktiv boutique includes a curated line of responsibly sourced and sustainable clothing and accessories from a variety of Nordic brands, perfect for the chillier winter months, and perfect for life in Colorado, too.
Leslie and Nate have adopted a Nordic philosophy when it comes to clothing: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Their offerings include the perfect base layers alongside cozy sweaters and jackets built to keep out the wind, snow, and cold. And they focus on products that are beautifully designed, responsible produced, and durable. @aktivstyleusa // aktivstyle.com
NEW COFFEE SPOT // LA COLOMBE COFFEE OPENS IN IDEAL MARKET: La Colombe has opened its first Denver-based cafe at the new Ideal Market location in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by Whole Foods Market, Ideal Market Denver is located at 900 E. 11th Ave. Beginning on October 7, Denver, known for its appreciation for craft beverages, will now be able to experience La Colombe’s iconic service and beloved beverages, including its cold brew on tap, Oatmilk Draft Latte on tap, and specialty coffee drinks. The cafe is owned and operated by Ideal Market but fully outfitted and designed in collaboration with the La Colombe team. Additionally, the barista team will go through a full coffee training by La Colombe trainers to deliver a premium service and beverage quality guests would find on bar at any one of La Colombe’s 30 owned-and-operated cafes nationwide.
The brand has seen massive growth within the Denver metro area, since being introduced in 2016. La Colombe has grown 25% vs last year, with the Triple Draft Latte being the number one selling product. Building on that success, La Colombe is hopeful that this will be the beginning of many future locations to come.
La Colombe’s cafe in Ideal Market Denver will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily. www.lacolombe.com
Photo by Lucy Beaugard
NEW RESTAURANT // BABA & POPS: There’s a new Bloody Mary in town, and it’s gigantic. Baba & Pop’s Pierogi just launched a new Sunday brunch that includes the Buddy Mary, a 50-ounce Bloody Mary that comes in an oversized glass and includes fried chicken kabobs, potato and cheese pierogi, kielbasa sausage, charred jalapeño, bacon, pickled veggies, and cheese curds.
Baba & Pop’s specializes in their namesake pierogi, with recipes handed down from owner Jeremy Turek’s great-grandparents, but their non-pierogi offerings are stand-outs, too. Those include the Buddy Burger, also on the brunch menu: two house-ground smashed beef patties, white American cheese, sautéed onions, shredded pickles, shredded lettuce, and Buddy sauce on a brioche bun, served with thin and crispy steak chips, also made in house.
“We didn’t just want to make a burger,” Jeremy said. “We wanted to make one of the best burgers around. So we started grinding our own meat and developed our own mix that we grind fresh daily. I think what we created can stand up to any burger out there.”
Baba & Pop’s started as a Denver food truck in 2012 and opened their flagship kitchen and bar on March 13 of this year, right before the pandemic-fueled shutdown. Back open for lunch and dinner and now Sunday brunch, plus takeout and delivery, Baba & Pop’s offers a family-friendly space on East Colfax right beside Third Culture Bakery and across the street from the Aurora Fox Theatre. babaandpops.com
RETAIL NEWS // BLUE RUBY EXPANDS
Blue Ruby is excited to announce that it has opened a second retail location at LoDo’s Dairy Block featuring an expanded clothing boutique alongside the Cat Club Denver event space and Biker Bar juice concept.
Blue Ruby’s second location at Dairy Block will feature nearly 5,000 square feet of space located at 1855 Blake Street.
Blue Ruby was designed to take the stress out of the shopping experience, with merchandise including denim, jackets, button-downs, t-shirts, jewelry, shoes, handbags, yoga wear, grooming products, and more. Popular product lines include locally made pieces by Aspen True and Arae, along with unique brands like Bevvy Flog and Etienne Marcel.
Cat Club Denver is LoDo’s hottest new private event space, featuring lounge seating, a 36-foot runway, and more. Packages range from $300 - $950, with the option to add a professional photographer & make-up artist for the event, bottles of champagne, and access to an exclusive “dress-up closet” stocked with festive boas, tutus, headpieces, and more. Capacity limits at Cat Club Denver will be in accordance with the current City of Denver & Colorado guidelines.
Blue Ruby will also be home to the Biker Bar, a bike-friendly juice bar open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The juice bar will aim to source products locally to support other Denver-area businesses, such as locally sourced honey and coffee from Huckleberry Roasters. Menu highlights include the signature Pedal Power juice, made with cucumber, celery, kale, lemon, and apple. Or guests can enjoy the Orange Crush – named after the Denver Broncos legendary defense – a tropical blend of berries filled with immune-boosting antioxidants, including mango, pineapple, orange, and goji berries. bluerubyboutique.com/
ANNOUNCEMENT // SUBLIMELIGHT STUDIOS brand new to Denver, CO in 2020 - is hosting Musical Theatre Jazz and Tap Dance classes for teens and adults at Cherry Creek Dance Studio at 2625 E 3rd Avenue.
Radio City Rockette, Joanna Richardson, teaches Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced level classes ranging from 90 minutes to three hours long. Denver-based theatrical producer and studio founder, Julia Tobey, offers constructive feedback to students that are serious about working professionally in the musical theatre industry.
“In our Beginner class, we have students ranging from 13 to 46 years old. Our Intermediate class’ average age is 20 and our Advanced class is just starting enrollment. Our number one goal? Play. Have fun. Don’t take life too seriously,” remarked Tobey. Class rates range from $29 Drop-In, to flat $190 for a six-week commitment.
All registration and class information: SublimelightStudios.com