Green Monkey Baby is Denver's only eco-friendly, all-organic baby and infant clothing boutique. The clothes and baby accessories by themselves are fashionable enough, but the company's commitment to only purchasing fair trade clothing made using organic ingredients and green production methods. Green Monkey Baby is conveniently located in the South Pearl shopping district, with many other eco-friendly shops and boutiques around, where many families prefer this children's store over the others in the same area. For the family that wants to make a difference all the time, this is a great place to pick up gifts and useful baby items alike, but be forewarned; the prices reflect the difficulty in finding green clothing for children, and there aren't many sales. - Sabrina Zirakzadeh

Murder By the Book is a local new and used bookstore with a twist; they only sell mystery, suspense, and thriller stories. Murder By the Book is located in the South Pearl shopping district, inside a renovated old house that adds to the mysterious atmosphere they cultivate quite nicely. The books are located in every nook and cranny in every room of the house. The furniture and decor make it a great place for book clubs, and many people opt to browse titles in more detail before purchasing or just sit down with a cup of tea in between searches. Murder By the Book will never carry more mainstream novels or other genres, so its appeal is limited, but for mystery fans, this is one bookstore that can't be beat. -Sabrina Zirakzadeh

Hammond's Candies has been creating some of the world's sweetest confections since 1920. You will enjoy their heavenly sweets like sugar sticks, caramels, ice tea sippers, everyday twist lollipops, fruit slice crystal cuts and much more. Hammond's also sells candy made specifically for holidays such as Christmas, Halloween and Easter. This old-fashioned shop enjoys sharing the magic of the candy making process by having extensive factory tours which show that making candy is just as fun as eating it. Hammond's Candies is sure to be a delightful experience for kids of all ages.

First reaction upon entering this shop is usually awe over all the things constructed from wood. Just about everything on its shelves are creatively carved wood products and include flower bouquets and even a decorative motorcycle made from wicker. In addition, one can find novelty animal woodcarvings, wall hangings, toys and imported women's clothing and jewelry. This is a perfect shop for someone bent on finding an unusual gift, or an odd accessory for the home.

This bookstore has been in Denver for more than 20 years. Originally targeted to gay men when it was called Category Six Books, the current owners have expanded the titles and sections to serve lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities as well. The shop's relaxing atmosphere is the perfect place to browse for the latest Maupin saga or Grimsley drama. A number of chairs scattered about its aisles provide a good place to begin a new read. Its selection covers a wide variety of topics, ranging from fiction and non-fiction, to memoirs and titles specifically dealing with gay and transgender issues.

Discriminating book buyers in search of rare books will enjoy browsing through this shop's, antiquarian selection. Check out titles from a variety of genres including western Americana, natural history and art. Located in the Antique Guild along South Broadway's Antique District, this bookstore, with its neatly situated shelves and numerous book cabinets, looks more like a library. Most of the display cases (many of which are for sale) are also antiques and come from the Carnegie Library, one of Denver's early libraries.

From Feng Shui to Runes, from Zen to Tarot, this popular Washington Park bookstore is the perfect stop on your way to a higher spiritual plateau. Wafts of incense set the mood for browsing. Bells chime in the background blocking out every sound but the sound of your own thoughts. And you will need those to help concentrate on perusing the diverse selection of metaphysical titles spanning philosophy, religion, and self-help. Candles, incense, new age music, tarot cards and aromatherapy oils are also available.

The log walls, fieldstone fireplace and giant throw rug makes this tiny shop look more like a private cabin rather than a neighborhood clothing store. Once you get beyond the decor, however, you will notice the shop has a fine selection of T-shirts, Sports coats, Patagonia flannel shirts and other accessories. It also shelves a small library of fly fishing texts and guides.

For couples, friends, or even families who enjoy riding together, but cannot seem to keep pace with each other, this shop is the bicycling balm. Hop on one of these two-seaters and never again will you hear strained cries to "slow down," or "maybe if you would not have had that second helping of glazed ham you could keep up". What really stands out with this shop is that it sells nothing but tandems. In fact, it is the largest tandem source in the Rocky Mountain west. Ask the staff a question and you will quickly realize that these people know their product.

St Killian's cheese shop, located next to the main Highland shopping district, is the best specialty cheese store in Denver. With a huge selection of pre-cut, made to order, and rare cheeses, St Killian's variety can't be beat. The staff is knowledgeable about the age, discovery, and making of their various cheeses. Moreover, the store itself is welcoming, clean, and cheerful, and the cheese is fairly priced even for the rarest varieties. Cured meats, vinegars, oils, and European canned meats are also available. Be sure to check out St Killian's cheese making demos!