Category: destinations

Halloween Countdown: Monster Supplies

October 7th, 2011

Most commercial Halloween products tend to lean toward the colorful, campy side. I love seeing *classy* products like the following.

From the Ministry of Stories:
Welcome to East London’s premier purveyor of everyday and bespoke goods for the living, dead and undead. We stock a pharmacopoeia of different types of fear, a complete range of edible human preserves and everyday household essentials like Fang Floss and Zombie Mints. So we invite clients old and new to come and discover why we’ve been the store of choice for discerning monsters for over two hundred years, and will be the same forevermore.

See more here.
Desktop Goodies 4/19

April 9th, 2011

(But in my case, 2011 has certainly tried so far!)

Brings new meaning to the phrase “my better half:”

…and new meaning to “a meeting of minds:”

I should definitely do this with my hip-length hair. Now, how to craft a faucet accessory…

Mystery solved!

Best typo of the month…and top of my destination list if it’s true. Where do heavy meals line the urban roadsides? Bring me to the land of meatloaf trees and pizza flowers!

I’d also like to go to this coffee shop:

Best cake inscription of the month:

Happy birthday! “Rats off to you!” (You know this sickly looking thing has red velvet cake innards)

Or for another unique birthday idea (not recommended):

I want one of these.

I find this photo incredibly haunting.

I love this image.
Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum

April 7th, 2011

If I’m ever in Michigan, Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum will be on my itinerary.

“Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum is known from coast to coast, like butter and toast. From headlines to bedlines, from school rooms to pool rooms, this place is like no other that can be found in the contiguous United States and other environs of the free world.”

The museum contains items of magic, neon, antiques, posters, airplanes, robots, animation, and all sorts of odd and unusual coin operated games. The coin operated games are the main attraction, and range from the oldest gypsy fortune telling machine of the early 1900’s, to the lastest video games. All the games are operational.

There is so much fun stuff to explore on the website alone…I can only imagine how interesting it would be in person!

Marvin’s Marvelous Mechanical Museum
Library Bars

February 9th, 2011

I’ve spent a great deal of time in LA. Although I love the art scene there, literature has never been the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the city. But there seems to be a new trend of library themed bars and restaurants.

I approve! A couple of these will definitely be on my next LA itinerary.

The Wellesbourne
I think this one is my favorite. It looks so warm and cozy (not to mention nice and packed, like my own library).

Hyperion Tavern (only open for private events)
This law library themed space can be confused with a regular house, since it happens to be sandwiched between two houses and is not open to the public.

Library Bar
I hear this one has a great jukebox…

XIV
I tend to avoid the upscale scene on the Sunset Strip, but I’m still happy that trendy nightlife is getting a bookish makeover!

Source
Museum of Unnatural History

November 19th, 2010

This fictional museum has a very elusive online presence. I saw one image from the lot, and figured I would find a plethora of articles, photos and information. After all, The Museum of Unnatural History is a sensational concept.

I could only find this site, which does not even list authors or contact info. I’m intrigued. I want more.

The collection boasts one of the finest arrays of fictional charts, specimens, and products I’ve cast my eyes on.

For my dear cynics and nihilists:

The simple re-branding of everyday objects is genius.

This one makes my geek senses tingle with delight:

Why are there no links to buy these products?

I highly recommend the rest of the collection.

[EDIT] Because I have such awesome readers, there is now more info in the comments. Here is an article about the brick and mortar store. Scan the comments for a series of links about the purpose and history, courtesy of Rich. Thanks, guys!

This place has officially been added to my “destinations” list!
Halloween Countdown: Hollywood Wax Museum Horrors

October 8th, 2010

Last week I visited the Hollywood Wax museum for the first time since I was about eight years old.

I’m going to be honest: wax figures look MUCH better in the photos we see circulating when they debut in museums. In person, many of them are blotchy inhabitants of the uncanny valley. I felt a kind of mild disgust (when I wasn’t chuckling).

Of course, in the Chamber of Horrors, EVERYTHING is designed to look odd…so it works. Here are a few selections.

The Exorcist

House of Wax

Bella!

Lon!

I would have loved to see Vincent Price among some of the classic horror actors.

The Cryptkeeper, a childhood favorite.

Beetlejuice/geuse

And my favorite photo in the bunch:
California Carnivores

September 11th, 2010

California Carnivores is the largest carnivorous plant retailer in the US. The selection is truly impressive!

Venus flytraps, sundews, pitcher plants, cobra plants…and SO many more! The site is easy to search by plant type, region and climate. Plants are sold separately or in collections.

Lately I’ve been feeling like I’d get a lot of satisfaction from cultivating a little garden. Perhaps I should include some of these. Anyone had experience with carnivorous plants?

California Carnivores
House on the Water

July 19th, 2010

Add this place to the list of my dream locations. Imagine enjoying this lovely cottage in Arnissa, Greece on a clear evening…or during a thunderstorm.

I love looking at beautiful (though impractical) sanctuaries. Does anyone know where I might be able to rent something like this for a few days in the US?

Source
House on the Rock

June 29th, 2010

I have never wanted to hop a plane to Wisconsin so badly in my life. I absolutely must visit the House on the Rock.

I’m going to be honest. I can’t write detailed descriptions of all the rooms in this place, because I WILL impulsively buy a plane ticket I can’t afford…and we don’t want that, now do we?

However, I will direct you to this fantastic post that describes the house in more detail.

Antiques, oddities, puppets, monsters, instruments, specimens, props, masks, machines, weapons, books, carnival and sideshow relics…enough to make one’s head explode in the most delightful way.

A wise friend recently pointed out a common thread in my preferences: a penchant for intensely created little worlds full of unique vision. I think this place is a perfect example. I like to be sensually overwhelmed, immersed in creativity, history, the carefully crafted extremes of madness and entertainment. Places that collect the bizarre fringes of human invention never fail to fascinate me.

Each bit of ephemera tells a story…stories run through my head with every picture I see…

Time to count the change in my jar and save up for that ticket…

Source
Official site
Live Maine Lobster

June 28th, 2010

I forget where I first found this postcard. I was going to post it while I was away in Maine recently, but forgot to take it from my external hard drive.

I’m sure you’ve heard that the lobster scene in Maine is top notch. A vintage postcard maker seems to have captured its essence:

Maine is not actually filled with giant b-movie lobsters crawling (and hovering over) the beaches.

At least not where I stayed.

Is there a place on the coast where the lobsters eat you?