In a dimly lit Victorian building with rickety staircases, the china dolls and tin soldiers sit patiently on dusty shelves awaiting their visitors. The toy theatres of the 1800's, an all but... »

Unique Collections, Commercial Curiosities, Purveyors of Curiosities | Edited by serflac and Rachel

Japan is blazing the trail when it comes to developing synthetic humans. Seemingly lacking whatever it is that tends to give Westerners the willies when it comes to human replicas, the Japanese... »

Strange Science, Commercial Curiosities | Edited by Rachel

When stepping into The Curio Emporium in South Pasadena, the color shift to sepia is so complete, only a peek out the window will lend assurance that you haven't slipped into a gothic Jules Verne... »

Commercial Curiosities, Purveyors of Curiosities | Edited by Rachel

The Thermopolia of Pompeii have been closed since 79 AD when the entire city was buried under masses of volcanic ash. But in 2010, one of these ancient fast-food restaurants was reopened to the... »

Commercial Curiosities, Bizarre Restaurants and Bars | Edited by atimian

When Charles Ingebretsen emigrated from Norway to the Midwest in the early 1900s, he had no grand plans to create a hub of Scandinavian culture in Minneapolis. But as his small store on East Lake... »

Commercial Curiosities | Edited by atimian and HJHausman

Opened in July 2010, Treehotel was created to get visitors to reconnect with nature. Offering eco-friendly quarters 15 feet off the ground, each room offers stunning views of the forest and... »

Commercial Curiosities, Odd Accommodations, Architectural Oddities, Outsider Architecture | Edited by atimian and HJHausman

Zaan is known for its charming and iconic green cottages. They just aren't usually stacked 11 stories high to make one gigantic hotel that many have deemed an architectural monstrosity.... »

Commercial Curiosities, Odd Accommodations | Edited by serflac and atimian

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Natural Wonders, Commercial Curiosities | Edited by serflac and atimian

Almost 5 million trucks cross the World Trade Bridge between Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, Texas every year. Thousands of those trucks are loaded to the brim with drugs headed into the United... »

Commercial Curiosities | Edited by atimian

There are few people that have such a passion for wine that they would actually like to be bottled in a cask for the night. Yet De Vrouwe van Stavoren has tapped into this niche market, opening a... »

Commercial Curiosities, Odd Accommodations | Edited by serflac and atimian