Quirks of art

In many ways.. you can create an impressive collection of just about anything. With the right display cases and thorough research for the strange and extraordinary, anything can be of value.

There are many alternative travel guides across America or Europe, for those who cringe at the sight of galleries or museums there's certainly something for all walks of life...

Here are a few odd ones...

Antique Medical Equipment

Perhaps it doesn't sound strange when it's only medicine bottles, syringes and vials... but when one sees the saws, bone chisels etc... your imagination can't help but runaway with you. (More info on museum of quackery... I'd also say the Museum of antique handcuffs run under this strange peccadillo)

Air Sickness bags

A few years ago Virgin Airlines hosted the "Design for Chunks" design competition that showcased 20 winners who had their artwork appear on sickbags on Virgin Atlantic flights throughout the world.

Ship beer bottles: Who would've thought all those things you toss out in the dumpster would be treasured art?

In Europe...

The Labyrinth of Buda Castle, Budapest, Hungary

The Leprosy Museum, Bergen, Norway

Cern Abbas Giant, England

Frog Museum, The Hague, Netherlands

Museum of the Souls of the Dead, Rome, Italy

The Absinthe Museum, Paris, France

Museum of Miniatures, Andorra, Ordino

Doors Open

Toronto's Doors Open event will be returning this May 28 and 29! About 150 buildings of architectural, historic, cultural or social significance open their doors to the public for free! From Black Creek Pioneer Village, High Park Club... to the famed Gooderham "Flatiron Building", visitors can step into a world normally restricted to members only.

Buildings of note:

Casa Loma

Citytv & OMNI Television Rogers Studios

Design Exchange

Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre

Gladstone Hotel

Mackenzie House

Native Child and Family Services Toronto

Old City Hall

Shaken not stirred

NBC, the once juggernaut powerhouse of the small screen has been slowly driven into the ditch for the past few years, but if the 10 newly released trailers are any sign, the shake up from the top could be the beginning of a new era. Showtime's previous head Robert Greenblatt has shed quite a few old (maybe a bit moldy) peacock feathers and the next few years will prove whether NBC will see another sunrise.

The great part is when you hit dirt bottom there's nowhere to go but up.

Split down the middle

Canada has voted and our right wing Conservatives have won the majority long sought after. Half right, half left, and nothing left in the middle. If things continue, we'll have a two tier medical system, a non-regulated banking system, and repeat the housing disaster of 2008.

Why am I surprised, most Canucks were more preoccupied with what Kate Middleton was wearing at the wedding. Oh... and now we're expected to foot the bill when they come and visit? You must be kidding me.

I'll just crawl back in my hole and read a book.