Places Vivian Shen Wants to Go

A book collector's dream, this Toronto bookstore has the world's first "Biblio-Mat," a random book vending machine.

Shelves covered in dozens of coffee bean varieties fill this North End institution.

From bench to vandalism to art, this silly prank seat was funny enough to become permanent.

Radical Bookstore and Community Space.

Perched high atop telephone poles is an uncanny outdoor art gallery that greets passersby on their commute.

Find regional specialties from the Thai-Laotian border inside in a North Hollywood swap meet's food court.

A cake-themed art installation tucked away in historic Chinatown.

"Prepare yourself! You are to become the voice of Interplanetary Parliament."

Though the original building has been demolished, these massive bronze doors were saved.

A classically trained chef makes beloved burritos inside a gas station.

A Cold War site complete with rusty structures, hiking trails, and beautiful views.

Three vintage horses survived a 1976 inferno and found a home on a sister carousel.

Space program, pneumatics and more, bits and pieces, for movie sets or the common man.

This stockpile of junked electronic and mechanical gadgets is a favorite among Hollywood prop masters.

A visionary, futuristic sculpture in Los Angeles that never met its extraterrestrial potential.

An expansive book store, art gallery, and curio shop with wares ranging from tarot cards to novelty socks.

The illuminating collection of L.A. street lights is run by the city and only opens one day per month.

An L.A. traffic island where the faces of locals have been carved into massive granite eggs.

Every weekend, the parking lot of this Buddhist temple turns into a Thai street-food paradise.

What began with a single, 357-pound chunk of the Canyon Diablo meteorite grew to be an impressive collection. 

This “living museum” at UCLA exhibits thousands of plant species from all over the world.

This collector's home is a constant work in progress.

A carousel trades in its classic horses and calliope for endangered species, native flora and fauna, and a modern soundtrack.

One of the world's largest collections of rare and magnificent bird specimens.