Vancouver Has The Oddities and Curiosities Expo! A Nerd’s Report on Whether Travelling Markets Worth The Time?

Cursed goods, Cthulhu fan art, and a vendor count that didn’t match the press release. Here’s how Vancouver’s second Oddities and Curiosities Expo measured up to the hype.

Oddities & Curiosities Expo Canada Edition
Oddities & Curiosities Expo Canada Edition

Some travelling expos are worth the commute. And when they tout goods that would make Louis Vandredi from Friday the 13th: The Series salivate, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo will draw in more than just collectors seeking random old goods. Instead, this event is more like an Etsy on wheels, an arts and crafts show with a splash of Johnny J. Jones Exposition on the side. Based on what I saw of the stage show, it’s hardly a big draw.

I bought my pass a week before. When I visited, this city’s version wasn’t packed when compared to Youtube videos of other shows from other locations. Also, I was happy to notice a bit of pop-culture spillover! No Pikachu bones were found here. As for Cubone, there were none. Instead, there was artwork and some not-so-unusual variants for those who want a bit of goth in The Pokémon Company’s flagship mascot. Considering the dark critters in this franchise, I’m not surprised. Had I spotted a Gothorita figure, I most likely would’ve picked her up over anything official!

Although I didn’t expect Dungeons and Dragons, a random d20 and Beholder did catch my eye!

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Netherworld Collectables Celebrates 6 Years This Weekend!

Darryl GasbarriThe Lower Mainland is not home to many unique collectables shops. For horror entertainment, Netherworld Collectables in New Westminster, BC is the place to go. On Saturday, Feb 16th, the shop will be celebrating its 6th anniversary! Confirmed are appearances from actress Tristan Risk, burlesque dancer Jacqueline Breakwell, and actor Mike Kovac (to name a few) and many other surprises to come.

Darryl Gasbarri is a chap who knows his material. He’s been a fan of the genre since the 80s. To know its origins which includes Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto and the influence German Expressionism had on the Universal Monsters from the Golden Age of Hollywood is just as important, but it’s his fondness for lower budget B movies of other eras that keeps him going. He recalls the days where he and his pals would meet to watch anything they could find at the video rental shop. To reflect those times, his store carries an eclectic stock of material from this era, which includes light up VHS tapes! (for display only) But the list does not end there. There are movie props hanging from the ceiling and a human spine in the middle of the store. A morgue this place is not, but a curious shop with taxidermy items (supplied by Cranium of Curiosities) it can easily become!

“When I got older and I was getting more into the scene, I found it was very difficult to get things that I wanted to own,” laughed Gasbarri.

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