Christmas Window Displays in New York City

A few visual highlights of Christmas window displays in New York City.

Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Quebec

Opened in 1893, the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City is one of Canada's grand railway hotels and one of the province of Quebec's most recognizable landmarks. Surrounded by the stunning architecture of Old Quebec and overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Chateau Frontenac shines as one of Canada's quintessential luxury destinations.

Midnight Madness & Kitschy Thrift Shop Finds

Last night was Midnight Madness in downtown Medicine Hat, Alberta, and over the last couple years, this has become one of my new favourite Christmas traditions. Mostly, it's an excuse to snack and shop, but in addition to a few great visuals (like the balloon glow) we've made a habit of using the event as an excuse to find thrifty treasures around downtown.

If you're wondering where all of your grandparents' kitschy gems ended up - last night I bought 'em all! I am a sucker for vintage books, film, travel souvenirs, photography, etc.

A few of my finds included more VHS, 45s, and 8 tracks. I also found a handful of location-based glassware, your grandma's spoon collection from around North America, and a handful of vintage travel guides - including the official photo book of the torch relay from the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, the guidebook from the Tower of London gift shop, and a 1966 travel guide of Pompeii (100% in Italian). And what did my total come to for all of these incredibly rare historic artifacts? A whopping $18 for the night. It was a lot of fun.