You say “Nordic Museum” they say “Nordiska museet” — either way it is a great museum of Swedish cultural history from the Early Modern age to the current age, which, in theory, is even more modern.

The museum is in Stockholm, Sweden on an island known as Djurgården, or “The Royal Game Park,” which houses the popular Gröna Lund amusement park and other tourist and recreation areas.

The building was supposed to be three times its actual size and was built in the Danish Renaissance style rather than more traditional Swedish architecture. Scandal!

I’ve never been to Sweden, but it’s on my short list. I’m a sucker for Danish Renaissance style. Also amusement parks.

This post is part of the Uptake Monday Museums, Monuments and Memorials Series.

Photo: rieh via Flickr

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink

Chicago supplies icy fun for most of the year but it’s only the holiday time that offers festive activities to celebrate the season.  Annual rituals like ice skating at the McCormick Tribune Rink in Millennium Park and visiting the holiday-themed Thorne Miniature Rooms in the Art Institute make the season bright indeed. Read More »

Rotterdam, Netherlands actually started as a dam on the Rotte river, which makes its name one of the most literal on the map. It has the busiest port in Europe (second in the world behind Shanghai). It also has a lot of great museums, including the World Museum (above).

The World, aka Wereld Museum has a wonderful collection of art from all over the world. Also, a wine bar. Sail over for a visit.

This post is part of the Uptake Monday Museums, Monuments and Memorials Series.

Photo: FaceMePLS via Flickr

It’s the holiday season, why not spend your Christmas vacation doing a little window shopping. You don’t have to buy presents, you can just look. Holiday window decorations are the best of the year, and they’re free for your gazing pleasure. Saving money is my favorite.

This Christmas window is in New York City at the New Museum. It appears that alien kids love the holidays as much as the rest of us. Who knew? Stop in on your New York City holiday vacation!

The New Museum is located at:

It’s just one of the many great museums in NYC. Also, one of the great holiday windows! Two birds, people. Two birds.

Please note that the New Museum in New York has special holiday hours that can be found on their website.

This month we are featuring Holiday Window Decorations! Normally on Tuesdays we run the UpTake Tuesday Roadside Attractions Series. If you have a photo of an odd, funny or interesting roadside attraction that you would like to see featured here please submit it via the link in the sidebar with subject line: Roadside.

Photo: makerbot via Flickr