Cardboard Octopus and the Portland Aquarium

2025-06-06

In this episode of Whimsical Wanderings, host Frank Girard dives into a real-life cardboard sea of absurdity at the new Portland Aquarium—an immersive art exhibit where the only thing wet is your eyes from laughing. Inspired by artist Mike Bennett’s surreal installation, this visit includes encounters with monocled crabs, blowfish in HR, and possibly a black-market googly-eye dealer disguised as an octopus in sunglasses. No real fish. All real fun. Whether you’re into quirky travel destinations, offbe...

In this episode of Whimsical Wanderings, host Frank Girard dives into a real-life cardboard sea of absurdity at the new Portland Aquarium—an immersive art exhibit where the only thing wet is your eyes from laughing.

Inspired by artist Mike Bennett’s surreal installation, this visit includes encounters with monocled crabs, blowfish in HR, and possibly a black-market googly-eye dealer disguised as an octopus in sunglasses. No real fish. All real fun.

Whether you’re into quirky travel destinations, offbeat art, or just love a good story about sea cucumbers with attitude, this episode delivers 100% whimsy, 0% seaweed.

🔹 Discover Portland’s cardboard marine world
🔹 Perfect for fans of art, imagination, and absurd humor
🔹 Bonus: Frank adopts a mustachioed anglerfish named Karl

If this made you smile, share it with someone who could use a laugh today—your grandma, your neighbor, or your weird coworker Carl.

🎧 Follow Whimsical Wanderings for more stories that make reality feel like a cartoon.

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