Curiosities
Erie is a patchwork of peculiar. Blink and you’ll miss it—a rogue Simpsons statue tucked behind your favorite seafood spot, a cryptic message scrawled in an alley, a cherub peering down from a century-old cornice. Curiosities is Weird Erie’s celebration of the odd, delightful, and inexplicably specific things that give our city its unmistakable character. These aren’t landmarks in the traditional sense—they’re the strange breadcrumbs that remind us Erie isn’t just a place, it’s a mood.
Grasshopper Joe
2518 Peach St
At 2518 Peach Street, a wooden grasshopper named Joe has been quietly welcoming Erie shoppers for decades—peace sign in hand, antennae raised, and charm turned all the way up.
Grasshopper Boutique has been a fixture of Erie’s quirky retail landscape since 1971, blending bohemian flair with a touch of insect whimsy. Out front, Joe—the store’s unofficial mascot—holds an “OPEN” sign where the “O” doubles as a peace symbol, a subtle nod to the shop’s countercultural roots. Most passersby don’t know his name, but they recognize his silhouette instantly. A mural of Joe stretches across the building’s side, larger-than-life and painted in vibrant hues, cementing his place in Erie’s visual folklore. Over the years, Grasshopper has become more than a boutique—it’s a landmark of local eccentricity, a place where fashion meets folklore, and where Joe stands eternal, antennae to the sky.
MenagERIE
Jr's On The Bay/Sloppy Duck Saloon
Out front of Jr’s On The Bay—aka the Sloppy Duck Saloon—Erie’s waterfront gets a splash of surreal with a statue lineup that feels like a fever dream dockside.
Welcome to (what we’re calling) the menagERIE, where Homer and Lisa Simpson strike eternal poses beside a swaggering Captain Morgan, who stands proudly with one boot on a weathered beer keg like he’s guarding the last rum ration. Behind him, a pond ripples with sculpted ducks and geese, frozen mid-waddle in a tableau that’s part tiki bar, part cartoon crossover, and all Erie oddball charm. It’s the kind of roadside spectacle that makes you do a double take—and then snap a photo just to prove it wasn’t a mirage. Whether you’re here for the walleye sandwich or the waterfront views, this statue squad makes sure your visit starts with a grin.