Pop Culture

A special exhibit on view at the Cleveland History Center for the holiday season features popular toys from the 1960s to the 1980s which often were found under the Christmas tree or given as Hanukkah gifts. ...

The nation's largest candy store is right here in Northeast Ohio. b.a. Sweetie Candy brings back sweet, sticky childhood memories inside a cavernous warehouse filled with every type of candy you can imagine. If you had it as a kid, chances are, Sweetie's has it. ...

We were probably luckier than most growing up. Grandpa Olszewski had a full-sized manger outside his house on the east side of Cleveland with life-size figures. Cattle, the three kings, shepherds, everyone. He also had religious music piped outside and it was lit up all night. People thought it was a roadside shrine; they would stop by and pray. One day, I noticed something odd. My grandfather was sitting at the kitchen table having a smoke and I asked why he had a Coca-Cola Santa Claus standing in the back of the manger. “You got a problem with that?” he asked. “Get your own manger and put whoever you want in there!” ...

Inductee Carole King seemed excited and humbled to be at the induction and talked about the environment. Brandi Carlile, fresh off a gig as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, was effusive and relaxed. Rapper and inductee LL Cool J came across as gracious, exhilarated and, yes, cool. He sparkled from head to toe. Jennifer Hudson looked tall; Lionel Richie looked tired. Angela Bassett, who inducted Tina Turner, was dramatically and stunningly glamorous. My foray into rock & roll was short (about 8 hours), and I’m glad I did it. ...

The holidays lie before us and the wonderful sounds of the season are about to begin. Christmas music best communicates the holiday messages of peace, love and hope. Enjoy a holiday performance with your grandchildren. It can become a tradition that you all look forward to every year. ...

Figuratively speaking, most careers start from the ground up. Terry Pluto’s is an exception. His — literally — started from the ground up.The Northeast Ohio native and Plain Dealer/Cleveland.com (and former Akron Beacon Journal) sports and faith writer/columnist and author of more than 30 sports and faith books, says his writing career began soon after being flattened by a teammate during a football practice as a 110-lb. freshman at Cleveland’s Benedictine High School. ...

The event features free museum admission for Ohio residents, live music, the debut of the 2021 Inductee Exhibit, a Plaza Festival with local vendors and a fireworks show. ...

Ageism has come to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, where older people have tended to be lumped into the same category. Greater Cleveland Volunteers is spotlighting the ways ageism seeps into society and offers tips to combat the discrimination. ...