Things to Do in Cleveland in December

A temple of rebellion on the Erie shore. Ivo Shandor's geometric glass tent houses the raw crackle of early blues recordings. You will see Elvis's gold-lamé suit under spotlights. You can feel the thump of a bassline in interactive exhibits. Winter waves churn the breakwall outside.

Your ears fill with butchers calling out cuts. Your nose gets the pungent tang of aging cheese and smoked kielbasa. Your hands hold still-warm bags of crisp Polish paczki from a third-generation vendor. It continues into Ohio City's brick streets for craft brews and artisanal fare. This tells the story of immigrant roots and modern revival.

Leads you through downtown's shadowy underbelly. You feel cold stone alleyways. You see flickering gaslight reflections on wet pavement. This sets the stage for tales of Gilded Age tragedy and Prohibition-era violence. Your guide's voice cuts the quiet of a December evening. Stories are tied to the very buildings you pass, their upper-floor windows dark.

A rolling stand-up act on a warm bus. A local comedian's sharp patter guides you past landmarks. You see the imposing Guardians of Traffic bridges and the stately mansions of Millionaires' Row. The view comes through a lens of self-deprecating Midwest humor. Laughter inside contrasts with the leafless cityscape outside the fogged-up windows.

You see Brandywine Falls veiled in a lattice of ice. You hear the crunch of your tires on gravel pull-offs. Feel the profound stillness of snow-dusted hemlock groves from your warm car. Narrated stories of the canal era provide a rich counterpoint to the stark landscape.

A large cabinet of curiosities. Feel the cool patina of a vintage automobile. See the sequins on a Bob Fosse stage costume. Stand before massive stationary steam engines that once powered this city. The dry, climate-controlled air is a respite from the damp chill outside. Exhibits tell a complete story of Northeast Ohio.