Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

There are lots of different kinds of celebrations on Christmas Eve. In Iceland, book lovers take part in Jólabókaflóð , which means "the Christmas flood of books." And they're not exaggerating. Plus: Iceland may have a flood of books at Christmas, but New York City’s got a whole lot of unique outdoor Christmas trees. Jólabókaflóð: the Christmas flood of books (Iceland Air) Alternatives to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in NYC (Untapped New York) Book yourself a spot on our Patreon page and help make a flood of new episodes possible --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1814, the incorporation of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. There’s a famous sign on top of a building so that people flying in airplanes can see the message “Welcome to Cleveland," though that sign’s not actually anywhere near Cleveland. Plus: Today in 2021, an acrobat from Vietnam set a world record for most consecutive stairs climbed while balancing a person - his brother and fellow acrobat - on his head.  'Welcome to Cleveland' sign's 15 minutes of fame lasts 37 years (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)  Brothers reclaim record for climbing stairs with one balanced on other's head (UPI)We’d like to welcome you to our team of backers on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1988, a report in the New York Times noted that restaurant chain Denny's was shutting its doors for Christmas Day, only to run into a little hiccup around those doors. Plus: Kazumasa Yamashita’s Face House was an attraction in Kyoto that looked exactly like what its name suggested. Diner Chain Has to Buy Locks for First Holiday Closing (New York Times) Face House in Kyoto, Japan by Kazumasa Yamashita (Architectural Review) Keep our show open as a backer on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Cuetlaxochitl, flor de Noche Buena, poinsettia, estrella federal… here’s the story of a plant with a lot of names. Plus: today in 1997, the US release of the movie “Titanic,” and there’s a guy in Florida who’s trying to collect a titanic number of VHS copies of the film. The checkered history of the poinsettia’s namesake and the flower’s origins get new attention (Seattle Times) A ‘Titanic’ Megafan Has 1,560 Copies on VHS. He Won’t Stop Until He Has 1 Million (Variety) One name we’d like to use for you: Patreon backer. Support our show today! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1966 CBS first broadcast a holiday classic, “Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas.” It came to the small screen largely because a giant in the cartoon industry happened to be an old friend of the author. Plus: today in 1998, rocker Alice Cooper opened a rock and sports-themed restaurant and club in Phoenix, Arizona he called Coopers’town, How Dr. Seuss Stole Christmas (Saturday Evening Post) Alice Cooper'stown restaurant is closed after 18 years in downtown Phoenix (AZCentral.com) Backing this show on Patreon is better than hanging out with a seasick crocodile --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1960, Chas Newby of Liverpool got a temp job that would give him a story he could dine out on for the rest of his life: for two weeks, he played bass for the Beatles. Plus: today in 1985, a radio DJ in Iowa tried to ward off the holiday blues in an extremely repetitive way. When Chas Newby Was With the Beatles for Two Weeks (Ultimate Classic Rock)  DJ`S RECORD EFFORT PULLS HIM OFF AIR (Chicago Tribune)It would be fab if you backed this show on Patreon for just $1 a month --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1901, a newspaper article proclaimed 16 year old May Kaarlus as perhaps the greatest trick shot billiard player in the whole world. And she really could play that well, though the career of this pool table prodigy went on to take a surprise turn. Plus: around this time in 2020, a baker sent a friend some hot chocolate bombs as gifts, though the friend didn't quite understand how to use them. ⁠Year 1901 - Lil' Miss May Kaarlus⁠ (Chicago Billiard Museum via Facebook)  ⁠Baker left cracking up after pal mistakes chocolate gift he made for bath bomb⁠ (The Mirror) ⁠Help this show run the table as a backer on Patreon⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

If you’re doing an Advent calendar this month, you’re just over halfway finished opening up those little windows to see what’s inside. So let’s open up a few windows into where they came from. Plus: engineering students at ETH Zurich are trying to build robots that can drop little presents down scale model chimneys. Advent calendars, explained: Where they came from and why they're everywhere now (NPR) Robots help deliver gifts (ETH Zurich)Backing our show on Patreon is like giving a gift to yourself --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1986, a newspaper column by film critic Gene Siskel helped to turn a local snack favorite in Chicago into a signature of the city. Plus: if you like holiday displays, there’s a pretty unusual one in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, a family of plywood moose. Chicago’s love affair with popcorn goes back 150 years, from Cracker Jack to Garrett Mix (Chicago Tribune) Hatfield Landmark ‘Nacho the Wooden Moose’ Welcomes New Calf ‘Salsa’ to East Orvilla Road Front Yard (NorthPennNow.com) Help spread the word about our show as a backer on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1972, Apollo 17 landed on the moon. So far, it’s the last mission that put human beings on the lunar surface.  And it was the only Apollo mission where the dust all over that surface gave an astronaut a strong allergic reaction. Plus: around this time in 2011, a cat in Italy named Tommasso kind of inherited a multi-million dollar estate. The Apollo Astronaut Who Was Allergic To The Moon (Mental Floss) Tommaso, the Italian cat, inherits $13 million from owner Maria Assunta (The World) You don’t have to give us the moon, but how about backing our show on Patreon? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Kids have been writing letters to Santa for well over a century. Those letters are a fascinating, hilarious and sometimes jaw-dropping window into our own history. Plus: iIf you’re looking for an attraction worthy of the holiday season, you might head to Williams Bay, Wisconsin, to see the World’s Tallest Glass Tree. A Brief History of Sending a Letter to Santa (Smithsonian) WORLD’S TALLEST GLASS TREE  Dear Santa, have you considered backing your favorite podcast on Patreon? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1965, CBS broadcast “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” It's one of the iconic TV holiday specials today, but pretty much everyone who put the TV special together thought it was going to be a failure. Plus: today in 2004, a basketball comeback for the books, courtesy of Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady. Life After Snoopy (Stanford Magazine via Archive.org)  The Christmas classic that almost wasn't (USA Today via Archive.org)  McGrady’s Big Finish Sends Rockets Past Spurs (NBA.com via Archive.org)   Back our show on Patreon, though what we really want for the holidays is real estate --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Nothing says the holidays like a creepy devil creature hitting you with sticks! In some European countries, there are parades focused on Father Christmas's evil counterpart, Krampus. Plus: starting tomorrow in Oklahoma, it’s the Minco Honey Festival.  Austria's Krampus Parades, Where Santa's 'Evil Twin' Will Beat You With a Broom (Travel + Leisure)  Minco Honey Festival  Backing Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon keeps the Krampus away --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This month in 1893, the formal start of an effort to build a new kind of seagoing vessel: a ship with rolling wheels. Plus: now underway in Louisiana, it’s the Natchitoches Christmas Festival. Across the Ocean in One Hundred Hours (The Illustrated American via Google Books)  98th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival Roll on over to our Patreon page and back this show --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2023, a news report on the end of an era: a pastry chef in Anchorage, Alaska was, for the last time, building his massive and renowned holiday village out of gingerbread. Also on this day in 2023: a diner in China posted a photo of their food on social media, and ended up with a lot more entrees than anybody could eat. ‘I had a good run’: Pastry Chef Joe Hickel on his final Hotel Captain Cook gingerbread village display (KTUU) After decades of sugary magic, Hotel Captain Cook pastry chef ices his final gingerbread village (Anchorage Daily News) Food faux pas: China diner shocked by US$60,000 bill for meal after accidentally posting photo of dish ordering QR code online (South China Morning Post) Join our village when you back our show on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1976, Pink Floyd was trying to take a photo of an inflatable pig flying over a power plant for one of its iconic album covers… only the situation literally got out of hand. Plus: today in 1971, the release of the debut album by the Electric Light Orchestra, which accidentally got released with the wrong album title because of a phone call gone wrong. Pink Floyd's Pig Gets Loose (Songfacts) Electric Light Orchestra's No Answer  Don’t get dragged down by the stone, back our show on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

During National Car Donation Month, some drivers may trade out gas-powered cars and trucks for electric ones. But EVs aren't the only alternative: for decades, people have built and driven cars powered by firewood. Plus: this Saturday in Milwaukee, it’s the Santa Cycle Rampage. Wood Gas Vehicles: Cars That Run on Firewood (Amusing Planet) Santa Cycle Rampage in Milwaukee (Wisconsin Bike Fed) Power our show as a backer on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our past episodes about the holiday and its traditions. In this episode from November 2022, we look at how the sitcom "WKRP In Cincinnati" put together its absolutely legendary Thanksgiving episode. Turkeys Away: An Oral History (Classic TV History) We give thanks today (and every day) for our Patreon backers, and for all our listeners and fans!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our past episodes about the holiday and its traditions. In this episode from November 2021, the story of the woman who accidentally invited a stranger to Thanksgiving, and then she and her new dinner guest became friends. Plus: in 1957, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade went ahead despite the rain, which led to an odd problem. Young man who was accidentally invited to ‘grandma’s’ Thanksgiving as a teen keeps tradition going (CNN) Pair that went viral for Thanksgiving dinner reuniting for sixth celebration (WWL) Most infamous balloon accidents from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (KOAM) We are very thankful for our Patreon backers today and every day!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our past episodes about the holiday and its traditions. In this episode from November 2019, we look at how Thanksgiving leftovers once changed the entire way we eat. Plus: a big moment for (literally) underground music, the Holiday Cave Sing at Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. The Rise and Fall of the TV Dinner (Cheddar on YouTube) Mammoth Cave hosts 40th annual holiday cave sing Dec. 1  (WDRB) If you want to sing out, sing out, and if you want to back Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon, back Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support