📰 Another local spot says goodbye

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: If everyone seems a little unhinged tonight, you can blame the moon. Or at least that’s the legend 🌕🐺

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

The end was tricky.

Snow pounded the Parma Pierogi Drop. The stock market dumped. And Forest City Shuffleboard joined a spate of spots that shuttered their doors.

On Wednesday, its website read: “Forest City Shuffleboard is closed for the foreseeable future. We are unable to honor any current or future reservations.”

Opened in 2017, the 7,500-square-foot ‘eatertainment’ complex joined Nick’s Diner, Jack Flaps and Platform Brewery on Lorain Avenue. All have since closed.

“The pioneers get the arrows in the back,” says Dave Ferrante, owner of just-opened Visible Voice Books, referring to the difficulty faced by those first to a new market.

Original owner Jim Miketo is working on finding a new operator for Forest City, whose shuttering follows the closing of Arsenal Cider House on Dec. 27.

Located across the street, Arsenal enjoyed a rocky run: Opened in 2020 during the pandemic, closed in ’24, re-opened in April.

“Hopefully something more vibrant goes into [Arsenal],” says Ferrante. “And if the shuffleboard place reopens, it could be one step back for two steps forward.”

While 2025 saw 80 openings, rising food, insurance and rent inflation and fears of a recession weigh on operators – and played roles in the closings of Rumrunners, Inferno, Margaritaville, Voodoo Brewery and Bookhouse Brewing.

Must say, the messaging is a tad odd.

So, is this about honoring the president or telling Ohioans that they have only two miles of freedom in their state?

Two Republican members of the Ohio House of Representatives propose renaming a piece of I-70 -- between mile marker 98 and marker 100 – that runs through Columbus "President Donald Trump Freedom Highway."

Yes, it’s two miles long.

The bill isn’t the first time Republicans have sought to honor Trump through state landmarks.

Previous unsuccessful efforts have included proposals to rename Mosquito Lake State Park as "Donald J. Trump State Park" and to designate June 14 (Trump's birthday) as "President Donald J. Trump Day."

It’s one of 18 national proposals by Republicans to rename landmarks, roads and airports after Trump. Several face backlash and legal challenges.

It summons hungry wolves to howl like maniacs. Egads, it turns humans into lunatics.

So say folklorists when it comes to the Wolf Moon.

The most romanticized and commercialized (check out all those T-shirts) of the Supermoons arrives tonight and peaks at 5:03 a.m. on Saturday.

The Wolf is 13,700 miles closer than the average moon – thus appears 7% larger and 15% brighter.

Best places to see it: Southeast, away from the city, toward wide-open skies -- Cuyahoga Valley National Park; South Chagrin Reservation; Observatory Park in Montville.

The legend: Hungry howls of wolves? Actually, it’s because their calls echo through the cold, quiet nights. The English legend was brought over by settlers and inspired modern werewolf myths.

Beware the “lunatic”: It means "moon-struck" (in Latin) and goes back to ancient beliefs that phases of the moon drive people mad, or ‘lunatique’ (insane in French).

OK, stay safe.

John Caparulo: A master of cuss words. A keen observer with dead-pan wit. A self-deprecating everyman and nobody, simultaneously. The East Liverpool native and Kent State grad got his start in Cleveland clubs. This weekend, he makes a homecoming of sorts at Hilarities in Pickwick and Frolic with four shows: 6:30 & 9:15 Friday and Saturday. Info.

Grog Shop Free Weekend: It’s the time of year when tribute bands take over the club calendar – which makes the Grog Shop weekend of local bands even more cool. It runs Friday through Sunday and, yes, shows are free. Info.

Light Up the Night Luminary Walk: The nights are long and the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation says, ‘Let’s explore.’ The two-hour walk rolls out hot cocoa, snacks and tours of nocturnal life. 6 tonight at the Rocky River Nature Center. Info.

Mall Kings & Queens: Most calculations at the mall revolve around, buy this or that. This one involves horses, kings, pawns and queens. From Noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, Cleveland Chess hosts open matches at South Park Mall. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

The drivers flashing hazards lights on the hill didn’t seem all that happy. But the slope mongers at Brandywine are doing cartwheels over snowmageddon.

The ski resort is open for the season – and the late-comer joins is sister location, Boston Mills, as well as the area’s other spots, Alpine Valley and Snow Trails.

Chattering teeth aside, six inches of snow over the last two days has resulted in a desirable 12-inch base for skiers.

Slopes run 3:30-10 p.m. today. Weekend hours (9 a.m.-10 p.m.) start Saturday-Sunday. Info.

Workers fix a clock at East Ninth and St. Vincent,1939.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @scoopcle on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

32°F 🌡️ 26°F | ❄️ (Overcast with Light Snow) | 40% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph (≈ 10.4 knots)

28°F 🌡️ 19°F | ☁️ (Mostly Cloudy and Cold) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 15 mph (≈ 13.0 knots)

25°F 🌡️ 16°F | ❄️ (Lake Effect Snow Showers) | 70% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 20 mph (≈ 17.4 knots)

_{Please note that weather conditions can change rapidly. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking a reliable local weather service.}

Home vs. Nuggets, 7:30 PM January 2 (Friday)

Home vs. Pistons, 2:00 PM January 2 (Sunday)

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