📰 Black history, rooted in Cleveland

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: If you felt a disturbance in the Force yesterday, it was the Cavs front office. This wasn’t just a move—it was a message 🏀🌪️👀

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

We are defeated -- consumed with gloom and doom in winter’s tomb. Ice, snow, wind, all of it. Total bummer.

The weather is like a stock that keeps hitting 52-week lows every day.

Well, our Scoop indicators say it’s time to buy, buy, buy.

Don’t let the first weekend without football, and a month-long come down after the holidays cast a long shadow over your heart.

It gets better from here:

Sunday’s Snow Moon symbolizes peak winter; its passing represents the loosening of winter’s grip.

Buckeye Chuck comes out this morning to deliver his 47^th annual Groundhog’s Day forecast. (C’mon, Chuck – don’t mess up.)

The midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox is Tuesday.

Valentine’s Day, Kurentovanje, Mardi Gras and Lunar New Year give us ways to party.

We’ve gained 56 minutes of daylight since Winter’s start. We get 67 more in Feb. as gains accelerate.

Then there’s this: We also have several colorful bars and restaurants that bring warmth to winter. Check out 216 Rundown below…

Black History Month?

In Cleveland, the story spans more than 200 years – beginning in1809, when George Peake crossed the Cuyahoga River by St. Clair Street.

Cleveland's first permanent Black settler set a high bar upon arrival: He was the first in a long line of black innovators from the city.

Sewing machine repairman Garrett A. Morgan would go on to invent a 'smoke hood, a three-way traffic light and a hair-straightening cream.

Clevelanders broke barriers and shaped the culture and course of the country.

In sports: Olympian Jesse Owens smashed Adolf Hitler's myth of "Aryan Supremacy" with four gold medals in Berlin, 1936. Cleveland Indian Larry Doby broke the race barrier in the American League. Frank Robinson became baseball’s first Black manager.

In the arts: Dorothy Dandridge was the first Black actor nominated for a best-actress Oscar. Langston Hughes led the Harlem Renaissance. Halle Berry is the first and only Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Of course, Carl Stokes became the first black mayor of a major American city.

Through February, we’ll be feature profiles here and on Instagram and Facebook.

Bloated payroll. Lousy perimeter defense. Bad playmaking. Lack of hustle.

The Cavs addressed their biggest problems by trading DeAndre Hunter to the Kings.

They receive:

The trade opens the door to more moves:

More $$$: Jaylon Tyson, Craig Porter Jr, Nae’Qwan Tomlin made Hunter, Larry Nance and Lonzo Ball expendable. The last two could be moved to lower the tax bill and increase flexibility for future moves.

Swinging big: Schröder doesn’t replace Darius Garland, but he gives the Cavs flexibility. Could they trade Garland for a wing? Trey Murphy III (New Orleans) or Michael Porter Jr. (Brooklyn)? Or get involved in a Giannis Antetokounmpo deal?

Longshot – but the last time the Cavs underperformed this much, GM Koby Altman ripped up the roster in 2018 by trading six players.

It can only get warmer and sunnier from here, right? Even if it doesn’t, here are 10 colorful and exotic bars and restaurants that bring out the sun even when it’s miserable outside.

Amazonia: Extravagant cocktails amid the jungle décor and cozy atmosphere hits the spot. The speakeasy vibes and South American-inspired small plates kick it all up a notch.

Barroco: Colorful and exotic, Venezuelan and Colombian offerings dial up the heat. Even the elaborate and colorful ice cream merengadas are a sunny treat.

Bourbon Street Barrel Room: This homey spot brings the Big Easy to Tremont with Cajun with creole dishes and a deep drink menu. One Sazarac, please.

Johnny Mango: Pitchers of mojitos flow year-round at this beach shack-style café with the colorful walls. They go down well with the carefree vibes and a worldly menu that travels from Mexico to Thailand then back to Jamaica.

Las Dos Fronteras: An old-fashioned place with an old-school menu that doesn’t break the bank. The colorful décor and homey atmosphere make it a secluded getaway.

Los Gallos: Sangria and hearty Mexican staples, colorful murals and cheery lighting. Call it a south-of-the-border sipping post that recalls a sunny Mexican even when it's snowing here.

Mallorca: The Paella connotes a warm day in Spain. Their stellar sangria also connotes warmer days anywhere. The Shrimp in a Fra-Diavolo Sauce is very hot, and just right.

Momo's Kebob: Momo Abdessamad modeled this spot after the cafes of his native city of Rabat. Patrons come for the kebabs, yes, but also colorful walls, pillows and leather poufs. One of the area's coziest, warmest places. Great tea.

Porco: It’s like a cheap flight to Polynesia where they serve killer Tiki drinks on the plane. Whoa, check out the thatched huts, bamboo and colorful mugs .

Pupuseria Katarina: Love the paintings and décor on the walls; the pupusas, too. The thick corn pancakes stuffed with a variety of fillings and fried on a griddle are a Salvadoran delight.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

The last six weeks in foodie land have been as brutal as the weather, with several closings hitting the Flats and Ohio City.

Now an opening: Jaja is set to make its much-anticipated opening on Tuesday.

“You’ve been patient. We’ve been preparing,” Jaja management announced. “Brand new menu and a reimagined dining experience built around Mediterranean flavors and Midwestern hospitality.”

Jaja was forced to close in Oct. 2024, after a car crashed into the restaurant – located in the Intro building across from West Side Market.

The time off led to a re-think, as well as a rebuild.

The South American steakhouse concept has been ditched in favor of a menu that explores Italian, French and Spanish cuisines.

Cleveland firefighters try to extinguish a blaze in an ice-coated building in downtown, 1910.

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

23 °F 🌡️ 21 °F | 🌨️ (Scattered Snow Showers) | 25% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 15 mph (≈ 13 knots)

26 °F 🌡️ 13 °F | ☁️➡️🌨️ (Cloudy / Snow Developing PM) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph (≈ 10 knots)

24 °F 🌡️ 13 °F | 🌨️➡️🧊 (Snow to Wintry Mix/Freezing Rain) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph (≈ 12 knots)

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

Away vs. Clippers, 10:30 PM February 4 (Wednesday)

Away vs. Kings, 10:00 PM February 7 (Saturday)

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