🏀 Cavs Hit Playoff Switch

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Table 45 is celebrating 80 years the best way possible — by feeding you very, very well 🍽️✨

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Last year’s exit at the hands of the Pacers changed the mindset: The regular season is OK, but it’s all about the playoffs.

The time is now.

The Cavs open their first-round series against the Raptors on Saturday.

KEYS TO THE SERIES

Donovan Mitchell and James Harden: They’ve been criticized for not leading their teams deep into the players. The pressure is on both.

Health: Injuries have resulted in a lack of continuity. None of the Cavs’ five-man lineups have played more than 100 minutes together this season. Kenny Atkinson has yet to name a starting small forward. Dean Wade provides length to guard Raptors’ SF Brandon Ingraham.

Jarrett Allen: Since Feb. 1, they’ve lost only one game when he and Mitchell have played and they’ve had a day of rest. He’s also shown great chemistry with Harden. Hopefully, his sore knee is good to go.

Pace: Toronto gets up and down the floor quicker than any team. The Cavs will have to slow them down and prevent them getting easy baskets and open threes. (Toronto is the worst three-point-shooting team in the playoffs.)

Unlikely stars: Cavs will need someone to step up to bring energy and athleticism, space the floor and protect the ball against a Raptors’ defense that excels at creating turnovers. Keon Ellis, Jaylon Tyson and Max Strus are likely candidates.

Mayor Bibb plans to raise $9 million for repairs to Cleveland’s basketball and baseball stadiums – both operated by billionaires – by taxing parking, tickets and downtown property owners.

No such courtesy is extended to small entertainment venues that are cornerstones of neighborhoods.

Kris Harsh wants to change that.

The Cleveland councilman has sponsored legislation to exempt venues that sell 750 tickets or less from a city admissions tax.

“Local venues invest in neighborhoods, bring life to our streets and build a community with music,” says Harsh. “Letting them keep this relatively small amount means very little to the city's bottom line, but it can mean a lot to a struggling business owner.”

It’s also about fairness.

“When Rocket Arena needs a repair, we pay,” says Harsh. “It’s not fair to the little guy -- so let them keep this small amount. It’s our investment in their investment.”

Ohio’s 312 independent clubs generate $3 billion for economy, support 21,604 jobs and create $122.3 million in state and local tax revenue.

Despite all this, only one in five of them made a profit last year.

“We’re all dealing with Increases in insurance, utilities, rents, mortgages and property taxes,” says Sean Watterson, owner of Happy Dog.

It started with a brainstorming session between FDR and the owner of storied Pam Am Airlines…

Hmm, how do we bring international traffic and attention to Latin America?

In 1946, Juan Trippe opened the first InterContinental Hotel in Brazil.

To celebrate its 80^th anniversary, InterContinental Cleveland is rolling out one of the most delightful deals in foodie land.

The East Side hotel by the Cleveland Clinic has launched a Latin American menu at its Table 45 eatery that feeds two for $80.

It three-course meal consists of items from Chile, Columbia, Brazil, Panama, Mexico and Venezuela.

The theme runs throughout the year and will change over every two months – to represent the cuisines of the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.

For what you’re getting, it’s one of the most exquisite bargains in the dining scene. Info.

FRIDAY

Fine Print Fair: The 41^st installment of the event by the Print Club of Cleveland is one of the largest displays of works on paper, with 15 dealers from across the country. Opens at 10 a.m. and runs through Sunday. Info.

Good Boy Fest: Shake a paw for this bash – which features a dozen Cleveland musicians performing songs about dogs to benefit City Dogs Cleveland. 8 p.m. at Brothers Lounge. Info.

SATURDAY

Vibeboost Market: Call it a happening – where hip-hop sensibilities, venders, artisans, and 14 musical acts meet up at a party, in Negative Space Gallery in AsiaTown. 2-9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. Info.

Jägerfest: Woohoo, bring on the polka bands, German food and beer, lederhosen and dirndls. 5 p.m. at Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center. Info.

Juerga Flamenca: Abrepaso Flamenco brings the art form alive by including patrons in the performance at the always charming Venezuela restaurant-bar Quintaesencia in Parma. 8 p.m. Info.

SUNDAY

Yarn: The Grammy-nominated North Carolina outfit brings the roadhouses of yesterday into the 21^st century. Yarn mixes scruff rock ‘n’ roll with a boozy drawl – and sounds like the perfect jukebox selection for a game of pool. 7:45 p.m. at Happy Dog. Info.

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It boasts some of the area’s widest selections of new and used discs, from exotica to rare imports to boxed sets. The Current Year and its owners Marie and Michael Stutz also love to throw a party.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, their Parma record shop will celebrate Record Store Day with blowout that features a vendor village with dealers hawking vintage clothing, décor and jewelry.

Rudy’s Strudel, located next door, will join in – with themed pierogis and an array of strudels. Info.

A 1975 billboard at East 105th and Chester cheers the Cavs onto the playoffs. They wouldn’t make it until the following year, during the storied ‘Miracle in Richfield’ run.

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62 °F 🌡️ 45 °F | 🌧️ (Rain Showers / Sharply Colder Late) | 80% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 18 mph (≈ 16 knots)

45 °F 🌡️ 33 °F | 🌧️➡️🌨️ (Rain to Snow Showers / Windy) | 75% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 22 mph (≈ 19 knots)

39 °F 🌡️ 31 °F | 🌨️ (Scattered Snow Showers / Winter Chill) | 50% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 16 mph (≈ 14 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. Orioles, 6:10 PM April 17 (Friday)

Home vs. Orioles, 6:10 PM April 18 (Saturday)

Home vs. Orioles, 1:40 PM April 19 (Sunday)

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