🎄 Cleveland Goes Full Christmas

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: The Browns finally drafted a group that looks like a future, not a rebuild 🏈🚀

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Tomorrow is the first edition of the 216 Insider

The holidays offer a chance to connect with friends and iconic places that have been retrofitted to summon the spirit of Christmas past.

Toys “R” Us: For more than 70 years, it has been synonymous with childhood memories and maxed-out credit cards. Crocker Park will bring back both when it opens a pop-up Toys “R” Us through the end of the year. In the 1990s, the toy store dominated the toy market. Online sales sent it into bankruptcy court in 2017 – and it is now largely relegated to sections inside Macy’s stores. Info.

Wild Winter Lights: The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo transforms into a winter wonderland – with 1.5 million lights at areas such as Enchanted Forest, Candy Lane and Polar Pathway, a 50-foot Christmas tree, costumed characters and carousel rides. It runs through Dec. 30. Info.

Terminal Tower: The 42^nd floor of the downtown gem is being retrofitted into a pop-up bar that features views of the city, Christmas décor and themed cocktails. Unfortunately, tickets for the eight-night run are sold out. Info.

InterContinental Cleveland: The hotel has transformed a meeting room into Winter’s Tale – a speakeasy that features holiday drinks and small bites and desserts. It runs Thursdays-Saturdays through Dec. 20. Info.

Commercial real estate has been in freefall across the country.

Cleveland isn’t immune to it: Office vacancy rates here have climbed to 23.1%, slightly above the national average but lower than San Francisco (29.3%), Austin (27.8%) and Seattle (26.4%).

The city has also lost 3.5 million square feet of downtown office space since 2020.

But that could be its saving grace: The city leads the country in office-to-residential conversions – which cushions the blow when it comes to fewer downtown workers.

The latest office building in line for a makeover is 1100 Superior.

The 21-story building hit the auction block in June and was purchased by Brady Sullivan Properties with plans to turn it into 50-50 residences and offices. Scheduled to open in two years.

Other high-profile conversions:

Project Scarlet: The $120 million overhaul of the Rose and Sloan buildings at East 9th and Prospect broke ground this year and is scheduled for an early-2026 opening with 200+ units and a boutique hotel.

Erieview Tower & Galleria: The iconic shopping mall and the adjacent tower will house 227 luxury apartments, Ohio’s first W hotel, a rooftop restaurant and offices. Expected to open late-2026.

All eyes will be on Shedeur Sanders when he takes the field against the Raiders on Sunday. Regardless of how he performs, it shouldn’t obscure one of the team’s best rookie classes in years.

Carson Schwesinger: The linebacker is the odds-on favorite to be the rookie defensive player of the year.

Quinshon Judkins: Leads all rookies in rushing and is the best back since 2022 Nick Chubb.

Mason Graham: The defensive tackle has proven to be a run-stuffer and has pressured quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and the multi-purpose Adin Huntington have been lauded as stellar sleeper picks.

Two ‘redrafts’ of the 2025 draft find that the team landed what should have been multiple first-rounders. Check them out here and here.

Cleveland Barons: The Monster will don jerseys of the beloved team when it takes on the Hershey Bears. 7 p.m. Thursday at Rocket Arena. Info.

Josh Blue: The comedian broke out after winning on “Last Comic Standing” and has gone on to appear on late-night TV and festivals like “Just for Laughs.” There are no sacred cows in his act and is beloved for his self-deprecating humor about his ordeals with cerebral palsy. At 7 p.m. Thursday, he opens a five-show run at Hilarities. Info.

Blue Oyster Cult: The kings of mystical rock ‘n’ roll bring should be in the Rock Hall. Crazy they aren’t. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the band hits the Agora. Info.

Dvorak’s New World Symphony: Few works boast melodies so rich and emotions so deep as the master work by the Czech. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Cleveland Orchestra performs the work at Severance and will do so through Sunday. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Amici’s Halloween pop-up was an over-the-top house of horrors. The North Royalton bar-restaurant’s Christmas pop-up take on yuletide that’s just as extravagant.

Jingle Mingle took more than a week to set it up – and it looks like something out of ‘Elf.’

The ceiling is covered with tinsel, stars, lollipops and candy canes. Yes, there’s a hulking Santa, as well as a candy house, multiple trees, elves, gift boxes and ornaments.

Quite the Christmas spectacle, served with themed cocktails.

Lunchtime in 1975 at Lord Burger — a beloved burger joint on East Ninth and Prospect.

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51 °F 🌡️ 38 °F | ⛅ (sprinkles late) | ~70% | 💨 ↑ 8 mph (≈ 7 knots)

55 °F 🌡️ 46 °F | ☁️ | ~73% | 💨 ↑ 4 mph (≈ 3 knots)

65 °F 🌡️ 54 °F | 🌧️ (light rain) | ~79% | 💨 ↑ 10 mph (≈ 9 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. Rockets, 7 PM November 19 (Wednesday)

Home vs. Pacers, 7 PM November 21 (Friday)

Home vs. Clippers, 6 PM November 19 (Wednesday)

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