📰 Cleveland’s 250th Birthday Plans Just Dropped

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: The basketball rumors are back, which means nobody is getting anything done at work today 🏀🚨👀

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Leave work early Thursday. Paid holiday on Friday. America’s 250^th  this Weekend. Call in sick on Monday.

Here’s to Freedom.

The Fourth is Saturday, which means a three-day slice of Americana. Bring on the fireworks:

Light Up the Lake: The area’s biggest show boasts 20-minute fireworks over Lake Erie visible from the Flats, Whiskey Island and downtown. Voinovich Park and Port of Cleveland host free watch parties, activities and food trucks. It starts at dusk. Info.

Star-Spangled Banner Bicentennial: Parma celebrates America’s 250^th and it’s own bicentennial on Saturday – with a 10 a.m. parade and a 1 p.m. party at Ridgewood Golf Club featuring live music, activities and food trucks. Info.

Cleveland Guardians: Friday and Saturday’s games against the White Sox roll out shirt and cap giveaways, $1 hot dogs, a $2 pregame party in the District and fireworks. Both games start at 7:10 p.m. Info.  

Salute to America: Blossom Music Center’s annual star-spangled extravaganza rolls out patriotic marches and Broadway favorites performed by its summer Festival Band -- and follows it up with fireworks. 8 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Lakewood Fourth of July: The city goes all out with a parade (10 a.m.) and a 7 p.m. concert and 9:45 p.m. fireworks show in Lakewood Park. Info.

Berea Grindstone Festival: The celebration in Coe Lake Park boasts bands, paddleboat rides, inflatables, and food vendors. Noon-10 p.m. Saturday. A parade (11 a.m.) precedes the festival. Info.

Bay Village Bay Days: The bash rolls out a carnival, music, parades, and fireworks (9:45 p.m. on July 4), Today through Saturday. Info.

It’s more than a store.

When Heinen’s opened on East Ninth and Euclid in 2015, it evoked pride and joy: The city was back.

For almost a quarter century, we lamented that the 1907 Cleveland Trust Rotunda and adjacent Ameritrust Tower sat shuttered in the heart of the city.

Both are architectural marvels, with the latter designed by Marcel Breuer -- the master who is the subject of the acclaimed film, ‘The Brutalist.’

The impending closing of Heinen’s has stoked sadness, but also raises an issue that needs to dealt with for the good of the city.

Cleveland’s greatest success story – converting office building to residences – has a downside.

Office buildings support far more people per square foot during the workday than residential buildings do with full-time residents.

This affects foot traffic and downtown vitality— and, especially, retail.

On average, a 100,000-square-foot building houses 136 residents vs. 400–600 office workers.

“We’ve lost 50 percent of daytime population,” says Andrew Revy, CEO of Constantino’s Market in the Warehouse District.

It’s led to an "urban doom loop" -- a vicious economic cycle where remote work and conversions has emptied downtown offices and  slashed city tax revenues.

The issue is central to Cleveland’s future, and one we explore in our latest special edition newsletter, After Heinen’s, What’s Next for Downtown Cleveland?

NBA free agency has started and the wheels are turning for the Cavs.

LeBron James has told the Lakers that he isn’t returning and will become an unrestricted free agent.

He’s been linked to the Warriors, but the Cavs are open to a reunion.

LeBron?

WEDNESDAY

Human League: The British masters of synth-pop anthems and electric verve hit Northfield Park Racino with Soft Cell and Alison Moyet. 7:30 p.m. Info.  

THURSDAY

Music at Market Square Park: The Ohio City bash rolls out food trucks, vendors, drink tents and music by Apostle Jones Band. 6 p.m. Info.

Maddie Wiener: Irreverent, abrasive and Rated R. Comedy’s Next Big Thing will bring all three when she hits Hilarities. 7 p.m. (Also performs Friday-Saturday). Info.

The Church: The Aussie band brings moody pop to the Rock Hall as part of the museum’s summer concert series. 8 p.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Nothing like lazin’ on sunny summer day.

Music Box Supper Club is offering the locale for it – when it kicks off Riverfront Happy Hours at 5 tonight.

It pairs lives music with discounted food and drinks along the Cuyahoga River.

The series runs Wednesdays and select other nights through Sept. 7. Moss Stanley performs tonight. Info.

Euclid Avenue near East 6th Street, 1930. Commissioned in 1815, Euclid has long been the lifeline of the city. Once called ‘The Showplace of America,” it was internationally renowned for its shopping and mansions. The concentration of wealth was unparalleled; the tax valuation of the mansions along "the Avenue" far exceeded the valuation of New York's Fifth Avenue in the late 19th century.

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92 °F 🌡️ 79 °F | ☀️ (Sunny) | 6% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 11 mph W (≈ 10 knots)

94 °F 🌡️ 80 °F | ☀️ (Sunny) | 2% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph WSW (≈ 10 knots)

88 °F 🌡️ 74 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 24% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 11 mph W (≈ 10 knots)

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

Metalcore Wednesday — Foundry Concert Club, 6 PM

Home vs. Rangers, 1:10 PM July 1 (Wednesday)

Home vs. White Sox, 6:40 PM July 2 (Thursday)

Home vs. White Sox, 7:10 PM July 3 (Friday)

Home vs. White Sox, 7:10 PM July 4 (Saturday)

Home vs. White Sox, 2 PM July 5 (Sunday)

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