🍺 Cleveland’s Bavarian Bash Is Back

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Cleveland really outdid itself with masked wrestlers, flying cars, and racing pigs 🤼‍♂️🚗🐷

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Auf Wiedersehn, sommer!

You know it’s the end of the season  when the Bavarians don dirndls and lederhosen, and unleash the giant glockenspiel, racing wiener dogs, and raise steins of bier.

Prost!

The Cleveland Oktoberfest is back to lead summer’s last hurrah – Friday through Monday and Sept. 11-12 at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea.

The Bavarian bash rolls out enough Bratwurst, pierogi, potato pancakes – not to mention polka bands, spirited entertainers and beer -- to keep even King Ludwig entertained.

It opens with a keg tapping, after which the tappers growls "O'zapft is!"… "The barrel is tapped!"

Oktoberfest’s roots go back to Bavaria, 1810. The origins of the Cleveland’s celebration of it go back a bit less, to 1962. Info.

It’s the last dash of summer, but what a dash… So many festivals, so little time. Here we go…

Cleveland Taco Fest: Taco and tequila, cover bands and DJs in Jacobs Pavilion? Yup, and Lucha Libre wrestling, a taco and hot-sauce-eating contests. Friday-Monday. Info.

70th Scout Festival: Ohio's largest Hungarian fest is a marathon of music, dancers in colorful costumes, food and drinks and games. German Central, Parma. Sunday.  Info.

Serbian Cultural Festival: It's a fest and a feast – and partyers of all background come to eat cheese strudel, grilled meat and drink plum brandy. Saturday-Sunday. Info.

St. Rocco Parrish Festival: What’s more remarkable: The greased pole climb or that this festival has been going strong since 1914? The celebration of Italian food and culture is a blast. Friday-Monday. Info.

Kamm's Corners Greek Festival: Food and dance, bands and drinks – it’s a vibrant celebration of the authentic flavors of Crete and the lively culture of Greece.  Friday-Monday. Info.

Saint Maron Summer Feast: Lebanese and Syrian food, performers and performers and petting zoo. Friday-Sunday. Info.

When it opened in 1924, the Union Trust building was hailed as Cleveland’s ‘Temple of Commence.’

The opulent neo-classical building on Euclid and East Ninth was once the world’s second-largest office building in the world and the largest bank lobby.

Now, it’s heading to the auction block.

Now called the Centennial, it was foreclosed upon by Deutsche Bank after its owner Millennia Companies failed to pay $33.4 million on a loan to transform it into luxury apartments, a museum and restaurant.

A judge’s order now puts it on the path to an auction on Nov. 3.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Millennia contends that the Centennial has been refinanced and that creditors will be paid in full before the auction.

According to court records, Millennia had refocused its plans for the building by turning it into a “a mixed-use, integrated technology campus.”

The partner, Hyperscape Digital, develops and operates high-density data centers.

Quite a turn from Millennia’s plans when it bought the building for $40 million in 2018.

The project stalled – despite Millennia receiving $75 million in grants and $40 million in loans.

One of downtown’s biggest property owners has experienced a dramatic fall:

Millennia also owns the Garfield Building, which houses upscale eatery Marble Room.

FRIDAY

MIX at CMA: The Cleveland Museum of Art’s monthly party celebrates Jamaican reggae kings Bob Marley and Bunny Waller with themed drinks, food and music by Carlos Jones and DJ Maxafari. 6 p.m. Info.

The Music of John Williams: The Cleveland Orchestra performs the composer’s scores to  Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Superman at Blossom Music Center. 7 p.m. Info.   

SATURDAY

Magician’s Table: The immersive magic show rolls out music, food and cocktails – with illusionists performing from table to table at Cibreo Privato. 4 and 8 p.m. Info.

Rocky Horror Picture Show: The sci-fi camp classic’s star Tim Curry passed away last month and no doubt there will be a crowd all dolled up to celebrate him when it screens at Cedar Lee Theatre. 10 p.m. Info.

SUNDAY

Reggae Sundays: Carlos Jones and the PLUS  Band brings the syncopated rhythms and Montego Bay vibes to Music Box for its weekly series. 4 p.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

For more than 70 years, Toys “R” Us has been synonymous with childhood memories and maxed-out credit cards.

In the 1990s, the toy store dominated the market, but online sales sent it into bankruptcy court in 2017 – and it’s largely relegated to sections inside Macy’s store.

Well, it’s back.  

This fall, the retailer will open a 6,500-square-foot at Great Northern Mall.

It’s part of an influx of eight businesses to the mall that includes full-service eateries ROOKH and One Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot.

Downtown Cleveland during the Great Lakes Expo, which was held the summers of 1936 and ’37 on 135 acres of land  from W. 3rd St. to E. 20th St. It drew 7 million visitors.

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78 °F 🌡️ 70 °F | ⛈️➡️⛅ (AM Thunderstorms) | 60% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 9 mph W (≈ 8 knots)

75 °F 🌡️ 64 °F | ☁️➡️☀️ (AM Clouds, PM Sun) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 13 mph NE (≈ 11 knots)

75 °F 🌡️ 61 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 10% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 13 mph NE (≈ 11 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. Tigers, 2:10 PM September 4 (Friday)

Home vs. Tigers, 7:15 PM September 4 (Friday)

Home vs. Tigers, 6:10 PM September 5 (Saturday)

Home vs. Tigers, 1:40 PM September 6 (Sunday)

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