📰 Cleveland’s Vintage Wonderland

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: The national housing market is slowing down. Cleveland apparently muted that group chat 🏠📉📵

Don’t keep us a secret: Share the email with friends (copy URL here)​

John Petkovic & Jude Perez

You could call it a pleasant stroll into a refrigerator.

(Yes, there really is one – with a ‘secret door’ you can enter.)

But that would only tell part of the story.

Paradise Galleria is also a pop-cultural emporium, vintage shop and, as owners Cassie Trainer and Haley Himiko Hudson Morris call it, a “Barbie Dream House.”

Opened last year on resurgent Lorain Avenue, 13,000-square-foot space has become a shopping destination for anyone who’s dreamt of going back in time when the shopping mall was the hang out.

You might know Trainer and Morris from the dance floor at Mahall’s – where they collaborated on themed parties.

There’s no room to dance at Paradise.

The place is packed with clothes, décor, housewares vinyl albums, jewelry and toys.

But it’s feels like an off-kilter, colorful celebration of pop culture – and can bob along to the music.

On a recent visit, Morris – a musician you might have seen performing with Pleasure Leftists – was spinning a wide range of synth-pop and Italo disco.

Check out the pink, six-foot-tall metal Pegasus statue at the front window. The jacuzzi filled with plastic balls. The heart-shaped arch that leads to that refrigerator.

Feel free to walk in. You won’t freeze.

Every legendary club tells a story, and many more after they close.

Few have as many that are dear to the heart of the music scene as Speak in Tongues.

From 1994 to 2001, the DIY space was the first Cleveland stop for bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Low, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Modest Mouse.

But it was about more than who was on stage.

Formed as a co-op, it hosted 2,000 hardcore, indie, jazz and avant-garde shows at 4311 Lorain Avenue, in a space that once housed the Ohio Communist Party.

S.I.T did it without a manager, bar or door fee. It was donation only.  

A new 500-page book — “Where Shit Happened, The Paper Trail To Speak In Tongues” – compiles oral histories from people who played at and went to the space.

It was produced by S.I.T alum: John Delzoppo (editor), Jake Kelly (publisher) and Ron Kretsch (art director/ designer).

They’ll be on hand for the release party and talk moderated by John Skrtic – 4 p.m. Saturday at Visible Voice.

Proof Public House will host an afterparty at 6 p.m. At 9 p.m., the Happy Dog will hosts a concert featuring Harriet the Spy, Beckett and Friends, Brian Straw and Applejuice.

Inflation, the Iran War and massive corporate AI expenditures have pushed up bond yields and, in turn, rates on mortgages.

It’s taken its toll on the housing market around the country.

Cleveland has been impacted: Rates are rate, no matter where you live.

But it’s hanging  tough.

July housing data shows that houses for sale sat on the market 39 (unchanged year-over-year) – compared to 57 days nationally.

This despite new listings jumping 6.4% in July vs. flat to negative around the country.

In other words, more houses are hitting the market and selling faster here.

Cleveland is leading in price appreciation (up 1.7% vs. -2.4%) and sellers reducing prices (17.9 here vs. 20%).

Rates and inflation and economic fears have smacked speculative markets (Austin, Denver, Portland, Las Vegas).

Cleveland’s reputation as a refuge of affordability and its diversified economy continue to pay dividends.

FRIDAY

Pagan Pride: Drum circles, Druids, broom dances and magic. The 17^th annual celebration of paganism hits Bedford Commons Friday through Sunday. Info.

Billy Gardell: He’s a Steelers fan, but don’t hold it against him. The star of TV shows Bob Hearts Abishola, Mike & Molly and Sun Records brings his stand-up about a rough-and-tumble childhood told with rascally wit to Hilarities. 7 p.m. (Also performs 6 & 8:45 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday.) Info.

Tommy Davidson: He starred in Will Smith’s animated series, Youngin’s, and the sitcom In Living Color – and his routine is off-color. He hits Funny Bone at 7 & 9:30 p.m. (and 6:30 & 9 p.m. Saturday). Info.  

SATURDAY

The Mountain Goats: They gone from lo-fi folk and exploring varied instrumentations that are, at times, rich and lush. 8 p.m. at the Rock Hall. Info.

Violent Femmes: They’ve been a rite of passage for generations of music fans since their 1983 debut album. Yes, as in ‘Blister in the Sun.’ They hit Cain Park at 8 p.m. Info.

SUNDAY

Demolition Derby at Cuyahoga County Fair: Reckless abandon and mashing of metal, oohs and whoas. The smash-and-crash bash is the fair’s high point. 2 p.m. Sunday. Info.

The ‘80s never left: Howard Jones leads an entourage of ‘80s bands to Jacobs Pavilion. That includes Wang Chung, the English Beat, Modern English and Richard Blade. 6 p.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Civic leaders toss around lofty ideas about transforming the lakefront.

They should head out to East 55^th Street and drive north.

Yet again, the Cleveland Metroparks has scored a hit with Patrick S. Parker Community Sailing Center.

The marina, Galley restaurant and walkways have transformed this part of the lakefront.

It provides stellar views of Lake Erie and the city and has become a popular dining destination – thanks to mix of beautification and amenities that connect people an area many of them never knew – because it was a dead zones for so long.

Check it out before summer’s out.

Little Italy during the Feast of the Assumption, 1939. The 127th installment of the city’s biggest fest runs through Sunday. Read more about it here.

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

80 °F 🌡️ 67 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 0% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 11 mph ENE (≈ 10 knots)

82 °F 🌡️ 72 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 9 mph ENE (≈ 8 knots)

80 °F 🌡️ 71 °F | ⛈️ (Scattered Thunderstorms) | 60% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 13 mph WSW (≈ 11 knots)

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

Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle w/ Istvan Medgyesi — Beachland Tavern, 7 PM

Rome Streetz: Sock It To My Pocket Tour w/ Fergie Baby, $ha Hef, Ghutty Mac, QDAJUICE, DJ Scottstradamus — Grog Shop, 7 PM

Home vs. Padres, 7:10 PM August 14 (Friday)

Home vs. Padres, 7:10 PM August 15 (Saturday)

Home vs. Padres, 1:40 PM August 16 (Sunday)

Thanks for reading The 216 Scoop today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who’s claimed “this is the year” since childhood.

Watch this quick video (start at 0:50) to see how easy it is to add our app to your home screen!