🎄 Did Little Italy Just Become a Hallmark Movie?

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: We’ve curated a weekend guide so chaotic it might need a warning label 🤘🔥⚠️

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

It’s one of Cleveland’s most charming neighborhoods – where food, history and heritage connect the past and present.

This time of year, Little Italy also looks like a scene out of an old Christmas movie.

What, you’ve never heard Frank Sinatra sing ‘White Christmas’?

You must not have strolled through Little Italy. The song is a mainstay in the shops and eateries – especially during Little Italy December Art Walk.

The three-day celebration of art, food and the holidays – tonight through Sunday – brings thousands of diners and shoppers to the neighborhood.

They also come for the milieu: ArtWalk is a stroll into another time, before big-box retailers and Black Friday became all the rage.

Check out the just-opened Agostino’s. Biscotti at Corbo’s. The Roman café vibes at La Dolce Vita. The charismatic fellas at Mayfield Smoke Shop.

And celebrate the Italian immigrant story when author Victoria Sirianni appears at the Italian American Museum of Cleveland to discuss her new book, Il Viaggio.

 Sirianni, a Cleveland native and Boston resident, explores untold stories of Italian immigrants – from the Revolutionary War to the denizens of Little Italy. 3 p.m. Saturday. Info.

In the 1970s, Cleveland lost 23.6 percent of its population. Environmental studies warned that the Cuyahoga River was dead and Lake Erie was dying.

Crime was rampant and the city was a ghost town at night.

It was a decade of decay – but those tough times spurred civic activists to stand up and fight for their vision of new life in a stretch of left-for dead buildings.

Our new edition of the 216 Insider looks at Cleveland mavericks who revived the city when no one else would.

There’s our greatest preservation story… Playhouse Square, which spark new hope for a better future.

This is a story about iconoclasts who took it upon themselves to save downtown, our neighborhoods, the lake and river – and, in the process, chart a path that decades of civic activists would follow.

To read it, join the 216 Insider here.

Yugoslavia is no more. But three decades after it came apart in civil war, the rock ‘n’ roll of the Balkan country lives on in the heart and on the turntable of Stanislav Zabic.

The Lyndhurst resident has attracted music fans of all backgrounds for his Yu Night! dance parties.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, he’ll bring it to the Slovenian National Home. Zabic and Toronto-based DJ Beri will spin a wide range of bands and stylists from the country. Info.

It’s one of the most unique and fun parties in the city.

They’ll also preside over an exhibition and discussion about Yugo rock (5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively).

While it was a socialist country, Yugoslavia was non-aligned – walking a tightrope between the west and Soviet Union. As a result, it had access to American and U.K. rock which led to a vibrant homegrown scene that paralleled trends in the west.

King Diamond Xmas: Bands playing King Diamond and Merciful Fate covers to benefit the Cleveland APL? Now, that’s some holiday spirit. 7 tonight at the Foundry. Info.

Bavarian Christkindlmarkt: No lederhosen or dirndls. This Bavarian bash is a shopping spree that brings bakers, artisans and food to Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. Friday-Sunday. Info.

Light Up Lakewood: Thousands will line up (with teeth chattering) for the annual holiday extravaganza – a parade, tree lighting, market and fireworks. 4-8 p.m. Saturday. Info.

DJ Tony Erba: Yes, he’s a legendary punk troublemaker. But the Parmaniac also has great taste in music – and will share it when he helms to turntable at Beachland Ballroom’s Brunch. 11 a.m. Sunday. Info.

St. Nicholas & Krampus: The holiday demon will playfully terrorize the crowd when he rolls up with St. Nick at the Hofbrauhaus brunch. These guys put on a show. 11 a.m. Sunday.  Info.

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Menu prices have risen 30% since 2019. Insurance inflation is up 20-60% since 2020. All while independent eateries operate on razor-thin margins of 5%.

As a result, 500 restaurants have closed in Ohio this year, according to Ohio Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance.

The reality of closings in foodie land hit Cleveland with the shuttering of Inferno and Rum Runners in the Flats.

“This decision was carefully made after evaluation of our operations and the economic pressures currently affecting the hospitality and nightlife industry,” said Sly Restaurant Group, the operator of both spots.

Meanwhile, another Flats bar-eatery, Margaritaville, has closed for the winter due to declining traffic. 

It’s part of a spate of recent closings, including City Slice, Bookhouse Brewing, Studio West Fieldhouse.

Inflation has impacted all of them. So has a decline in alcohol consumption: Only 54% of Americans drink alcohol -- the lowest since 1939.

In 1971, the EPA conducted a monumental photodocumentary to examine environmental decay. DOCUMERICA explores the health of the river, lake and neighborhoods. It also provides a fascinating portrait of daily life in Cleveland. We explore the mavericks who revived the city in our special edition 216 Insider. Follow our Instagram page for a deeper dive into Cleveland in the 1970s.

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

34 °F 🌡️ 12 °F | ⛅ (cloudy / partly sunny) | 65% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph (≈ 10 knots)

36 °F 🌡️ 26 °F | 🌨️ (light snow / low clouds) | 75% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 15 mph (≈ 13 knots)

35 °F 🌡️ 26 °F | ☁️ (overcast / mostly cloudy) | 67% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 9 mph (≈ 8 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. Spurs, 7:30 PM December 5 (Friday)

Home vs. Warriors, 7:30 PM December 6 (Saturday)

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