🐝 Hood Honey has America Buzzing

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: We’re taking another swing at fixing our lakefront. By our count, this is attempt number 18. At this point, the lake has seen more proposals than a contestant on The Bachelor 🌊 🏗️ 🔄

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Civic leaders have floated countless plans to transform the lakefront -- actually, 17 since 1903.

But neglect, apathy and conflicting economic interests always got in the way.

Here comes No. 18.

A city-created nonprofit has released a vision to transform 50 acres currently occupied by Huntington Bank Field into a mixed-use neighborhood with public open space.

It includes walkable pedestrian promenades, retail, housing, offices and streets.

Essentially, it’s an attempt to extend downtown up to the lake with an urban neighborhood between Voinovich Park and Port of Cleveland.

Proposals have called for a 10K concert music venue, golf course, hotel, housing, retail that prioritize revenue and tax generation.

That’s hardly Chicago’s “Forever Open, Clear and Free” principal that prioritizes universal access.

The latest plan is flexible, says the city – and takes into consideration the wishes of residents: family-friendly, affordable greenspace, activities, lake connections.

Highlights:

He doesn’t wear a purple velvet suit or employ Oompa Loompas. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a candy man that sparks pure imagination like Tom Scheiman.

He’s the Willy Wonka of Cleveland and his B.A. Sweetie has been named the country’s best candy store by Chowhound.

“Locals and tourists alike can't get enough of 75-year-old B.A. Sweetie, which now sees more than 500,000 visitors to its Cleveland location every year,” says the food enthusiast site.

“The shop prides itself on its huge selection of candies, especially nostalgic sweets that are largely discontinued and often hard to find.”

B.A. Sweetie is the biggest candy store in North America: 40,000 square feet, 5,500 brands and 600,000 pounds of treats.

It’s also a factory of sweet dreams that sparks nostalgia and whimsy, especially this time of year.

Opened in 1950, B.A. Sweetie started in a basement by founders Frank Stansny and Al Tokar.

Scheiman took over in 1982 and turned it into a Cleveland icon and tourist destination.

Last year, workers got a treat when he transformed it into an employee-owned business.

They’re rarely in Rock Hall inductee conversations. You never hear them on classic rock radio. They don’t fit into any format, scene or even decade.

But Flamin’ Groovies are rock ‘n’ roll legends – a band that transcends time and bridges decades.

Formed in 1965 in the bastion of hippie-power – Haight-Ashbury in San Franciso – the Groovies were always misfits.

“The hippie-dippie thing wasn’t our thing,” founder Cyril Jordan once told me during an impromptu guitar lesson in the basement of the Beachland Ballroom, after a 2017 show.

“We play raw rock ‘n’ roll.”

Born out of time and ahead of it for decades, they’ve influenced generations of punk, new wave, power-pop and garage-rock bands – from Blondie to Cheap Trick, the Cramps, Ramones, Replacements, White Stripes and Osees.

The Groovies celebrate their 60^th anniversary with a tour that hits the Beachland Ballroom at 7 tonight. Info.

WEDNESDAY

XCSB Spooktacular: DJs of the online station formerly known as WCSB take over the bar at No Class with spooky, scary jams. 6 p.m. Info.

THURSDAY

Rent: The 30^th anniversary tour of pioneering musical about bohemians in NYC’s East Village opens an eight-show run in the Allen Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Info.

Ultimate Alt Rock Sampler Halloween Cover Show: Cleveland bands deliver their takes on the Strokes, Deftones and Nirvana at the Grog Shop. 7 p.m. Info.

Cleveland Ghost Stories: Tales of ghosts, spookiness and paranormal sightings in the area with Charles Cassady Jr. & William Krejci. 5 p.m. Music Box. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Mount Pleasant isn’t just the birthplace of the Polish Boy. It’s also the home of Hood Honey – the business of Cleveland beekeeper Trey Williams.

Now, America knows the name.

NBC’s Sunday TODAY features Williams and the buzz he’s creating in his backyard — creating honey, but also giving neighborhood kids and adults the chance to experience the art of beekeeping.

“Mount Pleasant is bee paradise,” declares the segment.

“They’re hidden in all these hood flowers, abandoned buildings,” says Williams, of the bees. “It could be some tree, some rare spread of plants that they found and now they’re coming back.”

Bravo, Trey.

Halloween Party at University Heights Library, 1974

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72 °F 🌡️ 56 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy) | 7% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 8 mph S (≈ 7 knots)

76 °F 🌡️ 53 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 5% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph SSW (≈ 12 knots)

58 °F 🌡️ 48 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 9% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 9 mph NNW (≈ 8 knots)

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

Away vs. Steelers, 1 PM November 1 (Sunday)

Home vs. Wizards, 7 PM October 28 (Wednesday)

Away vs. Hawks, 7 PM October 29 (Thursday)

Away vs. Bucks, 8 PM October 31 (Saturday)

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