🏆 Meatball Showdown – Are You In?

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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop. With the temps soaring, there’s no better way to beat the heat than with a scoop of Mitchell’s Ice Cream! It’s the sweetest way to chill out in Cleveland this summer! 😎🍧

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Leave work early Thursday. Holiday on Friday. Weekend. Call in sick on Monday.

Ah, freedom.

The Fourth is Friday, which means even more fireworks and festivals that celebrate the Independence Day with a big slice of Americana and drinks flowing. It’s also the tune-up before the big 250 next year.

Here we go with the fireworks, meatball chowhounds and bar bashes…

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The world’s top competitive eater Joey Chestnut returns to Coney Island to compete in Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest – 1 p.m. Friday on ESPN.

The Major League Eating record-holder (76 dogs in 10 minutes) was banned for a year for signing a sponsorship deal with plant-based, meat-alternative Impossible Foods.

Well, Cleveland has its own sloppy chowdown on July 4, and it poses the question: How many meatballs can one person eat?

At 6 p.m. Friday, Lago in the Flats will host its 4th of July Rooftop Party. The party rolls out food, drinks, DJs, games, and prime views of Cleveland’s fireworks show.

Then there’s this: The Official Lago East Bank Meatball Eating Competition (8 p.m.) The winner gets free meatballs for a year from Lago and a $150 gift card for Sora. For tickets or to participate, go here.

The Founding Fathers were renowned for getting their drink on.  John Adams loved cider; George Washington tapped his whiskey distillery daily; and Thomas Jefferson was fond of French wines. 

So, it’s no surprise that there are two bar crawls to celebrate Independence Day:

Cleveland Red White and Brew Bar Crawl: It starts at Corner Alley on East Fourth and continues down Euclid Avenue in a variety of bars. 4-10 p.m. Friday. Info.

Cleveland July 4th Bar Crawl: These partyers will be raising a drink to America and whatever else comes to mind. It starts at IVY on West Sixth and crawls to other joints in Warehouse District. 4 p.m. Friday. Info.

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The best band in the land for free? Yup, it’s the Cleveland Orchestra at Cain Park, at 7 tonight. Anthony Parnther -- who has conducted scores to Oppenheimer, Encanto, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and Creed III -- will lead the orchestra. The ensemble will perform works by Bernstein, Ellington, Herrmann and Williams. And, yes, it’s free. Info.

South America was a hot bed for a unique brand of buzzing fuzz and psychedelic rock in the 1960s. Cleveland’s Hello! 3D takes the sounds and sensibilities and lay it atop of Latin grooves to create a cumbia-psych dance party. The band plays two sets at the Happy Dog – 9 p.m. Thursday. Info.

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The WNBA is coming to town, and we have Caitlin Clark to thank for that. The league has sought to capitalize on its resurgent popularity, thanks to the arrival of the 22-year-old Indiana Fever sharpshooter.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert paid $250 million for the franchise – twice the amount paid for the last WNBA expansion team.

The league has grown and contracted since its inception in 1996. It lost $40 million in 2024, but the arrival of Clark, as well as Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, has brought new interest to the league – with franchises selling at record highs.

Last season, Clark’s nationally televised appearances averaged 1.18 million viewers per game, while all other WNBA outings drew a relatively subdued 394,000. 

Cleveland’s new team comes 23 years after the Rockers folded in 2003.

Cleveland was one of eight founding cities for the WNBA, via the Cleveland Rockers. The team debuted in 1997 and folded in 2003 after owner Gordon Gund was unable to find new ownership for the team.

Ooh and don’t forget! Tag @The216Scoop on Facebook & @Scoop216 on Instagram to get your photos in the Scoop!

83 🌡️ 72 | ☀️ | 20% | 💨 SSW 5 mph (4 knots)

83 🌡️ 71 | 🌦️ | 30% | 💨 SE 4 mph (3 knots)

81 🌡️ 73 | ☀️ | 10% | 💨 SSW 5 mph (4 knots)

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

^{For tickets & more info}

Away vs. Cubs, 08:05pm Wednesday

Away vs. Cubs, 08:05pm Thursday

Home vs. Tigers, 07:10pm Friday

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