📰 Real Dragons at the Zoo? You Heard That Right 🐉

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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop. Where dragons hit the zoo, witches throw parties, and your new dog might cost less than your latte. 🎭🐉🐾

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Thrill-seekers have been screaming with high hopes about Cedar Point. The park will unveil new rides, attractions and amenities when it opens its 156^th season on Saturday.

Here’s what to expect:

From tribute shows to rising indie stars, Beachland Ballroom & Tavern is Cleveland’s home for live music magic. Whether you’re vibing with Langhorne Slim, rocking out with Marky Ramone, or browsing vinyl at Beachland Flea, there’s something for every music lover. Enjoy food, drinks, and unforgettable shows in a venue that feels like home with a killer sound system. 💃🕺

📍 Located on Waterloo Rd in Cleveland

🎟️ Check out the full lineup and grab your tickets now: beachlandballroom.com

The Cavs crushed the Heat in the most lopsided series in NBA playoff history – sweeping them by a combined 122 points. Things are going to get much harder when they take on the Pacers, starting Sunday.

Things to watch:

Animal shelters are overwhelmed. They’re taking in more dogs and cats, and fewer people are adopting them. It has resulted in a crisis, as many are operating at full capacity.

As a result, many shelters have been forced to house dogs in smaller cages and have lowered adoption fees to entice people to give them a home.

Enter New Friends Friday! – a Cleveland APL promotion that allows animal lovers to adopt a dog for $21 every Friday through May 30. It’s a steep discount from the $121 customary fee and includes a dog license for Cuyahoga County residents.

The APL also has cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and reptiles available for adoption. Mother’s Day is coming – so here’s your chance to surprise her. More info here.

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The ghosts must’ve been thespians in another life. The Man in Green has purportedly haunted the Palace Theater for decades and the Hanna has been home to countless spirits.

So much so that the theaters honor the longstanding theatrical tradition of leaving a glowing “ghost light” on the stage even when the theater goes dark.

You can look for ghosts when Playhouse Square hosts its theater tours. They run Monday May 5 and continue the third Saturday of every month (as well as an additional Monday tour on Aug. 4).

The 90-minute tour takes attendees behind, under and on the stages of the largest performing arts center outside of New York City. You also get to explore their history.

Built in 1921 and 1922, they hosted vaudeville stars like George Burns and Gracie Allen, who got married in Cleveland between shows.

Playhouse Square experienced a cataclysmic demise in the 1960s. By the early ‘70s, it was scheduled to be demolished to create parking lots.  That is, until two-year, 522-show run of the musical “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris” sparked a revival.

The tour offers a look at the past, the ghosts and the district’s return to glory. There are multiple tours per night, but reservations are required. More info here.

You can bet on the horses. I’ll put my money on a sure thing… a Mint Julep. The Kentucky Derby is on Saturday and airs at 6:57 p.m. on NBC. Here are five places celebrating the 151^st Run for the Roses.

One Star Lakewood: The ‘Talk Derby to Me’ soiree rolls out free finger foods, live music, Buffalo Trace bourbon and mint julep drink specials and a costume contest. 2 p.m. More here.

Jack Thistledown Racino: Whoa, there’s a Derby Hat Contest to go with themed drinks and food, face painting and balloon animals. Noon. More here.

Astoria Café and Market: The second annual bash serves up specialty cocktails, appetizers, games and contests for best outfit and hat. 6 p.m.

Forest City Brewery: Call it horseplay for a good cause. The benefit for You Can You Will Foundation features themed food and drinks and encourages Derby hats and get-ups. 3 p.m.

Town Hall: The Ohio City spot is going all out with Derby drinks, costume contests and prizes for those who bet on the winning horse. 2 p.m.

Let’s get witchy. At 6 p.m. Saturday, German Central is summoning Hexennacht – a party to celebrates the arrival of spring with supernatural forces. As in, come dressed as a witch, warlock, wizard or fairy for a pagan party that includes polka music by Gemütlichkeit Cleveländer Musikanten and dance performances by the Crooked River Crones Twirling Witches. More info here.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with an over-the-top party when it rolls out MIX: Amplify – 6 tonight. It features a house-music sets by DJ Andre Leone and DJ Zosimo Maximo, gymnasts and performers, a pop dance-music set by DJ PikaChieu, a fashion show, and a Bollywood DJ set – as well as themed food and drink items. More info here.

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🏡 Built: 1910

🛏 7 Beds | 🛁 2 Baths

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The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has some new inhabitants – and they aren’t monkeys or zebras or giraffes. Egads, the dragons have arrived for the summer, and they’re all fired up.

The zoo has rolled out its new exhibit Dragons Landing – featuring more than 20 animatronic mythical creatures along the Zoo’s Waterfowl Lake.

The walk-through attraction opens today. It allows humans to get up close to the beasts, which are 15 feet tall and 30 feet long and can spew smoke, move about and roam like maniacs. For info here.

Playhouse Square at night, 1933.

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From handcrafted pizzas and crisp salads to seasonal cheesecakes by A’venue Fine Pastries, Dewey’s Pizza on Lee Road delivers flavor with every bite. Sip local brews or fine wines on the patio, then top it off with triple-layer chocolate cake dreams. Dine in, carry out, or just swing by for dessert—you’ll be back for more.

📍 Visit Dewey’s Pizza Cleveland Heights

👉 Order now at deweyspizza.com and taste the local favorite!

60 🌡️ 51 | 🌧️ | 55% | 💨 WSW 9 mph (8 knots)

59 🌡️ 52 | 🌧️ | 55% | 💨 NNE 4 mph (3 knots)

63 🌡️ 55 | ☁️ | 20% | 💨 N 11 mph (10 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 Pacers, Sunday May 4 – Time TBD

Away vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Thursday May 2 – 7:07 PM EDT

Away vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Friday May 3 – 3:07 PM EDT

Away vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday May 4 – 1:37 PM EDT

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