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📰 The Best Cocktails in the U.S.?

📰 The Best Cocktails in the U.S.?

Cleveland’s Got ’Em 🍸

April 25, 2025

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Good morning, Cleveland! Porco’s winning awards, Phish fans are partying, and the Cavs are on the road—but we’re still watching 🍸⛳🐠

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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition:

Porco scores prestigious acclaim, shines light on cocktail scene
David Thomas turned Cleveland’s demise into music that inspired the world
Break out the woods: Metroparks opens courses for season
Triumph of the jam-band fans: It’s Phish in a landslide
Arsenal Cider House throws re-opening party in Ohio City
Cavs host watch parties while team is away

John Petkovic & Victor Takakura

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IN THE NEWS

Porco scores prestigious acclaim, shines light on cocktail scene

Photos courtesy Porco

There were skeptics when Porco Lounge and Tiki Room opened in 2013.

First, it was located out on an island -- six-tenths of a mile south of and seemingly a world away from the hot spots of West 25^th Street. Second, there was the whole tiki thing – long perceived as a gimmick.

Would curiosity seekers keep coming back after the allure of thatched huts and Polynesian décor faded?

Well, they did – and not just because the vibe is a fun escape from the run-of-the-mill joints. Porco, you see, has become one of the America’s premier places for drinks.

It has been honored by the prestigious Tales of the Cocktail Foundation for its annual Spirited Awards. Porco is one of 11 nominees for the Best U.S. Bar Team in the central U.S. region.

“When I opened Porco, I found myself digging deep into the history and culture,” says owner Stefan Was. “I’m not going to say I elevated tiki drinks to craft cocktails, but it was part of my mission.”

Porco has received seven Spirited Award nominations since 2018 – quite a feat when you consider only nine bars in Ohio have been nominated for one since 2007.

“We’re riding with the big boys in bigger cities that are incredibly well financed and do so much more business than we do,” he says. “So, it’s great to see the city getting some of the spotlight.”

Was never wanted to be one of “the big boys.”

“My fear of failure made me do something specialized; I didn’t want to be compared to other places,” he says. “There were no tiki bars, so I was free to follow my passion and do something fun and quirky.”

Where others saw weakness, Was saw strength.

“People would say I’m out on an island,” he adds. “But that’s what I wanted all along.”

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David Thomas turned Cleveland’s demise into music that inspired the world

Photos courtesy Pere Ubu

Cleveland has lost a musical titan. David Thomas – the founder and singer of legendary bands Rocket from the Tombs and Pere Ubu -- passed away on Wednesday. He was 71.

He was one of music’s great iconoclasts, so much so that he’d probably reject the tag.

In the 1970s, Thomas defined the sensibilities of post-industrial America going to hell by taking the sounds and angst that accompanied economic and social decline and turning them into compelling music.

Cleveland was fertile soil for such a sonic endeavor.

"In the end, geography is a language," Thomas once told me. "Buildings mean things, bridges mean things, standing at Edgewater Park means things."

He was inspired by the city’s you-gotta-be-tough attitude.

"We were affected by Ghoulardi," he said, referring to the irreverent B-movie horror legend. "We were brought up when everybody despised Cleveland."

In 1974, Thomas co-founded Rocket from the Tombs. In little more than a year, the band produced "Final Solution,” "Ain't It Fun" and "Sonic Reducer” – songs that would go on to become punk anthems that were covered by Guns N’ Roses, Pearl Jam, Living Color, Peter Murphy and sampled by Beastie Boys.

Rocket often played to a few dozen people. It never released an album. But its legend grew over the years as Cleveland became known as Ground Zero for punk -- prompting 2003 reunion tour and release of a 1975 practice tape.

Thomas would go on to form a more experimental vehicle, Pere Ubu. The ‘avant-garage’ band became the darlings of punk, post-punk and avant-garde scenes. It is one of the most influential and longest-running bands to come from Cleveland.

Thomas was working on a new album and an autobiography when he passed away, after battling a long illness.

His family released a statement that concluded with: “We’ll leave you with his own words, which sums up who he was better than we can: ‘My name is David Fucking Thomas… and I’m the lead singer of the best fucking rock n roll band in the world.’”

Break out the woods: Metroparks opens courses for season

Cleveland Metroparks

Can’t get an appointment to see your doctor or dentist today? There’s a good chance they’re out on the greens.

Cleveland Metroparks has announced that the 2025 golf season is open across all nine courses located through Cuyahoga Country.

Since 2020, the Metroparks has seen impressive growth on all its courses, reaching a record-setting 415,600 rounds played in 2024 – up 50% from pre-pandemic levels.

The parks system will celebrate the 100^th anniversary of its Little Met course with a 1925-themed event where golfers wear vintage attire and play by the original rules on the course. It will also host a Centennial Moonlight affair, where guests use a glow ball to play after dark.

It has also announced its tournament schedule. More info here.

Triumph of the jam-band fans: It’s Phish in a landslide

Photo courtesy Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

Nope, not Joy Division and New Order. Not the White Stripes. Not Oasis. Those influential rock bands finished near the bottom in the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote.

Phish fans were just too strong to overcome. The jam band tallied more than 329,000 votes – almost 50,000 more than runner-up Bad Company. The next three are Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper and Joe Cocker.

The top five finishers in the fan vote will have their results counted alongside ballots from more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals to help determine the Class of 2025. Complete results here.

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The 216 Rundown

Euclid Tavern reunion party brings memories, photos to Grog Shop

The Euclid Tavern was the place to play, if you were an up-and-coming band in the 1990s. Booked by Derek Hess, it countless bands that helped define the sound and style of the decade’s alternative-rock scene – Helmet, Yo La Tengo, Green Day, Pavement, Jesus Lizard.

Photographer Karen Novak was there to document many of the shows at the now-closed club. Ah, but live on – and she will display her photos when the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard, Cleveland Heights, hosts Karenpalooza.

At 8:30 tonight, the Euclid Tavern re-union will feature Season to Risk, Lo-Pan and Red Giant – as well as posters and photos by Hess, Clay Parker, Ron Kretsch, Keith Marlowe and Anastasia Pantsios. More info here.

Arsenal Cider House throws re-opening party in Ohio City

Arsenal Cider House was closed for months – initially, for staff training and then to install new taps. It will celebrate its grand re-opening at 4 p.m. Friday, with live music, food and an array of ciders, meads and fruit wines. The Pittsburg-based operator opened at in Ohio City, 4507 Lorain Avenue, in 2020 – its first location outside of Pittsburg. More info here.

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NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Photos courtesy Cleveland Cavaliers

Cavs host watch parties while team is away

A fun idea almost went horribly bad. The Cavs hit a three-point shot to cap off a 14-6 run against the Heat in Wednesday’s Game 2 matchup when fake snow started falling over the upper corners of Rocket Arena.

A little too soon to celebrate a Calavanche. Miami took control in the fourth quarter and the Cavs needed late-game heroics by Donovan Mitchell to win.

Whew. OK, now on to Miami… The Cavs have announced official watch parties for the two road games.

Game 3: Saturday: Welcome to the Farm, in the Flats East Bank, 1 p.m.
Game 4: Monday: Clevelander Bar & Grill, 834 Huron Road East, TBD.
Also, the Jack Cleveland Casino will host a watch party for Game 3, starting at noon on Saturday.

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

Superior Avenue, downtown Cleveland, 1901.

Photo courtesy New York Public Library

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Extra Sprinkles

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WEATHER

Friday

73 🌡️ 49 | 🌦️ Showers & Thunderstorms | 70% | 💨 SW 14 mph

Saturday

52 🌡️ 43 | ⛅ Partly Cloudy | 25% | 💨 W 12 mph

Sunday

56 🌡️ 46 | ☀️ Sunny | 5% | 💨 NW 10 mph

Live Shows in the 216

Friday, April 25

Saturday, April 26

Sunday

The 216 Sports Area

Upcoming Games

Cavaliers

Away vs. Miami Heats, 1 p.m., Saturday.

Guardians

Friday, April 25

Home vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., Progressive Field

🎟️ City Connect Wear Night

Saturday, April 26

Home vs. Boston Red Sox, 6:10 p.m., Progressive Field

🎟️ Theme Night – Kent State University Night

Sunday, April 27

Home vs. Boston Red Sox, 1:40 p.m., Progressive Field

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