📰 The igloos aren’t going anywhere

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Winter calls for bold flavors, and this new spot understood the assignment 🔥🍗🌴

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

For decades, it anchored West Side cultural life: The Spanish gothic vaudeville, movie and music hall known as the Variety Theatre.

It opened in 1927 with screening of Clara Bow’s “Hula.” It is said to be haunted, but don’t blame the ghosts for that cracked plaster.

That was caused by Motorhead, whose legendary 1984 concert was so loud  that it brought down pieces of the ceiling.

The storied building closed two years later and is still looking for a new life.

Kelly Flamos, who purchased the Variety in April 2022 for $450,000, put it on sale a year ago. And it’s still available.

“The past few months have been extra hard dealing with weekly break-ins at the theater,” says Flamos. “The building is still for sale. It’s still ripe for revitalization. And it’s OK to dream big.”

Big, as in 33,323-square-feet – an auditorium, 12 apartments and five storefronts to go with $3 million in historic tax credits and a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

All yours for $850k. Listing here.

Check out our Instagram and Facebook pages to learn more about the Motorhead show.

The Christmas trees have come down; the holiday pop-up bars are long gone and its still cold and snowy. Fear not: The igloos are still going.

These spots offer outdoor dining in heated domes:

Vosh/Georgetown: The leafy green patio is transformed into an enchanting winter funfest, complete with decorations and lights. Through April.

Table 45 in the InterContinental Hotel: High-end dining and the igloos are snazzy. There are only three, so they go fast. Through May.

Cafe Blanc: A chic, Euro cafe beloved for its coffee and crepes. Through mid-April.

The Fairmount Cocktail Bar: Stellar food, killer cocktails. Through March

Merwin’s Wharf: The Cleveland Metroparks’ riverfront restaurant boasts great views of the Flats.  Through Feb 15.

The Aviator: Their ‘Igloos on the Runway’ make for fine plane watching. Through March 15.

President Donald Trump has embarked on a strategy to address rising housing costs.

It includes a proposed ban on large institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes – because they drive up prices by outbidding home buyers.

In Cuyahoga County, corporations own approximately 10% of residential parcels. In Cleveland proper, it’s 17.5% (12.9% owned by in-state corporations; 4.6% by out-of-state ones).

That’s higher than the 8.9% national average, due to Cleveland’s affordability and reputation as a hot market.

The issue is much more complex, however, says David Sharkey, president of Ohio City-based Progressive Urban Real Estate.

“Here, it’s mostly individuals doing business as an LLC buying houses in places like Garfield Heights or Maple Heights, and you need those people in the market,” he adds. “A lot of people can’t afford to buy a house, because it’s a tough economy -- so, do you want houses to sit empty?”

Meanwhile, the drop in mortgage rates has led to a rise in new mortgage applications and refinancing.

“We’re seeing a noticeable increase in mortgage applications from first-time homebuyers in Northeast Ohio due to increased awareness of programs designed to help buyers who may have higher debt, lower credit scores, or limited savings,” says Emerson Lindsley, a Loan Officer at Conrad Mortgage.

51^st Annual Sci-Fi Marathon: Egads, it’s a monster marathon for the ages. The CWRU Film Society has been hosting its annual sci-fi marathon since 1970. No. 51 rolls out 17 flicks, non-stop, starting at 8 tonight and running through early Sunday in Strosacker Auditorium. Info.

Deconstructing The Dark Side of the Moon: Composer and tech guy Scott Freiman at the Hanna Theatre delivers a two-hour presentation on music and making of Pink Floyd’s breakthrough 1973 album. 8 tonight in Hanna Theatre. Info.

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble: The musician and producer and his band hits the Beachland Ballroom to play his Motor City sounds and will perform the Grateful Dead’s “Blues for Allah” album to celebrate its 50^th anniversary. 7 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Dark Wave Dance Cave: Don black and groove in the shadows as Mimi Dromette and Matthew Darkstar spin darkwave, new wave, synthpop, goth, and post-punk. 9 p.m. Saturday at the Winchester. Info.

👉 View Listing

Who needs trendy districts and celebrity chefs when you have Parma.

The city is home to some of the area’s top Mexican, European and Asian eateries – and has seen a fast rise in places from South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Enter Pica Pollo Dos, a delightful spot with three tables and flavorful dishes that hit the spot, especially in winter. While it specializes in Caribbean fried chicken, the seafood selection is stellar – from shrimp to octopus, crab, fish, ceviche.

Chef Romel De La Rosa, who moved to Cleveland from the Dominican Republic a decade ago, learned to cook with his family and in kitchens in Santa Domingo. Then came stints in area eateries, including Luca West.

Trendy places are fine, but it’s places like this that elevate the scene.

Construction on the Detroit-Superior Bridge, which opened to traffic on Thanksgiving Day, 1917.

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

28 °F 🌡️ 22 °F | 🌥️ (Overcast with Flurries) | 30% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 14 mph (≈ 12 knots)

25 °F 🌡️ 15 °F | ⛅ (Partly Cloudy & Frigid) | 10% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 10 mph (≈ 9 knots)

33 °F 🌡️ 24 °F | 🌨️ (PM Snow Showers) | 60% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 18 mph (≈ 16 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. 76ers, 7:00 PM January 16 (Friday)

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