🖖 William Shatner’s surprising strip-tease inspiration

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Cleveland once had a small but vibrant Chinatown tucked downtown. Now a new restaurant, Spice Spring, is bringing a little of that history and a lot of flavor back 🏮🌶️🥢

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

Mr. Spock wouldn’t have approved – it wasn’t logical -- but I couldn’t help it.

I once interviewed William Shatner and couldn’t help but blurting it out: “You know, Mr. Shatter, you remind me of a burlesque queen.”

He was taken aback, “What?” he said.

"Well, uh, I mean, you remind me a little of Lili St. Cyr," I said.

I was referring to the legendary performer who had achieved her fame in the 1940s -- in Shatner's hometown of Montreal.

Shatner, who will headline Fan Expo Cleveland this weekend, suddenly got seriously jazzed.

"This is some kind of joke, right?" he said. “"She was more than inspirational to me. She was my adolescent dream. I used to sneak in to see her perform as a boy... The poetry of the strip tease!”

To be clear: Shatner, a Shakespearean stage actor before he struck intergalactic fame with ‘Star Trek, will not disrobe or dance at the Fan Fest Cleveland.

He’s one of several actors including Hayden Christensen, Helen Hunt and Brendan Fraser appearing at the pop culture extravaganza – Friday through Sunday at Huntington Convention Center.

It rolls out panels, cosplay, gaming, workshops, movies and collectables — not to mention thousands of culture mavens. Info.

One of Cleveland’s most cinematic -- and long forgotten – downtown streets is getting a new life.

Here comes Spice Spring to reclaim the heart of old Chinatown on Rockwell Avenue.

The just-opened eatery has moved into the old Emperor’s Palace, which opened in 2012 and closed a decade later.

Emperor's Palace looks like an opulent Chinese Versailles, with chandeliers, red-and-gold decor and ornamental woodwork and elaborate windows.

The menu is just as elaborate.

It rolls out Sichuan cuisine and Cantonese dim sum to go with a wide range of classic Asian dishes that you could’ve found on Rockwell for decades.

In the '60s and '70s, Chinese eateries lined the street between East 21st and East 24th.

It was the epicenter of the Chinese community, which experienced rapid growth starting in the 1950s -- coinciding with a wave of immigrants escaping communism.

Chinese eateries once lined Rockwell. Yes, those were different times. But Spice Spring is a sign of new life.

The Polish Boy was born in 1942, when Virgil Whitmore crossed his Texas roots with the tastes of the neighborhood to create the iconic Cleveland sandwich.

It’s lived on in spots owned by descendants of the culinary pioneer -- Mt Pleasant Bar-B-Q and Whitmore’s Bar-B-Q.

No longer for the latter, at least for the time being.

The Warrensville eatery has closed after a devastating fire caused about $500,000 in damage.

“While this will be a difficult time for our family and team, we are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support from our community,” said owners Virgil Whitmore III and his brother, Vince. “Whitmore’s has always been more than a restaurant, it’s family.”

The Whitmores plan to rebuild and hope to open this year and have launched a GoFundMe to assist to that end.

Open since 1980, Whitmore’s would sell 500 to 1,000 Polish Boys a week – and has become an area institution.

Wednesday

Angry Samoans: The L.A. punk legends bring their hard-hitting sound and satirical style to the Mercury Music Lounge. 7 p.m. Info.

Rachmaninoff and the Tsar: Hershey Felder’s dramatic musical production recounts the story of virtuoso pianist and composer Sergei Rachmaninoff – and how he met Russia’s last Tsar before moving to California. Through March 15 in the Allen Theatre. Info.

Thursday

Dreamgazing: Nod and dream along yourself into bliss with Shoegaze, Dreampop and Ethereal Wave Music night at Dunlap’s Corner Bar. 9 p.m. Info.

Single Mingle: People that love dogs love to be around others that love dogs – which meet-up event a real bowwow. Bring your pup, have a drink and mingle at Taps & Tails dog park and cocktail lounge. Puppy love! 6 p.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

From March Madness to truly maddening… Downtown is going to be buzzing over the next week with basketball fans and St. Patrick’s Day partyers.

The action starts with the 2025 MAC Basketball Tournament.

The four-day event starts today with the women’s quarterfinals, followed by the men’s quarterfinals on Thursday.

Both tournaments move to the semifinal round on Friday before concluding Saturday with the women’s championship game in the morning and the men’s championship game later that night.

The tournament has become a tradition in Cleveland for more than two decades and attracts thousands of fans from across the Midwest. Info.

A 1905 postcard of downtown that features the Rose Building, the iconic Cleveland building that is currently being renovated.

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

67 °F 🌡️ 35 °F | ⛈️➡️🌨️ (T-Storms to Night Snow) | 90% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 19 mph (≈ 16 knots)

39 °F 🌡️ 33 °F | 🌥️ (Breezy / AM Snow Showers) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 13 mph (≈ 11 knots)

50 °F 🌡️ 35 °F | 🌧️➡️🧊 (Breezy / Rain to Wintry Mix) | 60% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 22 mph (≈ 19 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. Magic, 7:30 PM March 11 (Wednesday)

Away vs. Mavericks, 7:30 PM March 13 (Friday)

Home vs. Mavericks, 3:30 PM March 15 (Sunday)

Home vs. Brewers, 9:05 PM March 12 (Thursday)

Away vs. Angels, 4:10 PM March 13 (Friday)

Away vs. Padres, 4:10 PM March 14 (Saturday)

Home vs. Athletics, 4:05 PM March 15 (Sunday)

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