☀️ Your Longest Day Game Plan

Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop: Our river caught fire, then helped spark a national environmental wake-up call. Not bad for a PR disaster 🔥🌊

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John Petkovic & Jude Perez

It was the oil slick on the city’s reputation and fuel for a never-ending joke that included the refrain: “The Mistake on the Lake.”

At the time, the Cuyahoga River Fire of June 22, 1969, was hardly a big deal – a 20-minute blaze and the 13^th fire on the river going back to the 19^th century.

It barely made the news – that is, until the environment movement and the media turned it into a cause celebre.

Fifty-seven years later, Cleveland is proud that it transformed a disaster into meaningful change – locally and nationally.

On Wednesday, Cleveland History Days and the Cleveland Metroparks will host boat tours  to celebrate the comeback. Info.

This weekend, venture out on your own to these stellar spots:

Scranton Riverfront Park: Once dead, now full of life. The dredging of contaminated soil and the arrival of greenery, insects, fish, small birds, geese and heron has made it an enchanting mix of greenery, industry, and beautiful views.

The Little Falls in Cuyahoga Falls: Located at the southernmost point of the Cuyahoga River, it’s a small, enchanting waterway far from industry.

Rivergate Park: It features Crooked River Skate Park, Merwin’s Wharf, the Cleveland Rowing Foundation and offers a mix of nature and industry. Info.

Willow Avenue Bridge: It connects the Flats with Whiskey Island (near Ontario Stone Corp.) and provides unique views of the East Bank and the skyline.

Settler’s Landing: Moses Cleaveland founded the city and our first settler, Lorenzo Carter, lived here. Now, it’s a sweet spot to lounge a summer day away.

We’ve come a long way from December.

Make that six hours and a minute more of daylight since the darkest day of winter.

Sunday marks the arrival of summer with a sunrise at 5:53 a.m. and sunset at 9:04 p.m.

That’s 15 hours and 11 minutes of daylight – the longest day of the year.

We’ll start losing daylight in the morning from here on in. Sunset remains at 9:04 p.m. until July 3.

Three ways to celebrate:

Solstice at CMA: The biggest art party of the summer rolls out music, dancing, revelry and museum tours. The Cleveland Museum of Art released more tickets this week. 7 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Summer Solstice Block Party: West Side bar Spotlight Cleveland rings in summer with two stages (indoor and outdoor) and a slew of bands, including Da Land Brass Band. 6 p.m. Saturday. Info.

Midsummer Ritual: The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Majick summons the season with pagan rituals and tours of the occultist playhouse. 4 p.m. Sunday. Info.

Thousands of Cavs fans are expected to gather at noon today at Meet Me Here Plaza to celebrate the 10^th anniversary the team’s historic comeback over the Warriors to win the NBA championship.

We pretty sure that Kyrie Irving won’t be there.

The guard who hit the game-winning in Game 7 or the series “ghosted” a reunion of his former teammates in Europe.

“He was invited and ghosted us all," said J.R. Smith, the shirtless wonder who became a Cleveland folk hero in 2016.

Smith also lamented that the Cavs have basically ghosted him, too.

“I won a whole chip in Cleveland, they haven’t invited me back once, and it’s been 10 years." Smith said.

The Cavs responded by posting a clip of Smith appearing at and getting cheered at a game in the 2022-2023 season, “ALWAYS has a home here.”

Read our special edition newsletter that rewinds the 2016: The Year in Cleveland by subscribing to 216 Insider.

FRIDAY

The Strokes: The garage-pop rockers from NYC have a new album out and a tour that brings the, to Blossom Music Center. 7 p.m. Info.

Are You Garbage? Back on the Block Tour: Kevin Ryan and H. Foley hit Hilarities for a night of, yes, garbage – in which you can ask ‘garbage’ questions and find out if you are a garbage person. 7 and 9 :45 p.m. (Also Saturday.) Info.

SATURDAY

BAYarts Art & Music Festival: Seventy arts, craft and food vendors with food trucks and live music. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info.

The Creative Blueprint – Riverside’s Makers and Masters: This tour celebrates the architects, bakers, musicians, and artists who now rest at Riverside Cemetery. 4 p.m. Info.

Midsummer at Squire’s Castle: Sorta Secret Supper Club will ring in the season with a Swedish feast at the mysterious castle that was built in the 1890s, abandoned since 1922, and is said to be haunted. 7 p.m. Info.

SUNDAY

World Cup Watch Party: CentroVilla25 hosts a bash with live music, food vendors, three bars and a soccer Play Activation Zone outside. 11 a.m. Info.

👉 View Listing on Zillow

Summer arrives this weekend and the clock starts ticking on your Things to Do list.

What better way to usher it in than with friends over drinks on a patio -- when leafy green getaways and stellar views pair so well with al fresco drinking and dining.

We’ve just rolled our 2026 Cleveland Patio Guide – 87 places to toast the golden days of summer.

Yes, 87.

Get it by subscribing to the 216 Insider.

These five feel like a picnic in the city: 

All Saints Public House: This laid-back leafy patio feels like a park in the city and boasts a vibe that's laid-back yet lively.

Edison’s Pub: Scarlett Johansson dug hanging out here while filming ‘Avengers.’ Good choice. It’s a picnic-table party that’s fun and hip with an “everybody’s welcome” attitude.

Forest City Brewery: It feels like a picnic area in an enchanted forest and a walk into another time.

Jukebox: The spacious patio feels like a summer picnic in Hingetown. And it’s covered, if it’s raining.

Treehouse: The big toucan mural on the wall says, “Lovely day for a Guinness.” True, especially on this leafy and lively patio that packs in the partyers..

An oil slick in the Cuyahoga River in 1965. 

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

74 °F 🌡️ 62 °F | ☀️ (Sunny) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 18 mph W (≈ 16 knots)

75 °F 🌡️ 61 °F | ☀️ (Mostly Sunny) | 20% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 12 mph W (≈ 10 knots)

72 °F 🌡️ 64 °F | ☁️ (Mostly Cloudy) | 40% | 💨 ↑ ≈ 8 mph NW (≈ 7 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. Astros, 8:10 PM June 19 (Friday)

Away vs. Astros, 7:15 PM June 20 (Saturday)

Away vs. Astros, 2:10 PM June 21 (Sunday)

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