🎁 Double-Header: Shop Local While the Guardians Trade Everyone (Plus Christmas Dinner Plans!)

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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition: 

• Christmas Day movie openings: Award contenders lead a mad dash to end 2024

• Hit-and-run crash closes Charlie’s Dog House Diner

• Why did the Guardians just trade two all-stars?

• So, you need a restaurant on Christmas?

• Big Lots woes to impact Ohio, Cleveland

by John Petkovic, Mark Espinosa, Victor Takakura

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IN THE NEWS

Christmas Day movie openings: Award contenders lead a mad dash to end 2024

With superhero and Disney flicks out of the way, Hollywood has set its sights on films that will qualify for the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.

Five highly-anticipated contenders hit theaters Dec. 25:

“Nosferatu”: Robert Eggers’ remake of the 1922 silent German film of the same name is atmospheric and symphonic -- not unlike his other films, “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse” and “The Northman.”

“A Complete Unknown”: Timothee Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in this biopic, which documents Dylan’s controversial move from folkie to rocker.

“Babygirl”: The erotic thriller about dominance and submission in the workplace stars Nicole Kidman as a CEO who has an affair with a young intern. (Kidman received a 6 ½-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.)

“The Fire Inside”: The sports biopic tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, the female boxer and MMA who won gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.

“The Room Next Door”: The English-language feature debut by Spanish maestro Pedro Almodovar stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore as long-lost friends who meet up again and confront life and death.

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We're talking prices so good, you might actually have money left over for that fancy airport coffee! Stop doom-scrolling through overpriced tickets and join the savvy travelers who've discovered the art of flying without selling their favorite kidney. Ready to make your wanderlust dreams take flight? Hop over to Ovago now – because your passport isn't getting any younger, and these deals definitely aren't getting any cheaper! 🌎✨

Hit-and-run crash closes Charlie’s Dog House Diner

Charlie’s Dog House Diner, one of Cleveland smallest and most charming spots, is closed until further notice.  The diner was struck by a hit-and-run driver Sunday morning. It was closed at the time and there were no injuries.

The damage to the beloved eatery – known for its old-school style, doghouse façade and beagles painted on the front -- is too substantial to fix quickly.

A post on its Facebook page read, “Charlie’s is closed until further notice. Someone crashed into our building.”

According to Cleveland police, the car crashed into the diner around 4 a.m. They found damage to the side of the building and broken glass – along with tire marks on the ground. The CPD is looking for a red pick-up truck in the Old Brooklyn area.

Patrons and friends of Charlie’s have started a GoFundMe to help assist the staff.

Why did the Guardians just trade away two all-stars?

Two all-stars gone in less than two weeks…What are the Guardians doing? It’s a common refrain after the team traded John Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday — 11 days after moving second basemen Andres Gimenez to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Why the Guardians made the trades:

Naylor: He solidified the middle of the line-up with 31 HRs and 108 RBI, but the team was likely to lose him to free agency after next season. Also, his production declined as the season progressed – and weight and conditioning raised red flags about the risk of injury. After the trade, the team signed Carlos Santana to take his place. Santana turns 39 in April, but remains productive. He outplayed Naylor in the field and at the plate the final 117 games last year. The team also has up-and-comers Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel who can play first base.

Gimenez: The Gold Glover never lived up to expectations at the plate after his 2022 season. He’s signed through ‘29 and will make more than $23.5 million in each of his last years. Too much for the Guardians to spend, especially when they have two highly-ranked infielder prospects, Travis Bazzana and Juan Brito, set to join the team.

Pitching: The starting rotation was the weak link and getting 25-year-old righty Luis Ortiz from the Pirates (in the three-team-deal involving Gimenez) fills a spot. Right-handed starter Slade Cecconi came back in the Naylor trade. He’s been a disappointment, but the team is high on the former first-round pick.

The 216 Digest

So, you need a restaurant on Christmas?

Those damn Bumpus hounds… stole the turkey dinner and now the Parker family has to find a restaurant that’s actually open on Christmas. Yeah, that’s the scene in “A Christmas Story,” but Chinese restaurants have long been the go-to option and something of a tradition for people looking to eat out on Dec. 25. There are of number of them, along with some other options:

Li Wah at Asia Plaza, 2999 Payne Ave, Cleveland: Popular AsiaTown eatery is great with dim sum, has an extensive menu and has an old-time vibe.

Bo Loong, 3922 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland: Colorful, long-running AsiaTown spot could’ve appeared in “A Christmas Story.”

Mortons the Steakhouse, 1600 West Second St., Cleveland: Swank, chic spot that hits the spot – especially if you like steak. The Bumpus hounds would love it.

The Burnham, in the Downtown Hilton Cleveland, 100 Lakeside Avenue, Cleveland: Festive restaurant with a deep menu in a hotel that loves its Christmas trimmings.

The Centro in Metropolitan at The 9 Hotel, 2017 East Ninth Street, Cleveland: Fine dining, yes. Beautiful building, too. It also offers up a variety of pizzas.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SHOP.COM

Deal Hunter's Paradise: Where Your Wallet Gets a Virtual High-Five! 🎯

Hey there, savvy shoppers and bargain ninjas! Tired of playing hide-and-seek with good deals across fifty different websites? (We see you opening those hundred browser tabs! 😉) Well, Shop.com is like that friend who always knows where the best sales are, but better – because we're serving up deals and cashback that'll make your piggy bank do backflips!

Whether you're hunting down those must-have essentials (hello, fancy coffee maker you definitely need), searching for the perfect gift for your impossible-to-shop-for cousin, or just treating yourself because, hey, you survived Monday, we've got everything under one digital roof. And the best part? Every purchase comes with cashback sweeter than your grandma's cookie recipe! Ready to turn your shopping game from "meh" to "money moves"? Dive into Shop.com now – because the only thing better than finding what you need is getting paid to shop for it! 💃💸

NOTES ON A COCKTAIL NAPKIN!

SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, & CULTURE

Big Lots’ woes to impact Ohio, Cleveland

Big Lots is a lot smaller. The Columbus-based retailer announced that all stores will conduct a “going out business sale” after a planned sale of the company fell through.

Ohio has the highest concentration of Big Lots stores of any state in the company’s portfolio – 90 of its 960 total locations, including 12 in Greater Cleveland. Founded in Columbus in 1967 , Big Lots is located in 48 states and has a major footprint in Texas, Florida and California. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September.

In a statement, Big Lots says that it will pursue a sale to keep the company going, but “made the difficult decision to begin the [going out of business] process.”

Big Lots’ struggles are not unique. Retailers such as Dollar General, Target and Kohl’s have all struggled and Party City, with 10 stores in the Cleveland area, just announced the closing of all stores by February.

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

The Parker home, as it appears in the 1983 classic, “A Christmas Story.”

Step Into Ralphie's World (And Try Not to Shoot Your Eye Out!) 🎬

Hey movie buffs and holiday enthusiasts! Remember that house where one kid's Christmas wish turned into the most quotable holiday movie ever? Well, grab your pink bunny pajamas because we're talking about THE Parker house from "A Christmas Story" – and yes, it's right here in Cleveland, looking just as gloriously vintage as it did in 1983!

This isn't just any old Victorian home; it's where Ralphie dreamed of his beloved Red Ryder BB gun, where the infamous "Fra-gee-lay" leg lamp lit up the neighborhood, and where Christmas dreams (and tongues stuck to flagpoles) were made. Now restored to its movie-perfect glory, this time capsule of holiday magic lets you live out your own "A Christmas Story" fantasies – minus the soap-in-mouth punishment, thankfully!

Pop by for a visit, and you can channel your inner Ralphie, snap photos with the actual props (leg lamp selfie, anyone?), and geek out over every movie detail you've watched a million times. Just don't forget to duck when you hear "You'll shoot your eye out!" 🎄🔫

And don’t forget! Tag @LiveMusicInCleveland or @The216Scoop to get your photos in the Scoop!

EXTRA SPRINKLES

Let's Talk About Health, Baby! (No Awkward Waiting Rooms Required) 🎯

Hey there health hero! Let's be real – nobody dreams about spending their Thursday morning in a clinic's waiting room, trying to avoid eye contact while that one person sneezes WAY too loudly. Enter myLAB Box, your new BFF in the world of "let's handle this from my couch" healthcare! We're talking lab-grade STD testing that's more discreet than your private browser history and easier than ordering late-night tacos.

Just grab a kit, follow the super-simple instructions (seriously, if you can make instant ramen, you've got this), and boom – accurate results faster than your latest streaming binge. No judgments, no awkward small talk with receptionists, and definitely no need to wear real pants! Ready to take charge of your health while binge-watching your favorite show? Snag your myLAB Box kit now – because your health deserves the VIP treatment, and your couch is way comfier than any clinic chair! 🛋️✨

Straight Talk, Solid Answers: Because You Deserve to Know 🧬

Life throws some pretty big questions our way, and when it comes to DNA testing, you don't want to play the guessing game. That's where Paternity Lab Center comes in – think of us as your personal truth-finding squad, minus the drama of daytime TV shows! Whether you're sorting out family matters, handling legal stuff, or just need to know for sure, we're here with testing that's more accurate than your mom's ability to know when you're fibbing.

Our lab experts (total DNA wizards, by the way) handle every test with the kind of care usually reserved for grandma's secret recipe book – absolutely confidential and precise to the letter. No judgment, no complicated science talk, just clear, court-approved answers you can take to the bank (or the courthouse). Ready to replace those question marks with exclamation points? Reach out to Paternity Lab Center now – because some questions are too important for maybe's and what-if's! ⚖️✨

WEATHER

Wednesday

40°F 🌡️ 36°F | ☁️ | 20% | 💨 SW 10 mph (9 knots)

Thursday

42°F 🌡️ 38°F | ⛅ | 10% | 💨 SW 12 mph (10 knots)

Friday

48°F 🌡️ 39°F | 🌧️ | 60% | 💨 SW 15 mph (13 knots)

Live Music in the 216

Wednesday

Beachland Tavern | Blue Lunch + Hank Mowery + Tom Moore | 6:30 PM

Thursday

Grog Shop | Corry Michaels + KC and The Collective + Others | 7 PM

Beachland Tavern | Goodmorning Valentine + Non Bruises + Marie Corbo | 7 PM

Beachland Ballroom | Into The Blue | 7 PM

Friday

House of Blues | Red Wanting Blue + The Labra Brothers | 7 PM

Agora Theatre | Tape B + Eazybaked + Others | 7:30 PM

Grog Shop | Shuicide Holla + Nicx + Others | 7:30 PM

For tickets and more information visit: livemusicincleveland.com

The 216 Sports Arena

Upcoming Games

Cavaliers
Away vs. Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27

Cleveland Charge
Home vs. South Bay Lakers, 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 27

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