MLK, Buckeyes, and Cleveland’s Culinary Treasures

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Good morning, Cleveland! This is The 216 Scoop. Did you know Cleveland is home to the first-ever indoor shopping mall and the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll? One of these shaped history, and the other shaped your wallet! 🛍🎸

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In today’s 216 Scoop Edition: 

• Most stunning comeback in sports: Buckeyes one win away from making history

• MLK Day Cleveland: Celebrating the legacy

• Tripadvisor: They’re searching for Cleveland

• Buckeyes vs. Fighting Irish: The watch parties

• No frills Desi Mama is a flavorful exploration of Indian-Nepali cuisine

  
  
  by John Petkovic, Mark Espinosa, Victor Takakura

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IN THE NEWS

Most stunning comeback in sports: Buckeyes one win away from making history

January 20 will go down as a historic day in America -- when a once victorious candidate was written off and then came back from the dead to make a stunning comeback… Yes, the Buckeyes are on the verge of being inaugurated college football champions.

At 7:30 tonight, Ohio State will meet the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Buckeyes are one of heaviest favorites since the playoff system was instituted – plus 7.5-9.5 points.

A Buckeye victory would cap off one of the biggest comebacks in college football.  The team was left for dead after a disastrous loss to Michigan on Nov. 30.  Blowouts over Tennessee and Oregon and a dramatic win over Texas changed everything.

Ticket prices for the game keep escalating: $2,637 – highest in CFP history and 36 percent higher than last year’s Michigan-Washington final. The biggest reason is the devotion and size of the teams’ fan bases -- around the country, but also Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland, with its large Irish and Catholic populations, is a bastion of Notre Dame fandom. It’s home to one of the oldest ND alumni clubs, founded in 1916 and boasting more than 1,500 members.

No surprise newly-elected vice-president and OSU grad JD Vance took to X to post: “Hopefully everyone is cool with me skipping the inauguration so I can go to the national title game”

Vance later clarified the remark: “I assure you, that was a joke. I will be there doing my constitutional duty and swearing in as the 50th vice president of the United States.”

Deep down, he wishes he could go to the game.

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MLK Day Cleveland: Celebrating the legacy

Martin Luther King Jr.’s ties to Cleveland ran deep. He visited often and played a pivotal role in the election of Carl Stokes, one of the first black mayors of a major American city.

He also delivered his “Rise Up!” speech here, in 1967, at Glenville High School.

The speech came a year after riots had devastated Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. In it, he called on black youths to stay in school, eschew violence and, above all, believe in themselves.

“Our power does not lie in Molotov cocktails. Our power does not lie in bricks and stones. Our power does not lie in bottles,” he said. “Our power lies in our ability to unite around concrete programs. Our power lies in our ability to say nonviolently that we aren't going to take it any longer.”

There are a number of institutions honoring his legacy with themed events and activities, performances and free admissions:

• Rock Hall Celebration of MLK: Exhibits, live music. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.;

• MLK Community Open House & Day of Music at Severance Hall: Cleveland Orchestra will host live performances, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.;

• Cleveland Museum of Art MLK Day Celebration: Activities and interactive art exhibits, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Cleveland History Center MLK Day: Free admission, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.;

• Cleveland Natural History MLK Day: Art projects and activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.;

• Great Lakes Science Center: Free admission, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tripadvisor: They’re searching for Cleveland

Just when you thought that “grit and sophistication” can only get you so far, along comes Tripadvisor to say that, indeed, you can make to No. 3.

That’s where the travel platform ranks Cleveland on its new list of trending destinations for 2025.

Cleveland finished behind West Palm Beach, Florida , and Santa Barbara, California – most likely because our beaches are covered with snow this time of year.

Tripadvisor writes:  “Whether rocking out to music legends inside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame or viewing Monets and Picassos at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland is a city that mixes equal parts grit and sophistication. Nosh award-winning food in historic buildings, tip back some craft beers amid a Lake Erie beach party or cheer on a championship team with a hardball of locally distilled spirits. All in Cleveland.”

It rates the Rock Hall, Little Italy and a two-hour driving tour as the city’s top three historical attractions. It also tout Lakeview Cemetery, Marble Room, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick.

Rounding out the top 10 trending destinations are Kansas City, Memphis, Park City, Juneau, Denver, Brooklyn and Hiton Head.

THE 216 DIGEST

Buckeyes vs. Fighting Irish: Watch parties

Cleveland is home to large alumni clubs and devoted fan bases for both Ohio State and Notre Dame – which will make watching tonight’s CFP Championship Game a colorful event…

It’s no surprise that most Irish pubs bring out Notre Dame fans. But these spots have hosted Fighting Irish watch parties over the years…

• P.J. McIntrye’s, 17119 Lorain Avenue, Kamm’s Corner;

• Old Angle, 1848 West 25th Street, Ohio City;

• Sauced Taproom, 14701 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood;

• Mullarkey’s Irish Pub, 4110 Erie Street, Willoughby;

• Market Garden, 1947 West 25th Street, Ohio City.

The Ohio State Alumni Club of Greater Cleveland always gathers at Buffalo Wild Wings, 8465 Pearl Road, Strongsville – and it plans to again tonight.

Other spots that are hosting watch parties -- where OSU fans will dominate, but you’re likely to run into some Fighter Irish backers…

• My Corner Bar, 6211 West 130th Street, Parma Heights;

• Hooley House, 10310 Cascade Crossing, Brooklyn:

• Scalpers Bar & Grille, 5718 Mayfield Rd, Lyndhurst

• Islander Bar & Grille, 7581 Pearl Rd, Middleburg Heights

• Brew Garden, 16555 Southpark Center, Strongsville

• West Park Station, 17015 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, Kamm’s Corner;

• Corners Tavern, 7990 West 130th Street, Strongsville;

• Muldoon’s, 1020 East 185th Street, Cleveland.

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Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

No frills Desi Mama is a flavorful tour of Indian-Nepali cuisine

There’s a not-so-fine line between the foodie and the adventurer. It’s that line that makes some places trendy while others remain obscure destinations.

The just-opened Desi Mama, 4442 Mayfield Road, South Euclid, is likely  one of the latter places. There’s no chef autograph on the window by the entrance and, well, not much else that signifies trendy. It features unadorned white walls, no-frills tables and chairs and nothing in the way of a mood setter.

But the lack of anything exotic or flashy only adds to the feeling that you’ve stumbled on to something interesting – in this case, a wide-ranging exploration of Indian and Nepali dishes that are unique, flavorful and, let’s just say it, cheap.

The menu is wider and deeper than most eateries, with a variety of vindaloo, curry dishes, biryani and breads.

Some highlights: The Vegetable Vindaloo was one of the best I’ve had. The Gobi Paratha (a flatbread filled with spiced cauliflower) made for a unique, tasty opener. Ditto for the Paneer Pakoda (deep-fried cottage cheese fritters coated with chickpea flour butter).

It’s an adventure – one I’ll check out again. For hours and info, call 216-331-2686.

VINTAGE CLEVELAND

Tripadvisor ranks Cleveland third on its new list of trending destinations for 2025. One of the reasons is the city’s many walking tours — including Lake View Cemetery, which boasts impressive architecture, monuments, memorials and history. For instance, the first automobile procession (seen below) took place at Lake View in 1903.

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

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WEATHER

Monday

16°F 🌡️ 7°F | ❄️ | 80% | 💨 SW 15 mph (13 knots)

Tuesday

17°F 🌡️ -2°F | ⛅ | 20% | 💨 W 12 mph (10 knots)

Wednesday

20°F 🌡️ 5°F | ⛅ | 20% | 💨 NW 10 mph (9 knots)

LIVE MUSIC IN THE 216

Monday - 01/20

No live performances scheduled.

Tuesday - 01/21

House of Blues | Tycho + Bad Tuner | 7 PM

Wednesday - 01/22

Treelawn Social Club | Gary Dacanay | 7:30 PM

Agora Theater & Ballroom | Jake and Abe | 7 PM

House of Blues | Joy Oladokun | 7 PM

For tickets and more information visit: livemusicincleveland.com

The 216 Sports Arena

Upcoming Games

Cavaliers

Home vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 20

Cleveland Monsters

Home vs. Chicago Wolves, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 22

Cleveland Charge

Home vs. Motor City Cruise, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 21

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