Indie Venue Tax, Things to Do July 20-23: CLE Daily

☀️ 82°; Hazy Sun
🦠 Parasite Numbers: The Ohio Department of Health is tracking cyclosporiasis counts in Ohio. You can check the current number of cases in the state here.
🚬 Breathe Out: Is breathing in wildfire smoke equivalent to smoking cigarettes? However illustrative, the analogy is misleading, according to experts.
💼 Big Business: Ohio was recently ranked "the top state for business" by CNBC. What exactly does that mean?
🏙️ Boosterism: The Onion, a national satirical newspaper, poked fun at Clevelanders' constant insistence that we're underrated in a recent blurb.

ICYMI: Canadian wildfire smoke has been causing harmful air quality in Cleveland and much of Northern Ohio.

Support our local journalism with a print subscription to Cleveland Magazine or sign up for our daily newsletters.

Trivia Question

Nicknamed "The Human Wall," this Lakewood native represented the United States as the starting goalkeeper in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Music: How Amending Cleveland's Admission Tax is Giving Independent Venues a Boost.

By Chloe Banno

Despite the world’s biggest concert and event companies gaining revenue year over year, small music venues continue to struggle. A recent study showed that 64% of independent venues and festivals nationwide failed to turn a profit last year. For Cleveland venues, a bit of relief arrivedin the form of a small amendment to an ordinance that has a significant impact on local entertainment venues' bottom lines.

A quick timeline:

• 1976: The ordinance defined the admissions tax for local entertainment venues. Originally, it placed a 6% admissions tax on all venues.

• 1995: The tax was raised to 8% to aid in funding the construction of the Cleveland Browns stadium.

• 2012: The ordinance was amended to completely exempt venues with a capacity below 150 people from the tax, and to reduce the rate to 4% for venues between the 150 and 750 capacities.

This May, Cleveland City Council member Kris Harsh suggested broadening the small venue tax exemption to include all venues with capacities below 750 people. He found that only about 12 venues fell into that 4% bracket. Those venues accounted for only $340,000 of the $25 million the city makes from admissions tax.

• The amendment passed by a vote of 13-1.

Kris Harsh: “My hope with this is that these venue operators recognize that we care. We’ve got a great music scene in Cleveland, and we want them to know that we’re doing what we can to keep the music alive.”

Read more about the amendment and its impact on local venues.

Talk of the Town

A local, internet-famous microwave is set to appear at the South Euclid Food Truck Park's X-mas in July event on July 25, reports cleveland.com. We featured the microwave in our April "Reasons to Love Cleveland Now" cover story.

TownHall's liquor license is in jeopardy after city council passed a resolution asking the state of Ohio to revoke the West 25th Street business's permit. The move comes after co-owner Bobby George pled guilty to one count of attempted strangulation against his ex-girlfriend, avoiding charges for rape and attempted murder. The resolution does not automatically revoke the business's permit.

The $300 million Blue Abyss project is on track, reports cleveland.com. Not without challenges, though, as two of the organization's key officials died earlier this year. The 16-acre campus space research center broke ground in 2025. Blue Abyss partnered with NASA Glenn that same year.

The Brook Park New Community Authority is the result of a unanimous vote by Brook Park City Council to create a special public entity to own the new Browns stadium building and shape the development around it. The group will act as a landlord with power to issue bonds to pay for the cost of constructing the stadium.

Things to Do This Week

Cleveland Guardians vs Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field (July 20-23): The Guardians take on the Twins for the second time this month, hoping to take the series this time. Enjoy Christmas in July at the park on Monday, or join in the Disability Pride Celebration on Tuesday. Monday-Wednesday, 6:40 p.m.; Thursday, 1:10 p.m., $19-$181, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, mlb.com

Lucy Dacus at Agora Cleveland (July 20): The singer-songwriter and guitarist is well known for her involvement in the supergroup Boygenuis, but her solo work, including her 2025 album Forever Is a Feeling, has earned acclaim, too. 5000 Euclid Ave #101, Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

John Mellencamp at Blossom Music Center (July 21): The Heartland rocker from Indiana brings his little ditties to Cuyahoga Falls as part of his Dancing Words Tour, which features the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee's greatest hits. 1145 W Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, 330-920-8040, blossommusic.com

Meghan Trainor at Rocket Arena (July 22): The "All About That Bass" singer brings Icona Pop and Ryan Trainor along for her Get In Girl Tour at the basketball arena. One Center Court, Cleveland, 216-420-2200, rocketarena.com

Christmas Ale in July at Great Lakes Brewing Co. (July 23): Great Lakes Brewing Co. is in the holiday spirit. A freshly brewed batch of Christmas Ale, paired with a special pig roast menu starting at 4 p.m., goes on tap at the brewhouse Thursday. DJ Red-I spins tunes to close out a day full of festivities. A shuttle service to and from Progressive Field is available for those attending the game. Give back with a toy drive for Providence House. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland, greatlakesbrewing.com

Pavement at Agora Cleveland (July 23): The slacker-rock gods led by Stephen Malkmus might have only broken through to the mainstream once, with "Cut Your Hair," but they've steadily built a legacy as one of the great alternative rock acts of the '90s. 5000 Euclid Ave #101, Cleveland, 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com

Friday's Trivia

Answer Evolving from early volunteer fire units, the Cleveland Division of Fire was officially established in what year? 1836

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question

From the Editor

The (second) most wonderful time of the year: This Saturday marks the halfway point from Christmas. And it seems like a lot of local organizations are getting in on the fun this week. The Guardians have snow globe merch, Great Lakes Brewing Co. hosts its annual party and Good Night John Boy has holiday themed cocktails. This weekend, I'll be celebrating with my in-laws, who host an annual "Christmas in July" family party. I just might need to pick up some Christmas Ale to bring!

Have a story idea? Tell us what we should cover at conversation@clevelandmagazine.com.

Subscribe to Cleveland Magazine in print or daily email newsletters.