Smoky City, World Cup Watch Party: CLE Daily

⛈️ 88°; Warm, with Afternoon Thunderstorms
👑 King Watch: The internet thought LeBron James would announce his next team yesterday during a live podcast taping. He didn't.
⚾️ Second Half: Guards are back from the All-Star break tonight, kicking off a home stand with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Here's a second-half update.
🐭 Magic Gatherers: Collectors descend on Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted tomorrow for its first-ever Disney-inspired pin trading event.
⚽ Grand Finale: A party in Downtown's Public Square hosts a watch party for the final match of the World Cup on Sunday, with extra fun in store. (It's free, but you have to a reserve a ticket.) 

ICYMI: Northeast Ohio beat out more than 300 regions to earn new funding, which could propel Northeast Ohio and the entire state as a national center for manufacturing innovation, technology and jobs.

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Trivia Question 

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

News: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Causes Hazardous Air Quality in Northeast Ohio. 

By Paul Kiska

You could see it, smell it and taste it. Canadian wildfire smoke has been a serious health threat in Northeast Ohio this week.

• Smoky City: The smoke is ground level, and also extends a few thousand feet into the atmosphere, according to David Marsalek, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Cleveland office.

• Expansive Haze: Marsalek says the wildfire smoke is uniformly affected much of Northern Ohio on Thursday.

• Blown Away: Shifts in wind patterns this weekend may push the smoke out of the region.

In the past couple of days, the air has been so thick with smoke, Northeast Ohio hospitals expect more patients at emergency rooms with breathing issues. 

Cleveland Clinic pulmonologist Dr. Samuel Gurevich: “(Wildfires) actually put into the air a lot of what we call particulate matter, which are these very, very fine particles of dust and other organic matter that then can easily be breathed in and can irritate the airways or even be absorbed into the bloodstream."

Air Quality Alert: The National Weather Service has issued an air quality advisory for ground level fine particles through at least Friday at midnight for all Northeast Ohio counties.

Read more about the smoky situation.

Talk of the Town

Flock cameras are here to stay, at least for now. In a 9-6 decision, Cleveland City Council approved a six-month extension for Cleveland's controversial Flock cameras on Wednesday night. One hundred license plater readers will remain active through December as officials seek bids for replacements. 

Ward 7 council member Austin Davis submitted an objection to Ohio City restaurant Townhall's liquor license renewal after business owner Bobby George pled guilty to attempted strangulation last year. "This incident cannot be reduced to a footnote in the history of West 25th Street," Davis wrote on social media.

Progressive Field and Rocket Arena need $52 million in repairs. Gateway Economic Development Corp., the nonprofit responsible for funding those repairs, found out this week that it doesn't have the money to pay.

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District rates are set to rise. Officials approved a plan this week for a 2% annual rate hike from 2027-2031. Stormwater rates will increase by 4% in 2027 and 2028 and by 3.5% annually from 2029-2031.

Arts & Culture: A wedding gift for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce brings attention to an Akron artist. 

By Annie Nickoloff

Reminiscent of a scene from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the pewter “The Wedding Couple” ornament by Leandra Drumm — of Akron's Don Drumm Studios —seemed almost predestined to become a gift for Swift and Travis Kelce.

• Celebrity Lookalike: Jessica Shumski, the studios' pewter manager, says the customer thought the ornament represented the Taylor and Travis during the London leg of the Eras Tour, when Kelce wore a top hat and tuxedo and picked Swift up onstage.

• Perfect Gift: When the celebrity couple got married on July 3, wedding guest Ally Charara shared on social media that she gifted them the ornament.

Ever since, the Akron studio has seen an influx of attention around its ornaments, along a spike in sales around "The Wedding Couple" in particular. 

Artist Leandra Drumm; “It’s interesting to see how people are connecting to it. Whether they're choosing it as a gift for a wedding, or whether they're choosing it as a symbolic representation of their wedding, something they want to wear, something they want to hang on their Christmas tree — so it's kind of fun to hear how different people view that piece, and what connects them either to the piece or to Taylor and Travis.”

Read more about the gift's effect on the local business.

Things to Do This Weekend

 Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds
A slew of local, national and international musical acts will perform at this year's Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival. The festival takes place Friday through Sunday at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in Berea. 19201 East Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights

Zac Brown Band: Love & Fear Tour at Rocket Arena
Known for live shows that often feature a slew of oddball covers in addition to original material, the versatile Zac Brown Band brings its Love & Fear tour to Rocket Arena. The concert begins at 7 p.m. One Center Court, Cleveland 

Lakewood Summer Meltdown 2026 at Lakewood
This annual block party takes place on Detroit Avenue between Marlowe and Arthur Avenues. The festival features a 5K race and 1-mile family fun run and walk. It also features games, food vendors, a beer garden and live music. 

Taste of Tremont
One of Cleveland’s longest-standing neighborhood festivals returns on Sunday as Tremont welcomes more than welcome more than 20,000 people to Professor Avenue for the annual Taste of Tremont. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from various vendors. There will be live music throughout the festival, which takes place from noon to 8 p.m. Professor Avenue, Cleveland

Find more great events at our full guide of things to do this weekend.

Yesterday's Trivia Answer 

Where was the Cleveland Zoo located before it moved to Brook Park? Wade Park.

Check back Monday for the answer to today's question.

This smoke is no joke. I was working from home on Thursday, having not even stepped outside, when I felt like I had a slight cold. The coughing fit wouldn't go away until I put on an N-95 mask. (Boy, am I glad I had some leftover from the pandemic!) Then I looked outside and saw thick smoke blanketing my neighborhood ... and decided to cancel my outdoor plans for the evening. Wherever you are, I hope you're staying safe and breathing easy, and avoiding the worst of the wildfire's effects here in Northeast Ohio. -Annie Nickoloff, Senior Editor

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