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☕ Birria Tacos, Super Saturdays & the Big Fair
Why This Westside ZIP Is on Fire
Good morning, Westsiders!
If your tap water’s been looking a little… colorful this week, don’t panic. The city says it’s perfectly safe to drink — just blame low oxygen levels in the lake.
Here at the Buzz, we like to think we’re the opposite of Lake Erie right now: always fully oxygenated and bubbling over with fresh, flavorful news and fun events with no Brita required.
Today we’re buzzing on:
📈 One of the nation’s hottest ZIP codes is right here
🌮 Tavo’s Tacos is bringing Mexico City to the Westside
🎡 The Cuyahoga County Fair is back
We hope you have a great weekend. See you out there!
—The Briggses
HIDDEN GEM
Tavo’s Tacos 📍 North Ridgeville
When Buzz Nation subscriber Sherri told us, “You need to try this place,” we listened. This time, she pointed us to a brand-new Mexican spot. Three bites in, we realized she undersold it.
Meet Tavo. He’s the kind of guy you root for instantly. He spent 12 years running the kitchen at Fiesta Jalapeño before opening Tavo’s Tacos with his wife just three months ago. Before opening the restaurant, he needed reinforcements, so he flew his mom from Mexico City to pass down the family recipes she learned from her mom, and her mom before that.
Tavo told us he’s known for his Birria Tacos. Corn tortillas, fried to a perfect crunch, loaded with tender beef, topped with fresh-cut onion and cilantro — then dunked into rich, beefy consommé. You can sip it. You can dip it. Either way, you’ll wonder why you’ve been wasting time on lesser tacos.
We didn’t stop there. I went for the Burrito California that came stuffed, saucy, and packed with French fries for a next-level crunch. Jodie got the steak tacos, which made our usual Chipotle order look like something from a mall food court.
The prices are more than fair for the amount of food you get.
The space? Big wrap-around bar with full service. Loud and lively during happy hour. The kind of place where you sit down for one margarita and somehow stay for three.
Craving real Mexican food, perfected over generations? Go see Tavo! Order the Birria Tacos and tell him Buzz Nation sent you.
RESTAURANT NEWS
Chopt opens its first build-your-own salad spot on the Westside 📍 Westlake
Chopt Creative Salad Co. just opened one of two Cleveland-area locations right here in Westlake at Crocker Park on Thursday.
The fast-growing chain, known for customizable salads, warm bowls, wraps, and sandwiches, will be only the second location nationwide to offer Chopt’s full sandwich menu.
The pre-opening event on Wednesday, August 6, was a smash success, where 100% of sales were donated to Children’s Hunger Alliance.
Want to win salads for a year?
During opening weekend (today until Sunday), you can enter to win Chopt for a year just by ordering with your rewards account! The only cost is them sending you 3 emails a week for eternity.
Instead of “salad again…🤢” you’ll be saying “salad again!😁”. I think I just wrote their new ad campaign.
REAL ESTATE
This Westside Real Estate Demand is Sizzling 📍 Strongsville
Realtor.com ranked ZIP code 44149 the 6th hottest in the nation for 2025, which is the only one in Greater Cleveland to make the cut.
Homes in the city where I grew up are getting 5x the views and flying off the market 30 days faster than the national average. With median prices at $423K (vs. $277K in the CLE metro), Strongsville is where the “I want a bigger backyard and a finished basement” crowd is putting their money.
Why? Realtor.com argues that out-of-market buyers want out—and Strongsville’s blend of space, schools, and suburban swagger is pulling them in. If high-quality dining is your thing, try Square 22 and Don’s Pomeroy House. Want to try every chain restaurant known to man? The ‘Ville’s got ‘em.
While the South and West cool off, the Midwest is heating up. So if you’re looking in Strongsville… May the Zillow gods be with you.
🧠 TRIVIA
Jodie and I stopped by the Old Brooklyn Farmers Market last night and it got us thinking. Before moving to its current spot at West 25th & Lorain, where did Cleveland’s West Side Market originally set up shop? |
CIVIC ISSUES
North Ridgeville: City Council voted 5–2 on August 4 to place a 0.75 percent income tax increase on the November 4 ballot
Avon Lake: The city is introducing a freeze on new short-term rentals from being listed on booking websites. The moratorium will give the city time to think about how these hotel alternatives are regulated. If you are currently registered, you are exempt.
Lakewood: Lakewood plans to use a tax increment financing (TIF) deal to help build a $115 million project on the old hospital site.
Bay Village: Bay Village will move its 911 dispatch to North Olmsted’s upgraded regional center to save over $1 million in equipment costs and may see faster emergency response times.
WHAT’S HAPPENING, WESTSIDERS?
👨👩👧👦=Family Friendly
All Weekend Long |
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👨👩👧👦North Ridgeville Corn Festival Weekend The 50th anniversary of the North Ridgeville Corn Festival is here! This no cost, 3-day celebration packs in live music, family fun, kids’ crafts, and the festival’s first-ever drone light show (Friday night at 9:45 PM with 100 drones lighting up the sky). Catch the classic car show Saturday morning, the corn eating contest in the afternoon, and the grand parade on Sunday. $0 admission, $0 parking, and plenty of corn. |
👨👩👧👦Cuyahoga County Fair The 128th Cuyahoga County Fair brings funnel cakes, fireworks, Elvis, and more—plus new thrills like the 100-ft Drop Zone ride. Catch Jungle Bob, live music, a demolition derby, and don’t forget to bring a canned good for the food drive! |
👨👩👧👦The Cleveland Market |
👨👩👧👦Peach Fest with Farmdog Fresh Peach Fest is back and juicier than ever! Enjoy peachy drinks, baked goods, and of course, loads of fresh peaches. With live music both days (Tin Can Rooster on Saturday, Andy McManus on Sunday) and a watermelon eating contest on Sunday at 11 AM. |
Friday, August 8th |
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Walkabout Tremont |
Fashion & Folk Pop-Up with CMA |
2025 Artists in Residence Showcase |
Lavell Crawford |
MGK Weekend: Opening Night Machine Gun Kelly kicks off his hometown weekend under the stars at Jacobs Pavilion, with a special performance, a DJ set from Emo Night Brooklyn, and surprise guests. Catch the kickoff concert |
👨👩👧👦Friday Night Under The Lights Movie Night Kick off your weekend with football drills and games led by the Fairview Park City Schools team, followed by a team tunnel run and a field screening of Little Giants at 8. Bring a blanket (no chairs allowed) & grab snacks from the open concession stand! |
Saturday, August 9th |
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Dueling Piano Night |
All-Levels Patio Yoga |
GLBC Beer & Music Festival |
👨👩👧👦Crocker Kids - Back to School Bash |
👨👩👧👦Super Saturdays at Beck Center, Presented by PNC |
4th Annual Oyster Fest: Honoring Gavin Gill & Supporting T1D Oysters, shrimp, cocktails, and live music come together to honor Gavin Gill—a beloved Rocky River grad lost too soon to Type 1 Diabetes. Proceeds support scholarships, T1D youth, and insulin advocacy through the Gavin Gill Scholarship Foundation. Support here |
👨👩👧👦 Sunset Beach Fest |
Sunday, August 10th |
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Maker's Market @ MGK Day Cleveland artists take center stage at this special “For Art’s Sake” Makers Market pop-up during MGK Day, featuring 10 local makers who’ve been awarded support to grow their craft. Shop handmade goods, connect with the city’s creative community, and celebrate CLE’s arts scene. |
👨👩👧👦 Kamm's Corners Farmers Market Colab with Cle Market |
An Evening with Seanie Vaughan |
👨👩👧👦 Laska Lakewood Community Market Laska means love—and this neighborhood market is packed with it! With 25+ local vendors, artists, makers, vintage sellers, mini yard sales, and food from Cosmic Delights and Bearden’s, it’s a Sunday stroll you don’t want to skip. |
🎷 Live Entertainment
Friday
2025 Artists In Residence Showcase | Rock Hall, Cleveland 5 PM
Comedy Night Presented By The Standard Comedy Company | Coda, 7 PM
Custard Pie | Whiskey Island 7 PM
Jacob B. Johnson: Birthday Concert | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 8 PM
Piano Men: Generations | Hanna Theatre, Playhouse 8 PM
Emo Night Karaoke | The Winchester, Lakewood 8 PM
Medusa & Luminescence | Backstage Bar, Westpark 8:30 PM
Saturday
Lunch By The Lake: Sierra Delaine | Rock Hall, Cleveland 12 PM
Rock Radio | Whiskey Island 1 PM
Marvin Gaye Tribute by The Reid Project | Music Box SC, Flats 7 PM
Against The Wind Bob Seger Tribute | Whiskey Island 7 PM
Jeremy Jordan & Age of Madness | House of Blues, Cleveland 7 PM
Saved By The 90's | House of Blues, Cleveland 8 PM
Manfiish, Triflin, Blunt Impact, & Slugdealer | The Winchester, Lakewood 8 PM
Messmaker / Hywater / Late Braces | Coda, 8 PM
Rock Hall Live: Night Demon, Destructor, Sacred Few | Rock Hall 8 PM
World Zen'd | Backstage Bar, Westpark 9 PM
Sunday
Salsa Across Borders: Festival And Competition | Rock Hall, Cleveland 10 AM
Boozy Brunch (The Weeknd) | The Winchester, Lakewood 11 AM
Elton John Tribute Brunch with Tommy Lee Thompson | Music Box SC, Flats 12 PM
Radio Tokyo | Whiskey Island 2 PM
Reggae Sundays: Jah Messengers | Music Box SC, Flats 4 PM
Irish Trad Music Session | Gormley's Pub, Rocky River 5 PM
Lil Darkie: The Greatest Show In Human History | House of Blues, Cleveland 6 PM
The Marcus Lewis Big Band "Brass and Boujee" Featuring Marcus Lewis, Kemet Coleman, and Kadesh Flow. | The Bop Stop, Cleveland 7 PM
Shamarr Allen W/ Blackcat Roberts | The Winchester, Lakewood 8 PM
Weather
Friday
86 🌡️ 69 | 🌤 | 5% | 💨 S 5-7 mph 🌊 1 to 3 feet
Saturday
88 🌡️ 70 | 🌤 | 10% | 💨 S 7 mph 🌊 1 to 3 feet
Sunday
89 🌡️ 71 | 🌤 | 0% | 💨 S 6-8 mph 🌊 2 foot or less
Monday
88 🌡️ 71 | 🌤 | 5% | 💨 S 5-7 mph 🌊 1 foot or less
💧🌡️ Water temperature = 73ºF
That’s it for today, Westsiders.
Until next week,
—The Briggses
ONE WESTSIDERS REVIEW
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