The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation is launching a "pop-up public space" on the lakefront this summer.

Why it matters: The major infrastructural work of the North Coast Master Plan, including a pedestrian bridge, is still years away. The master planning has been complicated by the Trump administration and the likely departure of the Browns' stadium.

• But leaders want Clevelanders to be able to experience the waterfront today.

State of play: The North Coast Yard will be erected with temporary materials on the city-owned lot north of Browns Stadium, next to the steamship Mather.

• It will feature concerts and other live programming from May through September, food vendors, outdoor games, basketball courts and seating for relaxing and enjoying views of the water.

What they're saying: "Cleveland's residents should not have to wait to experience a lakefront that belongs to them," said Scott Skinner, NCWDC's executive director, in a press release.

• "The temporary infrastructure and exciting programming of the North Coast Yard gives our community a chance to enjoy Lake Erie now."

Flashback: When leaders pitched local businesses on a costly redesign of Public Square before the RNC in 2016, they called it Cleveland's front yard.

• The North Coast Yard is being promoted, in a similar vein, as downtown Cleveland's lakefront backyard.

What's next: The Yard will be constructed through May with a grand opening weekend June 13-15.

• The summertime destination will host a Wednesday basketball league and Friday skate nights, with a DJ and roller skate rentals.

When Flame & Fable opened last month in Lakewood, there was a two-hour line out the door.

Why it matters: It's the first bookstore in the Cleveland area dedicated to romance and fantasy titles, and its instant popularity testifies to the pent-up demand for these genres.

Zoom out: Flame & Fable joins a growing roster of stores and pop-ups dedicated to selling romance novels that have debuted in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Indianapolis in the last year.

💭 Sam's thought bubble: My wife is a certified #romantasy addict, and she joined me as an expert witness when I went to check it out this week.

• My first thought was that the selection seemed somewhat limited, but she assured me the titles had been curated by someone deeply familiar with the genres in question.
• She bought "Quicksilver" by Callie Hart, which evidently is "big on Goodreads."

What they're saying: Owner Nickie Lui, who worked at Overdrive for eight years before setting out on her own, told Cleveland Scene that she saw Flame & Fable as a community space as much as a bookshop.

• "There's a movement among women in the millennial age group in particular, where we're kind of like reclaiming romance for ourselves," she said.

Stop by: 13439 Detroit Ave., right across from St. Ed's.

Go deeper: Romance books are having a moment

🏟️ Brook Park Mayor Ed Orcutt wants to ensure that safeguards are built into the Browns stadium financing proposal to ensure the suburb isn't left holding the bag. (Cleveland.com)

⚽️ Cleveland failed to win an expansion franchise in the National Women's Soccer League, but the group pursuing pro soccer in Cleveland has unveiled renderings for a new 10,000-seat stadium anyway.

• Minor league men's and women's clubs could begin playing there as early as 2026, they say. (WKYC)

💉 Twenty-two people have died from flu-related illnesses in Cuyahoga County as of March 1, compared to 12 deaths during the previous flu season. (Ideastream)

🎤 Three songs by Chagrin Falls-based rapper Brit Fox appear on the soundtrack of Oscar-winning film "Anora." (Cleveland Magazine)

🌹 "& Juliet"

State of play: The Broadway smash-hit musical from the writer of "Schitt's Creek" is an upbeat retelling of "Romeo & Juliet" set to contemporary pop anthems. It's playing through March 23 at Connor Palace.

💭 Our thought bubble: See it. All Shakespeare needed was a bit more Backstreet Boys.

🪩 MIX: Dancing Queen

State of play: The Cleveland Museum of Art's monthly dance party honors the women of disco for Women's History Month, featuring DJ Hodgepodge Lodge (Natalie Ann) and DJ Guilty Pleasures (Rachel Hunt). The party starts at 6pm tomorrow.

💭 Our thought bubble: Skip it, but don't miss out on Picasso.

😜 Imposters Theater Anniversary Weekend

State of play: Cleveland's west side theater celebrates two years of live improv and sketch comedy with a slate of shows tomorrow and Saturday and a live taping of the "Those Who Aunt" podcast Sunday. Check out the schedule.

💭 Our thought bubble: See it. We simply gotta support fledgling arts and cultural organizations if we want them to survive and thrive in Cleveland.

Ohio celebrated its 222nd birthday March 1, so let's party with these odd facts about the Buckeye State.

😮 Our "Oz" connections: Dr. Oz was born in Cleveland, as was Margaret Hamilton, the wicked witch in "The Wizard of Oz."

🃏 Things invented here: Cheez-Its (Dayton), chewing gum (Mount Vernon) and the Uno card game (Reading).

🏖 "Beach" communities without a beach: Beach City (Stark County) and Beachwood (Cuyahoga County).

👀 Weird things to find here: A Fabergé egg (Cleveland), Hitler's urinal (Athens), Berlin Wall segments (Bexley and Cincinnati) and helium airship crash sites (Noble County).