Downtown Cleveland is the place to be this summer if you're looking for something to do on a Thursday night.
The Sparx Summer Concert Series kicks off its seventh year on June 4 at 5 p.m. with concerts on East 4th Street, West 6th Street and PlayhouseSquare.
On East 4th Street, every Thursday from 5pm till 9pm though September 10, enjoy live music and specials on the patios along the street. Erie Island Coffee will be offering free smoothie samples and coffee bean roasting. Saigon will be offering their famous Bubble Tea. A patio cook-out and bar will be featured at the Corner Alley along with a patio BBQ at Flannery's, "street fries" at Greenhouse Tavern and other specials at Wonder Bar, Zocalo and Pickwick and Frolic.
PlayhouseSquare bars and restaurants are offering happy hour specials from 5pm to 7:30pm on the first Thursday of every month -- June 4, July 2, August 6 and September 3 -- as well as more live performances. Check out the Blue Bar at the Wyndham Hotel, Bricco, Hanna Restaurant & Au Bar, Moko Coffee, Otto Moser's, and Star Restaurant while you're in the area.
Starting June 25 from 5pm-7pm and running every other Thursday after that, West 6th Street in the Warehouse District will be featuring Sparx performances, happy hour specials and of course, live music.
You can find a complete list of dates and musical performers at the Sparx Concert Series webpage.
But wait, there's more! On July 23, 30, August 6 and 13 (yes, those are Thursdays), West 9th Street will be hosting a block party from 5pm till 9pm. The street will be shut down to car traffic between Johnson Court and St. Clair Avenue to allow for $4 mixed drinks, $3 wine and $2 beer at bars and restaurants on the street, a cornhole tournament, live music and a free movie projected onto a large, inflatable screen. Bring a lawn chair!
There's no reason to be bored on any Thursday this summer. The only problem will be trying to fit everything in on some nights!