"...and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends." - Penny Lane, Almost Famous
Going to the Hall of Fame, it kinda felt like that quote. I start to feel old when my youth escapades start showing up in a museum. But it was fab to see the ones I know alongside the ones I wish I was old enough to know. Where else in the world can Elvis Presley collide with my love of Sub Pop Records?
The sorta-bad:
- I wish I'd realized going in that it was under construction.
- I wish I'd realized going in that the exhibits advertised weren't actually there.
- I wish I'd known going in that the U2 3D was only at 4:00pm.
- I wish there had been a map of the entire place.
- Overall, it wasn't quite the grandeur I was expecting.
The good:
- If you are a music lover, you can't go wrong here.
- I especially loved all of handwritten lyrics, telegrams, letters, etc. - they truly sent my heart into a pitter-patter.
- I easily spent 4 hours here, even though it was partially under construction.
- When you check-in on Foursquare, you get a free Elvis CD.
- Parking was easier than I expected.
- Some of the staff were very helpful.
- All of the school buses out front made me nervous, but I never once had to endure irritating children during my experience.
Total must-do if you are ever in the Cleveland area. If for nothing else, the unique items (i.e. handwritten song lyrics by Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley's union contract, etc.) are worth it. I was one of those slow-pokes that read every little thing with total fan fascination. The U2 and Elvis items were of particular jaw-dropping note for me. And I learned new things. Yep, it was kinda awesome. But yeah, it could've been better. However, as we progress (a.k.a. I get older), I'm sure I will be here again and again to see my current favs become legends.