I have fallen. Far. Fifty pounds to be exact. Muscle mass and cardio gains, gone. Worst thing is, I was just eight pounds shy of my initial goal weight.
I got off track, and fell back into old habits. I will not dwell in the past, what’s done is done. It is what it is, I offer no excuses.
The important part is I haven’t thrown up my hands and given up. I don’t think I’ll ever do that.
Taken about a week ago. Nowhere to go but up from here.
I’m a tech geek so I’m trying out two new (to me) fitness apps to inspire me. They’re both pay apps, either monthly or annually. This week I used Aaptive for the first time. It provides “trainer-led, music-driven audio workouts.”
There are many types of workouts and trainers to choose from. The one I tried was a full body workout that took me through four groups of three different exercises in each group. So for example, you do sumo squats with a weight for thirty seconds, then hit the floor for push ups for thirty seconds, then back up for military presses with a pair of dumbbells for thirty seconds. Do one more round of those exercises, then transition to a new set of three exercises. You repeat this cycle two more times (with new exercises) for a total or group of four. Make sense?
Push ups, ab work, arm work with dumbbells, leg lifts, planks, squats, all exercises I am familiar with. I chose the weight that felt comfortable for me. I loved how simple it was, all I had to do was listen and follow along. I didn’t need to mess with my phone to look at videos or find the right playlist. I was able to focus. The music was motivating, without being distracting. I found myself calling the instructor names. Not nice ones either. And when I was done, I was sweating profusely and red in the face. These are all personal indicators that I’ve had a good workout.
The other app that I’ll try this week is called Pear. Maybe I’ll write extensive reviews of both apps when my free 30 day trials are up.
I find it surprising when I mention something about a podcast, how many people ask me what a podcast is. And I’m not talking about just old heads, there are some youngin’s too that have no clue what they are. So I thought I’d write a little something to explain it all.
What is a podcast?
Webster’s defines a podcast as “a digitalaudio or videofile or recording,usuallypart of a themedseries,thatcan be downloadedfrom a website to a mediaplayer or computer.”
Basically, podcasts are audio shows, or radio shows with content that you get to choose. And like your favorite television shows, they typically have a certain number of episodes per season. They can be produced as a limited, one time event (a singular season with a set number of episodes), or an ongoing series with many seasons over time.
There are podcasts about anything and everything under the sun. If you can’t find a podcast that interests you, you don’t have a pulse.
Some sources say the name “podcast” has nothing to do with a nearly extinct Apple product, but the most widely reported version of how the name came to be is that it’s a combination of the words “iPod” and “broadcast.” Regardless of the origin of the name, you can listen to a podcast on any smart phone, computer, laptop, tablet, or other electronic devices (like an Amazon Echo).
How much do podcasts cost?
*Podcasts are free. Podcasters (the people who produce podcasts) will occasionally solicit donations from their listeners to help produce the show, but the more listeners a podcast has, the more likely the show will be supported by companies willing to pay for ad space. The ads usually offer free trials or unique discount codes specifically for the podcast’s fan base (you, the listener). *There are some podcasts and podcast apps that cost money. This is the exception, not the norm. Personally, I would never pay for either, there are way too many FREE choices available.
How do I listen on my smart phone?
There are two ways to listen: direct streaming or downloaded copies. If you don’t have an unlimited data plan with your cell phone or internet carrier, you can download episodes and listen to them directly from your computer, tablet or cell phone. Not only will downloading episodes help you avoid overage charges, it also comes in handy if you’ll be in an area where you don’t get good cell phone coverage, or where Wi-Fi isn’t available (like an airplane, for example).
iPhones have a built-in podcast app, but there are other options available too. Overcast and Castro are two free iOS alternatives to the native iPhone app.
Android users can listen to podcasts through Google Play Music, or Google has a new stand alone podcast app called Google Podcasts. You can download the app and others from the Google Play store.
Here are a few podcast app icons. They all play podcasts, the only difference is the advanced options they offer. Take a good look and compare them to the icons on your smart phone or tablet. You may be surprised to find you already have a podcast app installed on your device.
Here’s what the podcast app looks like on Apple products (iPhone or iPad).
If you’re a Google Play Music fan, here’s where you can find podcasts in the Android app.
How can I listen on other devices?
Spotify, largely known as a free service for streaming music, also offers podcasts. Stitcher, SoundCloud, and podOmatic are other great resources for listening from a laptop, desktop, or tablet. You may also be able to listen to a podcast directly from the podcaster’s website. Most podcasts have websites where you can listen, as well as a social media presence where fans can hang out and learn more about the hosts, behind the scenes, see pictures and video, and arrange meet ups.
*Just a quick note, don’t get confused when going to the podcast websites I’ve listed. They do offer some paid services, but you can listen to podcasts (and music) for FREE. For example, Stitcher has a premium (pay) service that offers perks, like access to a couple exclusive podcasts. You do not have to pay to listen to non-exclusive podcasts on your laptop, computer, or tablet, nor do you have to pay to install the Stitcher app (or Spotify, or SoundCloud, or podOmatic) on your phone.
How do I get started? What should I listen to?
If you have no idea where to start, most apps have a list of their top rated podcasts. Browse through them and see if there’s anything you might find interesting. Here’s a list of the top podcasts in iTunes as of the original date of this blog post.
Here’s a snapshot of a few of the top podcasts on Stitcher, as of the original date this blog post. Understand the top podcasts are based on the number of people who listen, subscribe, or download podcasts at each individual service (Stitcher, iTunes, Google, etc).
Another way to find podcasts is to simply Google what you’re interested in. Go to Google.com and type in “top true crime podcasts” and voila, start looking for one that interests you. Love NPR? Guess what, they have podcasts too. Want to improve your golf game? Type in “golf podcasts.” Have a favorite tv show? Google it and add the word “podcast.” Favorite movie? Google it and add “podcast” and I bet there’s one for it too.
Once you find a podcast you like, you should subscribe to it. To do this, there’s a little button somewhere on the main page of the podcast. If you’ve ever had a subscription to a magazine, subscribing to a podcast works the same way. Here’s an example of what a Subscribe button may look like (disclaimer: I don’t listen to this podcast, it’s just a random example from the Google Podcasts app).
Be aware that depending on the content, you may want to start with the first episode of the first season of a podcast. Some podcasts, however, are not sequential, and allow you to pick the ones you want to listen to based on the individual episode content.
Something else to keep in mind; not all podcasts are created equally. You may find a podcast with content you enjoy, but you find the host’s voice annoying. Or maybe they go off on a tangent too often. Or maybe you just don’t care for the format of the show. If that’s the case, once you’ve subscribed to a few podcasts, most apps have a feed that shows you other podcasts you might like. These suggested podcasts will have the same topics or subject matter. When you find a suitable replacement, don’t forget to unsubscribe to the podcasts you don’t care for.
Depending on the app you’re using, you can choose to receive a notification on your device when a new episode is available. Some services also have email notifications. Regardless of the app, there’s typically an option that ensures you’ll never miss a new show.
The rate at which new episodes are posted is strictly dependent upon the individual podcasters. Uploads can vary from once or twice a week, once a month, or completely randomly, based on when new information or content becomes available.
Podcasts can have many formats.
Interviews
Conversational
Panel (discussion or question based)
Educational
Commentary (single or multiple host)
Story telling (fictional or non-fictional)
Re-purposed content (taking existing recordings and “stitching” them together, for example sermons, seminars, or workshops)
hybrid (a combination of any listed above)
Two of the main reasons I like podcasts are:
The ones I listen to are usually just long enough that I can finish one during each leg of my daily commute (morning and afternoon).
I can always find one to fit my current attention span, unlike trying to listen to audio books. Nothing against audio books, but I’m good for spacing out sometimes and missing a lot of necessary information.
My favorite podcasts
Here are just a few random picks of my favorite podcasts, to demonstrate how different they can be.
Podcast
Format
Average Length
Why I enjoy it
The Moth
Snippets from many live recorded shows strung together into one singular theme based show.
Varies from as short as 17 minutes or a little over an hour, but usually 50 minutes.
Celebrates the art of storytelling. The recordings are of people from all walks of life on stage, live, telling a personal story in 15 minutes or less, with no notes or props. This can have me crying laughing or literally crying like a baby at any given moment, which can be hazardous while driving. Check out themoth.org for more. If there's ever a show in your area, GO!
My Favorite Murder
Dual hosts each recount the story of a murder.
Varies. Recorded shows can go an hour to 90 minutes, live shows can go up to two hours. Minisodes (emails from listeners): typically 20-30 minutes.
I love true crime, and I've been listening to this one almost from day 1. These two women have such a rapport, you'll find yourself laughing at the most random stuff. Although it's listed as a comedy podcast, they cover these stories with respect and honor for the dead and their families, as well as victims and survivors. The only downfall is one of the women has vocal fry (and likes to use the word f*cking A LOT). However, the content is so good I'm able to get past that most days. Apparently so are many others because it's very popular and has a cult following (listeners are called 'murderinos').
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
Single host narrating a story.
Anywhere from 6-11 minutes.
Mike Rowe, duh. You know, the guy from Dirty Jobs? I also like these because they're short enough to hold my attention on any given day, and I love the format. He begins by telling an interesting story about something or someone, but you usually won't be able to guess who or what he's referencing until the end.
Ear Hustle
Dual hosts with storytelling, interviews.
30-40 minutes
This show is recorded in a prison. One host is a free civilian, the other is resident of San Quentin State Prison. Together they bring you stories of what life is like in prison. It is NOT what you see or hear or tv. I blew through the first two seasons of this so fast, I can't wait until season three starts next month. I like this one so much I ordered a shirt.
And that’s all you ever really needed to know about what a podcast is, and then some. You could consider this a primer, because I’m considering starting my own podcast. I’ve got everything in place with the exception of a co-host. I want to make sure when I start this thing that those involved are in it for the long haul and will see it through. Could I do it solo? Yes. However, I think it’ll be much more interesting to have two people who can vibe off one another. Besides, who wants to go on tour and do live shows by themselves? Yes y’all, I dream big. Stay tuned.
I lost my uncle Jeff on February 27th. It still doesn’t feel real to me, even though I attended the funeral. I was asked to say a few words, and I wanted to publish them here to pay respect to him. He’d been waiting ten years for a kidney transplant, and just seventeen days after receiving one, he was gone. The transplant went very well, and he was recovering just fine, so we don’t know what happened or why. He was the second oldest of seven siblings (five girls and two boys), just three years younger than my mother. Here are the words that I spoke in honor of his memory. He will be sorely missed.
When I think of my Uncle Jeff, I think of Nike tennis shoes. Not Nikes in general, but a very specific pair from the 70s. They’re white leather with a red swoosh on the side, with a skinny wedge of blue in the center of the heel. And the soles had a herringbone pattern, so when you’d look at them from the side, the bottom sort of looked like jagged teeth.
Nike Cortez Classic, circa 1972
The reason I think of those shoes is because that’s what I remember him wearing when he’d come pick me up to hang out with him. As a little kid, I was amazed at how those shoes were always so clean and white, and I thought they made him look so cool.
I loved hanging out with Uncle Jeff. He’d take me places like the mall, or to get ice cream, or the park. He always made me feel so special. It wasn’t until I was grown that I found out the real reason why we hung out so much.My uncle used me as a chick magnet. Yes, my Uncle Jeff was using me to pick up women, because I was so cute, and even looked like I could be his daughter. I guess I was pretty good at my job because suddenly there was this woman named Almeda in the mix. And because at that time, I wasn’t aware of his ulterior motives, I was left to wonder who this woman was, and why I suddenly had to share my uncle’s time with her.
Our occasional team of two quickly grew to a crowded party of three, and then came the news. Uncle Jeff decided to marry Almeda, and his company was transferring him to Texas. No more candy, no more ice cream, no more trips to the mall. No more hanging out with Uncle Jeff. I was so upset, but I decided to look on the bright side. I still had Uncle Bobby, and he had a cooler car and played better music anyway. The happy couple appointed me as their flower girl, the deed was done, and they rode off into the sunset to start a new life together in Houston.
Uncle Jeff, his beautiful bride Almeda, and little ‘chick magnet’ me.
Fast forward to July of 1983, I was 12, and my mom booked deluxe arrangements for me and my sister to travel on Greyhound, to visit Uncle Jeff, andAlmeda, and Danelle, who was only three, and Candice, who wasn’t even a year old yet. I remember he lived in this nice house, in a really nice neighborhood, and I was so proud of him. Not that it was unusual for anyone in our family to live in a house, but this was a modern house. The kind of house where you didn’t have to remember any codes or patterns. Like the toilet code, or the stair pattern. Let me explain what those are.
The toilet code is when you’d have to flush twice to clear the bowl, but you’d have to wait at least a full minute between flushes, or you’d flood the bathroom, which would then overflow into the kitchen underneath it, and you’d end up having to wash all the dishes. And that’s a true story that happened to me at my grandparents’ house one Thanksgiving day. Now the stair pattern goes something like this. If you wanted to sneak up or down the stairs, you’d have to remember avoid the third, fifth, and sixth stairs, because those were the ones that creaked the loudest, and would alert the adults to the fact that you were doing something you didn’t have any business doing. Yeah, Uncle Jeff’s house was nice, and definitely didn’t have any codes or patterns.
There are other things I remember about that trip too, like the hot weather and lots of sunshine, and riding in the car listening to the SOS Band, Just Be Good To Me, and Midnight Star, No Parking on the Dance Floor. Apparently Uncle Jeff’s taste in music had caught up with Uncle Bobby’s at that point. Or maybe it was Almeda’s influence on him. I can remember they let me stay in Danelle’s room all by myself, in her princess bed, complete with a canopy. I also remember staying up all night in that same bed, after Uncle Jeff took us to see Jaws 3, in 3D. Every time I would close my eyes, that bed would turn into a boat, the canopy would turn into sails, and I had to make sure I didn’t dangle my arms or legs over the edge because there was a huge shark lurking just underneath the surface of the water. That trip was great, and I had a good time.
Looking back, I guess I did an ok job as uncle Jeff’s chick magnet. Almeda stuck with him through thick and thin for 43 years, and they had two baby girls along the way. And even though my cousins will never measure up to my level of chick magnet cuteness, they turned out to be kinda cute too. Even though Danelle’s head’s kinda big but don’t tell her I said that cause she’s sensitive about it. Of course I’m just kidding, my cousins are beautiful, just like their mother.
I have lots of other fond memories of Uncle Jeff, but for whatever reason, the memory of those Nikes is the one that stands out the most. Which is ironic, considering how young I was. I wasn’t even three when they got married. Anyway, I Googled those classic shoes, and I found out they’re called The Cortez. I did a little research on the name, and found out it’s a Spanish or Portuguese surname, derived from an Old French word (coreis) that means courteous or polite. Cortez is also a geographical name that means the court of a king or sovereign. Polite and courteous definitely describe my uncle, but so does the word king. He was a king, who used a young princess, to find his queen. He was also the descendant of a king, my grandfather, Robert Dawson Senior. And today, we should rejoice, knowing that Uncle Jeff has gone on to see The King.
I attended the Pilgrimage Music festival in Franklin, Tennessee on September 22 and 23, and I wanted to write a review about it. Yes, I know it’s January of 2018 and I’ll thank you kindly to stop judging me. I’ve been busy. 🙂
2017 banner, courtesy of the Pilgrimage Festival website.
The Damage/Cost
A two-day early bird pass cost $209.29, and here’s the breakdown:
Base ticket – $175
‘parks/foundation fee’ – $2.50
‘FGT’ fee – $9.60
Delivery charge – $6.00
Mail delivery is the only option, even for us locals, so why not just roll the fee into the price of the ticket instead of listing it separately? The fees are explained as follows: ‘A portion of each ticket goes towards our charitable partners which include MusiCares and Friends of Franklin Parks as well as covering shipping costs.’
Why, or Justin-ification
Two hundred dollars is a lot of money. However, let me point out one justifying factor (other than the fact that music gives me life). When Justin Timberlake dropped The 20/20 Experience album back in 2013, I wanted to get tickets for his Nashville show. Until I found out the cheapest tickets started at $200 apiece (thanks to the TicketMaster racket and ticket scalpers). So the cost of a two day pass would be worth seeing Justin Timberlake alone.
The Set Up
The festival is in its infancy, with 2017 being the third year, and takes place on the historic Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee. The property used to be a horse farm, there’s still a large barn on site, and has been transitioned into a two hundred acre park . The word ‘park’ is used pretty loosely though, in my humble opinion, considering there’s very little natural shade.
The Lineup
There are three major stages, and two smaller stages dedicated to local talent and children’s entertainment. There were 57 artists scheduled to perform, and I admit I had to familiarize myself with quite a few beforehand as they weren’t on my musical radar.
Dilemma
Ride share, shuttle, or drive? For the uninitiated, traffic in the greater metropolitan Nashville area is horrible seven days a week. Just to emphasize how big of a deal the logistics are, there’s an entire page on the festival website dedicated to traffic, parking info, ride sharing, and shuttle service information. I decided to drive and park at the Liberty elementary school for $20. It was one of three festival designated offsite parking lots, and a short walk or $1 (each way) air-conditioned trolley ride to the park. Interesting tidbit, parking was free for three or more passengers at all three locations.
The Weather
If you Google ‘average temps in September for middle Tennessee,’ it’ll tell you to expect some rain, and that daytime temps can range anywhere from the low 70’s to upper 80s. It was 92 degrees on Saturday and 91 degrees on Sunday, with clear skies and no rain. Remember the part about there not being any natural shade available?
The Experience – Day 1
Man, listen. It was hot. In fact, I still have visible tan lines. Seriously. I’d post a picture but this ain’t that kind of blog. We arrived shortly after the gates opened at 10am, well hydrated and carrying our low backed folding lawn chairs over our shoulders.
I came prepared, even though I left my frozen cooling towel at home. Turns out it wouldn’t have mattered because it was Africa hot. Hell hot. Sub level of hell hot. I brought a lightweight bag with a portable battery charger, wipes, a refillable water bottle, a hat, and sunscreen. Unfortunately the hat was cotton and generated more heat if worn properly, so I mostly held it slightly above my head to shade my face from the sun.
We picked up lunch on the way to the Infiniti Gold Record Road stage, where we popped a squat at the front of the clearly designated blanket/chair area. The first 10 yards or so in front of each of the three major stages was reserved for standing only, and the rule was strictly enforced. Our lunch consisted of somebody’s idea, or maybe re-imagining, of beans and rice with sausage, but that person has clearly never even been to New Orleans. There was plenty of it left when I properly disposed of it in the trash.
We checked out The Texas Gentlemen for a bit. Annoyed by the lack of crowd participation, they threw out a few expletives (at a family friendly event) until a handful of people began to react accordingly. Shortly thereafter we left our belongings and walked across the (desert sands) festival grounds to the Midnight Sun stage to see Nashville-based artists Ruby Amanfu with Steelism. She sounded amazing (just like her recorded sound). At one point she mentioned the straps of her shoes were literally burning her feet (and she was under the shade of a stage), but she didn’t let it affect her performance. She said a quick prayer and soldiered on.
Ruby Amanfu. Photo courtesy of the Pilgrimage website.
We visited a few vendor tents as we crossed back over to the Infiniti stage to see New Orleans natives Big Sam’s Funky Nation. I’ve been wanting to see this band for a while now. Maybe it was the heat, and I’m probably in the minority, but I was a little disappointed. Yes they were lively, and they brought that New Orleans sound, but it felt forced and kind of fake to me. Sort of like when someone smiles at you, and it’s a good imitation of a smile, but you know it’s not real because it hasn’t quite reached their eyes. However, I realize entertainers are human and have good and bad days, and professionals go on with the show regardless, so I’d definitely give them another shot if I caught them at a different venue.
We packed up our stuff and walked back over to the Midnight Sun stage to see The Shadowboxers. If you don’t know, you better ask somebody. At first listen, you might think Justin Timberlake joined another boy band (he produces this trio), however I would urge you to listen harder. Justin isn’t a member and these guys have real talent.
The Shadowboxers. Photo courtesy of the Pilgrimage website.
By the time the Shadowboxers finished up, we’d been sitting in direct sunlight for almost four hours, so we sought shelter at the closest misting tent. Unfortunately it was full. People were literally laying on the ground trying to cool off. And even though I’d used what little energy I could muster to get there, I couldn’t even be mad at them. If that’s what they needed to do to keep from getting heat stroke, more power to ’em.
We made a loop around the nearby food tents to a small eating area to see if we could find a little shade there. Unfortunately the area was covered by those partial (completely useless in 90 degree heat) sail shades, so it wasn’t much better than being out in the direct sun.
Getting desperate for relief, we thought we could make a pass through the barn to look at the artwork, but the line was ridiculously long and not moving. So we slowly made our way back to our seats. I’m not going to lie, I felt a little dizzy at this point, even though I’d made it a priority to stay hydrated.
I knew I needed to eat, but the heat had taken my appetite. And I enjoy eating, so that should tell you all you need to know about the weather. I was a bit concerned at that point, but I felt too drained to see what the nearby vendors had to offer. So I remained in my chair and continued to drink water.
We decided to stay put at the Midnight Sun stage because it was just too hot to move back and forth anymore. However, it wasn’t a big deal because we could hear artists on the Infiniti stage from where were sitting in front of the Midnight Sun stage. And this is how we enjoyed Nikki Lane (on the Infiniti stage), a Nashville based country artist.
No disrespect to Shovels and Rope, a talented folk-rock couple out of Charleston, South Carolina, but they were simply background noise as I worried about literally passing out if I didn’t give my body some kind of nourishment. And yet I was worried that I may literally get sick if I ate, because I was so danged hot.
I finally got up the energy to get a plate of pulled pork mac and cheese with an ice cold glass of berry lemonade. Turns out the sugar in the drink really helped me feel normal enough to eat and keep the food down. Listening to Better than Ezra on the Infiniti stage while we ate certainly helped as well. Even though we couldn’t see them, you could definitely hear that they were having a good time.
Kevin Griffin of Better than Ezra with Big Sam. Photo courtesy of PilgrimageFestival.com
Once I felt almost human again, it was time for one of my favorite bands to get on the Midnight Sun stage. I’ve been to countless Trombone Shorty shows and this is the only one I’ve ever been to where I did NOT get up on my feet. Which should be another indicator of how hot it was, because I thoroughly enjoy shaking what my momma gave me at a TSOA show. We’re no strangers to excessive summer heat in middle Tennessee. But when you’re subjected to 90 degree heat with NO SHADE, for hours, it makes a big difference.
As good as Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue were, I couldn’t help but hear Gary Clark Jr. playing his guitar on the Infiniti stage. It takes a LOT to take my attention away from a TSOA show, but his rendition of If Trouble Was Money, Bright Lights, and Come Together had me tapping my toe to a different beat than the one on the stage in front of me. If it wasn’t so hot I may have wandered over there once the TSOA set ended.
Unshaded hotness. I sent this to my son so he would know what I was wearing if he had to identify the crispy remains of my body at the festival grounds.
I absolutely loved Walk the Moon. I would bet money that anyone reading this has heard Shut Up and Dance at some point in their lives. In fact, it seemed to become the unofficial festival theme song if you look at all the social media clips. Avalanche is another one of those tunes that stays in your head, but beyond those two hits, I didn’t know much else about this band. Turns out they were kind of my favorites of the weekend, and I enjoyed their entire set. They performed a few songs from their upcoming album (released two months after the festival), and I especially loved One Foot and Headphones. The lyrics are just as enjoyable as the music.
Walk the Moon’s Nicholas Petricca. Love the hair. Photo courtesy of PilgrimageFestival.com. This band’s from Ohio so I might be biased.
The Avett Brothers seemed to give a lively show as well, as far as I could hear. They were pretty entertaining even without the visuals to go along with some of their commentary.
As the sun began to set you could see an obvious shift of the crowds to the Midnight Sun stage where Justin was due to perform at 7pm. It was at this point we decided to move further back, closer to the gates, as every little piece of empty real estate around us began to fill up. I felt a little unsettled because it was the first time we were able to get a good visual of just how many people were on the property.
This photo was taken at just about the time we decided to move closer to the exit. I don’t know who to credit but I borrowed this from an article on Shrinktank.com. I know the festival used a drone for some photos so the credit probably goes to them.
The BEST DECISION I Made
I really like Justin Timberlake. He’s one of those performers who can sing any genre and make it sound good. In fact, he brought Chris Stapleton (and his wife) on stage with him to sing Tennessee Whiskey, Fire Away, and Sometimes I Cry before launching into his own music. It was somewhere around Senorita, or maybe Holy Grail (without Jay-Z), that I started feel a little anxious about the moment when the show would end and the huge crowd had to leave. This probably stems from having to sit in major traffic twice a day, five times a week. As much as I was enjoying the show, I decided to leave, and the ride home was relatively smooth. I would find out in the morning what a good call this was.
This photo was taken with a festival drone. This is about what it looked like by the time we decided to leave, however those patches of grass were filled with people.
The Experience – Day 2
When I woke up Sunday morning, I seriously considered skipping the festival. Until I thought about those two bills I laid out for my tickets, and I quickly found my motivation to return. Before heading out, I browsed through social media to see how the remainder of day one went. While people raved about Justin’s performance (he really is awesome entertainer), but they also ranted about the chaos that ensued after the mass exodus.
The people who paid $35 for an on site parking pass didn’t even start to move for 45 minutes. And even then, the only reason they were able to get out was because some random guy took it upon himself to start directing traffic. There were quite a few comments about this unnamed ordinary hero, and it’s people like him who renew my faith in humanity.
Apparently the mass police presence that directed traffic into town that morning were nowhere to be found at festival closing. There were many comments about it taking two hours to get the interstate, which is only four and a half miles away! Something else that was poorly planned was the singular drop off and pick up point for all mass transportation. So the city trolleys, multiple coach buses (shuttling people back to surrounding local cities), and Lyft and Uber drivers were all trying to pick up their respective passengers in the same single, one way lane.
With my cooling towel packed in a plastic bag full of ice water, we managed to make it to the festival grounds shortly after 11am. We planted ourselves in the vicinity of the Midnight Sun stage, underneath a pitiful tree, near the fence line and close to the front gate. Although the shade was minimal, it was better than nothing. Not only did we have to continually move as the sun made its way from east to west, but we also had to occasionally dodge (deadly!) falling Osage Oranges, which are actually green and kind of look like mini brains.
Osage Oranges.Day 2 View. We mostly watched the screens.
Unfortunately we missed Kingfish (guitar/blues), but we managed to catch The Settles Connection (gospel). Valerie June gave a nice acoustic performance on the Inifiniti stage. She’s a Tennessee native with a southern twang and unique sound. If I had to describe it I’d call it soulful bluegrass.
Valerie June, photo courtesy of PilgrimageFestival.com.
Next up on the Midnight Sun stage was another of my festival favorites, the Muddy Magnolias. This unlikely female duo from very different backgrounds are Nashville based and I just love their energy. Their performance alone was worth venturing back into the heat. They manage to cross many genres with ease but the rock based American Woman is probably my all time favorite. Their debut album Broken People was released in October of 2016, and I look forward to what future albums will bring.
Muddy Magnolias Photo courtesy of PilgrimageFestival.com
The Revivalists (Infiniti) and Fitz and the Tantrums (Midnight Sun) both gave very energetic performances. Fitz and the Tantrums can definitely make your hands clap, and have that song stuck in your head all day. Out of my League is another of my favorites.
The highlight of day two was seeing Mavis Staples perform. She took the stage at 4:55pm and started out singing her recent stuff. But once she sung a few crowd favorites, like I’ll Take You There, the heat had taken its toll and I was ready to go. However, I was glad to have had the opportunity to see a living legend perform live at 78 years young, sounding just as good as she did in her 30s when she sang those classic songs with The Staple Singers back in the 70s.
Mavis Staple Photo courtesy of PilgrimageFestival.com
The only two headliners left to play on Sunday were Ryan Adams, and Eddie Vedder (from Pearl Jam), and no disrespect, but I wasn’t all that upset about missing either of them. In my opinion, I’d definitely gotten my money’s worth out of the two day event.
By The Numbers
Here are some numbers to help you wrap your head around the size of the crowd.
2015/2016 attendance: 12,000 (per day, per year)
2017attendance (see the infographic below):
These are the ‘official’ numbers from the festival organizers (source: https://williamsonsource.com/pilgrimage-festival-attendance-almost-doubled-2017/).
Pros
The event was very family friendly, and the crowd was courteous and well behaved. Which surprised me because heat can make people rude and mean.
The acts started and ended ON TIME.
There was a lot to do in addition to the music.
There were plenty of food and drink vendors offering a wide variety of selections.
The on site parking at the elementary school was very well organized, and I had no trouble getting in or out on either day.
The traffic coming into Franklin for the festival was well organized and moved fairly well with the help of local law enforcement.
Kudos for having plenty of medical personnel on site. Surprisingly I only saw one minor medical issue and it was resolved quickly.
Cons
THE HEAT. Even though they had a lot of neat things set up, unfortunately I could only experience it through social media. It was just too hot to walk around and enjoy everything. Since this festival is still in its infancy, maybe they should consider moving it to October? If not, they should start planting a lot more trees now. 🙂
The two day pass is pretty steep, even for someone with a little disposable income. I’ve been to other music festivals (with actual SHADE, real seats, and multiple headliners) where VIP costs is about the same as the two day Pilgrimage pass. And the ‘early bird’ pricing only saves you $10. I’ve already gotten early bird offers by email for 2018, but why would I lay out all that money and I don’t even know who’ll be performing yet? Personally I’d rather pay a little less and have fewer artists on the bill. That would also prevent having to choose between artists, or leave one performance early to catch the end of another. And don’t get me started on the cost of VIP ($750!). That’s about what I pay for a round trip fight and decent hotel room for a 3-4 day getaway. They could definitely pair down some of the ridiculous ‘VIP benefits’ to lower the price. I mean seriously, who needs ‘concierge services’ in the middle of a farm?
Even though the patrons were all ages, the marketing seems to be directed towards millennials and hipsters. Even down to the terminology (artisanal, craft beer, locally sourced, organic, gluten free, shabby chic, vintage). Which is interesting given the average age of the festival goer was 40. I might be wrong but I don’t imagine many youngin’s in their 20s with enough disposable income to be able to afford this event. But if you Google the festival, all you see are pictures and videos of shiny happy young people.
They only allow one sealed bottle of water per person to be brought in from outside. Reason being, the proceeds for all bottled water went to some charity (it was clearly marked on the bottle but I don’t remember the details). While this is honorable in theory, I would rather pay a fee to bring in a small cooler of my own (subject to size restrictions and an inspection of course).
They could use more or larger misting tents, as well as more shaded areas.
There were water stations available to refill your water bottle, but there weren’t enough of them to handle the amount of people. However, kudos to the festival for monitoring complains on social media. On Sunday they’d provided more water stations to keep up with demand. They also responded to complaints about the porta potties running out of toilet paper and the hand washing stations running out of water.
As the day went on, the lines for food, drink, and merchandise got longer and slower. Some people complained that they stood in line for 40 minutes or longer.
The Infinit stage seemed to be louder than the Midnight Sun stage, which would’ve been a simple equipment fix. It worked in our favor when we decided not to move from stage to stage, but it was a bit of a distraction when the performances would overlap. It seems this was a much bigger problem from the previous two years, and they’ve managed to work out the proper stage locations, so maybe they’ll have the sound adjusted just right for 2018.
Lyft should be ashamed of themselves. As a festival sponsor, they were charging people anywhere from $100 to $200 to go less than 20 miles. Because there were so many people trying to use the service, the app wasn’t displaying the total rate before people requested an actual ride. I get raising fees when demand is greater, but this is a major event that THEY SPONSORED. Meaning, they had guaranteed fares. There was no need to raise fees, let alone price gouge. Several people commented they were able to contact Lyft and get the fees reduced, but they were still charged ridiculous rates for such short distances. Not a good look.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad I went, but honestly, it would take a hell of a line up to get me to return next year. The cost is just too steep, and there’s the unknown of the weather to deal with. I even looked into volunteering to bypass the cost and here’s what I found. There’s a $20 non-refundable application fee (there’s a maximum of 150 volunteer spots), plus a $225 deposit, to be refunded after you work your required nine hours. Um, I don’t think so.
Maybe I’ll reconsider in a few years when they’ve had a chance to really learn, grow, and improve upon what they’ve started. They’re already on the right track by monitoring their social media outlets, and actively seeking feedback about what went well and ideas for improvements. After all, this whole thing was started by an artist (Kevin Griffin from Better Than Ezra), and Justin Timberlake recently came on board as an organizer. Both artists have homes in Franklin, TN. Given time to mature, I think this could be a nice, major music event in my own back yard. No travel required.
One of the reasons I visited Minneapolis was to visit Paisley Park, so I thought I’d post my thoughts about the experience. Being the opinionated Prince fan that I am, you can expect this post to be lengthy.
I purchased a VIP tour for $100, with the promise of an hour and forty minutes of Purple hospitality. I’m not going to walk you through room by room, but rather point out a few things I thought were interesting or worth mentioning. Also, in doing some research to refresh my memory (because I’ve been busy!), I realized I could literally piece together pictures from the internet and show you the entire tour (start to finish, seriously), however, I won’t do that and ruin it for others.
Paisley Park is located in Chanhassen, which is about thirty minutes from Minneapolis. The first thing I noticed is how close it is to the street. It’s literally right off the expressway. But then I guess with the harsh Minnesota winters, who wants to get stuck midway up a long winding driveway. I also noticed it’s not isolated in the least. Maybe it was at one time but, just as a quick example, there’s a daycare right across the street from the main gate.
Paisley Park, seen from the street (photo by Bobak Ha’Eri)
I don’t know what the parking situation is for any of the other tours, but the VIP ticket directed me right to the parking lot in front of the building. The lot is guarded, and all guests will be asked to show their tickets before you’ll be permitted on site. The lobby is small, and there’s no seating available, so I wouldn’t recommend showing up too early. Plus, there isn’t a lot to see in the entrance area anyway.
Don’t get me wrong, I generally enjoyed the tour, but I’m also going to mention a few minor gripes. Like this one. The VIP tour offers you a “unique and exclusive photo opportunity” for an extra $13. This fee buys you a thumb drive to store your photo on. And here’s my gripe. I’ve already dropped $100, why not throw in the USB drive in as a perk? Thumb drives are relatively cheap, especially when bought in bulk. And, if I don’t want a pic, it would make for a nice keepsake. I didn’t pay for a pic, but my sister did, so I’ll talk about that more in a minute.
Paisley Park USB. It comes with a lanyard and has a 1GB capacity. Photo courtesy of Paisley Park.
In case you had any doubts, they’re very serious about security and the ‘no pictures’ policy. We were immediately stopped at the door, asked what time our tour was, and my sister’s bag was thoroughly searched. I recommend not even bringing a purse or bag, if possible. You’ll be asked to turn your phone off, and remove your smart watch (if applicable), and both items are placed inside a Yondr bag. The bag is then locked and handed back to you. I love this idea, and I wish it was in use at more music venues. I get tired of watching a concert through the screen on the person’s phone in front of me. Put down your phone and enjoy the show. Anyway, you won’t be able to access your phone again until you literally get ready to leave the building, so if you live and die by your phone this experience isn’t for you. My only gripe about the bag is it would be nice if it had a strap to make it more convenient to carry.
Yondr bag
The tour begins in the atrium, where our guide immediately acknowledged Prince’s remains. For those of you who aren’t aware, Prince was cremated, and his ashes were placed in a miniature replica of Paisley Park. Yes, seriously.
Paisley Park urn, front. It was designed by his sister and nephew. His ashes are sealed in the front column.Paisley Park urn, back. There are doves in there somewhere. No not real doves, miniature fake ones. And, the lights actually work.
The urn is located inside a half-moon shaped plexiglass container that’s bolted to the wall overhead. Brian, our soft-spoken tour guide, pointed out the remains, assured everyone that it’s ok to feel overwhelmed or emotional, then gave the group a moment to silently pay their respects. I can assure you no one dramatically burst into tears.
The first thing I noticed was the container had a large crack in it. And, curious person that I am, or maybe it was my OCD kicking in, I asked Brian one on one what happened. However, he really didn’t have an answer for me. And insert gripe in five, four, three, two….
Why not take the container down until you can get it fixed or replaced? It looks tacky (with or without the crack) and we all know Prince was a perfectionist. Personally I think the idea of putting his ashes on display is creepy. But, at least they aren’t in a case on the main floor like a diamond in a Jared’s jewelry store display. My thoughts are his remains should be in a more personal, restricted area, away from the prying eyes of any tour group. But who knows, maybe that’s what he would’ve wanted.
There are several rooms in the atrium, filled with memorabilia and outfits, tvs showing videos on a loop, and a couple of guitars. One of the things that stuck with me in this area was a notebook with hand written lyrics to Soft -n- Wet. Prince had the most beautiful handwriting, the kind of loopy, romantic cursive typically attributed to girls or women.
The atrium. Pic credit: Paisley Park/NPG records.The lobby is located through the hallway on the right (where you can see daylight). On the upper level to the left is a cage with doves.
As the group was exploring the atrium and the small rooms around it, I ran into one of those guys. You know, the auxiliarytour guide. No, he doesn’t work at Paisley Park, but you’d think he did by all the supplemental trivia and ‘facts’ he felt compelled to share with anyone within earshot.
I first ran into him in a room dedicated to the Sign ‘o’ the Times era. I quickly exited the room and entered into Prince’s office, and not even thirty seconds later he showed up again. Because he started spewing information yet again, I immediately left that room as well, which I now regret. Apparently in his office, there were several pictures on display, of his parents, a baby, and some other folks. When someone asked the guide who they were, he said they were told to refer to them as ‘friends and family’ to protect their privacy. And since the office was reportedly left just as he left it, one could assume the people in those pictures were near and dear to his heart. I guess allowing Mr. Know It All to chase me from the room will give me a reason to visit again in a few years.
Next we filed into an editing bay full of directors chairs that, per the tour guide, aren’t usually there. We were told we could have a seat, a rarity as we were told up front not to sit on anything unless specifically told we could do so. Brian told us that Prince recorded almost every one of his performances, and he would use the room we were sitting in to review footage, much like a coach, looking for things that could be improved or eliminated. He would also occasionally bring his band members in as well for coaching opportunities. No surprise, like I said, he was a perfectionist.
We were shown a few concert clips, as examples of what it may have felt like to have been in the room during one of those ‘coaching’ sessions. My initial observation was they were too short. I had no idea it was the beginning of a trend. Brian asked if we had any questions, and one immediately came to mind. Prince recorded a hauntingly beautiful song called Power Fantastic, and it’s on the double CD album The Hits/The B Sides. You can hear a snippet of it here. I’d read in the liner notes that he played every instrument on the song except the horns, because those were the only instruments he didn’t know how to play. So I waited patiently until it was my turn and I asked “did he ever learn to play horns?”
And ‘that guy‘ immediately answered ‘no’ with assurance and authority. And I in turn shot him the stereotypical Black woman ‘did I ask you‘ look. Soft spoken Brian didn’t miss a beat. He gently grasped the mic on the wire connected to his earpiece and pressed the button to talk. “Hey, does anyone know if he ever learned to play horns?” He paused, smiled, nodded, then asked a follow-up question, “got any examples?” He listened for a moment before he finally answered me. “Yes. I tried to get an example of a song, but no one had anything off the top of their heads.” I want to take this opportunity to say, no matter how big a fan you are, and how much Purple knowledge you posses, please don’t be ‘that guy.’ It’s so annoying. If you want to share your knowledge, apply for the job, confirm that your knowledge is correct, and get paid to dispense with your fountain trivial information.
That guy.
Once we left the editing bay, we were shown the last known guitar Prince ever played, called The Purple Special. It was hand made especially for him, and there’s an interesting story behind it. It is the prettiest shade of purple, and pictures don’t do it justice. You can read more about it here.
We finally left the atrium and stepped into Prince’s galaxy room. It’s a very small space where Prince liked to relax and meditate. There’s a short clip set up on a monitor in the room, from an Oprah interview, where Prince is showing her the very same room. This is the only room we visited that felt anything close to a room in normal home, in terms of size and furnishings.
The galaxy room.
On the other side of the galaxy room is recording studio B. Here is where they take the picture on the VIP tour. If you’ve read anything about the earlier VIP photos, you may remember there were some complaints about people doing inappropriate things with the piano. Which, as a side note, isn’t really a piano but a keyboard with a piano frame built around it. Because of those complaints, the photo-op has changed to include a picture with a large mural on the wall. I know I had a gripe about the extra $13, but I will say that everyone in our group was given the opportunity to take multiple photos, as well as take group photos. Remember I said my sister paid for the photo-op but I didn’t? Well I’ve posted it below. I did not want to take this photo, something about the space felt weird to me, but she convinced me it would memorialize our trip. I’m glad I did, this is the first trip we’ve ever taken together with just the two of us.
Photos are taken by the guide with a professional camera mounted on a tripod and attached to a laptop. The previous VIP photos were taken with the faux piano behind us.
There’s a ping-pong table in this space, as Prince was a vicious player, and some equipment to record live vocals over a Prince song. The vocal recording is only available on Thursdays, so if this sounds interesting to you, plan accordingly (VIP tours only). This is the other reason why they sell you the USB device. One other perk with the VIP tour, it comes with brunch, served until 3pm on Sundays only.
As we made our way through the facility, we came across something else I thought was pretty neat. Mounted on the wall outside studio A is ‘the wall of inspiration.’ It’s a mural with Prince in the middle. To his left are artists that inspired him, like Rufus and Chaka Khan, Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown, and to his right are artists that he’s inspired like The Revolution, Vanity 6, The Family, Sheila E, and NPG. You can read more about it and see a few pictures of it here.
In studio A, we were given the opportunity to listen to a few clips of unreleased music. Again, as I mentioned before, the clips are too short in my opinion. Two things remain in my mind about this space; a random door about 14 feet up on the wall that leads into the studio in which we were standing (which was only one level), and oddly placed tapestries haphazardly attached to the walls with clear push pins. When I pointed them out to my sister, she asked our guide about them, and he said something about Prince just liked to randomly hang things on the walls that he really liked. I’m not a conspiracy theorist by any means, but it looked more like they were covering something up. And although he probably didn’t mean it literally, I can’t imagine Prince, at four feet eleven inches, climbing up on a ladder and randomly hanging tapestries in a recording studio, with push pins you can find at any Staples or Office Depot. But ironically, as I write this, I realize that’s exactly what it looked like. Someone very short on a very tall ladder trying to hang something up really high.
One of my favorite rooms on the tour was the Purple Rain Room. It’s a large, dimly lit space with a high ceiling, dedicated to the Purple Rain movie and soundtrack. Dig if you will a picture (see what I did there) of the exterior and interior of the Purple Rain album, the flowers and the image of the face, turned into wallpaper and plastered all over a room. A purple leather-bound copy of the script is located in this room, along with memorabilia from the movie to include a motorcycle, his white ruffle shirt and purple coat, his purple Yamaha piano (complete with scuff marks from his dancing), his Oscar (for best original score), and a guitar.
Purple Rain Room. Credit: Paisley Park NPG Records
There’s also a large screen overhead showing clips of music from the movie. If anyone were to get emotional on the tour, I’d think this would be the place, especially when they play the Purple Rain clip. If you’ll remember, the scene in the movie was emotional, and when other artists pay tribute to Prince they usually play Purple Rain. Honestly I tear up a little just thinking about it. However, this room is where I had a giggle fit. Brian explained that the room was one of the few spaces specifically renovated for the tour. He mentioned it had previously been a rehearsal space, and contained a basketball court as well. When I heard that, I immediately thought about Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story (from Chappelle’s Show) about Prince playing basketball in heels (and winning) and I could not stop giggling. What makes the story even funnier is that it really is true, as confirmed by Micki Free (formerly of the music group Shalamar) in the beginning of this Youtube clip. Despite his size, Prince was a beast on the basketball court, heels and all.
The backside of the Purple Rain Room empties into another space transformed specifically for the tour. What was formerly Prince’s personal hair studio is now an exhibit dedicated to the movies Under the Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge.
The back half in black and white is dedicated to Under the Cherry Moon. The front half features Graffiti Bridge memorabilia, including a motorcycle from Purple Rain that was painted and re purposed. Photo credit: Adam Bettcher/Getty Images
The Cherry Moon and Graffiti Bridge exhibit exits to a long hallway personally decorated by Prince. It features pictures, some of which I’ve never seen before, and awards such as the MTV moon man, Grammys, AMAs, and Billboard, to name a few.
Google image from a Youtube video posted by ‘seand67.’
The next space we visited would become my favorite space of all. The sound stage and concert hall. The first thing I noticed when I walked into this dark area was a very large Prince symbol. Mounted up high overhead, in a corner, it would light up with those chasing lights, flash a few times, then go dark momentarily before repeating the sequence. It reminded me of something you’d see on the front of the Sign ‘o’ the Times album.
Sign ‘o’ the Times, released in 1987.
The space is humongous, and contained four stages full of more memorabilia. Wrapped around the base of each stage are large Prince photos from every decade and era. His sweet baby blue Rolls Royce is on display here, behind velvet ropes, as well as a purple Plymouth Prowler, which in my opinion can go back in the garage. Any garage. Seeing Prince on a huge screen hanging overhead, and hearing his voice and music bumping loudly throughout the space, I could easily imagine lots of parties taking place here.
Ironically it was in this same space where I had a few emotional moments. The atmosphere is such that it makes you want to dance. Until you remember that the person who made it all possible isn’t here anymore. It all felt a little bitter-sweet to me.
And as we transitioned to a more personal area of the sound stage (the NPG Music Club), where he held intimate concerts for his friends and family, a feeling of sadness overcame me. It’s easy for me to imagine how someone with so much, fame, money, material things, and lots of visible signs of accomplishment, could still feel incredibly lonely. Like that old saying, money can’t buy happiness. But he sure had enough of it to make one hell of a down payment though. 🙂
The NPG Music Club (New Power Generation). Photo credit: Billy Briggs
There’s mention of a cafe, and I did see a menu with some of Prince’s favorite foods (like mac and cheese) in the gift shop, but I must’ve missed the actual cafe. I think it didn’t catch my eye because the seating area around it looked more like someone’s dimly lit living room than an eatery. We did pass an empty counter with a drink cooler behind it though, so I’m sure it’s there somewhere. I guess when I think of a cafe I think metal tables and chairs.
The tour ends at the gift shop (don’t they all), where there’s a wall dedicated to fan memorabilia that was left along the roadside after Prince’s death. I love the fact that they cherish the things people took the time to leave in memory of him and didn’t trash it all. It looks like a section of chain link fence with some very creative items attached, like hand decorated shoes, shirts, jewelry, and even license plates (LUVSXY). Brian mentioned they occasionally rotate the items too, so it keeps the display fresh and everything gets a chance to be in the spotlight.
Let’s talk about the gift shop. Pretty much everything that’s available on site is also available online, with the exception of a few items like specialty pins, necklaces, t-shirts and hoodies, and the infamous tomborocca, which apparently was pretty hard to find at one time. The shop is small but adequate, and offers what I could call typical gift shop items; books, pins, key chains, necklaces, shirts, hats, scarves, jackets, and hoodies. But, another gripe coming up in three, two, one…
The tamboracca, a hybrid between a tambourine and a pair of maracas.
Nothing has price tags. The price lists are in these clear, letter sized plexiglass holders and you have to scan the list to find out how much anything is. We were literally passing one around among a few of us. And if one isn’t available, then people ask one of the two available sales associates what something costs. Which slows down the line, in an already small space. You don’t even need a pricing gun to fix this issue. It would only take thirty minutes maximum to use the same printer that you used to print the price lists, to print actual signs and hang them above merchandise so people can see how much the items cost. So if you plan to spend any time in the gift shop, allot yourself at least thirty minutes, and expect to hear a lot of “how much is this?
Velvet bag for key chain.Key chain.Zipper pull.Pins from the gift shop.
If you’ve hung in there with me so far, here are my final thoughts.
I enjoyed the tour overall. The hour and forty minutes felt just right and there was a nice balance between tour guide narrative and time for everyone to explore each area or exhibit on their own.
When Paisley Park first opened, I felt a little torn as a Prince fan. He was such a private person that it felt wrong, but he also had a huge ego which should’ve made it feel more ‘right.’ And I had to consider the fact that there was no will to be found, which left the family in a difficult position.
Did it open too soon? Maybe. Let’s use Elvis as an example. Elvis had been gone for five years by the time Graceland opened. Paisley Park opened six months after Prince passed. But, you have to keep in mind there were property taxes to be paid, and somebody had to keep the lights on and maintain the building. Judge if want, but would you rather it open to the public or watch the government seize the property and auction it off to the highest bidder?
I like the fact that the property is being managed by Graceland Holdings LLC now. They have a lot of experience in preserving precious history, and seem to have brought some organization to the initial chaos. As they continue to go through his belongings, they’ll be a better judge of what should be on display and for how long. Even lights can take a toll on items on display so the pieces will need to be rotated in and out carefully.
Do I think this is what Prince would’ve wanted? Yes. Not like we were best buds or anything, but ultimately I think he would’ve wanted Paisley Park to become a museum. I think he probably would’ve wanted to see it executed a little differently, but I think the property will get there eventually.
What I don’t want to see happen is his image plastered everywhere like Elvis’ was. Can you imagine Prince bobble heads, or seeing his face a pair of underwear or floating inside a snow globe? I hope the family manages to heavily restrict the rights to his image and likeness, so any items that may be manufactured maintain some tact, respect, and dignity.
Would I go back? Yes. I look forward to seeing the property mature and the new exhibits that will be created as they dig deeper into his personal belongings. New exhibits will make for different experiences for repeat customers. Whatever happens with the ongoing drama and legal battles, my hope is that he is truly resting in peace. It’s weird but sometimes I honestly miss him like he was a member of my family. And something tells me I’m not alone.
