George would run down to Starbucks and get me one of those new SALTED caramel hot chocolates; I know he would.
Salted caramel! Caramel with sea salt! And chocolate! I can't wait to try it.
We had fun going to this place and that over the four-day weekend. Okay, so the last day was tiring... Terry had to catch his flight, the game was down all day, that caffeine in the two Cokes from Saturday was still kicking my butt, grading loomed... and I think I'm fighting off some crud again. But otherwise, the Incredibly Long Weekend was wholly appreciated.
One thing we did was finally go to the Liberace museum. It's free for locals on the second Sunday of each month.
I took a jillion (200ish) photos with the dorky pocket camera, but - man - I sure don't feel like processing them. Sorry. Without the SALTED CARAMEL (+XOXOXO), the energy just isn't there!
The museum is surprisingly fun, although the snarking opportunities are nearly nil. Not that I would ever really pick on Dear Libberayce, but there are certain times, when looking at a blinged out Volks-Royce or a 200-pound (I don't mean sterling) Neptune costume, when you need to say something, you just do. Alas, the fans are everywhere at this joint and might not understand that you don't mean any disrespect. But you know what I'm saying. Right? Crickets, you're with me? Hello?
The exhibit, located unassumingly in two locations at a strip mall, is comprised of his cars, his pianos, his costumes, and some of his jewelry. Visitors will also see the art of the Liberace Scholars (you never want my opinion on modern art), a little wrapped sandwich counter, a gift shop (full of cuteness), and the World's Largest Rhinestone.
Would I pay $15? No, but I'm cheap. If his memory makes you smile at all, I think it's worth it to the tourist looking for a little off-Strip (but not far off-Strip) fun. His Italian restaurant, Tivoli Gardens, is there as well, still in operation. (We would've gone, but they don't open until 4:30. Also, most dishes are served "with Meat sauce." Capitalized and everything.)
I've always been vaguely fond of the guy, but after visiting the museum, I really appreciate his love of life. You can joke all you like (unless you're like me and easily intimidated when standing amongst a bunch of hardcore fans), but the man seemed to be a very kind, very harmless sort of person, who just wanted to be happy and make others feel the same.
Plus! Liberace rescued many dogs over the years, leaving them $50,000 when he died, which in my book means someone needs to make a folk song about him. Remind me to go down to the railyard and commission something.
On the way to the museum, I called upon my memory of "things I glanced at in Google Maps once" and was able to briefly detour us to his house. (Truly, I was quite impressed with myself. At length. Just ask Mike.) If you're heading east down Tropicana, coming from the Strip, there's a street called "Shirley" before you get to the Trop/Maryland intersection. Hang a right on Shirley, drive down the short residential street, and there you are.
The home, seen below in this video (check out the ordinariness of the other houses on the street - nothing has changed), is available for parties:
There at the museum, as my head was swimming in the endless reflections of paste and glitter, I told Mike, "Hey, I should post all of these costume photos... along with YouTube links showing the costume in action!"
Then Mike asked if I was going to Photoshop his head on to each photo, because he knows how I am. However - again - no SALTED CARAMEL pep talk has yet pushed my fumbling clicky fingers to such inspired heights. Yet.
Although, come to think of it, I haven't sent any photos to his mom lately...
Anyway, the costume photo + video = great plan, right? Yeah, except the man had a costume for every day of the year, including Leap Day, and the museum displays less than 10% of that. Finding videos of him performing in the costumes from the museum has been harder than I expected. So, while I sit here waiting to be inducted into the SALTED CARAMEL mysteries, the Internet needs to get busy and post more video. Chop-chop!
For now, though, there's this:
As featured here, with the Smothers Brothers and that One Guy Who Always Played a Cop:
(The costume shows up about two minutes in. Don't forget your sunglasses!)
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