Hard Rock Cafe Pins
It began in high school. A trip to Florida to Universal Studios, Orlando and lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. I was captivated. I LOVED it! It was loud, it was fun, and they played some of my favorite music.
That day I wanted to buy something to remind me of the trip and the young man in the Rock Shop suggested I get a Hard Rock Cafe pin as a souvenir. I did just that and my collection was born.
After that visit I purchased a couple more in Toronto. One at the Skydome, and one downtown. Then, I kind of forgot about it for awhile. I tucked those pins away in a drawer and focused on University. Pretty soon, my travelling spirit urged me to plan a series of trips to Europe and there I chose more pins for my collection. I visited Edinburgh, London, Paris, and Rome. I was beginning to gather a collection and what was special to me was that each pin represented a memory, a travel, an adventure. They were small, compact and easy to take home. Certainly much easier than the large hand painted ceramic bowl I schlepped from Tuscany or the carved wooden giraffes I carried all over Kenya.
I can now boast pins from all over the world. Some from places I have visited, and others from locales that friends or family have travelled to. In total, I have visited 24 cafes in 12 countries.
I have been to and have pins from:
Boston
Chicago
Hollywood, FL
Ft. Lauderdale
Miami
Indianapolis
New York, NY
Niagara Falls, NY
Orlando
Washington, D.C.
Montreal (closed now)
Ottawa
Toronto
Skydome (closed now)
Niagara Falls, ON
Cozumel
Mexico City
Grand Caymen
Aruba
Margarita, Venezuela
London
Paris
Berlin
Athens
Rome
Edinburgh
I have crazy stories of taking long cab rides to find a Hard Rock, of fantastic Margaritas and Dulce De Leche crepes in Cozumel, and the pure enjoyment of eating a big juicy burger in London, England during a beef shortage (all Hard Rock Cafe beef comes for the USA). I’ve collected their Breast Cancer Awareness pins, Earth Day pins, Valentines’ Day pins and a variety of charities.
Friends have purchased pins for me in:
Denver
Maui
Las Vegas
Myrtle Beach
Nashville
San Antonio
San Diego
Puerto Vallarta
Lisbon
Barcelona
Yokohama
While I never thought of myself as a “collector” of things I really cherish this collection. It tells a story, takes up minimal room and is a conversation piece. Since marrying my husband four years ago we have been to ten cafes together and our two year old twins have been to five.
It is a quirky thing about me, and something that I am happy my husband and boys enjoy it too because otherwise who could I share the Hickory BBQ Bacon Burger and travel adventures with?
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| Napping at Hard Rock NYC Times Square 5 months |
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| The Boys HRC Toronto Feb 2012 |
It started with one pin, twenty years ago and I am excited to see where the journey will take us.
Cool collection. I collect fridge magnets instead.
Thank you Oulsola. I never thought I would be a collection person, but you never know when you will start one!