When the Rock Hall Inductions take place in Cleveland, the energy is off the charts. Sure, that’s because of the rockstars flocking to the Land for the ceremony. But it’s also because of the music lovers who come to Cleveland to support their faves — and soak up what the city has to offer. Here are some must-visit places during the 2024 Rock Hall Inductions Week.
Friday, Oct. 18
Breakfast
A Tremont staple, the cozy Lucky’s serves up all-day breakfast made from local ingredients — options include biscuits, waffles and house-made granola — and heartier hits such as grilled cheese served with soup of the day.
Morning
Cleveland boasts first-rate vintage shopping, led by the collectibles emporium All Things For You. Located in a dedicated building with free parking in Tremont, the store’s four floors are packed with treasures and antiques, with a special focus on mid-century modern gems.
Lunch
Grab lunch in Tremont at another neighborhood anchor, The South Side, one of the city’s original gastropubs. Munch on an opener of dill pickle hummus — but leave room for the headliner: one of the restaurant’s signature tasty burgers or sandwiches.
Afternoon
No trip to Cleveland is complete without dropping by one of the city’s many excellent record stores. Among the best is the Waterloo neighborhood anchor Blue Arrow Records, which boasts an eclectic array of new and used vinyl across all genres in addition to books and magazines. Bonus: Multiple friendly cats also live in the store and love attention from customers.
Dinner
Stroll down Waterloo Road from Blue Arrow and grab a juicy burger at Doinks Burger Joint — in true DIY style, the restaurant originated as a garage pop-up — or order up a delicious pizza from the always popular Citizen Pie.
Evening
The Beachland Ballroom personifies rock ‘n’ roll. Across two spaces — an intimate tavern and the spacious ballroom — the venue books a uniformly astounding schedule of local and national artists. Don’t forget to peek your head into Beachland’s basement vintage store, This Way Out, which is open during shows.
Late Night
End the day back in Tremont with a nightcap at another long-running bar, Prosperity Social Club. In addition to boasting one of the neighborhood’s best patios and collection of basement-bar décor, Prosperity offers up a solid list of drinks and food like pierogies and Hungarian-style stuffed cabbage.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Breakfast
You’ll be able to rock ‘n’ roll all night (and party every day) by starting the morning with delicious brunch. Luckily, the local institution Yours Truly — which has multiple locations, including Playhouse Square — has been serving up top-notch, all-day breakfast for more than four decades.
Morning
Visit where all the inductions week magic happens: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to the spotlight on new inductees, the museum currently has artifact-packed exhibitions dedicated to revolutionary women, hip-hop history and the classic pop year 1984
Lunch
Decorated chef Michael Symon’s restaurant Mabel’s BBQ dishes out Cleveland-style barbecue — named so because of its sauce made with Bertman's Ballpark Mustard. Try the brisket; like a favorite album, it might change your life.
Afternoon
Northeast Ohio boasts an abundance of parks and outdoor spaces. But downtown Cleveland also has its own greenspace in Public Square, a 10-acre park that’s an oasis of tranquility within the heart of our bustling city.
Dinner
Named after proprietor Andrew Watts’ great-grandmother, Cordelia is one of the best new restaurants to open in recent years. Located on E. 4th Street, a short walk from the Rocket Arena, the eatery favors seasonal fare made from farm-fresh ingredients and Midwest TLC under the watchful eye of James Beard Award finalist Chef Vinnie Cimino.
The Main Event
The dress code is rock ‘n’ roll chic at Rocket Arena for the main event: the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which this year honors inductees such as Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Matthews Band, Peter Frampton and Kool & the Gang.
Evening
After the festivities end, do a debrief of the excitement at Becky’s, a downtown Cleveland institution since the 1980s that offers cheap drinks, excellent bar food and a killer jukebox.