Following an official announcement in August, a preview in late November, and a big opening party last week, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex is finally open for events. The permanent facility in SoHo is the first effort from Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation to build a presence outside of its Midwest home town.
This site, like the original in Ohio, houses an array of items and exhibits, all of which are dedicated to the evolution of the rock 'n' roll genre as well as the roots of music and rock groups in New York. Within the 25,000-square-foot subterranean area of the annex is a private 40-person room that can be booked for events; larger groups of as many as 200 can buyout the entire venue.
The first room beyond the main lobby is the Hall of Fame, a space dedicated to and decorated with the names of artists who have been inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. For buyouts, this area can be used for cocktail receptions. Adjacent to this is the Immersive Theater, which plays for visitors a video presentation of important performance-related moments in rock 'n' roll. Furnished with hardwood floors, the columned space has a full range of audiovisual equipment and can seat 75 for dinners.
Beyond this, different displays and historic pieces fill the galleries, tours of which can be included during events. The permanent exhibitions include a timeline for genres like R&B and hip-hop, a showcase of memorabilia such as signed instruments, handwritten lyrics, stage outfits for performers, and Bruce Springsteen's 1957 Chevrolet. Also in this portion of the museum is a 26-foot-long model of Manhattan that highlights famous music venues. Drinks and food are not permitted in these sections of the venue.
