Rock is Dead, Long Live Rock

March 31, 2010 4:41 PM

Alternatives to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York?

I was planning on taking my niece to see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in New York next week but sadly discovered that they closed it down. Is there anything similar which may appeal to a 15 year old rock music loving girl? I'm specifically searching for something that's more family oriented. So no concerts. Exhibits would be ideal. Maybe something interactive and hands-on. My niece has been enrolled in "Rock Camp" for that past two years so she's interested in guitar driven rock music like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

Thanks.

posted by cazoo to media & arts (6 answers total)

Not music-related as such, but the Tim Burton exhibition at MoMA is fun for that age. Get there early, go on a weekday if you can. It gets crowded.
posted by doift at 5:08 PM on March 31, 2010

Ooh, and the Paley Center (formerly the Museum of TV and Radio) apparently has an ongoing video installation of rock videos, and you can find old TV and radio clips of a ton of musicians and watch them in their awesome study center. One of my favorite places in the city.
posted by doift at 5:11 PM on March 31, 2010

Or she might like a super-awesome guitar shop like Matt Umanov.
posted by doift at 5:13 PM on March 31, 2010

Depending on what else she's into, maybe the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology?

And now I'm done, I promise.
posted by doift at 5:20 PM on March 31, 2010

Thanks for the suggestions. I definitely like the Tim Burton idea!
posted by cazoo at 7:07 PM on March 31, 2010

When we were there last summer, we considered one of these Rock Junket walking tours, but ended up not taking one - maybe next time though.

If it's of any consolation, the HoF Annex was expensive, a bit sterile, and made us sad at the end of the tour. We were especially thrilled to see the Clash exhibit and such - but then felt old when we realized that most of the staff members weren't even born when many of the artists were playing live (and none exhibited any obvious enthusiasm or excitement about their jobs); and even more tired and out of it when we realized that "Hey, the last time we saw that guitar, it was being played on a stage!" Since then, we've decided that music doesn't belong in museums, that guitars want to be played, and that our memories and imaginations are much more vivid and don't cost $75 for the two adults (and one child) to relive.

Seconding Matt Umanov too - the last time we were there, we caught Steve Earle playng a dobro. And they have nice tee shirts.
posted by peagood at 7:53 AM on April 1, 2010