Big news: an annex of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is set to open in Soho! It will of course feature exhibits devoted to several former Chelsea Hotel residents, such as Bob Dylan and the Ramones, and will even include an interactive map of musically significant spots in New York—and I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what the most important location on the map will be.
But then I started thinking: Soho?!? Why, the Hall should be right here where it belongs in the Chelsea Hotel. The Capitol Fishing space has been empty for two years now; what else are they saving it for? Tilley could have the Hard Rock Hotel he’s been dreaming of, and I’ll bet Dan would sell ten times as many guitars.
Yes indeed, Rockers, this could have been the solution to all our problems. With an admission price of $26 a pop, Tilley wouldn’t have to kick residents out on the street to make ends meet. It’s another way to rip off the tourists, but so what? They would just waste their money on golf (if they could find a place to play in Manhattan) and bad theatre anyway.
It would have been great. But, as usual, our fearless leaders have dropped the ball on this one as well. Shame on you, Marlene. I don’t know if we would have had room for Springsteen’s 1957 Chevy anyway. Maybe we could have rented a crane and hauled it up to the bar on the roof. Sid—and Nancy too–must be rolling over in their graves. — Ed Hamilton
Living with Legends 
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