I've lived in New York for 12 years, and somehow, I had never made it to the Bowery Ballroom. I've…read moreheard people rave about it for over a decade, and after finally seeing Rochelle Jordan there, I get the hype. It actually lives up to its reputation as one of the best-sounding rooms in the city. The venue is such a vibe. You walk into the ground-floor lounge, which is a great spot to grab a drink and decompress before the show, and then you head up the stairs into the main ballroom. The acoustics were flawless for Rochelle's set; her vocals were crisp, and you could feel the bass through the floor without it being muddy. Even though it's an intimate space, the high ceilings and the mezzanine give it a grander feel than your typical club. Pro Tip: If you want a bit more breathing room but still want a perfect view, the mezzanine is the place to be. But honestly, there isn't a bad "seat" (standing room only) in the house. After 12 years of hearing about it, I'm just annoyed I waited this long to go. It won't be another decade before I'm back.

It is an interesting experience, and I would say this spot definitely has a relaxed vibe. You can…read morepre-order the tickets on your phone (ticketmaster). It is just standing the whole time for the concert unless you are VIP (then there will be a small table with chairs set aside for you.) When you walk in, they check your bags and make sure you are of age (need photo ID and will get a wrist band), and there was no wait when I arrived at 6:30 PM, and the show was scheduled for 7 PM. There is a spot downstairs when you walk in to rest on a couch if you need. There are drinks: wine, beer, cider. The bathrooms are decent if you have to use them. Some positives: There is a coat check for $3, and they accept credit card. There are multiple stalls in the ladies' bathroom, and there is soap! I saw non-alcoholic drinks: Poland Spring water, Monster energy drink.

Wifey and I went with my cousin and his wife. He only told us, "Hey guys, we're going to a jazz…read moreclub." Unbeknownst to me it was THE jazz club. The longest operating jazz club in NYC and arguably the most famous in the world. It's everything one could want: dark, ethereal, romantic, cramped, and intimate. The band was the Christian McBride trio. I was truly awestruck by their musicianship, intensity, and virtuosity. For me, it was musically a life changing experience never to be forgotten. Next time we visit NYC, this is a must.

Oh my gosh, what a great jazz music spot! There is so much history in these walls. All the greats…read morehave played here and still play here. It is a small venue with very tight seating, but not a big issue unless you are a need space person then please avoid this venue. Your ticket does not guarantee a seating location, your place in line is how you get seated. If you want to sweated on by the band, be first in line. They also don't like you using phones during the concert and neither do your crowded neighbors. There is a drink minimum with your ticket, a bottle wine is worth 4 drinkers, and once the music starts service is limited, thankfully, so you can enjoy the music. Totally worth going if you love small venue jazz!

Kinda wild that I didn't write a review the last time I was in this jazz joint…read more Last time I popped into the 2am show and it blew my sox off. I saw Miki Yamanaka randomly for the 1st time. But apparently i missed writing a review. Maybe because there are many glowing reviews already. But may I put my 5 star review on the pile. This time we caught the 2pm Sunday open jam. We were smartly near the front of the line so we got my favorite spot, right on the bar rail near the stage. The drinks were good and strong, the service was quick and succinct. The jam was incredible. I didn't know all the guys but the guy on drums is a legend named muppet. He held back on his solos on the first 2 songs. On the third, when the baton was passed to him, he ripped off an impressive solo that would be amazing for anyone, and he is 93. We had to dip out to catch our flight, but cant wait to stop in again next time.

This was our last stop during our must recent NYC trip. Were only able to stay for a an hour or…read moreso, because we had to run to the airport. Still, this was enough to get a good feel of what the club is all about. Just standing in line we got to talk to a musician, who had just played at another location, but told us the people playing there that day were amazing, including the 91-year-old drummer "Muppet". We went during the day so no cover charge, but think they do at later hours. We got some spots at the bar, knowing we would not be able to stay long. From any seat you are able to enjoy the whole atmosphere and set. They had one server and one bartender, and I honestly thought at first they would be scrambling with all the drink orders but the way they worked, quickly and still being personable with each guest was impressive. The band playing was great, we stayed a bit more than we should have because of how good they were. Very intimate, chill way to spend time enjoying live music. The only reason I took one star off is the restroom situation. I went down hoping I could use the facilities but the mold smell and other strong smell made me sick and I had to run out. Just make sure you go before you are inside or hold it. Apart from that, very intimate, chill way to spend time enjoying live music.

Staff is super friendly both at the door and waiting tables. The small venue is cozy and well lit…read morefor shows. The two drink minimum menu is reasonably priced, I had a ginger beer and bottled water. I really enjoyed this music venue and would definitely come back if an artist I like is playing and I'm in the area again.

Such friendly staff, and you can feel the history of all the greats who played here! The sound is…read moregood and the drinks came fast. We joined a pretty sparse crowd on a Tuesday and heard a competent band - kind of a low energy night, but that's not their fault. Go! We have to keep these old places alive.

Thursday, 07May26 - A night of celebrating Taurus' at Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar Lounge - and…read morewhat a celebration it was. So much joy. So much talent. Thank you, Valerie Simpson, and your late husband; Nickolas Ashford, for creating this amazing venue. The guest host for the evening was the incredibly talented Olutayo. Olutayo is joy exemplified. His vocal range, dance moves, entertaining facial expressions...infectious. I fell in love with this man and did not hesitate to tell him so. Beyond his talents was Olu's ability to manage / juggle the night's open-mic entertainers with such grace. From the lyrics of En Vogue and Salt-N-Peppa: "Whatta Man, Whatta Man, What a Mighty Good Man!" All of the entertainers were incredible. What a range of singers, dancers, a poet, a violinist. And the band! The band! The band! Come on!! Outstanding. I was seated next to Darius, one of the several background vocalists that were positioned throughout the lounge. We became fast friends in this space filled with exuberance. Darius was a delight. He was also a big brother to me, making sure no one blocked my view of the performance. Thank you, Darius, that was so kind of you. I had such a wonderful time being in the company of all these amazingly talented people. It was a 6-hour dopamine rush that should not be missed. The dinner that was served was top-notch. I had the Sea Bass. My friend had the Golden Fried Chicken. Both meals were delicious. I had the ginger mocktail with rosemary and blueberries - so yummy I had two. Dessert was key lime pie - suffer we will. Our server; Vickie, was a delight and amazing to observe as she maneuvered around the performers and kept us and everyone around us well served and continually hydrated. Vickie is to be commended for how hard she worked throughout the evening. I made sure our tip reflected our appreciation of her. Put the Sugar Bar on your bucket list when visiting NYC. You'll leave there feeling you have experienced Heaven on Earth.

I was informed that you cannot make a reservation more than one week in advance. I made our…read morereservation as soon as the business opened one week in advance. The day before our dinner, I got an email, text, and telephone call to confirm our reservation. I asked if our seats were assigned to a specific table. I was told the assignments would be available the next morning. We arrived about 45 minutes before our reservation time. We were told that we could NOT go to the bar without paying the $20.00 per person door fee for the show. That night was open mic night. I was so eager to support this business because of its owners. We were also told we could NOT be seated early. We paid the money and waited. The tables in the bar area were reserved. When our reservation time arrived, in lieu of being seated where we could see the show we paid for, we were taken upstairs. I asked where the upstairs stage was located. There was NO stage. Instead, there was a 20 inch television hanging on the adjacent wall. We waited 45 minutes to watch a television upstairs away from the open mic show. I have included a picture from our vantage point. When I asked why we had not been seated in the open seats on the floor with the stage, I was told that some of the performers brought friends and our table was given to those individuals. Our money would not be refunded. I asked repeatedly why we were being moved and the hostess indicated that she did not make any decisions and the seats were going to be given to others. Those folks had not arrived and had not made any reservation. Thus, making a reservation was a waste of time. Then there was the food. I figured no one could mess up hot wings. I was wrong. The lemon pepper wings had no lemon and no pepper. It was just dropped into some butter. I had "buttered" wings. No seasoning except butter. Every member of our group remarked that the food was NOT good. I left 3/4 of the food on the plate. I was SORELY disappointed. Even sports bar have food don't string their customers along, make them wait 45 minutes, and then stash them away in heaven (i.e. upstairs). I could have watched better entertainment on Youtube. I will not be returning and I am telling everyone that I had bragged to about my upcoming birthday outing at the Sugar Bar that they should NEVER visit this place. No one cared that we were utterly disappointed with the trickery regarding the seating.

Fantastic. Everything about it. The ambiance was amazing and the views were spectacular. The…read morenon-alcoholic drinks were amazing. The music was exceptional. The prices were $$$. Recommend this!!!

I had a super fun solo dinner date at Dizzy's Club! It's a bit hard to find -- you have to go up an…read moreelevator right inside the Columbus Circle shopping mall -- but well worth the trip. I arrived shortly before showtime and was able to snag a last-minute seat at the bar. The acoustics and views are wonderful in the venue. Plus, nothing beats really good live music. It was packed when I was there on a Sunday night, but it felt cozy rather than crowded. Be aware that there is a food and drink minimum included with your ticket. I wasn't in a drinking mood, so I enjoyed a mocktail and an appetizer, plus the cornbread to go. Buying tickets in advance is recommended. I got lucky that it wasn't full. They also run some discounts, like student tickets, so check online if that applies to you. Overall, I really enjoyed Dizzy's Club and would definitely come back.

Simply incredible, truly. This is what you would expect a NYC jazz club to be, beautiful intimate…read moresetting, comfortable seating, not too noisy. The service was superb. Yes, I got the fact that food was basically pre-prepared and served almost immediately, but I did not mind. It was delicious and didn't taste manufactured. The services was beyond friendly and I was genuinely, pleasantly surprised. I did not mention the band, which was the highlight of the evening, but I am guessing even a D-level group would be elevated to an A+ by this venue.

Birdland offers a fun, upbeat atmosphere with food that mostly delivers on flavor and quality. The…read morechicken was well seasoned and cooked nicely, with a crispy outside and juicy inside that made it enjoyable. Portions were satisfying, and the menu has enough variety to keep things interesting!!!!!!!! Service was friendly and efficient, even though it got busy while we were there. A couple of items took a bit longer than expected, and one dish could have been a little hotter, but nothing that ruined the experience. Overall, Birdland is a solid spot for a casual meal with good vibes and dependable food. Worth a visit, and I'd definitely come back to try more from the menu!!

Nice venue to see a concert as it's easy to get to in Times Square…read more We recently caught GWAR here and it was a blast! They have been around the metal scene for a long time and still put on a crazy fun show. Just be aware if you're in the standing room pit area you will get soaked with all colors of fluid shooting out of character's orifices! There is a large standing room only area on the main floor, an elevated standing area behind that which we score a perfect spot along the railing to view the show, along with elevated seating behind that. Not the biggest venue but good sound and sightlines. Coat check available along with a bar selling overprices drinks.

Went to a concert at the Palladium for the first time this week and it was awesome! I wasn't…read moreexcited about venturing into Times Square at all and yes, it was annoying navigating through crowds of tourists outside, but once we got into line it was fine. The 5 stars are honestly for the security team -- they made the line move quickly and efficiently to get inside the building. They were pleasant and gave direction as needed. For a line that wrapped around, it went FAST! Once inside, we were surprised to see that our mezzanine seats were at the same entrance to general admission. It's a small theater but plenty of room for GA ticket holders and a decent area for ticketed seaters. Even if you're seated, you'll have a good view of the stage. Plenty of bars are available and the bathrooms are clean. I have to say other than Times Square outside - I love this venue!