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    David Geffen Hall

    4.3 (33 reviews)

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    Amanda C.

    Beautiful performance hall. Seats at the top especially along the sides have a bit of a weird angle. But nice acoustics, comfortable seats. Plenty of people hanging out in the lobby right before the show starts. The staff were all very friendly.

    Airline cabin-like seating
    Bill S.

    There's a lot that's new and a lot that's really inviting about the newly opened David Geffen Hall (which used to be Avery Fisher Hall). The auditorium has been significantly rearranged -- seating behind the orchestra stage for some -- and the acoustics improved. The sound is warmer, more resonant in most locations, apparently. And from just about any location you can enjoy the music of the wonderful New York Philharmonic. But here's what is especially interesting: you don't have to go to a concert to enjoy the facility. All you have to do is step into the appealing and totally redesigned ground floor lobby. It's a large lobby, quite unlike the lobbies at the NY State Theater and the Metropolitan Opera which share space around the Lincoln Center fountain. For one one thing, there are lots and lots of seats, and anyone can use them. We saw people sipping Starbucks cups chatting and enjoying the ambience who seemed to have no concert tickets, just visiting. There are large illuminated murals and a bar and restaurant, both exceedingly popular and difficult to get into even with a call to reservations. The box office also is in a separate location adjacent to the lobby, so there are no long ticket lines in the seating area. It's been thoughtfully done, we think, and we love it!!

    Mostly Mozart
    Juliana T.

    "Phenomenal" is the only word that sufficiently describes what it's like to attend a concert at the new David Geffen Hall. There is quite literally no bad seat in the house, from a visual or an acoustic perspective. We were seated on the 3rd floor balcony, which has individual, standalone seats! We felt like VIPs! Despite being on the highest balcony, we were able to hear every individual instrument in the orchestra with clarity. An absolutely magical evening that is a must-go for all music lovers.

    Christina V.

    Always a favorite venue. I've been seeing concerts here since I was a teen. Yesterday's performance was terrific. TIP: leave your bags home and breeze through security. There's escalators, elevators and stairs. There are concessions on the ground floor as well as upstairs. So if it's crowded head up to your tier and enjoy the space. Drinks were $15. TIP: arrive 30 minutes early and pay $12 for the white and red wines. There were 'everything' croissants, and some other carb bites for purchase. TIP: yes, tipped them, they deserved it. For the first time we sat behind the stage which is new for this space. They decreased the number of seats overall and made more room in the row to walk without disrupting other guests. The arms on the seats lift. So if you're two pp you can sit closer or buy two seats if you need more room. The bathrooms are fully renovated and wider so you're not squeezing in and trying to close the door. Ugh so gross and ridiculous. Contactless soap, water and paper. Also there's a bathroom between the women's and men's called the companion bathroom. TIP: This is usually empty even when the regular bathroom line is long.

    TwoSet Violin Concert
    Alexa L.

    I went here a lot when I was younger, back when it was called Avery Fisher Hall. This is my first time going since the remodel. It's fine. I can't speak to the acoustics because I did not see the New York Phil play. I will update it when I do!

    Jonathan B.

    Beautiful venue for a concert! The thing that stood out to me the most was the seating. I had orchestra seats and the way it is leveled stood out to me. I did not have a problem seeing over the person in-front of me.

    Anita W.

    I've been to so many Broadway plays lately in the past couple of months that I was so used to going to a smaller theater with chandeliers and ceiling and wall architectural details. Coming to David Geffen Hall was a good 'break' from that since it's a large grand concert hall with modern designs, comfy and large seats and lots of leg room (in the second and third tier mezzanine levels, at least from my experience). I visited David Geffen Hall for the first time for a New York Philharmonic performance of the Blue Danube on a Friday night. (Pro tip - for young concert goers between ages 13 - 26, they offer Philharmonic Free Fridays as an incentive to get young people interested in classical music and philharmonic performances. You must RSVP/sign up on the Monday right before the Friday performance. Picking up tickets was so easy as they have a will call window dedicated to Free Friday goers. They also do check your ID for your birthday upon ticket pickup too). The night landscape of Lincoln Center is also very lovely with the lit up fountain and stairs. Getting into the hall was also a seamless process as they had automated detectors that you walk across and a physical person checking bags and scanning tickets. The tickets also tell you which entrance to use to get into the hall to your seat, which was fantastic. After clearing security, there were lots of benches to sit on before curtain and many concession stands. I had third tier seats and my friend got second tier seats. The acoustics were great even from the back row of the third tier. The hall is accessible as they had elevators servicing all floors. I wish, however, that they also had escalators along with stairs but it was good exercise climbing 3 flights up. I also really enjoyed the ambient lighting the hall had. The box seats to the sides also had lights, and I loved how they incorporated light flickers from those box lights into the performance. They also have restrooms on all floors (unlike many of the Broadway theatres). Although the facilities were very clean (they even had complimentary cough drops), the restrooms were very limited as they only had 3-4 stalls per floor. With such a large hall, this can definitely be a problem during intermission.

    Josh Bell and that silver haired friendly lady
    Daniella S.

    The acoustics are Lincoln Center awesome ness. Unfortunately the facilities are in need of an update since David Geffen named his rights to the hall. The bathrooms look worse than Penn station. And women of course have to lineup as if they don't account for the fact that women take longer to go the bathroom and so seems to me that a woman should design the new facilities when time comes.... or name it with some other patron who will keep up the Hall. The lounge to grab something to eat looks labandoned and is totally in need of being updated. I don't mind the style of it is retro red velvet smooth lines, romantic but it just looks dingy they need some flowers, fresh lighting and use it! And the worst forlast: the seating. We are crammed into these dingy little seats (in old shoddy brown tones) like an airplane main cabin and what is the point? Come on board, come on Geffen really?

    Kenneth D.

    You really can't argue against the acoustics at David Geffen Hall, at least on the orchestra level, and the seating is very comfortable. The facilities in general, however, are a bit lacking. In specific, the concession areas could be cultivated in a way that would enrich the experience, and make one feel less like they were fighting for complimentary breakfast at a cheap hotel. More importantly, it could use substantially more rest rooms, or bigger ones. Standing in a seemingly endless queue, waiting behind 100 elderly men with questionably enlarged prostates really detracts from the intermission experience. Like, a lot. Enough to make a person leave. There are a few cracked stair treads that could tolerate being repaired or replaced, which remind all comers that the facility is as outdated as the people waiting to urinate. It should probably be razed and rebuilt, but it's what we have for now, and what happens inside sounds considerably better than how it looks.

    Paul L.

    I haven't been here in years but I was looking forward to Carmina Burana, a classic and popular choral work. Unfortunately, I was reminded why I haven't been here in so long: this hall is dull and the acoustics are average. The intense power of Carmina Burana was lost. It's too bad an overhaul of this space has been canceled. In the meantime, I hope they empower the ushers to use cattle prods on the unruly concert goers who insist on using their cell phones during performances. Between that problem and the increasing number of audience members who don't know when to clap, classical concerts will soon have to come with instructions.

    Bina S.

    Came here to see one of my favorite pianists, Yiruma, perform. The venue is gorgeous and grand. I'm not expert, but I thought the acoustics were amazing. If one of your favorite artists is performing here, I highly recommend the venue. A couple of things you should know: - No food or beverage (other than water) allowed in the concert hall - You can bring your own water or buy it there for $4/bottle - Snacks and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase during intermission - Depending on the event, people may be dressier than you'd expect (it is Lincoln Center after all) - Many parking lot options in the area - Student discounts are often available

    George M.

    I vaguely recall that David Geffern Hall was called something else sometime ago. On my last and perhaps only visit, I came to see Steven Tyler from Aerosmith fame perform a number of his hits and some new material that somewhat departed for what Steven is best known. I loved the venue! Well organized, spectacularly clean and decent acoustics. Large enough to host even the biggest personality and intimate enough where there really aren't any bad seats.

    There's an obstructed view, but they warned me about it before purchasing.  It still doesn't feel far from the stage.

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    Ask the Community - David Geffen Hall

    Review Highlights - David Geffen Hall

    And from just about any location you can enjoy the music of the wonderful New York Philharmonic.

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    Bowery Ballroom - TMBG, 1/15/23

    Bowery Ballroom

    4.3(403 reviews)
    3.7 miLower East Side
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Bowery Ballroom - Bar top floor balcony

    Bar top floor balcony

    Bowery Ballroom - Flower on stage smiths Tribute NYC

    Flower on stage smiths Tribute NYC

    Bowery Ballroom - Celebrating the life of an outlaw country music legend! Rest easy big guy.

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    Smalls Jazz Club - Danton Boller quintet live

    Smalls Jazz Club

    4.3(445 reviews)
    2.9 miWest Village
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Smalls Jazz Club
    Smalls Jazz Club - Some artwork right outside

    Some artwork right outside

    Smalls Jazz Club - 11.19.22 7:30pm show

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    11.19.22 7:30pm show

    Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar - Rack of lamb with seasonal sautéed vegatables!!!! DELICIOUS!

    Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar

    3.6(297 reviews)
    0.5 miUpper West Side
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar
    Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar
    Ashford & Simpson's Sugar Bar

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    Palladium Times Square - GA FLOOR VIEW

    Palladium Times Square

    3.4(34 reviews)
    1.1 miTheater District, Midtown West

    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!

    Photos
    Palladium Times Square - Outside

    Outside

    Palladium Times Square - GA FLOOR VIEW

    GA FLOOR VIEW

    Palladium Times Square - GA floor view

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    GA floor view

    David Geffen Hall - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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