New York City [1]’s largest venue is the 19,000-seat Madison Square Garden (Seventh Ave. between 31st and 33rd Sts., 212/465-6741), also home to the city’s basketball and hockey teams. The 5,600-seat Paramount is a separate venue inside the Garden.
The grand, art deco Radio City Music Hall [2] (1260 Sixth Ave., at 50th St., 212/247-4777, www.radiocity.com [3]) often presents popular music acts.
The historic Beacon Theatre (2124 Broadway, at 74th St., 212/496-7070, www.beacontheatre.com [4]) is a convivial spot that hosts the Cirque du Soleil.
The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd St., between Sixth and Seventh Aves., 212/840-2824, http://the-townhall-nyc.org [5]), is a National Historic site that presents a variety of jazz, world, and traditional music in an intimate setting.
The atmospheric Apollo [6] (253 W. 125th St., near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., 212/531-5305, www.apollotheater.org [7]) offers mostly R&B, soul, and rap, while on Wednesdays, the famed amateur-night tradition continues. Don’t hesitate to venture up here at night—125th Street [6] is always bustling.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/discover-new-york-city
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/midtown/radio-city-music-hall
[3] http://www.radiocity.com
[4] http://www.beacontheatre.com
[5] http://the-townhall-nyc.org
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/harlem-and-upper-manhattan/125th-street
[7] http://www.apollotheater.org