- ripplefan2's Rating
Located right in the heart of Times Square, BB Blues Club & Grille is one of Manhattan's most unique bars. The marquee outside, resembling an old movie theater, is constantly updated with its daily show schedule. The first floor is a basic souvenir shop selling any BB King trinket one can think of. The basement is where the magic happens.
On any given night, the line outside for the featured show can run all the way to 8th Avenue. Make sure, on big named nights, that you have a ticket already; otherwise there are tickets for sale downstairs in the lobby. If the crowds aren't your thing but good food and live music are, there is a free show every night of the week in Lucille's. Aptly named after King's famed guitar, Lucille's is an intimate bistro-type setting with a live band playing free blues music.
For the larger named shows, you will be ushered into ticket collected room off to the left. In here, if you get early enough, you can get a seat at one of the many circular tables and benches, otherwise, there is standing room both in front of the stage and behind the seats. The shows that come here are some of the best around for two reasons; one, the venue can afford to pay these big names to come in, so there are a lot of big acts and secondly, the venue is small and intimate so every show rocks. One of the greatest shows I had the pleasure of seeing here was George Clinton and the P-Funk All-stars. Never in all of my life have I seen such an elderly man so energetic and smoke so much pot. No joke, he probably smoked three of four blunts by himself in the course of an hour and a half.
However, the shows here are great and the names stopping by are ever increasing in popularity, so give it a shot. The drinks are a bit pricy, but it's Times Square, so you have to expect that. The ambiance is great and I go back as often as I can. You’ll love it.
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