The Great Hall at Cooper Union — Attraction in New York

I arrived at this venue with my family with great hopes of enjoying a night out together. We walked into the venue and was met with complete silence, with the presence of about 6 workers. My family and I saw a sign that directs you to the area of the concert and in my motion to go over and ask a worker about what the audience should do, we were then loudly, rudely and abruptly spoken to by an older security guard sitting behind the desk. We then walked over to receive information in regard to the night. The security guard was still very loud and rude. We were told that we needed to go outside and find the line. My family and I were taken aback and made a decision to walk out. We were followed by another guard that followed suit with the initial guards instruction of “getting out”. Thankfully my husband, was able to find someone who was able to show us that the line was behind the venue. The disrespectful interaction was addressed and the guard that followed us out doubled down onthat same rude behavior already...

Came here for an event with Sen. Al Franken & Seth Meyers. I've been to many venues around the city for interview/lecture type events and this was by far the absolute worst. So much so it'll make me disinclined to come see a speaker I want see if it were here. It's not their fault-- it's a small space with about a dozen columns blocking the view. If you're lucky enough to land a seat, you're likely gonna get a crick in your neck form leaning. If you're like me, and didn't get the memo that this venue sells MORE TICKETS THEN THEY HAVE SEATS and about 50 people got to stand. Bathrooms are small, few stalls, so long lines. The reason it gets two stars, not one? President Lincoln spoke here. Which is very, very cool. For about 5 minutes. I don't blame anyone for the bad space-- no ones fault. Just don't book your events here and think twice about attending...

The legendary Great Hall of Cooper Union turned out to be a Great Disappointment. The cramped and narrow seats made me yearn for the comfort and leg room afforded by the middle seat in coach on a discount airline. And the sightlines, I hardly know what to say. Them pillars, man, wut? It's a beautiful building in many respects, so I have to assume the pillars were actually DESIGNED to obstruct one's view of the stage, for a purpose I can't fathom.

I'm not going to go full-on troll and give the place one star, because it's clean and immaculately maintained and the acoustics are honestly quite good. But Mark Twain is said to have lectured here, and I'm going to find out if he ever made any pithy remarks about the...