The National

This is a great place to see a show.  You can choose to go down on the floor, where, depending on what band is playing, you may get trampled..... or sit up top, where you can likely sit down through the whole show (I am an old man, what can I say) and enjoy yourself.  The drink prices inside are not bad, and this place is super easy to get to, with plenty of parking nearby.  If you haven't seen a show here yet, check them out.

EXPERIENCE:  6/18/13 Tame Impala

I like small venues, they have more energy and get you closer to the acts. That being said, I like the National.  There is, however, one thing that grinds my gears. The bathroom attendant.

I won't say I have a vendetta against bathroom attendants (a guys got to make a living, right?). What I have a problem with is a guy who hassles a grown ass man for money under the assumption that he's providing a valuable service by providing one with products one doesn't use and helping one manage the incredibly challenging task of dispensing paper towels.

At a high-end venue I'll let a bathroom attendant slide, but last time I checked the Richmond Symphony didn't have one. So, why would a place than commonly features popular music acts throw a wrench in the gears of what should be a simple piss-and-go operation? All this guy accomplishes is creating awkward social encounters and lower hygiene by incentivizing toilet goers to intentionally pass on washing hands to avoid being hassled for a buck...for a paper towel.

Pro Tip:  If you use the bathroom entrance facing the bar inside the main room you can easily slip in and out of a stall without making eye contact with this guy.

PROS:
- Small venue for great performers
- 3 bars with quick service

CONS:
- Overzealous bathroom bouncer
- Drinks range from $6 for domestic to $7 for craft and $14 for mixed
- The interior bars have a larger selection (not a bad thing, but you should know).

BOTTOM LINE:
Go. Remember the secret bathroom entrance.

Oh wow - this place totally reminds me of the old American Theater in St. Louis.  It's been rehabbed & the bathrooms are clean, and the bars are plentiful.  There's plenty of seating/standing options.  I saw the National here recently, and the size and acoustics of this venue were top notch.  Really, really impressive small-medium sized venue.  There's pretty much a bar every 2 feet, so that's a real bonus.

Wish STL had an option like this!