Yes, the Village Vanguard can be a stuffy jazz venue. Yes, it can be pricy at $35/set, and the drink minimum a tad annoying. Yes, the seating is uncomfortable and if you get there late, you may get a bad view. BUT, this is the mother fucking shit. The best jazz acts play here and if you skip a Bill Frisell residency or a John Zorn matinee you may as well turn in your NYCID card and move to Kansas.