Irving Plaza is one of New York City’s most intricate buildings.

A standing room, much like Hutington’s Paramount, with just one stage has earned a spot on the “50 Best Concert Venues of America”. It originally opened late 1888 in the Flatiron district, but would spend the next hundred years trying to find its identity.

Irving Plaza started off as a German theater and then transitioned to a burlesque house. It has also been a Yiddish theater and a French and Soviet film house, all centered around the arts before converting itself into a rock music venue in 1978.

Since then, the venue has hosted concerts for U2, Pearl Jam, and Bob Dylan. It has continued to bring in acts like The Ramones and Talking Heads. The way it has always been for music and art makes Irving Plaza perfectly New York, and a famous hidden gem.