Made my first visit to The Van Buren recently to catch Steve Hackett in concert. I knew it was a relatively small theatre from reading about it but during the ticket buying process it looked like it would be bigger. Got pretty good seats in the 8th and 9th rows so I was already happy but once inside the venue I was really pleasantly surprised at how close and intimate it is. Really not a bad seat in the house: anywhere you sit will give you a great view of the show. There's a mezzanine area that looks like it would provide even better views of the stage.
The lobby is dominated by a bar area along the front windows, so you can grab your favorite concoction, chat with your friends and get ready for whatever show you're there to see. Security check-in was relatively painless and the staff was cheerful and friendly. All-in-all I really like The Van Buren and look forward to returning for more events. Small, stylish and cool.