178 Seventh Ave. South, 212-255-4037, villagevanguard.com 
Although the Village Vanguard is located 15 steps below street level, visiting it is the jazz version of ascending the mountaintop. Since 1935, musicians and jazz lovers have been making the pilgrimage to this triangular, 123-seat room, which has hosted the likes of Harry Belafonte, Miles Davis and even Barbra Streisand (who recently returned to the Vanguard for a rare live performance of her new standards album). More than 150 albums are estimated to have been recorded here, too. Today the Village Vanguard is run by salty dog Lorraine Gordon, who inherited the club from her husband, Max, in 1989. And the programming is as vibrant and top-drawer as ever. The Anat Cohen Quartet, trumpeter Dave Douglas' Quintet, legendary hard-bop pianist Cedar Walton's Trio and hard-as-nails trio the Bad Plus are all scheduled to perform six- or seven-day stints in December. Doors open at 8pm, and sets begin at 9pm and 11pm. When visiting, keep in mind the Vanguard's five commandments: thou shalt not eat, proffer a credit card, smoke, use a cell phone or escort misbehaving children. —David Sokol

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