What/Where is a place to hang out near Blender theater?

[Reenie]

I'm going to a concert this Monday at Blender theater at Gramercy NYC. The way I am commuting there will leave me with several hours before the concert actually starts. I know it well be relatively cold, but I don't want to carry a coat with me into a stand up concert unless it's necessary. Keep in mind I will be with others that DO need to stay right by the theater. What I would like to know is:

1. Do you know for a fact that the Blender theater will let you in early for the show, so I can just hang out there? (Or at least, if the theater will provide some place to leave/check your coats.)

2. Are there any places immediately close to the theater that I would be able to stay in? (Anything will do, a movie theater's lobby, a library, or a fast food restaurant.)

Also, if anyone would be able to provide me a link to a map of NYC that I could see the places of near where I'm requesting, that would be PERFECT. Thank you all so much!

[soothsayer]

i pass by that theater daily.

there are many restaurants along 23rd st. most of them are fast food, delis, and take out places. some of them small, and you can't hang around.

the blender theater is on 23rd st, near the corner of lexington ave. so let me list everything in a 1 block radius from the theater (starting from 3rd ave.)

3rd ave:
starbucks on the corner,
post office midblock,
grand saloon bar/restaurant

lexington ave:
shakespeare bookstore near the corner of lexington ave
a large deli on the corner next to the bookstore.
a duane reade on the corner closest to the theater
another deli on the corner across the street.
and a teriyaki boy next to that 2nd deli.

right next to the theater:
dunkin donuts (size of a closet)
pizza shop (size of a closet)

walking toward park ave:
maxwell house coffee (size of a closet)
red mango frozen yogurt shop (coming soon)
7-11 right next to the 6 train entrance

across the street walking toward park ave:
large pizza shop,
organique, organic cafe/take out
wine store

park ave south:
pax deli on the corner
starbucks on another corner
there's a burger joint around the corner where pax is located.
walgreens pharmacy in the met life building.

back on lexington ave on 24th st is a fresco tortilla, and a chinese take out place.


here's google street view of the blender theater and surrounding area.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=103+e+23rd+st,+ny&sll=37 .0625,-95.677068&sspn=78.108462,112.851563&ie=UTF8&ll=40. 741575,-73.98468&spn=0.004731,0.006888&z=17&layer=c&cbll=4 0.739641,-73.985081&cbp=1,360,,0

note that street view data is several years old so the theater in this photo is called by it's older name "gramercy theater"