It goes without saying that New York City is one of the comedy capitals of the world. Stand-up superstars who've gotten their starts here include Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Chris Rock and Louis C.K., to name a few, not to mention those international comedic touchstones like Saturday Night Live and Seinfeld. Big shots aside, the city's got plenty of stand-up clubs, improv theaters and experimental troupes to keep you engaged seven nights a week, and while there are some tourist traps to avoid (we're looking at you, Broadway Comedy Club) there are still a lot of great venues to catch comedy that are worth the long lines and a possible two-drink minimum. Here are a few of our favorites:
COMEDY CELLAR: These days the Comedy Cellar's probably most recognizable as Louis C.K.'s go-to performance spot on Louie, but this Greenwich Village standby's been churning out superstar shows in its intimate (tiny) underground space since the early '80s. You can occasionally catch popular performers like SNL alums Colin Quinn and Darrell Hammond, along with local favorites like Todd Barry and Dave Attell. Weekend shows cost $20-$24, and they've got a drink minimum in place. To avoid the hassle of the standby list, make a reservation in advance. Weeknights are best: Greenwich Village isn't busting at the seams, covers on Monday and Tuesday are just $12, and everyone is concerned with seeing good comedy rather than chasing The Perfect Saturday Night.
Comedy Cellar is located at 117 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village (212-254-3480, comedycellar.com). Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
DANGERFIELDS: This Upper East Side spot's definitely not as polished as some of the city's newer clubs, and it's probably a good idea to stay away from its decidedly overpriced and mediocre food. But Dangerfields has an old-timey comedy club feel to it that makes it a fun alternative to the Times Square tourist joints. The club's been open since 1969 and the decor and ambiance are hilariously mired there, complete with white-coat clad waiters cracking jokes with the clientele. And though Dangerfields rarely draws big names, its comedians are delightfully raunchy and love to taunt the audience; seating in the club is pretty close to the stage, so be prepared to get singled out if you snag a spot up front.
Dangerfields is located at 1118 1st Ave between 61st and 62nd Street on the Upper East Side (212-593-1650, dangerfields.com).
THE STAND: This club's a relative newcomer, having just opened its Gramercy location in September. But the newness doesn't make its talent any less seasoned. The spot's featured top local comics like Judah Friedlander, Chris DiStefano and Artie Lange, plus it tends to draw a neighborhood crowd, making it a fun stop on a low-key night out. And the Stand's got more than just comedy to offer: unlike the pricey humdrum food most city comedy clubs tend to serve, the Stand's fare is somewhat "upscale," with dishes like pork belly rice balls ($12), crab sliders ($16) and tuna tartare cannolis ($16), plus there's a full-service restaurant upstairs if you're looking for a real pre or post-show meal.
The Stand is located at 239 Third Avenue between East 19th and East 20th Street in Gramercy (212-677-2600, thestandnyc.com).
UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE: Stand-up is New York's classic comedic form, but improv has proven that it's not just for awkward college debate club warm-ups (well, sometimes). UCB's probably the biggest improv name in the city world, offering star-studded, cheap, delightfully strange shows nightly. Be sure to check out "Harold" nights—hilarious, long-form improvisational comedy—on Tuesdays and sketch-comedy "Maude" nights on Mondays, plus Amy Poehler's popular ASSSSCAT shows on Sunday nights at the flagship Chelsea theater; Poehler was one of the New York UCB's founders back in the '90s, and she often invites fellow SNL alums, along with Daily Show correspondents, 30 Rock actors and other big-name talent to perform (our current favorite: the monthly show featuring Colbert Report writers).
UCB West is located at 307 West 26th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue in Chelsea (212-366-9176, newyork.ucbtheatre.com). UCB East is located at 153 East 3rd Street between Avenue A and Avenue B in the East Village (212-366-9231, east.ucbtheatre.com). Follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW YORK NEO-FUTURISTS: This experimental band of actors tosses any suspension of disbelief, focusing on realism, speed, brevity and audience participation to get the humor across. Their signature show, Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (TMLMTBGB), consists of 30 short plays in 60 minutes, with a rotating menu of play titles performed in an order randomly selected by the audience. While the Neo-Futurists prepare the short plays in advance, many elements are culled from audience interjection and suggestion, giving the show an interactive improvisational feel. Not all TMLMTBGB performances are comedic, and some of the short plays can be downright sad, but the actors are guaranteed to be snappy, speedy, random and creative.
The NY Neo-Futurists are located at the Kraine Theater, 85 East 4th Street in the East Village (nyneofuturists.org).
