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Community Corner

Local Comedy Shows Offer Laughs

There's no need to watch late night shows - you can catch great local comedians at The Park or Taix, for free.

The Park Restaurant has a secret. Beyond the menu standards of Marian’s Frittata and Roast Jidori Half Chicken, they offer comedy every other Monday night.

BRUNCH AND FRENCH TOAST

Jake Weisman and Jamie Lee host a stand-up comedy show called Brunch on nights when The Park is otherwise closed. The tables are pushed aside, a microphone is set up and rows of chairs await an audience.

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Brunch isn’t the only chance for comedy in the neighborhood. French Toast is a show at Taix that happens every Sunday. Comedians Margie Mintz and Zach Sherwin started hosting so that they could “be on at least one really good show every week,” says Mintz.

AN IMPRESSIVE ROSTER

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Brunch began about four months ago, says Weisman. He had wanted to start his own show “forever” and managed to finagle a venue at “one of my favorite restaurants.”

Through Los Angeles’ network of comedians, Weisman has been able to book a roster of impressive guests for Brunch. Performing at the numerous open mike nights around town allows a comedian to “meet tons of people,” he says.

A recent night included comedians Lizzy Cooperman, Chip Pope and T.J. Miller. Headliner Guy Branum is familiar from appearances on “Chelsea Lately” and his role in “No Strings Attached” with Natalie Portman.

SMART AUDIENCES

Branum scoffed at the concept of Canada, joking that it is merely “United States fan fiction.” He lamented the disparity between the U.S. and Canadian dollars and suggested we rectify the situation by spending “a good week making Winnipeg ours.”

"With lots of high quality entertainment in town, comedy audiences in LA can be hard to come by,” says Branum. “Smart comedy audiences are even rarer. Brunch delivers the best of what a comic can hope for in an audience."

Mintz concurs. “Echo Park crowds are smart,” she comments, but not easy. As a result, comedians “can't just phone it in.”

MAKING GOOD COMEDY

Weisman specifically wanted to host a show in Echo Park. He says of the neighborhood, “It’s young and – I don’t like this word – hip.” Audiences have turned out regularly for this free comedy show, and Weisman hopes that even more people would come “if they knew it existed.”

Mintz says that French Toast always strives for variety in their bookings, including “one-liners, storytelling, political humor, observational jokes and comedy music.” She adds that the welcoming Taix staff makes it great, and it is their “dream venue.”

You can catch the next Brunch Comedy Show on September 26 at 9 p.m. Beer, wine and snacks are available. Admission is free.

French Toast happens every Sunday at 8:30 at Taix in the 321 Lounge. Admission is free, and there is a late night menu available.

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