Yelp (the review/ratings website) names more than 30 bars and comedy clubs (none with fewer than four stars) located in the heart of the Upper West Side, which flops about mainly between 72nd Street (1/2/3 Train) and 86th Street (1 Train), no farther from Broadway than Columbus Avenue, just two blocks to the east.
It’s a small area, which should make cruising it on foot your modus operandi—no cabs are necessary as every bar has a nearby neighbor.
Amongst all that are two comedy clubs; I prefer Stand Up NY, on 78th Street, a few doors east of Broadway. Its bright second storey neon sign is easy to spot. Stand Up NY feels like a proper theater as it has a street-level entrance (the other club is in the basement of Playa Betty’s at 74th Street and Amsterdam). The programming is mad extensive, requiring of its agents full in-the-loop awareness of who’s who in New York’s layered comedy scene.
The club’s website spells out its clear and fair sounding audition process which must place it on every aspiring comics' radar, reinforcing that important in-the-loop awareness while ensuring a regular supply of talent.
Ticket prices vary depending on the act; the club imposes an $18 drink minimum once inside. There may be three separately ticketed shows per night. Doors for 17:30 performances open at 17:00.
Jerry Seinfeld began here. Now, he performs around the corner in The Beacon Theater for a six performance residency—rare status.
Some now say "I saw him when…"
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John's Pizza is situated inside a former tabernacle with a domed stain glass ceiling about 50 feet above, and ‘sliced’ into 8 sections, just like a pizza.
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On Broad Street stands a bronze sculpture named Fearless Girl which exudes bravery, pride and strength but not, according to the artist, 'defiance'...
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The space functions day to day as a bright and modern-looking upscale deli and on certain evenings, it doubles as a performance space for stand-up comics.
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It’s all free, on a first-come, first-served basis. You'll get a life jacket, a paddle, a 'kayak', and a locker, for a session of approximately 20 minutes.
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"Amsterdam Billiards" in New York has a nice bar, nice service and soft couches. It's a well-known place to play (and watch!) billiards, darts, foosball...
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The Cage in West Village is a chain link fenced, bagel-sized basketball court in New York. Here you can also find handball, a citywide spectacle...
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"The Seasoned Vegan" in New York is crowded (in a good way), energizing and really fun. I got the Harlem Chopped Cheeseburger, and I'd order it again...
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"TAP - NYC" makes Brazilian tapioca from yuca! I really love their Pão de Queijo, tangerine-sized, feather-weight bread-puffs with molten cheese...
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"Bethesda Terrace" in New York's Central Park is home to Bethesda Fountains, sculptural balustrades and breathtaking magical depictions of wild animals...
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"Bodegas" are NYC convenience stores that are as much an essential part of urban culture as are chippies in Whitley Bay or curry shops in London, England...
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You can see eight of the thirty-six paintings by "Johannes Vermeer" in New York City. There's a ninth one, but it's behind closed doors...
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"35 Times - Toby Buonagurio" in New York are small artworks in the Times Square subway station, maybe even 16 inches square, lit on the inside. Jazzy!
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