Sunday, January 31, 2010—Bar 21
Day 21—Saturday, January 30th—Village Lantern
First off I want to acknowledge a donation of a different stripe I got in the mail yesterday. A box showed up at my house, so I opened it up (that’s my standard operating procedure when a box shows up):
And it was filled with cookies, peanut brittle and a nice note from Amanda Cobb a.k.a. DJ Loki from Woody Radio! Thank you so much Amanda, this will fortify me for tonight’s bar crawl. Check out DJ Loki and the fabulous DJ Gidget and all the others at Woody Radio: Woody Radio.
Okay about a week ago, Lisa from The Red Bar told me I should check out comedian Joe Masse. So tonight he’s got a gig at the Village Lantern and I’m going to go and check out his show. And you’re all welcome too join me. Have a piece of peanut brittle for the trip!
Here we are at the Village Lantern and not a second too soon. It is freezing outside tonight. Let's go in and warm up.
This is the street level bar where the regulars and diners hang out. The comedy show is downstairs in the basement.
Here's Josephine and Victor. Josephine is a waitress at Village Lantern and Victor is the bartender.
And here he is, the Master of Ceremonies for the "Schmucks Are People Too" show, Joe Masse. Time to go to the basement. Oof, I just had a John Wayne Gacy moment!
It's a half an hour till show time and people are already showing up.
Paul came in from Jersey and advised everyone not to watch The Jersey Shore show. So far, I've managed to live without it, but they are on Page 6 today, so I had to suffer through that.
Brendan's not sunburned, he just came in from the cold. I told you it was freezing out there!
Tiffany was laughing and the show hasn't even started yet. I want some of what she's drinking!
Here's Valerie, Mike and the glare of my flashbulb.
Joe warms the crowd up for the first comedian...
Sam Morrill was first on the bill. Sam killed from the moment he set foot on stage.
Joe continues the show and the laughs continue. He introduces the next comic...
Ted Cirillo. This was Ted's first time doing standup and the disabled microphone act brought him some improv laughter.
Eventually Joe gave Ted a hand with the microphone. And some jerkoff stuck his hand in the middle of this shot!
Up next is Brendan Puskar. I think this may have been his first time as well, but he was funny and the crowd loved him.
David Hess killed with classic New York humor.
And now Joe introduces the one and only...
Yours Fooly! I get up onstage and make a total bumbling ass of myself to remind everyone that standup comedy is for professionals! I should've used the chair behind me!
But I did manage to get the crowd to put their hands up in the air and yell, "Motherfucker" all at once. It's amazing the power of the microphone.
Anu Kalra was the last comedian of the night and he slayed the audience.
Everyone was yukking it up after the show.
Here I am with Joe Masse, M.C. extroadinairre!
And look who showed up, the lovely Lisa from the Red Bar who suggested I see this show in the first place! Thanks for the tip Lisa! Stop by the Red Bar and see Lisa, she makes a mean Tornado!
Review
There’s a little something for everyone at the Village Lantern. Throughout the week there’s live jazz, DJ’s spinning a more rocking sound and comedy seven nights a week in the lounge in the basement. Wednesday is open mic night if you feel like letting your inner Andy Kaufman loose.
The street level bar is a nice wooden bar with tables in the back, friendly bartenders and a full bar of beer, cocktails and a nice wine list. The full menu includes cocnut shrimp, chicken wings, fajitas, burgers and a decent selection of pasta dishes.
There’s comedy in the basement every night at Village Lantern and tonight I went to see Schmucks Are People Too, a show hosted by Joe Masse. First off, forget Conan O’Whinin’ and Jay “Scarecrow” Leno, I have seen the next great night time host and it’s Joe Masse. He put together a hilarious and rollicking show. I’ve been to Caroline’s, Standup NY, Gotham Comedy Club and this was just as funny as anything I’ve seen at those clubs. Joe was a great host and the comedians (some of them first timers, some seasoned pros) were hilarious and I laughed as hard as a barrelful of monkeys dosed to the beejesus belt on mescaline. A great time and no cover charge and everybody got a free shot after the show on the house! I love this place!
Village Lantern
167 Bleecker St
212-260-7993
1 Reference
Reader Comments (6)
Looks like a great show and cool beans that the house bought a shot for everyone!
no toilet bowl picture...was the free shot penicillin?
OMG!! You jumped on stage! Ahahahahhaha. Man, I wish I was there for THAT! And, I absolutely LOVE great stand up comedy. Nothing is better than a good laugh!
I also love that you received cookies and peanut brittle as a donation! That's sweet.
All this, and NO KAREOKE! Can't beat it, man. Kareoke is as good a reason as any to run for your life and never look back!
I'd heard of this place, but never stopped in. Now I will! Thanks for the review, Marty!
You look great on a stage !!!!! Now I'm waiting The Marty Wombacher Show in Live from a real stage!! See motheeerfuckeeer !!!!!! It sounds like it was a great night over there !!!!