NoVa Venues

Venues are grouped by area. If you have any pictures or reviews of a venue that you would like to submit, please e-mail them to chris@dcstandup.com.

Some very large performance venues in Northern Virginia do host comedy from time to time: The Birchmere, for example, or George Mason's Patriot Center. You'll probably hear the ad blitz if any superstars are coming through those kinds of venues.

You can also see listings for Maryland and the District.

Alexandria

FLOYD'S BAR AND GRILL. 5951 Stevenson Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22304. Floyd's has had comedy shows organized by a couple different people. Right now (July 2008), Ian Salmon is putting together the "$3 comedy show" from 7-9:30 on Saturdays. If you're a comedian interested in paid or guest spots, e-mail Ian at 3dollarcomedyshow@iansalmon.com. You can check out the Web site for more information on Floyd's itself.

CARLYLE CLUB (COMEDY ZONE). 411 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, VA 22314. This is the latest home of the Comedy Zone in Northern Virginia (effective July 19, 2008). They're offering an evening that starts with live jazz, has a few variety acts and then a headliner -- supposedly a throwback to the Cotton Club Days. You can see show info at the Comedy Zone NoVa site. You can also e-mail ComedyZoneNoVA@msn.com for more information.

OLD TOWN THEATER. 815 1/2 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314. The Old Town has an on-again off-again relationship with comedy ... many different organizations have produced live comedy events on the stage (the building is pretty neat, it's a many-times-restored old-school movie house). Here's the venue's site.

BISTRO EUROPA. 715 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. They have been doing open mics here since 2007 on Sundays; the place offers "new European cuisine in the heart of Old Town." Here's the Bistro site.

O'SHAUGHNESSY'S. 1324 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314. This place used to be The Laughing Lizard until in closed around late 2007. Now (May 2008) it's reborn as O'Shaughnessy's, and the people at TDC Presents have resumed Saturday showcases there every few weeks.

WEYONE SPORTS LOUNGE. 5801 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA, 22304. We don't know too much about this place (it's inside the Landmark Mall), but starting July 25, 2008, Party in VA is presenting a comedy show here. If you're a comedian interested in paid slots, contact 571.268.4237.

Arlington

THE COMEDY SPOT. 4238 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22203. Home to ComedySportz improv shows as well as a wide variety of traveling shows (hypnotists, one-man shows, occasional stand-up). Inside the Ballston Commons mall, the Spot has two showrooms and also runs a wide variety of comedy classes (mostly focusing on improv). Here's the venue's site.

ARLINGTON CINEMA N' DRAFTHOUSE. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204. In 2006 the Drafthouse started using its very large stage for occasional comedy shows, and they've been ramping up since then. In addition to occasional showcases, they have some fairly well-known headliners and sketch/improv groups for weekend gigs. As of winter 2008 the complex also includes some shows (open mics, contests) at the Old Arlington Grill, a new restaurant just off the lobby. Here is their comedy calendar. MORE INFO WANTED: if you have pictures or reviews that you'd like to submit regarding the comedy night at this venue, send them to chris@dcstandup.com.

11TH STREET LOUNGE. 1041 N. Highland St., Arlington, VA 22201. An open mic is running at this Clarendon bar the first and third Monday of each month. MORE INFO WANTED: if you have pictures or reviews that you'd like to submit regarding the comedy night at this venue, send them to chris@dcstandup.com.

RI-RA IRISH PUB. 2915 Wilson Blvd, Arlington,VA 22201. Starting in May 2008 this Irish pub will have a Wednesday open mic organized by Curt Shackelford. This is very much an old-school looking pub -- made from parts of old pubs in Ireland and that sort of thing. They have a full dinner menu. Here's the Ri-Ra site. MORE INFO WANTED: if you have pictures or reviews that you'd like to submit regarding the comedy night at this venue, send them to chris@dcstandup.com.

Falls Church

THE STATE THEATRE. 220 N. Washington, Falls Church, VA. For a few years now the State has been scheduling some one-night comedy events (headliner/feature/MC), in conjunction with the DC Improv or other bookers. It's a really big venue ... there's a huge downstairs seating / dancefloor area (most of the acts that come through are musical) plus a balcony. The stage is gignormous. If they're doing more shows they list them on the calendar of their web site.

Leesburg

DEL RIO. 701 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176. There have been comedy shows at this Mexican restaurant for years; currently (April 2008) it's being booked by Riot Act Comedy. You can see their show lineup, their menu and get coupons over at the Del Rio Web site.

Manassas

MACKEY'S AMERICAN PUB. 9412 Main Street, Manassas, VA 20110. In February 2008, bi-weekly Thursday open mics begin. MORE INFO WANTED: if you have pictures or reviews that you'd like to submit regarding the comedy night at this venue, send them to chris@dcstandup.com.

Tysons Corner

WISEACRES. 8401 Westpark Drive, McLean, Virginia (inside the Best Western). Wiseacres has been a fixture in the DC comedy scene for years, through both open mics and weekend shows. Located off the lobby of the Westpark hotel. The current schedule has open mics Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with headliner/feature/MC shows on Friday and Saturday. You can see the schedule at the Wiseacres site.

Vienna

JAMMIN' JAVA. 227 Maple Ave. E Vienna, VA 22180. Primarily a music venue (and a very good one at that), but on occasion comedians have snuck onto their calendar either as opening acts or for recording projects (they have a fantastic studio setup). Jammin' Java site.

Woodbridge

BRITTANY'S. 12449 Dillingham Square, Woodbridge, VA 22192. Jim Pate has been organizing comedy at Brittany's since January 2007; it's a sports bar, with the comedy events in a separate room removed from the restaurant/bar area. Here's the rundown: open mics on Tuesday, and 3rd Friday is a booked showcase. The venue seats about 110. Here's the web site. Info updated June 2007.

OASIS ON THE OCCOQUAN. 13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge, VA 22191. All Stars Comedy began producing shows at this Caribbean-themed restaurant in April 2008. But as of June 2008, that seems to have stopped.

READING ROOM: On occasion we get humor pieces from comedians -- you can find them all archived in our Reading Room.