The sleek new collection of Midtown West luxury no-fee apartments at ARO puts residents in the exhilarating heart of Manhattan, living just blocks away from some of the world’s finest dining and entertainment venues. Never is this proximity more rewarding than during New York Comedy Festival, the city’s premier comedy showcase featuring more than 200 events around the five boroughs.
Since 2004, the festival has brought hundreds of stand-ups, writers, and performers to the city for a week of side-splitting comedy, and the lineup for 2019 is sure to blow all previous years out of the water. This year’s festival runs from Monday, November 4th through Sunday, the 10th, with multiple events each day across the city, so keep reading for the best highlights around ARO!
Just a five-minute walk from ARO is Carolines on Broadway, which has been a hotbed of comedy talent since the early 1980s and which serves as a major venue for the festival. Early in the week, Carolines will host a series of group shows, including the Best of New Talent night, a slate of all-Indian comics, and a live taping of prank-centric podcast Going Deep with Chad and JT. Then, from November 7th through the 10th, former SNL Weekend Update host and iconic funnyman Norm MacDonald will take to the stage nightly for early and late shows, bringing his signature dry wit and trenchant observations for a total of seven performances.
Just a few blocks south of Carolines is Town Hall, a nearly century-old venue that hosts everything from concerts to comedy roasts throughout the year. During the festival, Town Hall will be full of comedians, starting on Tuesday, November 5th, with an evening of reading and conversation with Jenny Slate, as part of the tour for her new book, Little Weirds. Then on Thursday, veteran stand-up Kathleen Madigan will play Town Hall on the heels of the release of her most recent Netflix special, Bothering Jesus. Bollywood actor-turned-American comic Vir Das will follow Madigan at Town Hall on Friday, continuing his rapid ascent to international stardom with his unique perspective on East vs. West. Finally, newcomer Nate Bargatze will close out the festival at Town Hall on Saturday and Sunday nights. Bargatze is one of comedy icon Marc Maron’s favorite stand-ups, and fans of the medium won’t want to miss his blistering sets.
So, head over to the ARO website to check availability and then, in celebration of your new or future home, secure tickets for some of these fantastic nearby comedy performances!