Question of the Day - 08 April 2014

We are, but they are few and far between these days, not least since the infamous Great Recession cut a swathe through the locals bar scene like the Grim Reaper on bath salts. The aptly named Dive Bar on Maryland Parkway is still standing, but they discontinued their stand-up night some while ago, as did ETA Lounge inside Aliante, while former staples like A.J.'s Tavern, Boomerang's, Black Label, and ReJAVAnate are all gone, taking their open-mic nights with them.

The good news is that for comedy fans, there's definitely been something of a resurgence in the scene of late, with new venues and comedy nights to suit all tastes popping up all over the place. It remains slim pickin's for those of you looking to get a foot in the door, however. Here are the only open-mic comedy nights we're aware of; if anyone out there knows something we don't, please drop us a line and we'll pass it on.

• Boomer's: This old school dive bar, tucked away down an alley not far from the LVA offices at 3200 W Sirius Ave., is a goldmine of alt. entertainment, from the live bands and famous monthly burlesque shows in the Boom Boom Room, to a regular comedy open-mic session on Sundays at 9 p.m. The place is basic, packed with locals, and features cheap drinks and a couple of pool tables. Recommended.
• Blind Tiger: Another locals dive bar, this time on the east side (6295 S. Pecos Rd.), it's also a joint with a scruffy friendly vibe and a wild Karaoke scene, among other things. Plus, every Wednesday at 9 p.m., it's comedy open-mic night with cash prizes, including $50 for the winner.
• The Beat Coffee House: This hipster retreat on Fremont Street is probably of least interest to you out of these options. Open mic night is every Monday and comedians are welcome, but so are musicians, poets, and the like...
• Sapphire: At the opposite end of the spectrum to The Beat is this well-known gentlemen's club, which recently added to its already catholic offerings which, aside from the typical dancers, poles, and VIP booths, also include stripper Karaoke, a male revue, a "daylife" pool scene, and now regular comedy nights that are garnering rave reviews.

  As Arnold Snyder wrote in his review for ToplessVegasOnline.com (our informative and hilarious new guide to adult entertainment, which will launch any day now -- sign up for email alerts to stay in the loop!): "This is the best stand-up comedy show in Vegas right now and the comics are interspersed with pole dancers, burlesque dancers, magicians, and novelty acts. The comedians are top-notch working pros and since this is a strip club, you can expect a lot of controversial raunchy humor, which is as it should be."

  The comedy club runs three nights per week: On Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., it features name comedians from the national circuit, with a $20 cover ($10 cheaper than regular entry to the strip club for non-locals, plus the drinks are cheaper in the comedy club, so stock up if you plan to check out the other talent after the laugh fest). On Thursdays, however, at 9 p.m. it's open-mic night, which means no cover to patrons (with local I.D., there should be no cover charge at Sapphire on any night); aspiring stand-up comics should simply complete the online registration form ahead of the Thursday they'd like to perform, then presumably phone ahead just to confirm your name made it onto the list.

Break a leg!