This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Now you can enjoy a much-needed laugh after parting ways with your whole paycheck at the Whole Foods in Pasadena.
L.A. is full of great comedy clubs and under-the-radar venues. The latest place in town to catch a stand-up set is the Whole Foods on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. Starting at 7pm on the first Tuesday of each month, you can catch comedians performing 15-minute stand-up routines at 110 & Bellevue, the high-end grocery store's in-store restaurant. The comedy shows at the 35-seat restaurant are free to attend, though ordering a drink and/or a dish from their extensive menu is gently encouraged. And, yes, they do serve alcohol, including an extensive selection of craft beer taps.
The gig may not be the highest paying in town—comics receive Whole Food's gift cards and a free meal for their performance—but the venue makes for a good story and likely provides plenty of comedic material. This month's show, taking place tomorrow night at 7 pm, will feature comedians Quincy Johnson II, Jackie Kashian, Melissa Villaseñor, Travis Clark, and Drew Lynch, according to Jeff May.
Last month's show featured many of L.A.'s standup regulars, including Jeff May, Brendan Scannell, as well as Danielle Perez, who recently found new comedic material when she won a treadmill on The Price Is Right. The comedy night is organized by Megan Ranegar, the location's marketing team leader. And she only has one rule about the material performed by comics at Whole Foods, as she explains to KPCC, “They can’t use any foul language, and nothing too inappropriate, but that’s sort of the funny part, because it’s really hard for comedians to not use bad words, and watching them trip over that is part of the whole show.”
