New York City is the comedy capital of the world. If you’re coming here, you don’t only need an answer to the question “Do you like comedy?”—although, trust us, you’d better have that on hand if you're walking through Times Square—you also need to think about what kind of comedy you like. Because comedy here is more than one thing: there’s stand-up (comics telling jokes or stories alone onstage), improv (making up scenes on the spot) and sketch (performing rehearsed scenes). The action takes place in thriving clubs and alternative spaces like bars and, for example, the occassional laundromat.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the City’s best places to see comedy, and what to expect there: