Best Skid Row Comedy Show in Los Angeles: Towne Hall

Towne Hall

799 Towne Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90021

Typically, culture making in raw industrial spaces consists of music, theater and performance art, so an underground-loft comedy show is highly welcomed. Towne Hall — in its broken-windowed wedding cake of a garment factory — is a gutsy pioneer. Since launching in the past year, it's offered stand-up and sketch comedy featuring the polished skills of Upright Citizen Brigade vets James Adomian and Sean Conroy, the latter known for his hilarious, contrarian rants. Others include founding Towne Hall troupe member Tony Sam, whose memorable, hipster-hating Chola character unnerves in a scared-straight spoof. DJ sets, the ubiquitous food truck and "donation" booze complete the milieu we find more comfortable than any lounge. Organizers say a name change, a rebrand and the addition of various performances are upcoming. But the brave outpost remains. And while you might have to step over some down-and-outs to get in, a Skid Row acclimatization can't hurt. We might all be down here soon. 799 Towne Ave., # 110, dwntwn. townehall.tumblr.com. —Howie Stier

Source: LA Weekly