After losing their lease and a three-year hiatus, Moonwork is back with $20 evenings of stand-up comedy and musicians and pop-up celebrity guests. You never know who is in town and will appear to try out new material. Moonwork is a well-kept secret quickly gaining momentum. Get there early. They often sell out.
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| Jim Gaffigan |
Jim Gaffigan of The Late Show fame did not disappoint with his fat talk and quiet, clever, edgy delivery. Also noteworthy were Mazz Swift on electric violin, versatile comedians Jeffrey Joseph, Christian Finnegan, and Moonwork's closing act, the epic storyteller Tom Shillue, who took us on a journey back to his college days and paper airplanes, probability theories and haunted stairwells set to music. It was hilarious.
Moonwork is followed by comedy scouts and insiders. Join them on the
mailing list to find out when there's a show and who'll be in it. New locale: Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Education Center, 107 Suffolk Street. Moonwork is Gregory Wolfe, James Manzi, Carol Hartsell, and James Wolfe.
Katz's Delicatessen, established in 1888, was where to find actors from the thriving Yiddish theatre scene on the Lower East Side. More recently, it was the set for Meg Ryan's theatrical orgasm in Nora Ephron's
When Harry Met Sally. The restaurant supported the war effort (three Katz sons fought in WWII). Their trademark slogan, posted throughout, "Send a Salami to Your Boy in the Army" still holds true. Katz's ships gift packages to the troops in Iraq.
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| "I'll have what she's having." |
Sour pickles, creamy coleslaw, crispy fries, pastrami and corned beef are heaven, but the plain brisket is too. It's casual at Katz's, so expect tea in a paper cup and plates smeared with mustard and catsup to languish until the pick-up cart swings by. Take home cheesecake, chopped liver, and fresh bagels.
Perfect for before or after late-night comedy, Katz's never closes on Fridays and Saturdays. You can stay as long as you like. It's not cheap, for instance, the best pastrami sandwich you'll ever eat is $16.95, but worth it.
