The Funny Bone Comedy Club is in Iowa's capital city of Des Moines, about a 38-minute drive from Ames. Some of the acts featured at the Funny Bone include the famous stand-up comedian and television star, D.L. Hughley, Josh Sneed, who finished second of 100 in the Comedy Central's top comedians in the Annual Stand-up Showdown, and John Bush, who was featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, HBO Comedy Showcase and Premium Blend on Comedy Central. The restaurant offers appetizers, including battered cheese curds, shrimp, wings, pizza and dips, as well as salads and main entrees like grilled ahi tuna steak and rib-eye. A full-service bar is also available and you can order dinner and drinks before or during the show. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays with two shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Seating is on a first-come-first-served basis so get there early.
Funny Bone Comedy Club and Restaurant
560 S Prairie View Drive
Suite 100
West Des Moines, IA 50266
515-270-2100
www.funnybonedm.com
The Penguins Comedy Club is located in the Clarion Hotel in Cedar Rapids, a few hours drive from Ames. The club features open-mike night the second and last Thursday of every month. You have to sign up by 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. The Penguins also features professional comedians like Rick Shackleford from Comedy Central and Dr. Jim Wand, one of the top hypnotic entertainers in the world today. He has worked with Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Carrot Top and Larry The Cable Guy. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Sundays. You must be 19 and over to attend the show and there is a two-drink minimum. Dinner is served at the Synergy Restaurant in the Clarion and features fillet and prime rib, pasta and seafood dishes. The restaurant is open Monday through Thursday until 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. The 33rd Avenue Sports Bar and Grill is also located in the Clarion and serves cocktails, appetizers and full meals. They are open Monday through Friday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Contact the Clarion for further information.
Penguins Comedy Club
525 33rd Avenue S.W.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
319-362-8133
www.penguinscomedyclub.com/cr_penguins.htm
Clarion Hotel & Convention Center - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
525 33rd Avenue S.W.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404
319-366-8671
www.clarioncr.com
Jokers Comedy Night Club is about an hour and a half drive from Ames and features acts like Spark Mann whose credits include A & E's Evening at the Improv and spots on The Comedy Channel and Mark Fradl, who has opened for Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle. The club is on the third floor of the historic Odd Fellows Building. Comedians perform under a large glass window with the city lights as backdrop. The club has two full bars offering beer, wine, cocktails and other drinks available by request. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
Jokers Comedy Night Club
401 Main St.
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-266-1132
www.barmuda.com/jokers/jokers_comedy/index.php