Rififi spruced up, still open in the East Village for comedy, burlesque, more

Couldn’t help but notice last night that Rififi, the East Village hotspot for comedy fans that survives death rumors every few months or so, looked a bit spiffier on the inside and the outside. There’s a new bright light sign so passing pedestrians can see that there’s something going on.

Fliers promote a Monday night open mic for musicians and poets, as well as a Tuesday night comedy showcase hosted by Kenny Zimlinghaus. That’s in addition to Gelmania, the Wednesday night shebang that’s admirably filled the gap left behind by Invite Them Up with ridiculous themed nights (last night, host Brett Gelman had Dave Hill, Eric Drysdale and Neil Casey backing him in makeup as SMOOCH, a KISS tribute band), Totally J/K on Thursdays, the Greg Johnson and Larry Murphy Show on Fridays, and Barrett and Goldman Present on Saturdays. Burlesque continues on Sundays, and new fliers also promote a late-night dance party on Fridays.

So the next time you so-called "hipsters" find yourselves outside 332 East 11th Street and say, hey, is there something going on in there? Yes. Yes, there is. Rififi remains open for business.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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