Nightlife in Battle Creek

Landmarks of standup for decades, Connxtions Comedy Clubs remain mainstays for up-and-coming comics and national stars, with a roster of past performers that includes Sinbad, Drew Carey, Tim Allen, D. L. Hughley, and Rob Schneider. Headlining comedians, many seen on national television, keep the venues teetering Thursday–Saturday nights, whereas Wednesday nights host improv spectacles and open mics where rookies can begin their ascent into stardom or descent into miming. While refueling chuckle tanks, duos and groups can split a savory appetizer, such as fried pickle spears or buffalo popcorn shrimp, or enjoy a potent cocktail at the bar.

At The Venue, part restaurant and part nightclub, chefs whip up platters of Indian cuisine alongside classic American pub grub, Mexican specialties, and Italian fare. Culinary excursions around the world kick off with Indian appetizers such as the aloo tikki potato patties speckled with ginger and garlic, then venture across land and sea and some people’s vacation houses toward Italian-centric entrees of lasagna and the hawaiian pizza’s ham, pineapple, and bacon. The bar slings craft beer and house wine to pair with savory flavors or rinse delectable crumbs from hands.

After hours, The Venue transforms into a dance club illuminated by black lights and fluorescent hues. High-top seating and three VIP areas fill the space, and a full bar area fuels the party with well drinks, shots, and cocktails. Drink specials populate the bar each night, as do droves of dancers dressed according to The Venue’s frequent themes.

Although 36th Street Lounge features a number of high-topped tables and booths, sitting is far from the only option. Live bands perform throughout the week and energize the crowds with high-octane sets. Other nights, DJs keep heads bobbing with eclectic mixes and karaoke allows guests to show off their ability to read. In addition to dartboards and a handful of arcade games—such as Golden Tee and Ms. Pac-Man—the bar features two pool tables.

The 36th Street Lounge kitchen crew whips together a menu of somewhat elevated bar fare. Fettuccine noodles arrive slathered in savory alfredo and sizzling fajitas receive dollops of teriyaki sauce. Regardless of the menu's inspirations, each dish pairs well with a drink from the bar. Bartenders pour frosty drafts of iconic brews and mix a number of cocktails using flavor-infused liquor.

A group of ESPN analysts looking for a bite to eat before taping their shouting match would do well to wander through Tripper's. Upon entering, they could brush up on fodder for their next debate by watching the eatery's 50 televisions flicker with heart-pumping sporting events from across the globe, from college football and Australian rugby to playoff baseball and amateur yak tickling.

Though they might posit a PTI-worthy opinion or two of their own, the sports fans who flock to Tripper's share two universal traits: a love of Michigan sports teams and a craving for classic pub eats. They keep their morale and energy high by devouring custom pizzas, Angus burgers, and homemade, seasoned potato chips in between whistles. Glasses of craft beer from Arcadia and Bells rise and clink amidst a wall of roaring cheers, celebrating touchdowns, game-winning goals, and home runs that make the ball shriek like Roger Daltrey. For those unsatisfied with letting others doing their competing for them, Tripper's has a collection of pool and foosball tables and arcade games. Tripper's chefs also sate classic American cravings at on-location parties with their catering and menu-planning services.

What’s now known as The Comedy Store was once called Ciro's, a nightlife hotspot in the 1940s and '50s. Playing host to glitzy stars and shadowy mobsters, the club's history is shrouded in rumors of mafia assassinations and untimely deaths. However, the joint buried its seedy past by converting to a comedy club and helping launch the careers of such legends as Richard Pryor, Jim Carrey, George Carlin, David Letterman, and Dave Chappelle. The younger La Jolla location lets laugh-starved patrons bask in the same high-powered comedic atmosphere as its progenitor.

Laugh Comedy Club welcomes national and local talent alike to its stage that forges funnies in front of packed crowds. Performers such as Brian Regan and Dustin Diamond have preached the philosophy of humor in the past, and rising stars and dueling pit orchestras take the stage for open-mic nights throughout the year. The well-stocked bar and kitchen fill the gaps between guffaws with savory eats and drinks served in nonsmoking and smoking sections.