Nightlife in Mesa

Voted the Best Local Performing Arts Troupe by readers of the East Valley Tribune in 2011, National Comedy Theatre’s ensemble of players concocts improvised situations at lightning-fast speeds, relying on audience participation and their own wits to elicit thunderous laughter and applause. After turning to their all-ages crowd for assistance in shaping games and scenarios, the cast employs knowledge gleaned from operating-room sketches to tickle ribs with anatomical exactitude. The show often favors spontaneity over prudence, with performers gleefully stepping into their roles as acrophobic skydiving champions or long-winded court stenographers. Audience members get to select the winning team at the conclusion of the show, and can learn the form themselves during improv classes.

Today's side deal slides your funny bone a tall, calcium-rich glass of milk. For $10, you get one ticket (a $20 value) to see acclaimed joke-jockey Marc Maron fling cutting witticisms and acerbic satire from the stage of MADCAP Theaters in Tempe. Arrive 30 minutes before the show to pick up your tickets at the will-call area.

The Phoenix New Times pick for Best Rock Club in 2010 and 2011, this live-music venue draws crowds that huddle around indoor and outdoor stages to groove and wail every night of the week. Concerts and festivals stage local bands, indie rockers, and national acts playing genres ranging from bluegrass and reggae to jam music and rock 'n' roll. Amid the big-name acts, the house upholds beloved traditions; Grateful Dead fanatics and people with tie-dyed flesh emerge to party on Sunday nights, and each Thursday, burgeoning starlets perform karaoke with the support of a full live band. Beside the outdoor stage, a spacious patio facilitates mingling under the sky's star-freckled firmament. At the indoor bar, barkeeps fill glasses with mixed drinks and brews while colorful lights flash against walls. Black leather couches and huge art canvases line the lounge area, and a dance floor carved before the stage affords up-close views of the passport stamps canvassing rock star's wrists. AZCentral noted: "Not far from Mill Avenue, the Sail Inn offers a whole different scene, with a cool vibe and laid-back people."

The mic is hot, the karaoke machine is ready, and a crowd of friends and family sits nearby cheering you on. All that's left is to pick a tune. That's not an easy decision to make at August Karaoke Box, however.

In seven private rooms, touchscreen karaoke machines blast the music and videos for more than 130,000 songs, including Japanese, Korean, English, and Martian hits. Since the rooms are private, groups don’t have to worry about stage fright or waiting through long lines of other singers. But if they really want to show off their pipes, singers can take to the public stage and belt one out to an adoring crowd.

Open until 2 a.m., August Karaoke Box encourages customers to croon well into the wee hours of the morning. To keep these performers energized, the staff serves hot green tea and snacks, such as Japanese-style fried noodles. They also let patrons bring along their own food and alcoholic beverages.

WineStyles showcases the diversity found throughout California's wine country at a small wine bar on the Coronado peninsula. More than 300 wines line its shelves, including national and international varietals sourced from small, boutique vineyards. Most bottles cost less than $25, and the shop also sells customized gift baskets and wine-lover accessories such as T-shirts, bottle openers, and fireplaces for dramatically hurling a glass into.

Live music underscores weekly wine tastings, where guests sample and learn about different wines from resident experts. The list of house wines includes fruity and bold reds, such as malbec, and creamy whites, including chardonnay. WineStyles also stocks a selection of craft beers from Germany and all over California for beer lovers.

The Chaos Comedy Improv troupe spins lightning-quick thinking into tapestries of cachinnation during Saturday-night showcases of unscripted comedy. A vibrant, quick-witted cast evicts any lingering drama from the Dearing Acting Studio stage, giving audiences a reprieve from all non-laughing matters as they munch on house-popped popcorn. Upcoming performances vary wildly, as the troupe never plays the same show twice or forgets to wear random clothing found in a back alley. Fans of unadulterated imagination can rejoice that Chaos Comedy keeps the laughs family friendly.