Nightlife in Sacramento

The Englander Sports Pub & Restaurant squeezes the entirety of the British Isles into its eatery—or so it would seem after seeing the 80 draft beers, plates of bangers 'n' mash and lightly fried fish, and the iconic red phone booth right outside the door. A lengthy menu disproves the myth that British food isn't real with choices such as hearty pot pies and 16 burgers topped with avocado, blue cheese, and house-made chili. To wash down the meaty fare, bartenders kick open the kegs and fill tall glasses with classic British ales and domestic beers that visitors savor from the dining room’s dark-wood furnishings or on the umbrella-shaded patio. Throughout the eatery, 21 TVs entertain the senses not involved in the task of chewing or sipping, and during the week, The Englander hosts open-mike nights, live music, and live viewings of sporting events that give visitors an excuse to hoist their brews in triumph.

Twenty-seven tap handles dominate the bar at Alley Katz, contributing to the eatery’s more than 200 diverse domestic and international craft beers. The tap list is ever-changing and complements a menagerie of bottles ranging from familiar lagers and amber ales to sour beers, barleywines, and floral Belgian-abbey-style ales. As quoted in the Sacramento Press, owner Geronimo Avelar is a “self-proclaimed beer geek,” sourcing brews from Lagunitas, Stone, Auburn Alehouse, as well as lesser-known microbreweries. The variety encourages sippers to find their niche or expand their beer horizons at the guidance of the bartender.

With a bubbling pint to the side of the table, patrons shoot pool on one of two red full-sized tables or watch sports on one of six TVs. The 3,400-square-foot space with exposed-brick walls gives patrons plenty of elbow room to mingle or settle into wide semicircle booths to debate whether Aristotle liked his bacon soft or crispy. Throughout the day until about 9 p.m., Alley Katz’s kitchen flips burgers and serves a selection of wings, pizzas, and sandwiches to accompany their bubbly brews.

With past performers such as Jerry Seinfeld, Dennis Miller, and Dana Carvey, Laughs Unlimited has accumulated a formidable collection of laughs in its 27-year history. Owner and booker Steve Grove keeps the comedy lineup fresh with imported mountain air and a steady rotation of established and up-and-coming comedians. Warm brick walls and exposed-beam ceilings line the recently renovated club. Laughs Unlimited’s full menu furnishes empty bellies with Mexican-inspired tacos, burritos, and snacks, which go down smooth with several Californian wines and an arsenal of signature cocktails.

ComedySportz, voted Best Comedy Club by KCRA’s A-List in 2009 and 2010, turns out quick-witted performers from classes helmed by experienced improvisers. Designed for students of any experience level, classes help people overcome social shyness and stress. Beginners get a feel for improv basics through games and exercises, learning the bones of scene structure and character development while exploring creativity and facing fears of speaking in front of audiences that are not stuffed animals. During the Intermediate 2A class, students with previous experience tackle the long-form style of improv juggernauts such as Second City and iO, and Intermediate 2B students revel in performance games common during ComedySportz and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. Each class aims to get students ready to create scenes, work with partners, and get out of tickets by saying, "OK, now I'm the police officer."

Experienced comedians on Comedy Off Broadway Oakland’s black-swathed stage extract laughs with jokes honed during appearances on HBO, BET and Comedy Central. Veteran yucksters Joe Gleckler and Samson Koletkar host 90-minute shows three nights a week and recruit all-female and all-Southern lineups for Thursday theme shows. Chortling viewers can dig into plates of Cajun and Southern fare from the kitchen of Miss Pearl’s Jam House, which hosts the proceedings in a private dining area, or covertly film spit takes with wine and beer from a full bar.