First Round Fridays Happens the last Friday of every month at The Cove in Williamsburg.

Back in the 80′s there was a comedy club on every block. These days comedy is not so wide spread. Still if you look around cool Brooklyn neighborhoods like Park Slope and Williamsburg there are lots of hilarious comedy shows popping up many are as low as $5 and some are completely free. It’s bad for the folks slugging it out on stage but great for you the entertainment starved Brooklynite not looking to drop $40 at a midtown comedy club.

You might think that the bench of talent on these shows would be lacking but you’d be wrong, dead wrong. The Cove an appropriately “cove like” bar on North 6th in Williamsburg plays host to some of the UCB’s brightest improvisers and New York’s best up and coming stand ups regularly at free shows with cheap beer specials. Recent guests have included Sean Patton, Michael Lawrence, SNL writer Colin Jost, Mark Normand and former Chelsea Lately stalwart Arden Myrin.

Myrin herself hosts, along with Lisa deLarios, a monthly show called The Party Machine at Park Slope’s excellent venue Union Hall. True to form the show hosts a mix of up and comers (Erik Bergstrom, John F. O’Donnell, Kate Berlant) and established comedy stars(Jason Sudeikis, Eugene Mirman, Todd Barry).

So if you’re looking to sniff out some funny stuff don’t go to Manhattan, stay in your own neck of the woods. You’ll likely find yourself laughing harder and cheaper.