Catacombs gives new comedians a shot

January 16, 2004

• When I was 5 years old I would spend hours hunched over a tape recorder, reading out loud from an old joke book. These early demo tapes feature my young, garbled voice reading two-line jokes, most of which are wrecked as I bray out laughter before I hit the punch line.

I am, quite obviously, no comic. But I do still love to laugh. And is there a better recipe for laughs then booze and comedians? Starting Tuesday, the Catacombs, 2115 13th St., is launching an up-and-coming comics night.

The idea is the brainchild of Cecil Durban, who works in comedy and founded Kat Box Comics, the organization behind the event. Sympathetic to the lack of performance opportunities for comedy newbies, Durban started organizing events in Denver and the surrounding area.

"I'm offering a room to give these comics a chance to talk shop and perfect their skill. And as an audience member, you never know when you'll see the next big thing," Durban says.

And don't be scared off by the adjective "up-and-coming" — Durban says there's enough variety that at least some of the jokes will get you giggling. So far five comics have signed up for the first show, which starts at 8:30 p.m. And it's a free event — what do you really have to lose?

If Tuesday goes well, the comedy night will become a regular every-other-week fixture at the Catacombs. So polish up your guffaw, your hoot, your snort, and your smirk for Tuesday. And hey, if you, like I did at a younger age, think you have what it takes to make 'em laugh, give Kat Box Comics a call at (303) 432-7359.

• While comedy in Boulder can be funny-ha-ha, dating in Boulder can be funny-sad. We've all had the "where do I meet someone" gripe, but Jennifer Goldman has decided to do something about it.

The infamous 8minuteDating has again crept into Boulder, into our very own Reef (part of One Boulder Plaza at 13th and Walnut streets) at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The speed meet-and-greet event gives you eight minutes with eight people. At the end of the eight minutes, a bell rings and that person is whisked away and you start the get-to-know-you banter all over again. It's not a bad idea — most guys I meet in bars I can judge within about 30 seconds, but then I'm stuck spending hours trying to weasel out of the conversation. Oh, and in case you're worried, the guy-to-girl ratio isn't as skewed as it is at local bars, either.

"We have a limit of 72 people, and when you sign up you're waitlisted if there's not an even number of men and women," Goldman says.

And in the age of online personals and Friendster, it is kind of refreshing to see an event where people are actually encouraged to meet face-to-face immediately.

"I give people who take part in this a lot of credit," Goldman says. "It's hard to meet someone sometimes — I mean, it's not like they're coming and knocking on your door."

Tickets are $35 and include free appetizers. The age range for this event is 25-35, and all you interested speedy daters can sign up at 8minutedating.com.

• And there are events of substance happening this week as well. On Wednesday, the Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., hosts three films that were named the best of the Taos Mountain Film Festival. Included is "Farther Than the Eye Can See," a film about Eric Weinemayer from Golden, who is blind and climbed Mount Everest. And all proceeds go to benefit the Colorado Cancer Foundation. The films show at 7 and 9:30 p.m., and tickets are $10 before service charges. Call (303) 786-7030.

Contact Jennie Dorris at dorrisj@dailycamera.com

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