Your next seven days should be filled with laughter. The following could help.
Friday, October 14: Comedy on the Table at Velvet Lounge
This benefit show for House of Ruth showcases nine very funny females from the D.C. and Baltimore comedy scenes. Highlights include Jessica Brodkin, Anupama Pillalamarri, and Sarah Donnelly. I can vouch for the quality of the lineup and can almost guarantee an absence of the poorly conceived and executed rape jokes you usually hear on showcases featuring nine male comics from the D.C. and Baltimore comedy scenes. That alone is worth the low cost of admission. 7pm, $5, 21+.
Saturday, October 15: Paula Poundstone at The Birchmere
The lady who got famous in the ’80s for observational humor in the same vein as Jerry Seinfeld and who dressed in the same vein as Jerry Seinfeld is enjoying somewhat of a career resurgence. Her appearances as a panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me have exposed her to a tote bag-carrying loyal public. Her recent late-night appearances show that she’s still pretty funny at that observational stuff and still dresses like that one guy. 7:30 p.m., $39.50, all ages.
Sunday, October 16: The Thing From Another World at Artisphere
This free screening is part of the Spooky Movie International Film Festival, which is running all weekend at Artisphere. What was once a terrifying piece of cinema about a spacecraft being unearthed by the military has become a kinda scary and pretty funny film. 11:30 a.m., free, all ages
Monday, October 17: David Sedaris at GW Lisner Auditorium
For all intents and purposes, a David Sedaris event shouldn’t be fun or funny. If you’re already a fan, you’ve read all of his work. You’ve heard him on This American Life and seen him on late-night shows. You know the drill. Yet they’re great. His unique delivery and writing style has given birth to a groundswell of storytelling like The Moth, RISK!, and Story League. Yes, this event might be a little pricey considering he’s not touring a new work, but it’s worth it for the signing. Sedaris takes his time at these things and you’ll be happy he does. If you’re able to amuse the author within the first 10 seconds you’ll probably end up with a neat drawing on your title page. One of my copies of his books now contains a sketch of a two-headed squirrel. $40-$45, 8pm, all ages.
Wednesday, October 19: “Weird Al” Yankovic at Warner Theatre
Long live the king! “Weird Al” is on a roll this year, releasing the concert DVD of The Alpocalypse Tour, publishing a children’s book, releasing his billionth album, playing more than 200 dates in 2011, and generally pleasing all boys aged 11-71 that enjoy hot dog references in modern pop songs. $39.50-$49.50, 8 p.m., all ages.
Thursday, October 20: Young@Heart Chorus at Warner Theatre
I was going to recommend Dave Attell at the DC Improv, which will be a great show and you should see him on one of the four nights he’ll be in town, but I want tears, so I’m going with the people from the documentary Young@Heart. If you haven’t seen it (you really should see it; it’s on Netflix Instant), the chorus consists of seniors aged 73-89 from Northampton, Ma. They sing pop songs, show tunes, rock songs and more. On paper it sounds cheesy and something that you would only attend if your grandparent was performing. In reality it’s highly inspirational and just like a Polyphonic Spree show without the lights and smelly people. $30-$100, 8 p.m., all ages.