For the past two decades, THE PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB has been Atlanta's one-stop comedy shop. The unpretentious little club in Sandy Springs has hosted nearly every major comedy act known to man (and many who aren't) including Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, Dave Attell and Mitch Hedberg. A quick look at the many autographed photos that line the walls of the cozy, wood-paneled venue offer a visual history of great American stand-up comedy. Go and get some funny, it's time to laugh. less...

After traversing the Mad Maxian lunacy of I-285 to be crammed into a table with a random couple from Alpharetta protective of their body and counter space, a good laugh is in order. That's what makes THE PUNCHLINE COMEDY CLUB so special. The ski lodge-like club's intimate setting and reasonable two-drink minimum are part of the all-inclusive perfect date experience. Not to mention the steady steam of regional and national funny men and women, including Pablo Francisco, Nick Dipaolo, Dave Attell and Lewis Black, as well as too many others to name passing through. Just check the photos on the wall of fame that surround the club. Anybody who is anybody has put in their time at the Punchline. "280 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs. 404-252-LAFF. www.punchline.com" less...

They say, "Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone." Whoever "they" are sure got that wrong. Much of the best comedy traffics on unexpected (mis)fortunes. That goes for intentional "and" unintentional humor. For the professionally delivered brand, look no further than THE PUNCHLINE, a windowless ski lodge of a building offering plenty of yuks and yums with its schedule of national comics and full food and drink menu. "280 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs, 404-252-5233. www.punchline.com" less...

Financial setbacks have forced a shift in exhibition focus at THE ATLANTA CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER, but a possible negative has become a virtue as the space's curator Helena Reckitt has turned a shrewd eye for meaningful conceptual work toward the local scene in a space that has made exhibiting and instructing local artists in its "Artist Survival Skills" series central to its mission. "535 Means St., 404-688-1970. www.thecontemporary.org" less...

Knock knock. Who's there? Boo. Boo who? Don't cry through another wretched comedy performance when a hardy laugh awaits you at the PUNCHLINE. Instead of relying on a crop of inexperienced local comedians, the club books up-and-coming but recognizable national acts for the weekends. Intros usually include the phrases "as seen on David Letterman" or "regular guest on (insert popular sitcom name here)," which translates into guaranteed giggles. Recent headliners included slacker-funny Mitch Hedberg and zany impersonator Pablo Francisco. Their amateur night has launched careers, including that of one-time Punchline-waitress-turned-L.A.-comedienne Pam Stone. "280 Hilderbrand Drive, Sandy Springs. 404-252-5233. www.punchline.com." less...

For the ancient Romans, a fun-filled evening may have involved knocking back a few goblets of grape and watching gladiators disembowel each other. For today's slightly less bloodthirsty crowds, there's the comedy club, where a roar of approval equals the victor's laurel wreath — and where a quiet, pained silence is just as devastating as the emperor's down-turned thumb. For more than 15 years, the Punchline has offered a willing stage for that heartiest breed of entertainer, the standup comic, to sink or swim by his or her own wits. less...

Sure, you can fritter away your entertainment dollar at some comedy club, but why settle for one comic doing one bit at a time when Atlanta offers a regular three-ring circus of snickers, yuks and pound-the-floor guffaws — no cover, no minimum?. Do you like snappy one-liners? Try a City Council Committee meeting ("Now, how much does your department think this project will cost, Ms. Department Head?" "According to our figures, Mr. Chairman, any costs will be covered by the existing budget." Buh-duh-boom.) Slapstick more your style? Watch the mayor handle a press conference sometime. ("Mr. Mayor, who's going to benefit from this big, unbid contract?" "Oh, a wiseguy, eh?" Bonk! "Why I oughtta..." Crash! "Ow, that hoits!" "Quiet, knucklehead!" Poke! "Nyuk-nyuk"). Or maybe you're an Eddie Murphy fan who likes to see one guy pretending to be a whole lot of guys. In that case, try the City Council itself. What with all the flying pies, shooting selzer bottles and whoopee-cushions, the illusion of there really being 15 different people — instead of just a few, with the mayor playing all the other roles — almost seems believable. Almost. less...