Richard Leis

Are you a musician, poet, or comedian looking for a place to try out your material in a fun, laid-back atmosphere? Or maybe you’re just looking for something a little new and different? Then check out the Funky Buddha in Boca Raton.

This little club – decorated with warm, earthy colors and artwork created by local artists - is reminiscent of the Bohemian coffee houses that were popular in the 1960s in New York’s Greenwich Village, or Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. - which makes it that much more delightful (especially for us Northerners!).

In an age where so many things are impersonal techno, bright lights, and robotic, The Funky Buddha has a welcoming, nostalgic atmosphere complete with comfy couches, overstuffed chairs, big pillows, long drapes, and a low-lit ambience. This is a great place to hang out – listen to music, have a drink, smoke, and enjoy yourself.

Smoke? Funky Buddha is also a hookah bar. With a plethora of tobacco to choose from, you can puff away like a shah while watching live entertainment on the ample stage strategically located in the middle of the room.

The Buddha is also a micro-brewery that offers a variety of beers brewed right on the premises. Some of the popular picks include Macon Maple Porter and Blueberry Tart Wheat beer. The beer menu changes frequently – so no chance of getting bored!

During the week live bands perform and Wednesday nights are Open Mike night, hosted by standup comic Richy Lala. Lala, a likeable and hilariously quick-witted host, has been running the open mikes for three and a half years. Lala’s comedy has the crowd coming back week after week. So if you have a burning desire to perform – here’s your chance. Just be there to sign up at 8 p.m. for a 9 p.m. show time. The admission donation for open mike night is $3.00 with the proceeds going to a different charity each week. And last, but not forgotten, the staff is super-friendly as is the eclectic crowd which ranges in age from 21 and up. That’s what’s so cool about this place – everyone feels comfortable here. So what are you waiting for?

The Funky Buddha – Lounge and Brewery
2621 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561.368.4643. or www.thefunkybuddha.com. Hours: Mon-Fri: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., Sat-Sun: 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.
- Miami Art Zine

Are you a musician, poet, or comedian looking for a place to try out your material in a fun, laid-back atmosphere? Or maybe you’re just looking for something a little new and different? Then check out the Funky Buddha in Boca Raton.

This little club – decorated with warm, earthy colors and artwork created by local artists - is reminiscent of the Bohemian coffee houses that were popular in the 1960s in New York’s Greenwich Village, or Harvard Square in Cambridge, Mass. - which makes it that much more delightful (especially for us Northerners!).

In an age where so many things are impersonal techno, bright lights, and robotic, The Funky Buddha has a welcoming, nostalgic atmosphere complete with comfy couches, overstuffed chairs, big pillows, long drapes, and a low-lit ambience. This is a great place to hang out – listen to music, have a drink, smoke, and enjoy yourself.

Smoke? Funky Buddha is also a hookah bar. With a plethora of tobacco to choose from, you can puff away like a shah while watching live entertainment on the ample stage strategically located in the middle of the room.

The Buddha is also a micro-brewery that offers a variety of beers brewed right on the premises. Some of the popular picks include Macon Maple Porter and Blueberry Tart Wheat beer. The beer menu changes frequently – so no chance of getting bored!

During the week live bands perform and Wednesday nights are Open Mike night, hosted by standup comic Richy Lala. Lala, a likeable and hilariously quick-witted host, has been running the open mikes for three and a half years. Lala’s comedy has the crowd coming back week after week. So if you have a burning desire to perform – here’s your chance. Just be there to sign up at 8 p.m. for a 9 p.m. show time. The admission donation for open mike night is $3.00 with the proceeds going to a different charity each week. And last, but not forgotten, the staff is super-friendly as is the eclectic crowd which ranges in age from 21 and up. That’s what’s so cool about this place – everyone feels comfortable here. So what are you waiting for?

The Funky Buddha – Lounge and Brewery
2621 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton. 561.368.4643. or www.thefunkybuddha.com. Hours: Mon-Fri: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m., Sat-Sun: 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.
- Miami Art Zine

BY RHONDA FERRARI CALVERT

RIVER CITIES GAZETTE

“It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either.”
— Wayne Dyer

The Back Room Comedy Club inside Tom’s NFL opened last Saturday night, and the debut attracted a sellout crowd.
The Back Room Comedy Club presents live entertainment. The décor is very nice. The room has comfortable dim lighting, booth or regular seating, and a stage just perfect for the comedians to interact with the audience. And a full drink and appetizer menu. Plan on laughing for a whole hour and 45 minutes or maybe two hours.
Gordon Meyers, most known for his sick sense of humor and his complete lack of discretion, projected some semblance of normalcy while hosting The Back Room Comedy Club performance.
The comedians who took the stage have history in standup comedy. Brad Goodwin, Theresa Naples-Carissimi, Jim Fredrick and Richy Lala recited amusing stories, short jokes or one-liners. Their material was cleverly clean or artfully crass.
Goodwin has performed at clubs throughout Florida, including the Comedy Zone and the Hard Rock Improv. He’s working with material related to nerds and non-nerds alike. Brad is currently in the semifinals of the Improv’s Hollywood to Hollywood competition and is being featured on Improv.com’s “The 5 Spot.”
Naples-Carissimi is a chiropractor whose style of comedy is usually observational with a witty twist. She shares her life experiences about being raised Italian, a sibling of five, marrying a Sicilian, and disciplining her two children. She is as smart as she is a witty. She captivates the crowd with her charm and her point of view, making her irresistible. She sees the humorous side of life no matter how crazy and hectic it can be.
Fredrick dabbled in comedy in the ’90s before hanging it up to focus on his career in marketing and public relations. Unable to completely disengage from the standup experience, he first put his energies into a fiction novel with a standup protagonist (“A Cross to Bare,” available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com), before returning to the stage in September of 2006. Within a few months, he qualified for a competition at the Miami Improv and began to seek out every possible stage opportunity. Primarily a current-events comic, Jim’s humor stems from his Midwestern upbringing and particular sense of observation. Jim can be found performing throughout South Florida and across the state making audiences laugh with laughter.
Lala (Richard Leis) is a happy-go-lucky native Philadelphian whose surprising dark side shocks audiences up and down the East Coast. On stage he jumps from sincerity to sarcasm, dry wit to uproaring energy. Crowd after crowd love this uniquely semitic, hard-working and funny man. A 20-plus-year student and producer of the arts, Lala is a born standup comedian who has to be seen to be believed. With his quick wit and broad subject matter, he is sure to please everyone.
The Back Room is a home for great comedy. Comedians such as the opening- night lineup is what people can expect to find on The Back Room Comedy Club stage.
“I am extremely proud of The Back Room at Tom’s,” said owner Kevin Hume. “It’s perfect for corporate meetings, private parties, fundraisers and now comedy showcases. Gordon is doing a great job as a promoter and a host. He has a tremendous local following and knows what it takes to do a comedy club the right way. This gives the people of Miami Springs another option for something fun to do on a night out without having to go too far.”
According to Hume, the plans call for the comedy show every third Friday of each month, but due to the popularity of the first showcase Tom’s NFL already has added a second show for June 17. Hume said that if the shows continue to be a success, there could be more dates added each month.
The Back Room Comedy Club’s next performance is scheduled for June 17 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
For more information or reservations, call Meyers at 305-343-2930 or visit www.tomsnfl.com.
- Miami Gazette

In our first issue we gave you a list of 20 local comedians and asked you to vote for your favorite via the blog on our Myspace page for a chance to be featured in our magazine. We are proud to present you the winner...Richy Lala. He's a happy-go-lucky Floridan form Philadelphia whose surprising dark side catches audiences off guard. His sarcasm is top notch and he's even been known to integrate beat boxing into his set. With Improv training at the Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre and experience on almost every stage available in South Florida, Richy is known by nearly everyone in the comedy community.

His work ethic transcends his own ambitions, as Richy played a key role in helping to book many of the working comedians around him. And now he even has an online radio show created to help promote the community -- www.JokerzInternetRadio.com. Chat with Richy online and find out where you can see him preforming next. www.Richylala.com - WeMerge Magazine

In our first issue we gave you a list of 20 local comedians and asked you to vote for your favorite via the blog on our Myspace page for a chance to be featured in our magazine. We are proud to present you the winner...Richy Lala. He's a happy-go-lucky Floridan form Philadelphia whose surprising dark side catches audiences off guard. His sarcasm is top notch and he's even been known to integrate beat boxing into his set. With Improv training at the Philadelphia's Walnut Street Theatre and experience on almost every stage available in South Florida, Richy is known by nearly everyone in the comedy community.

His work ethic transcends his own ambitions, as Richy played a key role in helping to book many of the working comedians around him. And now he even has an online radio show created to help promote the community -- www.JokerzInternetRadio.com. Chat with Richy online and find out where you can see him preforming next. www.Richylala.com - WeMerge Magazine