Friday Comedy Night and Open Mic in Port Jefferson

Every Friday night Roots Kava Bar turns into a small comedy club. There's an open mic first, then a set of live comedy from working Long Island comedians. It all happens in our lounge at 250 East Main Street in Port Jefferson, and nobody in the room is drinking alcohol.

Friday, Oct 30: Halloween edition. The Healing Circle for Women presents the All Female Cast Costume Party and Halloween Comedy Show at 8:30pm. Entry is $5 with a 1 drink minimum. Cara Amore headlines, Kendra Siani hosts, and the lineup includes Cynthia Cayea, Karen Anderson, Conncetta Coppola and Jen Lavaruso. Come in costume.

How the night runs

Sign-ups start at 7:30pm. Come a little early if you want a spot on the list, grab a drink at the bar and find a seat.

The open mic starts at 8:00pm. It's open to anything you want to try in front of a crowd: music, poetry, creative writing or stand-up. First timers are welcome, and so are people who have been doing this for years. The room seats about 40, which is big enough to feel like a show and small enough that you hear every laugh.

At 9:00pm the pros take over. We book professional comedians from around Long Island for the second half of the night, so even if you only come to watch, you're getting a real show.

There's a suggested donation at the door. The money goes toward creating and running performing arts programs, so the night helps the next round of people who want to get up on a stage.

Who it's for

Pretty much anyone. Because Roots is alcohol-free, the crowd is mostly people who came to listen, and nobody gets heckled by a guy six drinks deep. We see Stony Brook students, couples on a date night, sober friends who are tired of every Friday plan being built around a bar, and performers working out new material.

If you're the designated driver for your group, this is a night out where you get to order something real instead of nursing a soda.

What to drink

The full menu is available all night. Some people go with kava in a shell, some get a matcha latte or a coffee to stay sharp for the late set, and a lot of people order off the mocktail list. You can see everything on our menu. Happy Hour runs 4pm to 7pm daily if you want to come early.

Want the room for your own group on another night? We host private parties for up to about 40 people.

Getting here

Roots Kava Bar is at 250 East Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, up the hill from the harbor and a short walk from the ferry. We're open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 11pm Sunday through Thursday. Directions are on our visit page, and you can call us at (934) 259-8902. Follow @rootskavabarny on Instagram for each week's flyer.

Comedy night FAQ

Do I need a ticket?

No. Just walk in. There's a suggested donation at the door.

Can I perform if I've never done an open mic?

Yes. Put your name on the list at 7:30pm. Music, poetry, creative writing and comedy all count.

Is there alcohol?

No. Roots is an alcohol-free bar. The drinks are kava, coffee, matcha, tea and mocktails.

What time does the comedy start?

The open mic starts at 8:00pm and the professional comedians go on at 9:00pm. We're open until 1am on Fridays.