Coming soon: NYC’S Fifth Comedy Festival.

Quite frankly we are very bored of hearing repeated conversations about the dollar and how great this makes shopping over there (sorry U.S readers), but here in Europe buying an airline ticket to NY seems to come with the obligatory ‘ spare suitcase’ line. Yes, we l-o-v-e shopping, but what happened to the days of buying something beautiful because one likes it? And what also happened to a long weekend in NYC to take in a bit of culture?

So, we went in search of something that was not the Moma and involved leaving The Mercer Hotel. The answer my little frequent flyer is NYC’s Comedy Festival. As Victor Hugo once said, “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human race”. So with this in mind, book a ticket now and ensure laughter not botox removes the lines from your face.

From November 5th-9th, the 5th annual comedy festival will showcase the country’s finest (and we are hoping given this 2008’s strike it may mean lots of new material while the writers waited it out from their TV and film contracts) that include Sarah Silverman, Louis C.K., Katt Williams, The Daily Show Writers, Carlos Mencia, Craig Ferguson, Joel McHale, Frank Caliendo, B.J. Novak, Brian Regan, and Lizz Winstead.

Taking place in venues across the city that include the Hammerstein Ballroom, Carnegie Hall, Caroline and the Townhall, tickets are available now to buy on-line www.nycomedyfestival.com.

If you are still not convinced, preferring a whisky sour in a darkened room at The Bowery, perhaps the NYC Underground Comedy Festival may appeal more to your dark side.

The festival originated from a handful of shows at the West Bank Café Theater in October 2003 and has since developed into a worldwide comedy event. Talent ranging from Chris Rock, to 2007 Emerging Comic’s Contest winner, Josh Homer have graced their stages. It's held slightly earlier than the main festival and will run from October 3rd-12th, giving you just enough time to recover from NY fashion week, put the glitter way and still have time to work a new satirical look.