It was a potentially risky gambit for the Joke Joint to relocate from its former spot at the Ramada Inn in Bloomington, near the high-traffic area of the MOA, but the move across the river to Lilydale near South St. Paul proved fortuitous. The new digs, in the old Diamond Jim's location with its cozy balcony and old-fashioned saloon motif, is a distinctive and intimate space where the club has cultivated a good following. Check it out for free every Wednesday at the open-mic night. Newbies looking to try their hand at standup can attend the free comedy workshop from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., where would-be comics can practice their jokes and receive constructive criticism and moral support. The free workshop and comic-friendly attitude have endeared a lot of local pros to the Joke Joint, who use the weekly open mics to try out new material, so you can say you saw it here first. Free. 8 p.m. Wednesdays. 801 Sibley Memorial Hwy., Lilydale; 651.330.9078. (Photo by sparetomato @Flickr)
