Audiences typically search comedy reveals as a supply of leisure, a distraction, an interesting-at-best first date. On a Thursday evening, simply two days after the 2024 presidential election, stand-up at Child Battista was offering neighborhood in the beginning.
A present that originated early on within the wine bar venue’s conception, “That Rocks! With Bri Rodebaugh” spotlights the sweethearts of the comedy world. Relatively on theme, the lineup managed to convey permission to chuckle reasonably than demand guffaws.
Throughout her opening set, host Rodebaugh admitted, “I do feel separate from the rest of the world down here.”
Comprehensible. As is demonstrated by the stage’s plush rug, strategically positioned pine-scented candles and a lighting design of pinks, blues and oranges, consolation is the No. 1 precedence at Child Battista.
Positioned on Glendale Boulevard in Atwater Village, Child Battista may be discovered beneath the bottle store Nico’s. Previous the chilled reds, crisp whites and funky oranges, a squiggly arrow pointing down a staircase directs wine fanatics and comedy followers alike. The revamped basement goes far past a childhood good friend’s enviable rec room — it has higher temper lighting, for one.
“It’s almost like a speakeasy show, where the audience feels like they’re in on something cool, and that’s really great as a performer because the energy is already lifted — the space is already set up for you — and the ceilings are low so the laughter is that much louder,” mentioned Ever Mainard, the primary comedian to run their hour at Child Battista.
Mainard’s present, “Ottis,” dissects the connection between their queer id and their rural Texas upbringing. As Mainard particulars the ins and outs of “cool Christianity” and Van Gogh tramp stamps, the basement pipes are fully forgotten.
“[The pipes] just add to the authenticity. This place isn’t backed by a restaurant group. It’s not backed by investors. We’re bringing it back to the fact that it’s so homegrown,” explains proprietor Nicole Peltier — Nico herself.
Sam Oh performs throughout “That Rocks!” at Child Battista.
(Callie Biggerstaff)
“Homegrown” is simply the phrase to explain Nico’s and Child Battista. Peltier and the pinnacle of programming, Bogart Avila, share a historical past that started lengthy earlier than the house’s opening this previous January.
The 2 met freshman yr in yearbook class at Crescenta Valley Excessive Faculty, simply 10 miles north of the playful Nico’s signal that options two fish sharing a glass of wine. Nico’s was initially a cell wine bar. It was the closure of the earlier enterprise, Oeno Vino Wine Store & Bar, additionally a wine store up high and bar/comedy hub under, that impressed Peltier to hunt the assistance of her highschool good friend group. The stage, graphic design and preliminary menu course are all attributed to numerous Crescenta Valley Falcon alums.
“I had the vision for the design of the bar and the shop. And Bogart’s been in the comedy scene for a long time in L.A. I thought it would only make sense if he ran the comedy portion of the venue,” mentioned Peltier.
Avila’s background in stay leisure extends to work with Apple, NBC and Upright Residents Brigade. Child Battista was a chance to mix his pursuits whereas creating a venue snug for all. Within the midst of the stage actually being set and the sound system reworked, Avila took varied comedians via the house to make sure the newest addition to the L.A. comedy scene was “built with the artists in mind.”
“Even Jamie Flam, who runs Dynasty Typewriter, hopped on the phone with me for an hour just to help me figure out how to do the ticketing split that would benefit the artist and the audience as well as pay the staff and air conditioning costs,” mentioned Avila.
Flam is the co-owner and co-artistic director of Dynasty Typewriter, which can be homegrown. The comedy hub is situated in Westlake, the neighborhood Flam’s grandmother grew up in. Los Angeles could also be expansive, however it stays simply as supportive as any small city — native companies working in alliance.
“We don’t see it as competition when there’s other venues; it’s just more opportunity for comedians and artists to get stage time, and it’s ultimately better for everyone,” mentioned Flam.
With greater than 20 comedy reveals a month, Child Battista manages to showcase established comics whereas additionally celebrating new voices. That is evidenced within the aptly named Inexperienced Day Room. The inexperienced room and ode to Peltier’s favourite band may be discovered stage left. The punk band’s images and album covers are scattered on the partitions along with the signatures of performers.
This personal touch evokes a way of residence. Encouraging somebody to mark the wall with their identify speaks to the sentiment, “This is yours too.” Among the many signatures are Ever Mainard, Atsuko Okatsuka and Joe Mande (written in a coronary heart), together with a doodle of a turkey and a smattering of “Happy Birthdays”.
One of many Sharpied names is Melissa Villaseñor, a slapstick comedian and “Saturday Night Live” alum. After a few performances at Child Battista, Villaseñor mentioned, “The space has a welcoming and calming vibe, so it naturally helps me feel safe to be myself and to try new things.”
The Child Battista stage beneath Nico’s wine bar in Atwater Village.
(Callie Biggerstaff)
That security is intentional.
“Top priority was to make this a place that was very inclusive to more comedians and a safe space for anyone to come in. I do tell everyone that I won’t tell them how to run their show unless I see a lineup that’s six comedians and five are men. Then I might hop in and ask, ‘Hey, what happened here? We’d love to see less of that. We’re a women-owned business, we should reflect that in our programming,’” mentioned Avila.
The femme-led reveals preserve the Child Battista stage busy. A staple of the earlier enterprise, Maggie Cannan and Lilliana Winkworth’s “Sad-Funny” is “a comedy show about things that make you sad.” Megan Koester, Anna Seregina and Alison Stevenson host “Loose,” a free, weekly stand-up present. Alice Polocoser and Juliet Prather lean into Child Battista’s fashionable atmosphere with their fashion-forward comedy present, “Alice and Juliet Try It On,” which turns the aisle right into a catwalk.
The 5 open mics additionally keep that kindness Avila and Peltier worth.
“Open mics can really set the tone of a venue. The hosts define those spaces as safe spaces, a place to fail and mess up as long as no one is intentionally making it unsafe,” mentioned Avila.
With a considerate curation of beer, wine, cocktails and small bites, some guests start as wine lovers and depart comedy followers. Avila emphasizes, “We’re a bar with a venue, not a venue with a bar.” Along with comedy, Child Battista hosts a slew of sport nights, film screenings, DJs and musicians — it’s Atwater Jazz Membership’s residence base.
“I’m so grateful that Atwater has taken us in, that the comedy world has taken us in. It’s both of our first times doing something like this — to be able to do it together is really special,” mentioned Peltier.
A standard purpose shared between the comic and the viewers member is to really feel much less alone. The comic shares a thought and hopes the viewers will get it too. If the celebs align — a joke hits — there kinds a second of neighborhood. To determine and hone in on a specific neighborhood, it helps to be part of it.
“I take a lot of pride to walk out the front door at Nico’s and see the mountains we grew up on,” mentioned Avila.
Because the comedy scene of Los Angeles expands, its homegrown residents know simply the precise method to maintain audiences laughing or, on the very least, feeling at residence. A bottle of pinot will get handed round associates as they chuckle in regards to the throes of recent relationship. That’s a house.
