Get ready for an unforgettable night of laughter and fine wine at The Grapes of Laughs, a unique comedy shows where each stand-up comedian’s set is paired with the perfect wine to elevate the experience.The evening will feature Brian Balthazar (HBO MAX, Today Show, VH1, Page Six) and Stephanie Hertel (Local Sex Therapist/Stand-up) hosted by creator Ophira Eisenberg(The Late Late Show, NPR, The Moth). Each comedian’s act will be paired with a carefully selected wine by a local wine expert Dori Fackler to enhance the mood and flavor of their set. From dry approachable whites to bold complex reds, each wine will complement the tone and energy of the comedian’s style, creating a truly immersive experience. Our wine expert and host lead the audience through the tasting of wine and then segue to introducing the comic whose persona and act is a perfect pairing to it!
Standup and creator of the show Ophira Eisenberg, who is an aspiring wine snob, wanted to create something unique where comedy lovers and wine enthusiasts can come together in a cool setting, for a night of fun, laughter, and a little wine education. Just like a great wine, comedy can have its own distinct flavors, and this show gives the audience a chance to taste the perfect pairing for every punchline.
Ophira Eisenberg is standup comic, writer and host well-known from her 9 years as host of the NPR hit trivia show "Ask Me Another”. As a comedian, Ophira has performed on The Late Late Show, Comedy Central, This Week at The Comedy Cellar, Kevin Hart's LOL Network, plus appearances on The Today Show and HBO's Girls. She has two hit comedy specials, Inside Joke and Plant-Based Jokes, and she performs regularly at The Comedy Cellar and Gotham Comedy Club in New York. Ophira also hosts the Webby award winning comedy-parenting podcast "Parenting Is A Joke" Her memoir Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy was optioned for a television series. Her solo show Leaving A Mark: A Comedy About Scars, was a New York Times Critic's Pick and won the Women in the Arts & Media Award for Solo Show Scripts. She will be taping her new comedy special at The Comedy Cellar in New York on November 9th.
Brian Balthazar is a television personality, executive producer, and pop culture commentator. He recently appeared on the HBO MAX competition series “Human Vs Hamster,” which is a real show - as a sideline correspondent and co-host alongside Saturday Night Live’s Sarah Sherman and NFL Network host Kyle Brandt.
In between hosting specials and series, Brian regularly appears as a “talking head” on television news programs including the Today Show and NBC News Daily, providing entertainment headlines and hilarious spontaneous remarks. (Hilarity is subjective.) Previously, he appeared as a recurring guest on The Wendy Williams Show, providing the Inside Scoop on celebrities and segments on What’s Trending.
A sought after expert on pop culture who provides both insight and irreverent humor, he’s been a regular guest host and panelist on a variety of shows including Page Six TV, The Talk, Amazon Live, People Now! and a number of shows and documentaries appearing on VH1, Tubi, and more.
Brian blends his continued passion for trends, humor and pop culture as the head of his own production company, Balthazar Entertainment, where he creates and executive produces shows for cable networks and streamers. He draws upon his previous experience as a respected television producer who launched the fourth hour of the Today Show with Hoda and Kathie Lee, as a co-executive producer of The View, as well as many years at HGTV executive.
An avid dog lover and rescuer, his dogs Friday and Auggie are very attached and are likely backstage somewhere or hanging from one of his arms.
Stephanie Hertel is a Sex Therapist-turned-comedian based in the Hudson Valley, who thinks writing bios is harder than writing comedy. Equal parts domestic and feral, she brings big laughs to big topics — Blending sharp wit with stories of sex, relationships, vulnerability, and the struggles of everyday life.
AGES 21+
Limited Seating