Both laughter and tears can be cathartic, but only laughter is OK in front of your dog. Laugh until you cry with this deal: for $25, you get a standup-comedy package for two at Helium Comedy Club (up to a $62 total value). The package includes:

• Two general-admission tickets to any regular performance (up to a $25 value each). See the schedule for upcoming shows.
• Two well drinks, beers, glasses of wine, or nonalcoholic drinks (up to a $6 value each). The drinks included in this deal do not count toward the club’s two-item minimum.<p>

Helium Comedy Club’s prominence in Portland’s chuckling scene attracts a lineup of television veterans and nationally headlining standup acts almost every Thursday–Saturday. Upcoming performers include Gary Owen (June 21–23) of BET’s ComicView and Kyle Kinane (July 5–7) of Comedy Central Presents. From Tuesday, May 29, to Sunday, June 10, the club hosts Portland’s Funniest Person Contest, the winner of which will win a grand prize of $1,000 and the right to carry a light-up applause sign wherever they go.

Comedians ply their wares in front of a tiered showroom that allows audiences a clear sight line and maximizes guffaw acoustics. Though the club holds guests to a two-item minimum, the menu inspires curiosity regarding maximum orders, with tempting savories such as shrimp cocktail, pulled-pork sliders, avocado and chicken paninis, and spicy potato bites with ranch dressing.