If standup has a First Avenue, local and touring comedians alike will pinpoint Acme as a top candidate. And it's not just because it's one of the few dedicated Twin Cities venues to tough out two decades, through comedy boom and bust alike. The 275-strong capacity crowds are big enough to make good sets feel utterly electric without dwarfing the headliner's up-close impact, a dynamic that works to the benefit of cult favorites and comedy-connoisseur heroes like Maria Bamford, Kyle Kinane, and Marc Maron. It boasts a history of some now-legendary sets being recorded for posterity there — Mitch Hedberg's Mitch All Together, Doug Benson's Hypocritical Oaf, and the Sklar Brothers' Poppin' the Hood, among others — and not a week goes by without a national name of note pulling a long-weekend stand. Best of all, Acme's lack of a two-drink-minimum, coupled with an emphasis on bring-your-friends open mic and new talent showcases, reveal an enthusiasm for the art form that's built one of the most loyal customer fan bases in town.