The Happy Hour Story Experiment is as warm and fuzzy as a Valentine's teddy bear. In fact, prospective storytellers' names are literally picked democratically from a fuzzy Valentine's bear basket. The pro-am talent onstage includes veteran performers like Maria Bamford, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Drew Droege, Jillian Lauren and Anna David trying out new material but is often dominated by newbies taking their first baby steps onstage. Producers Eve Sturges (who writes blog the Magpie List) and Melinda Hill (whose star-studded stand-up show, What's Up Tiger Lily?, immediately follows Story Experiment every week) are always gentle with first-timers. Time dilates, sweat pools, mouths go dry — every Monday at 6:30 p.m. 6122 Sunset Blvd., Hlywd. (323) 466-9917, facebook.com/storyexperiment.

—Greg Miller

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