The Shipwreck Lounge in Port Orchard has filled the void for regular stand-up comedy in South Kitsap. The bar — Slip 45 — and the Shipwreck Lounge, one of the newest night spots in Port Orchard, moved into the building previously vacated by the notorious Mako’s establishment at 715 Bay St. at the beginning of 2008. At that time, the partners of Shipwreck at Slip 45, noted their ambition to tone down the location’s reputation for violence and illegal activity by attracting a new, more high class clientele.

They kicked it off with $80,000 worth of cleaning, sprucing and restoration before opening the doors in March. That coupled with a new flavor of events — including weekly Wednesday night comedy nights, dancing, live music and more — as well as stricter enforcement look to have done the trick.

As for the comedy, check out nationally feted comedian and Laugh for Life headliner Charlie Weiner at 7 p.m. tonight. Next week local Seattle funnyman Mark Yaffe will share the stage with Drew Thomas, a Def Jam Comedy specialist on tour from Atlanta, July 23.

Info: www.slip45.com, www.myspace.com/slip_45 for the calendar of events or call the bar at (360) 895-7932.