Michael Che Headlined A Parking Lot Show in Long Island City

A year and a half ago, Amazon touted the Plaxall site in Long Island City as the future site for its East Coast headquarters. The people of New York City said no.

On Sunday afternoon, the people gathered on this same site to watch a stand-up comedy show.

Michael Che, co-head writer of Saturday Night Live and anchor of Weekend Update, had announced the show on Saturday via his Instagram. Massive crowds gathered, thanks in part to Che’s show getting a signal boost from the “Justice For George Floyd” social media accounts, listing Che’s comedy show among the things to do for folks to take action Sunday for #BlackLivesMatter marches, protests, rallies and vigils.

Joining Che to tell jokes from the flatbed of a pickup truck were his regular touring host and opening acts, Cipha Sounds and Rosebud Baker. Also: Nimesh Patel, Big Jay Oakerson, Joe DeRosa and Petey DeAbreu. Plus DJing by Donwill.

Putting it all together were Rebecca A. Trent, owner of nearby The Creek and The Cave, along with her longtime comedy collaborator Christine Evans, and a slew of volunteers. Trent thanked them and Culture Lab LIC, Plaxall and Forrest Sound & Vision “for the amazing space and…for providing perfect sound on the fly for an event we weren’t even sure we could pull off! This was a huge community effort from a lot of amazing people! Thank you LIC & Thank You NYC Comedy Community we got to give a lot of people a good day yesterday.”

Victor Varnado shot video interviews during the event. When he posts them, I’ll share them!

All photos by Mindy Tucker.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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