QED Jams Out For the Astoria Park Alliance

This past Sunday afternoon at the Q.E.D. Jam for Astoria Park Alliance, drinks were poured, music was played, and jokes were told, all for a great cause: raising funds and awareness for Astoria Park Alliance, or APA.

Event organizers Martha and Tom bounced around between greeting guests, introducing performers, and spreading their passion for bringing out the very best in our local park. Their message was clear and contagious: Astoria Park is OUR community park, both to enjoy and take care of. The event served as a call to action, and to remind Astorians that whatever skills they possess are valuable to the cause, whether it be park upkeep like painting and garden maintenance or business skills like social media and marketing. Spend a few minutes with Martha or Tom, and their energy will certainly rub off on you!

The first performer of the afternoon was Chris Pizzolo, a local musician and co-founder of the music blog Play Too Much. A NYC native, Chris kicked things off with two tunes reflecting on younger years in the city.

Local stand up comedian Alex Carabaño took the stage next, and instantly won over the crowd. Whether he was poking fun at his appearance, his diet, or the dancing skills of the audience, Alex kept us all in stitches.

The final performer of the afternoon was Colin Dempsey, an Irish singer-songwriter, who can also be heard with his band Super Small. Colin charmed the audience with his affable accent and catchy indie-rock, as well as his storytelling. A common tale, Colin shared his original plan to only stay in New York City a little while to “try it out,” only to realize eleven years later that he’s still here.

Astoria Park Alliance is an organization that protects one of our community’s most vital resources, and is always looking for energetic volunteers. Their next event, taking place this Saturday, March 7, will enlist volunteers to beautify the park after the long winter, whether it be painting, raking, or general cleanup. To learn more about how to get involved, check out Astoria Park Alliance’s blog.