By Diane Feen
If you’re tired of all the partisan bickering in Washington and suffering from post-holiday boredom, you might need a quick pick me up. That’s why we headed to West Boca to check out the New York Comedy Club. Although the club is tucked away in the back of the Piccadilly Square Shopping Center on Glades Road, it seems miles away from the familiar West Boca scene.
As a matter of fact, once you enter this homey bastion of comedy, you might think you were in New York City or Brooklyn
Diane Feen
(whichever comes first).
There’s a Statue of Liberty, faux brick wall and insular burgundy walls. And the place is packed with people whose only mission for the night is to have fun. It’s as if you’re on a cruise ship with a bunch of wacky comedians and guest hosts who want to make sure you’re happy (it beats Prozac).
The New York Comedy Club is not only a great place to hang out with friends and release some endorphins, it’s also a great place to eat before the show. Some comedy and music clubs serve food that could best be described as airplane fare. But at the New York Comedy Club, the food is very good. The hamburgers are excellent and come with fries, and the potstickers and chicken sandwiches are great. Drinks abound as well, and why not – it’s part of the comedy club ritual.
You know the minute you walk into this local comedy club that they are doing something right. The place is filled to capacity on weekend nights and during the season, it’s a hot ticket. And there’s good reason. The place is exciting and the comedians are first rate.
“I grew up in the hood in East Boca,” said comedian Dexter Angry. “Who in the audience is married – I just joined your flock. Now I can be reminded daily of my flaws.”
The next comedian, Al Lubel, is a big star (and a very funny man). He has been on Letterman, Leno and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. And it’s easy to see why – Lubel is hysterically funny. “I realized I was getting older when no one said, ‘relax, you have your whole life ahead of you.’ Instead they say, ‘Are your parents still alive?’”
Lubel had us laughing so hard we forgot about our earthly cares and woes. “I was a criminal attorney but my clients never paid 
their bills. You know why, because they are criminals.” He also talked a lot about his mother. “I had such an overly protective Jewish mother that I want to find an extra Christian woman. If I marry a Jewish girl I insist that she convert.”
After being reluctant to go to a Florida comedy club because I felt it might be inferior to the ones in the big city, I am now a believer. The New York Comedy Club is a real jewel in our midst. The staff is upbeat and friendly and the comedians are first rate. I can’t wait to go back.
If you are funny (or others think you are) try out at one of their Open Mic nights the last Thursday of every month.
The New York Comedy Club is at 8221 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Call (561) 470-6887 for information or a reservation.