Astoria, Queens-it's not all grape leaves and feta.
By michelle enfield
26 May 2008
Welcome to Astoria!
When people think of neighborhoods in New York City, they usually think of SoHo in Manhattan or Park Slope in Brooklyn without hesitation. But...there is also Astoria, Queens...a bustling neighborhood just over the East River.
Remember Archie Bunker? He lived here. So did the Jeffersons before they "moved on up" to the Upper East Side. Remember the Huxtables? The Cosby Show (although set in Brooklyn) was filmed right here in Queens. What's the best piano you can buy? The Steinway, of course, and they make them here in Astoria, at the same factory since 1880. Astoria Park is home to NYC's largest swimming pool, which was used for qualifying events for the 1936 and 1964 Summer Olympics.
Astoria was named after millionaire John Jacob Astor while he was still alive. Although it was across the river from his posh Upper East Side mansion, ironically, Mr. Astor never paid the village a visit. Astoria, nicknamed "Little Greece," has the largest Hellenic population outside of Greece...but it's not all grape leaves and feta cheese... in fact it's remarkably diverse. Sure, you can find a mean kalamata olive, but you can also gorge on kielbasa at the historic Bohemian Beer Garden, drink winter-time glogg at an eclectic cafe, or chow on frogs' legs at a rustic French bistro. When you get a sudden 3am craving for mangos, just head over to the 24 hour fruit markets on 30th avenue. They'll hook you up.
It's not just the food that is diverse, the people are too. Astoria attracts a mix of all different nationalities. A true melting pot, you will find old-world grandmas from all over, along with newly arrived immigrants trying to eek out a living. Many taxi garages are located in Astoria and the drivers are locals, so you often see these bright yellow icons starting or ending their shifts here. The rent is easily half what it is in Manhattan, which makes it appealing to anyone on a budget (or one who doesn't care so much about impressing others with a trendy address). Students, artists, Midwestern transplants, working class families and even hipsters call Astoria home.
There is certainly a thriving artistic community here with museums, galleries and film studios. At the wonderful waterfront Socrates Sculpture Park, you can see artists at work on their projects. You can also catch a film there in the summertime... appropriately, this years' theme is celebrating the cultural diversity in Queens.
Astoria is an easy commute to Manhattan via the N, R or W trains. Residents joke that they stand for "Never", "Rarely" and "When?!," but it's not usually that bad unless you are traveling late at night. Once the N/W train enters the borough of Queens, it rises above ground and travels on an elevated track, giving a scenic view of Astoria with the Queensboro and Triborough bridges in the background.
So don't be like John Jacob Astor! Take that Metrocard and swipe your way to Queens! Astoria is a vibrant neighborhood full of dining options, arts destinations, and lovely parks just waiting to be discovered. It's well worth the trip!
