32,000 Bikers Pass Thru Queens: 5 Boro Bike TourMay 5, 2013 / Long Island City & Astoria / Biking Queens / Queens Buzz. This Sunday some 32,000 bicyclists rode through Astoria and LIC on their way to completing a 40 mile bike ride through all five boroughs of NYC. Photographer Abdel Berrera caught up with them at the Astoria Park rest station where many took a moment to catch their breath. Many of the cyclists come from other countries and other states. The bikers see this as a nice way to see all of New York City, not just Manhattan. There are two 5 Boro Bike Tour rest stops: the first in Astoria Park and the second at the Con Ed rest station along the East River. Many took some time out to make adjustments to their bikes, gear and selves; and consumed a bit of food before resuming the relaxing trip and heading on to Brooklyn and Staten Island. Click here to read a brief report and to see a photo slide show of the 5 Boro Bike Ride in Queens shot by Astoria photographer Abdel Berraha. |
Astoria Moms Defend Children’s RightsMadmen: NYC Dept of Education Does A Don DraperMarch 19, 2013 / Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Schools / Queens Buzz. Editorial / Report. We attended a Community Board One Meeting Tuesday evening, following up on the concerns of Astoria parents, regarding the proposed changes to PS 122, which were recently announced by the Department of Education [DOE]. Having spent a week in pursuit of information from the DOE about the proposed changes – statements regarding the difficulty in obtaining information from them - rang true. In the photo above, Anastasia Cunningham and her son talk about how the Dept of Ed hasn't put anything in writing, hasn't conducted any impact study, and she talked about how the changes could possibly destroy the learning environment that contributes to the success of PS 122 in Astoria. Click here to read the rest of our Editorial / Report on the Community Board One Meeting regarding Department of Education proposed changes to PS 122 Astoria. |
Battle For Control Of PS 122 AstoriaDept of Ed Announces Big Changes & Few DetailsPublic Education Could Be Defining Issue Of NYC Mayoral RaceMarch 17, 2013 / Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Schools / Queens Buzz. The Department of Education announced its intention to make sweeping changes to PS 122 on February 28, 2013 to the PTA of the school. We were told of the general gist of these changes by PS 122 PTA members and parents. We then followed up with the Department of Education, to be sure we understood the Department of Education’s announcement correctly. Before we discuss the general gist of the Department of Education plans for PS 122, it helps to have a bit of background to better understand what appears to be happening.
Click here to read the beginning of our DRAFT report about the Department of Education Plans to reconfigure PS 122 in Astoria. Be advised that there is a Community Board One Meeting March 19, Tuesday evening beginning at 6.30 pm at the Astoria World Manor and a PEP Meeting on March 20th in Brooklyn. The large top photo above was published with permission by Nigel McKenna and the second photo was taken by Queens Buzz of NYC Comptroller and possible Mayoral candidate John Liu listening to concerned PS 122 parents at a United Community Civic Association meeting in Astoria. |
Poletti Power Plant DeconstructionNY Power Authority Works To Safely Remove MaterialsMarch 11, 2013 / Astoria / Queens Neighborhoods / Queens Buzz. I attended a meeting on Thursday evening about the de-construction of the Poletti Power Plant, which is situated on the NY Power Authority site in the northwest section of Astoria. The meeting was sponsored by the United Community Civic Association [aka UCCA] and the event was held at the Augustana Lutheran Church on Ditmars Blvd in Astoria Heights. The bottom line is that current plans call for the de-construction of the old Poletti Power plan to be completed by December 31, 2014. Current planning is underway to figure out how to approach the removal of the old plant materials. Some of the issues include routing of them via trucks through Astoria or via barge on the East River. Click here for the rest of our report, including photos of the NY Power Authority & Poletti Power Plant de-construction. |
Queens Food FusionNutrition & Sumptuous Cuisine in QueensMarch 6, 2013 / Food in Queens / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I attended a nutritious cooking class on February 27th featuring Rocco Sacramone, head Chef and Founder, of Trattoria L’incontro of Astoria; working in tandem with Effie Nerantzis, a Registered Dietician, from Mount Sinai Queens. The event was hosted by the United Community Civic Association at the Central Sushi Bar and Lounge in Astoria. And the program was sponsored by Mount Sinai Queens as part of their community health education outreach efforts, some of which we've covered in the past [see Queens healthcare section]. This particular program was intended to demonstrate how to prepare great tasting foods that are healthy and admission was free. I knew going into this event that it had been fully booked. So I wasn’t surprised as I entered a banquet room, which was fully seated. Rocco and Effie were conversing off stage; while Shelly Felder, Sr Director of Marketing & Communications at Mount Sinai Queens, conversed with Rose Marie Poveromo, President of the United Community Civic Association. The show was about to begin. Click here for our report, including recipes and slide show with photos of Chef Rocco Sacramone of Trattoria L’incontro preparing heart healthy foods. |
Astoria Park Performance SpaceDraft Plans Shown – Public Comment SoughtFebrurary 21, 2013 / Astoria News / Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Buzz. I attended the Community Board 1 meeting on Wednesday night where the Parks Department unveiled their draft plans for the new performance space in Astoria Park. The presentation included a brief history of the Astoria Pool Diving area where the new performance space will be installed, as well as draft details of what is planned. City Councilmember Peter Vallone was credited with securing $4.5 million in NYC funds for the project, which he described as a beginning. There were a number of Astoria and Queens arts groups present at the meeting and they made comments following the presentation. We’ll post more about the Astoria Park Performance space later. Click here to go to the Astoria Neighborhood section of this site, or on the photo above for other Astoria News briefs. We'll have more on this seminar later in the quarter. In the meantime click here for other Astoria News briefs. |
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32,000 Bikers Pass Thru Queens: 5 Boro Bike TourMay 5, 2013 / Long Island City & Astoria / Biking Queens / Queens Buzz. This Sunday some 32,000 bicyclists rode through Astoria and LIC on their way to completing a 40 mile bike ride through all five boroughs of NYC. Photographer Abdel Berrera caught up with them at the Astoria Park rest station where many took a moment to catch their breath. Many of the cyclists come from other countries and other states. The bikers see this as a nice way to see all of New York City, not just Manhattan. There are two 5 Boro Bike Tour rest stops: the first in Astoria Park and the second at the Con Ed rest station along the East River. Many took some time out to make adjustments to their bikes, gear and selves; and consumed a bit of food before resuming the relaxing trip and heading on to Brooklyn and Staten Island. Click here to read a brief report and to see a photo slide show of the 5 Boro Bike Ride in Queens shot by Astoria photographer Abdel Berraha. |
Pedestrian Malls In QueensMeeting On Astoria Pedestrian Mall TuesdaySeptember 10, 2012 / Astoria / Queens Community Issues / Queens Buzz. On Tuesday evening September 11, there’s a Community Board 1 meeting at the Astoria World Manor on 25-22 Astoria Blvd. One of the topics on the agenda is which DOT [Department of Transportation] proposal to approve, regarding changing the traffic configuration in and around the intersection of Newtown Avenue and 30th Avenue in Astoria. According to the Queens DOT, this intersection is the site of numerous accidents, and is more dangerous than approximately 90% of all intersections in Queens. It’s not difficult to understand why, as it is the nexus point for five roads: east & west on 30th Avenue, north & south on 33rd Street and northwest on Newtown Avenue [see map on next page]. The photo to your left was taken on August 25th when Newtown Avenue was temporarily converted into a pedestrian plaza. Click here to read our report on the Newtown Plaza, in which we include related reports on other pedestrian malls in Queens, NYC and NYS. |
Rise of the GuardiansAnimation Exhibit & Video at the Museum of the Moving ImageNovember 10, 2012 / Fashion Film & Music in Queens / Astoria / Queens Buzz. The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria just opened a new film exhibit about the soon-to-be released Dreamworks film, Rise of the Guardians. I’ll tell you more about the exhibit, after I tell you about the film itself, which opens nationally, Wednesday, November 21st in movie theaters around Queens and the nation. In my mind, the movie is already a classic. The pop artwork is superb, the 3 D effects are the best I’ve seen [possibly in part thanks to MOMI facilities] and most importantly, the story is a well told tale - complete with Jungian archetypes and without any real violence. To a weather worn NYC public, this movie will be a welcome escape into a kinder, gentler, animated 3D world. Click here to read more about the Rise of the Guardians 3D animated film exhibit in Astoria Queens. |
Occupy Astoria, LIC & QueensAugust 20, 2012 / Astoria & LIC / Social Issues in Queens / Queens Buzz. I attended the Occupy the Citi rally on June 27th at Citibank to learn a bit more about the Occupy Astoria / LIC movement. As it was only a few days before a number of large Queens high schools were to be re-opened as new schools [on July 1st, 2012], I found several teachers participating who were anxious about being able to keep their jobs. There were also a number of musicians in attendance and one of them was playing a tune on his sax. As this was a protest of sorts, I had kind of expected to see a more angry crowd, but instead I encountered more of a mellow mood. Disillusionment? To be sure, but also some good old fashioned American optimism and tenaciousness right alongside it. Click here to become more familiar with the Occupy Astoria LIC movement in Queens, as we introduce you to some of its members and include a photo slide show. |
Astoria Maps - OverviewClick to view three maps of Astoria: 1) Map of Shopping Districts In Astoria with links to shop home pages on this site, 2) Map of Astoria Restaurants that have been reviewed on this site, and 3) Map of cultural attractions in Astoria most for which there are reports about them to be found on this site. Click here to view Astoria Maps - Maps of Shops, Restaurants and Cultural Attractions in Astoria Queens. It's also a map of some things to do in Astoria Queens. |
Greek Restaurants In AstoriaCavo - Modern Greek Cuisine In QueensAstoria Neighborhood / Astoria Restaurants / Queens Restaurants / Queens Buzz. Cavo is one of the leading modern Greek restaurants in NYC. Cavo is located in the heart of Astoria, just off Steinway Street, only a few blocks walk from the N subway stop. We had occasion to visit Cavo recently, where we were able to enjoy the restaurant's modern Greek cuisine, airy decor and well mannered clientele. You may click here to read a review of one of the leading Greek Restaurants In Astoria - Cavo. |
Restaurants In AstoriaWinegasm - Wine Bar In AstoriaAstoria Neighborhood / Astoria Restaurants / Queens Restaurants / Queens Buzz. Winegasm is a wine and tapas bar in Astoria Queens NY. They offer good service, a nice selection of wines and an appetizing array of finger food as well as a few entrees. We were hosted by one of the restaurant's principals, one of whom is there nearly every evening. Winegasm is located just off Broadway Street between Steinway Street and 31st Street where one can catch the N Subway train. The following review is of some of the wines sampled, along with a variety of appetizers. Click here to read a full review of Winegasm Wine Bar & Restaurant in Astoria. |
Furniture Stores In QueensFurniture In AstoriaThis is a story about shopping for furniture and other things in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY. The story includes interviews with the proprietors and managers of many stores including three furniture stores in Astoria Queens. Click here to read more about furniture and furniture stores in Astoria, LIC & Queens. |
Choosing Florists For Wedding Flowers In QueensWedding Flowers, Bridal Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Banquet Table Flowers In Astoria QueensAstoria Neighborhood / Shopping Queens / Queens Buzz. As any Queens mother will tell you, planning your wedding isn’t an easy project. There are a mind-boggling number of details. And given your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, great effort goes into making sure that every last detail is perfect. Wedding flowers play an important role in the aesthetics of your wedding as they garnish the visual background of the event and present a lasting visual remembrance in the minds and hearts of your family and friends. The Queens bride’s personal sense style are on display on her wedding day. The style reveals itself in the color of the bridesmaid dresses and and couture of the bridal gown, as well as through the ambient beauty of the decorative wedding floral arrangements chosen to decorate the wedding ceremony, wedding hall and wedding feast. Click here to learn more about what to look for when choosing wedding flowers / wedding florists in Astoria Queens. |
Astoria Real Estate - AstoriaReal Estate, Realtors, Condos, Apartments, Prices & MarketAstoria Real Estate / Queens Real Estate / Queens Buzz. This is the Astoria Real Estate section of the site. Click here to view reports about business and real estate in Astoria Queens. |
Astoria Real EstateAstoria / Queens / Updated August 30, 2012 / First published Dec 2009. This is a report on Astoria real estate. The report includes a discussion of supply and demand in the Astoria real estate market, as well as for apartment rentals. Financing and demographic shifts are also included in this report and we have included links to related Queens real estate reports, home pages and real estate classifieds. |
Queens History Is New York's History19th Century Queens Pioneers With Big IdeasSteinway & Sons Legacy Permeates NYC & QueensManhattan NYC & Astoria / December 7, 2010 / Queens Buzz. In our effort to inform Queens Buzz readers about the full historical significance of the Steinway Mansion, we traveled into one of Queens' outerboros: Manhattan. We visited Steinway Hall, which is located on 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues, and which is owned by Steinway & Sons pianos - some 85 years later. Once again, I stepped through a time warp, similar to the one into which I stepped when I visited to the Steinway piano factory and more recently the Steinway Mansion, both of which are located in Astoria in Queens. Steinway Hall was built by Steinway & Sons piano company in 1925, following the erection of Carnegie Hall, which had just supplanted the old Steinway Hall located on 14th Street, as NYC's cultural centerpiece. Click here to read more about Steinway Hall in NYC including numerous photos, or click this link to visit the Steinway Mansion section of Queens Buzz. |
Steinway Mansion - Astoria Real EstateLincoln Era Mansion & Queens History To Be SoldAstoria / August 20, 2010 / Queens Buzz. On Wednesday afternoon I set to work on this story after returning from a fascinating four hour visit with Michael Halberian, owner and whose family occupied, the Steinway Mansion for the past 82 years. The mansion is located in Astoria, just north of 19th Avenue on 41st Street [map link provided at end of story]. I felt like I'd stepped through a time warp, back into the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The visit connected me to one of the legendary centerpieces of Queens history - the Steinway family and the mansion they occupied during their golden years ... but the mansion's history neither starts nor ends there. Michael regaled me with anecdotal tales supported by the many books off his shelves, or by pointing to numerous remnants of the past, kept in pristine shape in this beautiful old Astoria mansion on the hill overlooking the East River. Click here to read more about the Steinway Mansion For Sale In Astoria Queens. 1 opinion posted |
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