Persona Performa - Ming Wong At MOMI

Museum of the Moving Image Steps Out In Astoria

January 21, 2012 / Astoria / Film in Queens / Queens Buzz. People were lined up outside of the Museum of the Moving Image [MOMI] on both Thursday and Friday nights. They were waiting to see Ming Wong’s performance art production entitled Persona Performa. The production title tidily summed up its essence – an art performance based on an Ingmar Bergman film entitled Persona, which was being performed for Performa 11, the fourth biennial visual arts festival in NYC.

Artistic director, Ming Wong, developed the piece during his residency at MOMI in 2011. He told us that the inspiration for the production came from the minimalist architecture of the museum and an Ingmar Bergman film, Persona, which is generally believed to be one of the ten best works of cinematic art.

Click here to read our report of Ming Wong Persona Performa at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.

Queens Greeks Give Thanks By Sharing

Greek Homeowners Association Feeds Thousands

November 24, 2011 / Queens Buzz. On Thanksgiving Day I was the witness to an event I had wanted to attend for years - the Greek Homeowners Thanksgiving Lunch. Every year, since 1989, the Greek Homeowners Association has been feeding hundreds and then growing to thousands on Thanksgiving Day. I had heard about this event numerous times, and I had been wanting to attend for years.

The Greek Homeowners Association is located along 31st Street just north of 30th Avenue in Astoria. Their quarters are in a modest two story building, which one could normally walk by without noticing, but not on Thanksgiving Day. On Thanksgiving Day, outside the Association, there were people milling about, as well as many coming and going ...

You can see a some of the action in the photo above left. Click here to view our report including a photo slide show of the Greek Homeowners Association Thanksgiving Day lunch in Astoria Queens.

Musical Saw Festival 2011 In Astoria

What’s The Buzz – Tell Me What’s A Happening

July 16, 2011 / Astoria Neighborhood / Live Music / Queens Buzz. I attended the 9th annual Musical Saw Festival this year. It was held at the Hellenic Cultural Center just off Crescent Street in Astoria. And while I had read about the festival for the past two years, and seen videos of it on the internet last year, I can now assure you that it’s not nearly as good as being there.

I arrived midway through the four-hour festival and many of the headlining talent had finished playing. But as a novice whose sole interest was to experience the festival, exactly who was playing didn't matter as much as it might to an aficionado. I had come to see, hear and talk to people who play music on their saws.

Click here to read more about and see photos of the Musical Saw Festival in Astoria Queens NYC.

St Markella Festival In Astoria

14th Century Saint From Greek Island Of Chios Honored

September 19, 2011 / Astoria Neighborhood / Queens Buzz. I visited the parish of St. Markella this Sunday as they were winding down their weekend long celebration in honor of St. Markella. They had closed the block on 26th Street between 23rd Avenue and Ditmars Blvd, creating a warm, relaxing, village-like feel to the public occasion.

The local parishoners had brought home made dishes of stuffed tomatoes, skewered lamb, mixed vegetables, moussaka, baclava and other desserts and delectables to celebrate the occasion. I talked with several people affiliated with the church including Father Michael. And in the report that will follow sometime in the future, we'll provide a bit of history and a slide show of St Markella in Astoria.

Michael Halberian: 1927 - 2010

Steinway Mansion Owner Dies

December 30, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. Michael Halberian, owner of the Steinway Mansion in Astoria, died Monday evening around 7 pm. We have unofficial reports that he died of cardio obstruction pulmonary disorder. Michael turned 83 in November.

Michael is survived by two children, Michele Kazarian and John Halberian [wife Stephanie]; his sister, Rosemary; five grandchildren including Jackie and Katie Kazarian and Christopher, Meg and Jack Halberian; and neices and nephews.

Services will be held at 2 pm at the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside. The church is located on the corner of Horace Harding Expressway [LIE] and Oceania Boulevard.

Later this weekend we'll post more about the life of Michael Halberian and the historical Steinway Mansion for which he so loved and cared. Michael is shown standing in front of the Steinway Mansion in the photo above circa the 1930's.

Queens History Is New York's History

19th Century Queens Pioneers With Big Ideas

Steinway & Sons Legacy Permeates NYC & Queens

Manhattan 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.

Astoria Maps - Overview

Click 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.

Greek Restaurants In Astoria

Cavo - Modern Greek Cuisine In Queens

Astoria 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.

Astoria Restaurants - Restaurants In Astoria

Astoria / Queens Buzz.  This section contains restaurant reviews of the restaurants in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY.  Astoria has some of the finest ethnic restaurants in the city of New York.  Some of its better known ethnic restaurants are of Greek, Egyptian and Italian origin.

Click here to enter the Restaurants In Astoria section of the site.

Choosing Florists For Wedding Flowers In Queens

Wedding Flowers, Bridal Bouquets, Boutonnieres, Banquet Table Flowers In Astoria Queens

Astoria 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.

All Natural Hand Made Soaps

The Little Soap Shoppe In Astoria

February 7, 2011 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I found a unique little shop just off Ditmars Street on 36th Street about six months ago.  The name of the store is The Little Soap Shoppe and its owner is Vivian Dritsas.  Vivian is an enthusiastic local producer of handmade soaps who I enjoyed meeting.  Before I left she gave me a soap sample to take home to try out.

A few weeks later I tried the raw cut of handmade soap and I instantly noticed the difference.  The lemongrass soap I used is one of four of the handmade soaps reviewed in this story.  Click here to read more about the Little Soap Shoppe in Astoria Queens.

Astoria Real Estate

Astoria / Queens / December 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. 

Click here to view our report on the market for Astoria Real Estate.

Business & Real Estate In Astoria

Real Estate, Realtors, Condos, Apartments, Prices & Market

Astoria 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.