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.

Queens Art Festival All Weekend

Queens Art Express Events This Weekend

June 15, 2011 / Astoria / Long Island City / Sunnyside & Woodside / Jackson Heights / Flushing / Art In Queens / Queens Buzz. I just returned from an evening at the Kick Off Party for this weekend’s art extravaganza entitled Queens Art Express [aka QAX]. The reception was held in the main lobby of Kaufman Astoria Studios and attracted a crowd that included people involved in theater, art, history, dance and business in Queens.

The photo to your left shows the lobby of Kaufman Astoria Studios during the Queens Art Express Kick Off Party. Click here to view our story and photos of the Queens Art Express Kick Off Party.

Who Was Benjamin Pike?

Steinway Mansion Builder Made A Mint

April 17, 2011 / Astoria / History Of Queens / Queens Buzz. I had a rare opportunity to meet someone who was well acquainted with the story of Benjamin Pike Jr. Benjamin Pike Jr. was the man who built the mansion that was lived in for over fifty years by the Steinways of Steinway & Sons Piano in Astoria. During my efforts to report this story, I had here-to-fore found it very difficult to find much published about Benjamin Pike. Hence you can imagine my delight when I met Deborah Jean Warner, who had once curated an exhibit dedicated to the Steinway Mansion founder, at the Smithsonian Institution.

Deborah has curated many exhibits about the history of physical sciences and is the author of several books. Deborah's work in 19th century scientific instruments lead her to curate the Pike exhibit. When it comes to selling scientific instruments in America in the 19th century, Benjamin Pike Jr. was an innovator who loomed large.

Click here next week to read our full report about Benjamin Pike Jr., the founder and owner of the Pike Mansion, which later came to be known as the Steinway Mansion in Astoria.

Five Boro Bike Ride 2011 - Photos

Queens Boro Bridge & Astoria Park In Queens

May 1, 2011 / Long Island City LIC & Astoria Park / Sporting Activities / Queens Buzz. This event begins at 9 am in lower Manhattan, so we expect the first riders by about 9.30 with the bulk of them coming through between 10 am and the leisurely ones leaving about 12 noon. The 42 mile course runs through Queens by coming off the Queens Borough Bridge and heads north along 21st Street to Astoria Park. There's a rest stop at the park, while cyclists turn around and head south, mostly along Vernon Blvd before leaving the borough over the Pulaski Bridge. Over 30,000 cyclists are expected to participate and over 1,500 people volunteer in the program.

Click here to view our report of the Five / 5 Boro Bike Ride 2011 Astoria Park Queens with photos.

Greek Orthodox Easter 2011

St. Demetrios Procession Photos - Astoria

April 22, 2011 / Astoria / Ethnic & Religious Culture / Queens Buzz.  Tonight I attended one of the most interesting religious events of the year – the Holy Friday procession through the streets of Astoria by the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Demetrios.  It’s an ancient tradition, dating back thousands of years, and having come to this country from nearly eight thousand kilometers away.

St Demetrios Church services had begun two hours earlier, commemorating the holiest week of the year, on one of the holiest days of the year.  Holy Friday commemorates the death of Jesus Christ and the procession through the streets is a sort of symbolic funeral procession for Him.

Click here to read more about and view photos of the Greek Orthodox Easter 2011 in Astoria.

The Steinway Diaries

Smithsonian Brings 19th Century Queens Alive

Time Is Running Out - Steinway Mansion Contents Being Auctioned

February 19, 2011 / Astoria LIC / History of Astoria & Queens / Queens Buzz. On Monday, March 7th at 7 pm the Greater Astoria Historical Society will be hosting the Smithsonian Institution’s presentation of the William Steinway Diaries.

These diaries are a first person account written by one of the most influential people in the emerging American metropolis of New York City in the latter half of the 19th century. The diaries begin in 1861 around the time of William Steinway’s first wedding [and the beginning of the American Civil War] and continue throughout the rest of his life, terminating only weeks before he died in 1896.

I had the opportunity to talk with Bob Singleton, Executive Director of the Greater Astoria Historical Society in anticipation of the Smithsonian Institution’s presentation of the Steinway Diaries on March 7th. He took me through some of the interesting things to investigate using the online project that was the Smithsonian’s “largest and longest-running volunteer research efforts”. A copy of one of the transcribed pages from the Smithsonian's Steinway Diaries website is shown inset in a photo of the Steinway Mansion in Astoria.

The general public is welcome to the March 7th presentation, and it is highly recommended that you purchase / rsvp tickets in advance. Click here to read our look into the William Steinway Diaries.

Space Age Museum Touches Down

 In Queens

January 11, 2011 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. The Museum Of The Moving Image, after about five years in transition, unveiled their expanded and redone museum to the delight of the press. The renovation greatly expanded the screening, gallery and interactive space of the museum; while renovating the space containing the museum's original exhibits. In total, the renovation nearly doubled the space of the museum to nearly 100,000 square feet.

The leading architect of the firm handling the renovation talked about 'transporting' people from their everyday lives in the same way that good cinema does. Based upon my own experience in the new Museum Of The Moving Image, I'd venture to say that they met that objective quite nicely.

Click here to read our report and view our slide show of the newly remodeled Museum Of The Moving Image in Astoria. The museum hosted a grand opening gala on Saturday, January 15th.

Astoria Music Society

Performance Of Part I of Handel's Messiah

December 13, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. The Astoria Music Society, under the baton of guest conductor Bahman Saless, performed Part One of Handel's Messiah at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts [FSA] in Astoria. The Astoria Symphony, the newly-formed Astoria Symphonic Choir and the FSA Choir collaborated on the performance of this majestic work created by Georg Handel in the 18th century. The leads were sung by soprano Jennifer Behnke, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Mondragon, tenor Thomas Wazelle and bass Matthew Singer. About 120 musicians in all joined in the performance. Photos were provided by Alex Lauren. Click here to view a report about the Astoria Music Society, including a slide show of the performance of Handel's Messiah.

Islam In America / Ramadan 2010

Ramadan Begins Holiest Month Of The Muslim Year

Queens / August 10, 2010 / Queens Buzz. On Tuesday night, August 10th, the month of Ramadan began. Ramadan is the holiest month of the year to Muslims and coincides with the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar which is based on the actual rotations of the moon. The moon actually circles the earth about 12 1/3 times per year. Western countries, such as the United States, work according to the Gregorian calendar which originated as a lunar calendar, but was later modified to provide more standardized dates to correspond with the seasons.

Ramadan is a month long period when Muslims are asked to fast and abstain from sexual activities from sunrise to sunset. During this thirty day period they are also required to increase their attendance at mosques, during which time verses are recited from the Koran, so that by the time Ramadan is over, the entire Koran has been read. The intent of the month is to spiritually cleanse onesself and get closer to god [Allah].

These practices bear many similarities to other religions, including Judaism and Christianity. In Christianity during the Lenten season which lasts forty days, Christians are asked to abstain from some personally chosen worldly desires. During Yom Kippur Jews are asked to fast for a day. And in all three religions, these abstinent periods coincide with the holiest time of the year.

Approximately 300,000 Queens residents and about one billion people worldwide are Muslims. The photo above is of a history book which includes numerous translations of original Islamic texts assembled by Professor William McNeill of the University of Chicago and upon which much of our report is based. Click here to learn more about Islamic culture, Muslims & Mosques in Queens NY.

Is Queens Becoming Hollywood East?

Kaufman Astoria Studios In Queens NY

August 16, 2010 / Astoria & Long Island City / Queens Buzz. We had the opportunity to visit Kaufman Astoria Studios last week. It was a fun and interesting peek into the competitive TV / film production world, of which NYC and Queens, have long been worthy contenders.

Since George Kaufman took control of the Queens based studios in the early 1980's Kaufman Astoria Studios [KAS] has grown to become one of the leading TV / Film production complexes in the NYC metro area.  That said, as of this post, George's current ownership position and role in Kaufman Astoria Studios, remains unclear.

Click here to read our report about our visit, including numerous photos, of Kaufman Astoria Studios. It's the tale about TV and Film studios in Queens NYC and about a studio with a legendary past and a promising future.

Astoria Performing Arts Center

Astoria Performing Arts Center - Children Of Eden

May 4, 2010 / Astoria / Queens Buzz. I just returned from watching a dress rehearsal of Children Of Eden which is about to open at the Astoria Performing Arts Center [APAC] at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Astoria. I’ll start by clarifying the relationship of APAC to the Good Shepherd Church, which is something I had previously pondered.

APAC Offices Are Located In Good Shepherd Church

The Good Shepherd Church is the home to the United Methodist Church which owns and runs the church. The church apparently shares the space with the United Methodist Korean Church as well as rents some space to the Astoria Performing Arts Center. To our knowledge, the church and APAC are not affiliated.

Greek Orthodox Church In Astoria

Lenten & Easter Services In Astoria

Astoria / Queens Buzz. The following is a report about the Greek Orthodox Church in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY. This report covers the Greek Orthodox churches of St Demtrios and St Catherine & George in Astoria.

Click here to view our report about the Greek Orthodox Church in Astoria NY.

Greater Astoria Historical Society

Astoria. The Greater Astoria Historical Society has been serving the community for decades. Bob Singleton has been one of a core group of people who have dedicated themselves to keeping the history of the area alive. On Saturday, February 21st I had the opportunity to visit the society for a book signing of 'Queens: Past And Present' by author Jason D. Antos [shown in photo above].

Click here to read / view a brief overview of the Greater Astoria Historical Society and its programs. While technically the society is located in LIC / Long Island City, it is closer to the Astoria neighborhood restaurants and businesses, which is why we include it here [the Quinn Building is located two blocks into LIC / Long Island City].

Steinway & Sons Piano Factory

Model Business Still Going Strong 100 Years Later

Astoria Queens. While some businesses may be folding, others like the Steinway & Sons Piano Factory in Astoria are still going strong, after over a century in business. In some respects the factory is a sort of living museum, as the piano makers are really craftsmen and artesans, rather than factory workers in a 20th century sense.

So what keeps this pillar in the community going strong after so many years? Its unrelenting commitment to quality and innovation. Click here to read / view the rest of the story about the Steinway & Sons Piano Factory in Astoria Queens NY. In the photo above, the sound board is being fitted into the piano body / casing.

Socrates Sculpture Park - Astoria

This is an ongoing report on some of the fun outdoor activities and art projects sponsored by the Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria / Long Island City in Queens. Socrates Sculpture Park sponsors Halloween Parties, Bike events, arts and crafts events, an outdoor film series during the summer and more. Click here to view brief reports on a few events over the past year at Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens.

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden Astoria

The Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden was founded by the Bohemian Citizens Benevolent Society back in 1892. The current site which has a restaurant, beer garden and dining facilities was begun in 1910 and completed in 1919. As it says on their website, "just in time for over ten years of the Prohibition". This story tells more about this unique place, which is far more than a restaurant, bar and fun place to enjoy music.

American Museum Of The Moving Image

The American Museum Of The Moving Image is located in Astoria Queens NY. This article provides a brief description of the organization and its programs.  John Turturro, in the photo on your left, is an actor who starred in movies like Barton Fink and Transformers, and he has also served as an Executive Producer. This photo was taken at the Museum Of The Moving Image in January 2008 at a program about a documentary film Mr Turturro helped produce entitled, 'Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & The Movies'.

East River Fireworks 2009 Moved

This is a story about Astoria Park, beginning with a report about the July 4th 2009 fireworks display along the East River. Astoria Park was host to the Joe Battaglia and the New York Big Band as well as the Grucci fireworks display from Wards Island. Astoria Park hosts summer concerts and summer movies in the park. Astoria Park also has an Olympic sized swimming pool which is open for public use in the summer. Click here to see many photos and read the story about fireworks in Astoria Park in Queens.

Museum Of The Moving Image Astoria

Astoria / December 29, 2009. The Museum of the Moving Image has extended its hours for the holidays. There are films showing througout the day, as well as a number of interactive exhibits. You can place yourself inside a weather forecast, dub sound tracks onto video, and script short animations.

The museum is full of interesting costumes used in famous films, and has a large collection of equipment used throughout the history of the film industry. There's currently a major renovation project going on, but it's doesn't affect the current exhibits. The museum is also open on New Years Eve and New Years Day. Click here to view our report on the Museum Of The Moving Image in Astoria Queens.

Athens Park - Astoria

This photo of Athens Park in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY was taken in the fall of 2008. This is just a very brief history of the park with a link to a map and eventually stories.

Things To Do In Astoria

Attractions In Astoria Queens

Astoria / Queens Buzz.  The Astoria Attractions section contains stories about many of Astoria's cultural institutions ranging from historical sites like the Steinway Piano Factory, to the Astoria Performing Arts Center, to St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church to the American Museum of the Moving Image.  There are many interesting things to do and see in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens NY. Astoria is also home to some of the very best parks in the NYC Metro area, including Astoria Park along the East River.

Click here to view many reports about Things To Do In Astoria.