Attractions

Venturing out of Manhattan every so often is always fun to do.  Before being a Manhattan resident, I lived in Queens and one of my favorite Summer day hangouts there was in Astoria.

Astoria is considered to have one of the largest Greek populations in all of the NYC boroughs and outside of Greece.  A strong symbol of this can be felt just by visiting Athens Square Park. Bronze statues of great Greek philosophers are displayed throughout, including Piaeus Athenas (c.350 BC), which was presented to New York City by Demetris Avramopoulos, Mayor of Athens on behalf of the people of Greece.

Sculpture of Piraeus Athena

Socrates Sculpture

Walk down Ditmars and 30th Avenues and you will be surrounded by the vibrancy of the Cypriot and Greek culture and sounds, and enticed by the smells of the many Greek eateries in the area. For seafood, my favorite has always been Taverna Kyclades, where your choice of fish is deliciously, yet simply flavored in the very Greek fashion of oregano, olive oil, and a hint of lemon. But if you are more in the mood of some delicious (and inexpensive) gyros, try Gyro Uno, which is a neighborhood favorite and won’t break the bank. If shopping is your focus, a stroll down Steinway St. will offer plenty of options. One non-Greek place, but also a favorite eatery when in Astoria, and a must if burger and fries are your thing, is a stop at Petey’s Burger. Pay the extra dollar or two and order the milk shake.  You won’t regret it.

In taking a tour down 30th Avenue you will see many businesses that established the community of Astoria, such as Astoria Music, one of the first and oldest businesses in the neighborhood.  Another fun touring experience in Astoria is that of the Steinway & Sons factory, the makers of the world famous Steinway pianos.  Tours are generally held either Monday or Tuesday at 9:00am and last between 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours. There are also no afternoon or weekend tours. Tours are not available year round. Reservations must be made in advance, walk-ins not accepted.

Other fun activities in Astoria, especially for the kids, can be found at Astoria Park. The park, located alongside the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, is a beautiful place to spend sunny days and hot summer afternoons. The pool, closed until late June, offers free swimming lessons like many of the public city pools do, and charges a small yearly membership fee, with children under 18 entering at no cost. It has a wonderful picnic area, and so many other facilities that make this destination worth visiting. Adjacent to the pool is the Charybdis Playground, where little ones can spend hours of fun.

View of The Pool in Astoria Park

Other popular spots in Astoria are the Museum of Moving Image as well as the famous Kaufman Astoria Studios, home of television shows such as Sesame Street, Law & Order, Spin City among others.