Geography
History
Origin Of The Name
Main Attractions Of The Neighborhood
- Taverna Kyclades (33-07 Ditmars Blvd): It’s one of the best Greek restaurants in the neighborhood that specializes in seafood, especially Grilled Octopus.
- Sugar Freak (37-11 30th Ave): An example of Astoria’s ethnically diverse food scene, Sugar Freak is a Creole restaurant known for its lively environment and great food. The Jambalaya might be the best in Astoria.
- HinoMaru (33-18 Ditmars Blvd): If you are craving Japanese food, this is the place to go in Astoria. Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup, and HinoMaru’s specialty is different kinds of Ramen.
- Duzan (2411 Steinway St): This restaurant serves affordable Middle-Eastern foods like Shawarma and Harissa.
- Sweet Afton (30-09 34th St): It’s an Irish Pub which is equally beloved for its food and drinks.
6. Sohmer and Company Piano Factory (31-01 Vernon Blvd): Originally built in 1886, it was converted for residential use in 2007.
7. Steinway Mansion (18-33 41st Street): It was originally a massive property of Benjamin Pike, Jr., who later sold it to the son of Steinway & Sons founder (hence the name).
8. Astoria Center of Israel (27-35 Crescent Street): It is a historic synagogue built in 1926.
9. Shore Towers (25-40 Shore Blvd): It’s a beautiful 23-story building right beside Astoria Park.
10. Halletts Point: It’s a newly constructed (2018), 22-story waterfront apartment building.
11. Astoria Park (19 19th St, Astoria): It’s a massive, almost 60-acre park with NYC’s largest swimming pool (Astoria Pool), tennis courts, and playgrounds.
12. Museum of the Moving Image (36-01 35th Ave): It’s a media museum that offers amazing displays of processes and equipment used in filmmaking. It also houses interactive exhibits, props, and old arcade games.
13. Bohemian Hall (29-19 24th Ave): It’s one of the largest outdoor drinking venues in NYC and combines German beer, Czech food, and a lively outdoor environment in one attractive attraction.
14. Kaufman Arts District (35-2 36th St): Kaufman Astoria Studios, located in Kaufman Arts District, was once home to Paramount Pictures (in the 1920s) and was used for about 100 silent films produced by the studio.
15. Welling Court Mural Project (11-98 Welling Ct): It’s a community beautification project that started out in 2009. It resulted in some truly beautiful murals/street art pieces.
What Is Astoria Known For?
- Some of the best Greek food establishments in New York City.
- Film-making and film-related history.
- Amazing restaurants.
- Being the birthplace of Christopher Walken, Jack Kelly, and Melanie Martinez.
Population
The NYC government published its Community Health Profile Report on Both Astoria and Long Island City, with a collective population of 199,969. Other sources put the population somewhere between 88,000 and 119,000. The median income indicates it as a financially modest neighborhood, and the bulk of the population (about 80% or more) rent their homes.
Interesting Facts About Astoria
- John Astor never set foot in Astoria – The village named after him, though he saw it from his residence in Hell Gate.
- Chester Carlson, the father of modern photocopy/xerox, made the first “dry” photocopy here in Astoria in 1938. In fact, the first words he photocopied were “10.-22.-38 ASTORIA.”
