Astoria

From Decoding New York

The Hell Gate Bridge, as seen from Astoria Park, carries Amtrak and freight trains between Queens and the Bronx over Randall's Island.

Astoria has become a very popular neighborhood in northern Queens, and has recently earned the title of the "gem" of Queens. Praised as a neighborhood of convenience, Astoria has become the destination for many young people, musicians, and artists fleeing Brooklyn and Manhattan real estate prices. It's conveniently located close to Manhattan, urban but with space and greenery, and decent, but appreciating, real estate prices. Astoria is mainly a working class neighborhood with blue-collar roots. There is an abundance of apartments, coops, and six-family houses. Even though Astoria has seen its fair share of gentrification through Starbucks, Costco, and Victoria's Secret to name a few, it still remains true to its working class history. Astoria has developed into a community with something for everyone. With its close location to the city, good public schools, diverse environment, beautiful greenery, and reputation for amazing food, you cannot go wrong in Astoria, not to mention that Astoria is the home of the last beer garden in NYC.

Row houses are representative of most of the residential real estate in Astoria. Photo by John Roleke.

Astoria was once known as a dominantly Greek neighborhood, and even if it might seem that way at a glance it is actually home to immigrants from all around the world. Today, the immigrant pool includes Russians, Arabs, Middle Europeans, South Asians, East Asians, Latin Americans and young Midwesterners who think they have discovered Europe in the coffeehouses and bakeries of Astoria. Few neighborhoods, even in New York City, have such ethnic diversity (Jackson). Even with the shopping centers and new restaurants, Astoria is still mostly a safe, family-oriented neighborhood, which is also one of the most diverse culturally in the city. Astoria has a rare property in that it is a neighborhood where giants and retail stores can stand across the street from "mom and pop" stores without hurting each other and fierce competition. Instead they add to the community and the diversity of the area where you can find everything you need to have a good time from clubs and lounges, to Greek restaurants and cafes, the finest Italian mozzarella, and delicious Czech comfort food.

Astoria is located in the northeast region of Queens and is bound by the East River. The southern border of the neighborhood is about Broadway and 31st Ave and it is bordered on the east by Woodside at about 50th street. This neighborhood is served by the N and W subway lines.