Astoria: What's Real
From Decoding New York
| Introduction |
| Jackson Heights |
| * Evolution |
| * Here v. There |
| * What's Real |
| Astoria |
| * Evolution |
| * Here v. There |
| * What's Real |
| Comparison |
| * Photo Gallery |
| * Sources
|
Visitors would be mistaken if they made the assumption that the Greek population in Astoria greatly outnumbered the other immigrant populations in the neighborhood, but who could blame them? The fact of the matter is that walking around most of Astoria it is hard not to notice all of the blue and white flags, signs, and store decorations. The Greek population in Astoria has created a look and feel in the neighborhood that is not to be missed. It is difficult not to think one is walking around in a dominantly Greek neighborhood. Even with the great immigrations of Greeks into the neighborhood in the 20th century, census data shows that there are a great number of Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic immigrants living throughout Astoria.
The blue and white Greek signs are more apparent to the eye than the traces of other immigrant populations because they have withstood the test of time. More recently Astoria has seen a wider array of various ethnic restaurants opening. Still on the outside the neighborhood resembles a dominant Greek presence in the area. This is because only recently has Astoria become the home of Asians and Latinos who have begun to make their mark on the community, but not as noticeable as the Greek and Italian invasion of the neighborhood decades before. Astoria is experiencing a large influx of young musicians and artists as well as yuppies who have embraced the diverse culture and have not tried to change it. The older immigrants are still running their small markets, shops, and cafes, while the new yuppies and immigrants have taken to the mega stores and supermarkets as well as the neighborhood stores. Visitors can now walk into a relaxing Greek cafe and order over 12 different olive varieties as well as walk into the new Starbucks on the corner with the glass architecture and modern atmosphere. No matter where, in Astoria can be find almost any desired ethnic setting as well as the more gentrified and upscale bars and lounges of modern times. Along with all the shopping and dinning possibilities for visitors, they can also choose to take a swim in Astoria Pool, which is unmistakingly the largest pool in the city measuring at an olympic size of 330' x 165' x 4'. As far as how the older immigrants feel about this new face of Astoria, for the most part they seem to welcome the modernization and the gentrification to a point. Astoria is a special case because it has not been able to become gentrified completely so there is a calming balance between small private family businesses and corporate mega stores and chains. The yuppies have brought better amenities to the neighborhood and are willing to spend a lot of money in the neighborhood, driving the economy. The new members of the community have inspired many good changes that benefit everyone and have allowed the diverse atmosphere to prosper.
