I'm sitting at my desk on this cold, snowy day and I'm thinking about Spring. About my new beginning that will take place with Darin in the East Village. This will be the first exciting new chapter in my life in ten years that will not include Astoria.
Why do I love Astoria?
Astoria gets me and has always been there for me. I have always felt safe and I have never felt bored. It's proximity to my family, friends and the other boroughs is just more icing on the cake.
I love the diversity you find here, and I love that I can hear at least 3 different languages being spoken as I walk
down the street. I'll miss my morning walks down Steinway, passing men reading the paper with their morning hookahs. Being surrounded by diversity teaches you understanding and acceptance. This is one of my favorite things about Astoria.
Then there's the food. So much food, so much authentic food! I'm a good cook, or else I wouldn't have started the Astoria Book and Supper Club, but much of what I've learned about food in the past ten years I owe to Astoria and it's melting pot of flavors. The options are basically endless, and I believe you can find any cuisine or ingredient you are craving.
There is an old world charm about Astoria that will be missed (although I have also witnessed this in the East Village/Alphabet City). While there is a definite 'hipster movement' happening here, I know that Astoria will never lose it's 'rough around the edges' charms. It will just be Old School Cool, and I'm already looking forward to all my visits back.
This February marked ten years that I'm here. I've been nostalgic about those first couple of years here, and I have definitely forgotten about some of my old haunts. I was just 25, and absolutely loving Pita Pan, Thai Pavillion and Brick. We loved eating at Cup (what is now Tacuba and has been so many other places over the years). I went to THE Beer Garden every Wednesday with a bunch of friends for something we called 'All-Star Wednesdays'. I did stupid things. I always have felt safe here.
My two favorite Greek restaurants have always been Agnanti and Taverna Kyclades, of course. Christos has always been my family's go to for birthdays. The now closed Stove was mine and my friends favorite Sunday brunch spot. Our favorite wine shop is and will always be Off The Vine, owned by two of my favorite Astorians, JP and Angela. There was a big restaurant boom that started about 6 years ago and is still going strong. Some of my standouts were and are: Mundo, Ornella, MP Taverna, The Astor Room, Bambino (I way heart you), Vesta and Pachanga Patterson. Oh Pachanga. I have had plenty of great and special meals there, but the greatest was me and Darin's first date. We went to Pachanga and then had Root beer Rye cocktails at Sweet Afton. We love going and reliving that date over. Our other date spot has become The Thirsty Koala, what a friendly group of people running the place, and the food and prices are both great.
I love Astoria all year long, but my favorite time of year is spring and summer. We Astorians love our avenues to be an expanse of outdoor eateries and watering holes (see ya sidewalks) and we have wonderful parks. I love Socrates with it's amazing artwork, view and farmer's market. Then there's one of my favorite places ever: Astoria Park. What a special place. A great place to jog and walk through, to have picnics in, to sunbathe at and to just get lost in that great view of our busy city. My all time favorite thing about Astoria Park is the pool in the AM and doing laps with some really great people. What a wonderfully therapeutic way to start your day, I'm going to miss this summer tradition immensely.
There have been so many wonderful moments in Astoria. There have been highs and lows in my life over these past ten years, but Astoria has never faltered and it has always just been good old comfortable reliable Astoria for me. I've seen good friends move in and move out, and I guess it's my turn to take that next step. It's a bittersweet moment, but I can always 'come home' to visit.
