阿斯托利亚玩乐指南

Another one of our favorite spots to visit in Astoria is the Welling Court Mural Project. Located just a few blocks from the Socrates Sculpture Park, this vibrant community endeavor started out in 2009 as a means of both beautifying the area and engendering positive social change through the art of graffiti. Free and open to the public 24 hours a day, the gallery displays the works of over 150 cutting-edge contemporary street artists, including murals by Lady Pink, Queen Andrea, Swoon and Crash. The walls serve as a backdrop for a wide variety of subject matters: from the socially charged and pragmatic to the comedic and whimsical, you’ll spot it all here. And trust us when we say that your Insta reels will thank you for visiting!

No trip to Astoria would be truly complete without exploring the mighty shopping mecca that is Steinway Street. Brace your credit card for a serious workout, for the neighborhood’s main drag weaves together decades-old local businesses, quirky one-off boutiques, thrift shops, high-street names, and more international eateries than you can shake a shish, souvlaki or pizza slice at, all set beneath the rattle and rumble of the elevated subway line. 

The magic here lies in the discovery, so strap in and choose your adventure: you’ll find Lebanese bakeries doling out honey-drenched baklava, Middle Eastern spice shops heady with cardamom and za’atar aromas, and family-run jewelry stores that are like catnip to incurable lovers of all things shiny.

Fashion and home goods fans can comb through indie clothing stores, shoe shops, thrift and vintage stores for unique finds (that one-of-a-kind bargain is definitely in there somewhere), while gift shops come crammed with Astoria-themed tees and trinkets. All shopped out? Duck into one of Steinway’s dozens of cafes, restaurants and bubble tea bars to refuel and gloat over your quarry.

TV aficionado? Movie maven? Into gaming and digital art? Then the Museum of the Moving Image (aka MoMI)  is likely to be right up your cinematic strasse. For here’s your chance to geek out over the art, history, technique and technology of digital media in all its forms. And this ain’t no look-and-don’t-touch kinda joint either. No, this cinephile’s dream ticket lets you get hands-on with all sorts of cool stuff. Bring stop-animation to life with flipbooks, green-screen your way into your own blockbuster and try your hand (pun intended) at puppeteering in the Jim Henson Exhibition (which also just happens to be home to Kermit, Miss Piggy and nearly 50 more of Henson’s most beloved characters).

Muppets and Fraggles a bit too cuddly for ya? Fear not: horror movie costumes and props from the likes of Nightmare on Elm Street and The Exorcist have you covered. Afterwards, snag a tub of popcorn and head to the state-of-the-art screens for independent and foreign film showcases.

Astoria’s reputation as the Greek food capital of New York is unassailable, a bona fide Big Apple institution built on gyros, moussaka and tzatziki. Our first stop is the Artion bakery and patisserie on 31st Street, for all your honey-drenched baklava, custard-filled galaktoboureko, and buttery koulourakia (classic Greek cookies) needs. Of which, if you have any taste, you will have many. 

Nearby Ditmars Boulevard is Astoria’s unofficial epicenter for all things Greek and delicious. Simply follow your nose to the goods as the heady scents of olive oil, grilled lamb and calamari drift tantalizingly on the breeze. The smart money here is on Ovelia, famous for its hearty brunches, all aromatic loukaniko sausage, buffalo calamari, super-sweet baklava pancakes, and punchy Greek coffee.

For lunch or dinner, Taverna Kyclades stands out for its grilled fish, sizzling shrimp saganaki, warm pitta, and mountainous salads, but you can find equally satisfying meals – plump pork gyros and tender souvlaki – from the many takeout counters that dot the area.

At the risk of fixating a little too eagerly on Astoria’s great beer-drinking culture, our last pick is the sensational SingleCut Beersmiths Brewery. There’s a strong connection to music here – even the name comes from an obscure musical term (look it up!) – so, as you’d expect, there’s plenty of rock- and pop-related fun, including guitar head door handles, a vast vinyl record collection, music quiz nights and even the occasional punk karaoke evening.

But, that aside, it’s really all about the beers served up in the industrial-chic tap room – think ever-changing pours of creative IPAs, lagers and porters. Heck they’ve even brewed up collaborations with music legends including neighbors Steinway & Sons. There’s no dining menu here, but you’re welcome to bring in your own takeout food, so long as you pair it with a drink from the bar.