Astoria

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Get to know Astoria

Astoria lies right across the East River from Randall’s Island and the Upper East Side. In many ways, it’s the quintessential New York neighborhood, giving you all the best parts of Manhattan—food, art, and cultural diversity—without the bustle or skyscrapers, not to mention skyline views over the water that you simply can’t have when you’re there. Originally settled as Hallet’s Cove, the area was renamed in the mid-19th century to catch the eye of Jacob Astor (then America’s wealthiest citizen)—he never set foot there, though the name stuck. Today, you’ll find a pleasing mix of pre-war apartment houses and their newer, glassier counterparts, along with low-rise row houses with front yards and even the occasional old mansion. With the N and W trains to the west, the M and R trains to the east, and a recently built ferry stop, the transit flexibility here couldn’t be better.

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Astoria Commerce & Culture

Astoria boasts a panoply of cuisine. The neighborhood’s enviable array of restaurants quite literally puts an entire world of cuisine in your hands, from Instagrammably-indulgent gastropubs to time-tested favorites around for generations. You’ll find the greatest varieties along 30th Avenue, Ditmars Boulevard, and around the Broadway-Steinway subway stop. Grab second-to-none noshes and head for Astoria Park, a recreation-filled oasis between the Triboro and Hell Gate bridges that’s ideal for countless activities—if only just kicking back. Aside from being the company town of America’s most celebrated piano maker, the Astoria zeitgeist is also inextricably tied to filmmaking, as evidenced by the still-functioning Kaufman Astoria Studios and the neighboring Museum of Moving Image, which celebrates the neighborhood’s recurring role on the silver screen. Another popular hangout is Socrates Sculpture Park, showcasing large-scale sculptural installations on the waterfront.