Audrey Madison and
Andrew Stoecker
Astoria resident Audrey
Madison and then-Long Island
resident Andrew Stoecker
matched on Bumble in
November 2017 as Stoeker
passed through western
Queens on his way home from
a show in the city.
The couple’s first date was
at The LetLove Inn, just an
avenue away from Madison’s
apartment. Stoecker later
confessed he chose it because
FEBRUARY 2 0 2 2 I BOROMAG.COM 27
Ruben Velasco & Luis Llaguno
Astoria native Ruben Velasco
and Flushing native Luis Llaguno
matched on what they
call “the most romantic dating
app out there,” Grindr, in 2018
and chose Sek’end Sun for their
spur-of-the-moment first date.
“I truly hoped Luis would be
as funny and charismatic as he
came across on the app. If he
wasn't, my plan was to leave after
one drink,” Velasco said.
The couple moved into an Astoria
apartment in 2019 and got
engaged in October 2021 on
Velasco’s birthday.
“Ruben convinced me that all
he wanted for his birthday was to
go to dinner at our favorite Italian
restaurant, Vesta. Prior to the
date, he also told me he wanted
to have pre-dinner drinks on our
building’s rooftop with our neighbors.
As I was stressed planning
the perfect birthday dinner, he
was secretly planning the perfect
proposal,” Llaguno said.
The couple’s neighbors
helped Velasco prepare
the roof with candles,
flowers and a sign that
said “Marry Me.” Velasco
proposed at sunset and Llaguno
said yes. The lovebirds
plan to get married in Astoria
or Long Island City this spring.
Photos courtesy of Ruben Velasco & Luis Llaguno
Jason Greenspan and
Luiza Kharlashkina
Jason Greenspan and Luiza
Kharlashkina met on Hinge in
2019. When Greenspan saw that
Kharlashkina was an avid yogi,
he proposed a first date at Yoga
Agora.
“She proceeded to school me
while I managed to survive without
injury,” Greenspan said.
Greenspan moved to Astoria
in 2016. Kharlashkina,
who’s from Azerbaijan and who
moved to the city at age 9, has
lived in Astoria since 2019.
“Astoria will forever be woven
into the fabric of our partnership,
from excessive picnic spreads
under the Hell Gate Bridge and
pandemic workouts on the turf
at Astoria Park, to milestones
celebrated at old stalwarts like
Queens Comfort (RIP) and new
favorites like Anassa Taverna,”
Greenspan said.
One of Kharlashkina’s favorite
moments was when they ate apples
off a tree they stumbled upon
in Astoria on their third date.
“It was such a special moment
for me because I was having the
greatest time just doing something
so simple,” she said. “It felt
like we were the only two people
in the world.”
Now, they live together near
Steinway Street with their toy
Australian shepherd, Lentil.
FAVORITE DATE SPOTS:
SEK’END SUN
THE BONNIE
THE DITTY
Photos courtesy of Luiza Kharlashkina
Photo by Lin Pernille
of the name.
“After our date, the only
thing I could think was that I
needed to stop at nothing to
avoid letting this woman slip
out of my life,” Stoecker said.
“I’ve loved her from the moment
I met her.”
Madison recalled a “magical
New York Night” when
they walked in the snow
soon after they started dating.
“It stands out as a moment
in this new relationship
where everything felt possible
and I was so happy I’d
found this human.”
A year after the couple
met, Stoecker moved in
with Madison. The two got
engaged in May 2019 in
Central Park and took their
engagement photos in front
of The LetLove Inn.
They tied the knot in 2020,
but had a larger party in October
2021 to celebrate with
family and friends. They visit
The LetLove Inn every year
for their anniversary.
FAVORITE DATE SPOTS:
THE BONNIE
MOSAIC
JJ’S ASIAN FUSION
FAVORITE DATE SPOTS:
HINOMARU RAMEN
YAYA’S BAKERY
TAVERNA KYCLADES
Photo by Claudia Paul
/BOROMAG.COM
