71
Long Island City/Astoria
To paraphrase 18th century English writer Samuel Johnson’s
comments about London: “When one is tired of Long Island
City and Astoria, he is tired of life.”
Astoria and Long Island City are booming with new residential
buildings, restaurants, bars, cultural attractions, and hotels. Plus,
the high-energy area is only one subway stop from Grand Central
Station on the 7 train and one stop from Manhattan’s Upper East
Side (more specifically, Bloomingdale’s) on the N train.
Then there’s the new ferry service from 33rd Street in Manhattan
to LIC Landing and Astoria via the East River. It’s a boat ride
with Midtown Manhattan in constant view. A one-way pass costs
$2.75 or the same amount as a ride on a subway or bus. Plus, the
trip only takes a few glorious minutes.
The other news is the constant upgrade and expansion of Gantry
Plaza State Park, which covers 12 acres of East River shoreline.
With direct views of Midtown Manhattan, the park contains
playing fields, fishing piers, a promenade, and outdoor furniture
in a site that was once a dock facility with gantry cranes.
A 120-foot-long and 60-foot-high neon Pepsi-Cola sign, which
actually has New York City landmark status, adds to the mystical,
urban-rural feel. (The soda maker used to operate a bottling plant
in the northern portion.) The pier has become a popular spot for
dance, music, and theater.
Many of the hotels, restaurants and cultural attractions are
mentioned in other parts of this guidebook. Nevertheless, here are
a few fun places: Astoria Park; Astoria Performing Arts Center;
City Ice Pavilion; Greater Astoria Historical Society; LaGuardia
Performing Arts Center; Hunter Point South Park; MoMA PS1;
Museum of the Moving Image; New York Irish Center; Noguchi
Museum; SculptureCenter; Socrates Sculpture Park; Thalía
Spanish Theatre; and The Chocolate Factory Theater.
More information is at www.longislandcityqueens.com.
/www.longislandcityqueens.com
/www.longislandcityqueens.com
