Quote:
Originally Posted by SobroGuy
That's probably my main gripe with Astoria...it has zero architectural value...it's just a bunch of ugly, frame/siding boxes with no craftsmanship or historical value. I dunno why that is....but if that's the biggest problem, I would say the place is great!
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Do you drive or walk mostly on foot? Because I agree that Queens has some dull areas and not all of it is pretty but come on, let's take the Bronx, huge oversized brick buildings for miles and miles looking like endless prisons in some spots? Say Jerome Ave near Yankee Stadium? Or the area at the end of 2 and 5, and Coop City, oh and what about those lovelies in Hunts Point?
What beautiful architecture in the Bronx that has not been saved is in need of work - the Grand Concourse does have some beautiful buildings but in disrepair.
Astoria ugly? Well then you could the same for huge swaths of East New York, Bensonhurst, northeastern sections of Bronx (say Pelham Bay around Bruckner).
So, let me offer you something to enjoy - 30th Ave in the 40s and 34th Ave some lovely yellow red brick terrazzo buildings that were considered in the early 20th century models of affordable housing. How about the tudors that make up Forest Hills Gardens or the lovely house in Kew Garden Hills, Jamaica Estates, portions of College Point, as well as some fine examples of 18th and 19th century brownstones in LIC's historic district, or the historic yellow buildings in Ridgewood. How about several churches in the AIA guide in Astoria - Most Precious Church and the Greek Orthodox churches. or the 19th century Victorian mansion, Steinway Mansion? I know it ain't parts of Harlem or has the gigantic richness of architecture as Washington Heights or some parts of Brooklyn or a few of the popular areas of Manhattan does (Washington Heights I am finding is area is overfull of treasures)
To be honest if we want to compare boroughs with fine architecture I am sorry but aside from Manhattan, Brooklyn wins - Brooklyn Heights, northern areas of Park Slope, Clinton Hill, Grand Army Plaza, parts Crown Heights, South Williamsburg, Clinton Hill, Bed-Sty brownstones ... the list goes on ... oh and the oldest Dutch farmhouse is in Brooklyn deep in East Flatbush.
This thread is just silly because all it does is make huge generalizations about boros as I did purposely with the Bronx which does have some beautiful areas.
As for nothing to do in Astoria (and Queens in general), I doubt those who said it have barely touched the surface. Check the thread of Visiting NYC for 8/9 - 8/14 I provide 4 itineraries. Oh and where I live I can walk to the Museum of Moving Image for a premiere, or have beer at Studio Square beer garden or if in the mood for a local artisanal beer go to Sunswick, try Egyptian, Venezualan, Ecuadorian, Columbian, Greek, Italian, Spanish, or Irish fare all within walking distance. Or maybe I am up to performance art - I'll go to Flux Factory north of Queens Plaza and then catch one of the summertime concerts at the Gantries or another night the food and film festival at Socrates Sculpture Park. Maybe I am up for contemporary art - 3 floors of it at Fisher Landau Museum and then I could go up to Astoria Park to enjoy the view. Finally there are about 6 gyms within less than a 5 block radius where I live. For theater there is the Secret Theater in LIC as well as stand-up comedy at a few places in Astoria and LIC. For indie films I could also go to Kew Gardens theater after taking a hike through Willow Park in Flushing Meadows if it is on the weekend. And going further out the nicest beach are in the Rockaways in Queens - from B90 west - with a nice nature preserve on the Rockaways around B 60's. Oh, and if I want to see some of the best aerosol artists in the world - for now at least - I can visit 5POINTX, for mural art Welling Court.
Now I am not a shopaholic which this area will not please if that is your thing. The music scene is growing but it does not comp[are with Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. And finally the architecture does have this polyglot quality - especially in Western Queens. But I like it, and I realize it is not for everyone.
Gawd Sobro I would not expect this of you as you usually give decent insider info on the Bronx and elsewhere. PM seriously and I will show you around. Here is my tumblr photoblog showing Astoria and other areas of the city. Bronx unfortunately is not represented YET, but will be soon. If you want to guide me on a photo taking tour, please PM me.
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For SoBro only 1/112 of the Bronx is salvagable
