36 Hours in Astoria
by Patricia Green

In this diverse neighborhood, it is known for its restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You’ll find an energetic food, cocktail and bar scene.

Astoria, is a middle class neighborhood filled with different cultures and ethnic groups. These races and groups include Caucasians, African Americans, Hispanics, Greeks and Italians. These differences bring a mixture to stores, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Astoria is always busy from the booming nightclubs to the rumbling train stations. There’s never a dull night in this neighborhood.

Friday
1. Go to the Market, 2 P.M.
Are you looking for fresh and tasty fruits? Visit United Brothers Fruit Market. There’s no point in going somewhere else in the area. You’ll pay for fruit and vegetables that aren’t really fresh. Come here! You’ll only pay .89 cents a pound for real apples and $1.29 a pound for real bananas. You’re truly getting your money’s worth. Next door you can even try a sample of the fresh apple juiced.
2. Check out the Pizza Shop, 5 P.M.
You’re in New York City you have to try out a pizza spot. Go to Antika, where they serve warm thin-crust pizza from a brick oven and family-sized portions of Italian slices. Their popular dishes are their Classic New York Round Cheese Pizza ($16) and Old Fashioned Grandma Style Square Cheese Pizza ($21). Another well-known dish is the Penne alla Vodka which is a Creamy tomato vodka sauce and crispy pancetta ($16).

3. Dining, 7 P.M.
Astoria is known for their restaurants, one being Don Conqui. Don Conqui is a higher-end Hispanic restaurant served at this upscale eatery featured with a lounge. For starters you can have Empanadas stuffed with Shrimp, Beef, Chicken, Vegetables or Caribbean White Cheese ($6), for the main course you can have Chicken and Rice ($20) and for desert Hot Fudge Lava Cake served with two cups of Ice Cream ($6). On Friday’s their bar is open from 3pm to 4am and kitchen from 3pm to 2am. This a great spot if you want to eat and then dance later on.

Saturday
4. Grab a bagel, 10 A.M.
Bagels on the Ave is a small and cozy shop that opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. everyday. This bagel shop will have your order done in no time. Their menu consist of bagels with a variety of spreads, burgers, quesadillas and salads. One egg and bacon on a bagel with a side of apple juice cost $7.25. They’re a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth it.

5. Let’s see some art, 11:30 A.M.
Do you want to see some cool artwork? Visit the Museum of Moving Image. This museum showcases art, history, technique and technology of film, television, and digital media
through exhibits. On Saturday’s it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum admission for adults (18+) $15, senior citizens (65+) $11, students with valid I.D. $11 and youth (3-17) $7.
In the video screening Amphitheater section it shows Computer Films of the 1960’s. The 1960’s was a time for the artistic use of the computer in the creation of moving images.

6. Burger time, 3 P.M.
Are you craving some fast food? Check out Petey’s Burger! They’re open on Saturday’s from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. This is a locally owned fast-food restaurant made with freshly made burgers, fries and shakes. It can be a bit pricey though. Cheese burgers are $5.25 with a side of cajun fries are $3.75 and drinks are $1.75.

7. Drinks and Games, 7 P.M.
Break and Bar Billiards is a great spot for drinks. They’re open on Saturday’s from 12p.m. to 4a.m. It’s a large sports bar with TVs for watching the game plus numerous billiards and ping-pong tables. If you want a relaxed night and still want to have fun, this is the perfect spot for you. Break offers several activities such as Billiards, Ping-Pong, Darts, Vintage Arcades, Foosball, and Hoops. Their cocktail menu consist of fresh break which is Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, Triple sec and Sparkling Craft beer ($9, The Jacob Astor which is woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon, Maple Syrup and Peychauds Aromatic Bitters ($9).
Sunday
8. Let’s go shopping, 11 A.M.
Further down in Astoria there’s a store called Belief, which is a skateshop and clothing boutique, as well as a lifestyle apparel brand. They’re open on Sundays from 12p.m. to 6p.m. It’s a small store, so it helps you connect with the associate more and they can easily help you with want you want. They sell all different kinds of things such as, clothes, sneakers, furnitures and skateboards.
9. Relaxation, 1 P.M.
After such a long weekend it wouldn’t be right if you didn’t visit Astoria Park. This park has bocce courts, tennis courts, playgrounds, skateparks and tracks. This park even has New York City’s oldest and largest pool, which is 54,450 square feet. During the summer time they have events like movie night where they showcase different indie movies.

Lodging

Fairfield Inn by Marriott New York LaGuardia Airport/Astoria is a quiet and casual hotel. It’s has fitness facility, free WiFi, hot breakfast and airport shuttle. It’s know for its conveniency of limited free on-site parking and accommodations include budget-friendly amenities to help keep travel simple and productive. It also has easy access to all boroughs from Queens to Manhattan. It’s not too expensive, one night would be $124.

Extra credit:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1SiIXFhY6fLOsBnYKNsN2fUjLiRo&usp=sharing