Posts by Jason D Antos
Long Island City: The Gateway To The World’s Greatest Industries
At the turn of the 20th Century, the geography of Long Island City, Dutch Kills, Hunter’s Point and Newtown Creek resembled a scene familiar of rural Oklahoma. Flat open plains led to swampy wetlands and creeks. At night the area was pitch black due to a lack of homes and public street lighting. In the…
Read MoreDigging Up The Past: A Brief History of Archeology In Astoria Park
“Archaeologists do not discover the past; they work on what remains” – Michael Shanks, Archeologist When one thinks of archeology, visions of dinosaur bones unearthed from layers and layers of chalky clay and sand against a desert backdrop in far away places is what usually comes to mid. However, relics of the past are everywhere…
Read MoreNative Astorians & the Legend of Sunswick Creek
It goes without saying that before any of us ever called Astoria home, whether it be immigrants or those who have migrated here from other states and cities, ancient peoples once walked the land now completely over developed by high rise co-ops, warehouses producing advanced technologies and various businesses large and small. Who were these…
Read MoreSaint Patrick’s Day Special: The Untold Legacy of the Irish in Astoria
For this St. Patrick’s Day, we uncover the little-known history of the Irish in Astoria. According to the research paper Irish Settlers in Queens County, City of New York by Michael J. O’Brien, the first recorded Irish person to arrive in Queens was Sarah Ryan in 1638. She traveled to America with her husband, Sylvester…
Read MoreAstoria’s Lost “Piano Ferry”
The Astoria ferry port was famously located at the foot of Borden Avenue and made its way to 34th Street ferry terminal in Manhattan. It lasted until the Queens Midtown Tunnel opened in 1936. However, there was also a second Astoria based ferry terminal located further north and is relatively forgotten. The call for a…
Read MoreA Glimpse of Lost Astoria: Rare 1946 Panoramic Negative Donated to Queens Historical Society
A rare photographic negative was donated to the archive of the Queens Historical Society. Taken in the winter of 1946 by Astoria resident Joseph Sandor, the negative is for a panoramic (or landscape) print. It measures 5 ½ x 12 inches and shows Astoria Boulevard from 4th Street looking West towards Manhattan. In the background…
Read MoreAstoria’s Oscar Legacy: Hollywood Icons Born in Queens
Now that Oscar season is in full swing let’s reflect on some entertainers who have two things in common..the Academy Awards and being born in Astoria. Christopher Walken (his real name is Ronald) was born in Astoria on March 31, 1943 and lived with his family at 30-83 29th St. His parents were Rosalie Russell,…
Read MoreThe Ultimate Guide to Holiday Eats in Astoria
If you’re craving something sweet, savory, or perhaps both this holiday season, check out these local spots offering the best selection of comforting foods to warm you up. Astorians are turning to beloved local favorites, both new and old, for a taste of comfort and joy. Blue Sea Taverna This taverna provides high quality Mediterranean…
Read MoreRoad to Astoria: Building the Grand Central Parkway
For many Astorians the Grand Central Parkway is a modern day yellow brick road winding itself back home to Oz for weary travelers returning from Long Island or abroad via LaGuardia Airport. It’s fascinating to know that the idea for a ‘grand’ parkway began just after the Civil War ended in 1865. Frederick Law…
Read MoreLiving in Astoria Like it’s 1654!
As one drives down the narrow one-way path of 19th Road in Astoria Heights you might notice an ancient, yet beautiful home constructed in the early Dutch style surrounded by shrubbery, and almost hidden from view. To the average passerby it would be a surprise to know that this home is the oldest continuously…
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