Astoria Characters

Have you all seen this charming series of Astorian profiles over at The Huffington Post?

Each of these amazing little profiles is the work of local writer, Nancy Ruhling, and paints a unique picture of the little neighborhood we all love so much. From 80 year old residents to eccentric antique frame collectors to dedicated yoga enthusiasts, there are lots of interesting stories to be inspired by here.

Photo via The Huffington Post

Free Yoga in Gantry Park on Sunday!

Free Yoga! Sweet words, oh yes. When, you ask?

Sunday, July 26th
9-10:15 a.m.

Come and join staff from The Yoga Room for a free, fun class at newly expanded Gantry State Park. You'll need to bring a mat and wear comfortable clothing (it may be warm this weekend). Be sure to get there before 9 a.m., as class starts right at 9.

Class will be held at Pier 1 at the Park. The Yoga Room is located 2 blocks away from the park. After class feel free to head over there and check it out.

For more information you can call 718-786-7962 or check the website. Gantry State Park is located here:

Hello Out There, Astoria!

In honor of my first JIA post and in celebration of a big submission I just made on a project, I decided to treat myself to a nice little afternoon around Astoria on Wednesday. It seems the stars were aligned for me, because everything came up roses.

I started with a wonderful yoga class at the new Giving Tree Yoga Studio (22-56 31^st Street between 23^rd Ave and Ditmars). Co-owners (and husband-wife duo) Anne-Margaret and Anthony have created a space that is at once yoga (and pilates) studio, community center, and massage studio. I could go on ad nauseam about how amazing their classes are, and what a delight it is to be part of their warm, nascent community, but I’ll let you find out for yourself. New students can try three classes for $25, and their mid-summer yoga and massage specials (available through the end of July) include a month of unlimited yoga classes for $80, an incredible deal.

I followed my bliss down the stairs and a few doors over to Mojave (22-36 31^st Street), the southwestern restaurant I’d often passed with a shrug. I walked through their main restaurant area and was transported to Taos (seriously, it was a shock). Sitting in their charming garden area, complete with water fountain, I ordered the $11.95 prix fixe lunch and a side of guacamole. Now, I’ve kind of come to expect mediocrity from cheap prix fixe lunches, especially at 2:30 on a Wednesday afternoon. I was happily mistaken.

The menu included a tasty mini-margarita, and I chose the MotherRoad Roadhouse Chili (beef and pork braised in Dos XX beer and chile) and a spice-rubbed salmon sandwich on grilled sourdough with avocado, a southwestern aioli, and house-made potato chips. The chili was packed with tender pieces of meat and tomatoes that tasted like they’d recently been attached to a vine. The salmon was perfectly medium-rare and its accoutrements were all spot-on. As someone who fancies herself a guac artiste, theirs gets my whole-hearted stamp of approval: it was the perfect medium between smooth and chunky, with a kick of fresh lime.

In my sunny little garden paradise, I was tempted by the Invisible Rattlesnake (vanilla ice cream with D’Aristi Mayan honey, anisette, and crème de menthe), but got a hold of myself (and my distended abdomen), and took a raincheck. Mojave boasts 130 tequilas, happy hour specials ($5 wine, sangria, and house cocktails, and $3 beers) on weekdays from 4 – 7, and live music on Wednesday nights and during Sunday brunch. Yum.

Astorian Weekend Edition 02.07.09

Summer is always a great time in Astoria. You can go for a swim, do some yoga, or just sit in a cafe drinking a cold frappe in one of the Greek cafes on 30th Ave. Or grab a beer with some friends.

For something completely different, head over to Two Coves Community Garden for their open gardening session. From 11-2 every Saturday (location), people in the community are welcome to come by and get their hands dirty by sprucing up the community plot. Hellgate Social (12-21 Astoria Blvd) is just down the way from the garden and that same day at 2 p.m. they are hosting a 4th of July pig roast and clambake. Can I hear a YUM??!?? Oh, and Sunday they're doing BBQ, too! All you can eat, 10 bucks, 4-9 p.m.

If pork and clams aren't your style, hit Bareburger (33-21 31st Avenue) for some (albeit mildly pricey) organic meat and veggie burgers. I hear the chocolate peanut butter shake is teh yumz, and the ostrich burger is a treat.

Of course, it's Independence Day on Saturday, and we hope you have fun plans with family and friends. Show some care if you are in Astoria Park on Saturday, as a merry band of community-minded Astorians are planning on doing a cleanup of the park on Sunday morning. It's totally grody to pick up rotten food, so please dispose of properly!

And if you DO end up inside at some point this weekend, consider RSVPing for one of the Flux Factory's Going Places (Doing Stuff) Part II, "Best Summer Ever" Edition. Email rsvp@fluxfactory.org with your name, phone number, and the tour you are interested in (details, check it out). It sounds like some crazy fun!

New Yoga Studio in Astoria

So, I've been for the past few weeks taking a yoga class at my gym, The Rock. There, I worked with a teacher, Ann-Margaret, who is wonderful! Turns out, though, that she's leaving The Rock (*cries*) and moving on... to her own studio (*cheers*)

Awesome - I'm so happy for her! Sad for me that she's leaving the gym, but her dream is being fulfilled so I'm really pleased. Anyway, her new studio is opening this weekend with a two day open house. This includes $5 classes each day and $5 20 minute massages, yum. She hopes for the studio to become more than a place to practice yoga, but a community center, which sounds good to me.

Definitely check it out - she's wonderful and deserves lots of success. Click on the image below for more info.

The Giving Tree Yoga Studio
22-56 31st Street
Astoria

(psst... also check out Surf Astoria next door... continuing the legacy of Freeze Peach... more on that later, too.)

Get Your (free) Yoga On at Socrates

JIA friend Jayme forwarded me this:

Date: Wed, 9 May 2007
From: Monique Schubert

Greetings Friends!

Calling all yogis and yoginis, students, serious practitioners and spiritual seekers! It's that time again - time for yoga in the park!

Yoga classes at Socrates Sculpture Park are starting this Saturday!! Classes will be running from May 12 - September 29 this year!! Still meeting from 11-12noon.

For more info about the park, including directions and a calendar of all the amazing events going on this summer go to:

http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

Hope to see you all there!!
OM Shanti,

Monique