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!

Astorian Weekend Edition 05.07.07

Hope everyone had a great Independence Day yesterday! I know the Macy's fireworks had some rain to contend with but I hope that didn't dampen anyone's spirits. I went to the beach and skipped the light display (but caught the Grucci show in Astoria Park last Friday). This week's end should have some nice weather mixed in with some thunderstorms - a typical summer in the east. This weekend (Saturday) also brings us 07-07-07. Cool! After Saturday, check out the flickr group called 07-07-07. People will be taking lots of pictures on that day, chronicling their lives. I'll be submitting a few myself.

Also on Saturday, Last Resort is having a rooftop party at 4pm their space... and there will be grilling involved, just bring your own grill-friendly food and/or a drink to share. At 9pm that night, they're having a rock show ($4 cover), including A Fistful of Dynamite, Suburban Riot, OUCH, and Blanketstatementstein. You can find Last Resort at 8-63 Astoria Blvd.

Hellgate Social, a great spot in western Astoria (12-21 Astoria Blvd), is active this week's end - Thursday through Sunday brings all sorts of live music, DJing, and a CD release party. No sign of a movie this Sunday, though (last week's showing of Dr. Strangelove was pretty awesome).

On Saturday, Waltz-Astoria is also holding a big bash at the beautiful Grand Ballroom upstairs at the Moose Lodge (did you know we had one?). There will be music, video-art, a funny guy emcee, and beer and wine to drink. The Lodge is at 41st and Broadway (down by Steinway). Get your $15 tickets at info@waltz-astoria.com.

Also, Thursday begins adult lap swim at Astoria Pool, too. You can swim in the mornings from 7-8:30am or in the evenings, 7-8:30pm. I hope to do some of the evening swims, myself. Lap swimming goes until August 31 this summer. After you swim, you can head over to a number of places in the area: Agnanti (Ditmars and 19th) and Bistro 33 (21st and Ditmars) come to mind, or you can walk a bit further and find yourself at the Beer Garden or Sparrow (across the street from the BG). Their burger sounds like a great ending to a nice swim. Head to Oleput (Ditmars and 33rd Street) after that for a shake or a float. Yummmm!

And remember Warm Up is this weekend. It's always a lot of fun at this event at PS1. You'll get a chance to hear some DJs and live music, dance, dance, dance, then head to Water Taxi Beach for Beach Party afterwards. Warm Up starts at 3pm and goes for 6 hours, until 9pm, and Water Taxi Beach will be all geared up by 9!

More fun, here.

Fireworks Photo Credit: Lia Pelosi

More on Astoria Park Pool

While running down by Astoria Park today, I saw the pool all filled up! It was cool to see the change. I also saw a flyer/poster taped to one of the lamppost announcing swim lessons for kids at the pool! Lessons are for children 1.5-14 years of age. You can register for them at the pool. And, along with the early bird lap swimming from 7-8:30am, there's going to be "night owl" swimming from 7-8:30pm. Both sessions are M-F and go from July 5-August 31. More about lap swimming, here, and swim programs, here.