The "Astoria Idea"

Astoria, New York, is widely known as "Greek Town". It has earned its name from the Greek immigrants that settled in the heart of Queens. Although Astoria is the center for Greek culture in New York, it is a very diverse and an ever changing place.

When you get off on the 30th Ave. train station, you think "this is just a regular neighborhood,"

but as you walk through the avenue you notice restaurants and cafes at every corner, with some names that are difficult to pronounce. Its very hard not to understand you are in Astoria when you get off the train, because right away you are greeted with Athens cafe. At Athens cafe you can find many traditional Greek desserts and sandwiches. One treat that is very traditional is loukoumades which are little round shaped balls of fried dough that are smothered in honey and cinnamon.

Greek culture is not hard to find in Astoria, there are people speaking in Greek all around. Its hard to miss the Greek Orthodox churches, diners and of course Athens Square park. Athens Square park is known for its famous greek statues

of Athena, Aristotle, and Socrates (Greek much?). This is where the Olympic flame passed through before the 2004 Olympic Games that happened in Athens, Greece. This is where the grandfathers of the neighborhood regularly visit to play a game of backgammon.

Astoria is just fifteen minutes away from the city, which is perfect if you cannot afford the million dollar brownstones of Manhattan. Astoria is slowly attracting people who live in the city and are starting not to afford their apartments. It so close to Manhattan that its slowly mimicking it, without losing forgetting where it started from. Beside the Greek people you see everywhere in Astoria, you also notice a lot of people from the city that come here to spend a sunny saturday morning eating brunch at one of the city styled cafes.

Astoria is a little part of

Greece that has been broken off and placed in New York City. Young and old keep the Greek culture very alive. The Greek-Americans living here teach their children about where their grandparents came from by sending them to Greek schools. Keeping alive the traditions is very important. Traditions have not changed because they are in America, and no restrictions have been placed on the Greek culture. This is where it exists far from its original home and will continue to exist, while showing others its beautiful blue and white colors.