Category: BOAST review

Review: Addy’s Barbeque

[This review is based on the writer’s experience at a Yelp elite event. She also keeps a gluten-free diet, so this is not reflective of the average experience. That said, her expectations were high being that the restaurant opened its doors to a group of hungry, avid Yelp reviewers.] I sampled several freshly-made iced Lassi… Read more »

Musical review: Caroline, or Change

Caroline, or Change, which takes place in 1963 but was first performed 15 years ago, has arguably more social relevance today than ever before. Written by Tony Kushner, best known for the play Angels in America, he explores the issues of societal, class, race and religious inequalities that had boiled over in the 60’s and are… Read more »

A Transformative Experience at Simply Fit Astoria

Walking into Lisa Eskenazi’s studio, Simply Fit Astoria, can feel like a transformative experience. Her Dance Cardio class hardly feels like a workout, aside from the profuse sweating. Old friends greet each other with hugs followed by fifty-five minutes of feeling like your best self while dancing to hip hop beats and current pop hits…. Read more »

Brunch at The Royal Underground

This weekend, we ventured to The Royal Underground on 30th Ave (between 36th and 37th St) which opened in the former William Hallet location back in November. We initially contacted the restaurant via Facebook to get the brunch menu and inquire about making a reservation. We were pleasantly surprised to receive an immediate, helpful response,… Read more »

Play Review: Queen

Queen, the current production of the Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), written by Madhuri Shekar, is a story particularly relevant to today’s political climate. Performed at the Boys and Girls Club black box theater, the intimacy of the setting allows the audience to completely immerse themselves in the story of two female graduate students (Ariel… Read more »

Sugary Divinity at Comfortland

The creative team behind Queens Comfort rolled out Comfortland in September. QC moved west on 30th Ave taking over the space formally housing Sugar Freak at 36-18 30th Ave. Comfortland took over the old QC location just east of Steinway on 30th Ave. The sugary creations at Comfortland made by Montana D’Alessio Barbier and Jackie Legge… Read more »

Ample Hills is Open in Astoria (yum)

Last Friday at 4pm, Ample Hills Creamery opened on 30th Ave by 34th St, shortly after the 30th Ave N/W subway station re-opened (yay!). A line wrapped around the building while staff members brought out samples of the new 20/20 flavor, which has a marshmallow taste and a cotton candy swirl. Our trusty taste-testers came… Read more »

Brunch review: Bowery Bay

Do you enjoy waking up early to a bowl of grape nuts and no caffeine on the weekends? Yeah me neither. I’d much prefer to brunch, ideally a bottomless one. If you aren’t familiar, this isn’t some protest against pants (save that for the living room), but rather an all-you-can-day drink oasis with delicious brunch… Read more »

Review: Follies

Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, currently in performance by the Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) through the end of this month, expounds on such universal themes as love, innocence, loss and nostalgia. First performed on Broadway in 1971 where it won seven Tony awards (with two additional revivals), Follies begins in 1971 with the reunion of several… Read more »

Trattoria Ora: A New Italian Restaurant in Western Astoria

A few weeks ago, I was walking home from the Astoria ferry and noticed a cute little Italian restaurant had popped up at 18th and Astoria Boulevard. My favorite foods are bread, cheese and pasta so I was eager to check out this new place that was less than five minutes from my apartment. So a… Read more »