BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 Winners – Full List

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You can see more information about each winner on the EAT, DRINK, and DO & SEE pages. Here is a compiled list.

EAT
Best American
Sanfords Restaurant
The Pomeroy
Mom’s Kitchen & Bar

Best Bagels
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
New York City Bagel & Coffee House
Bagel House

Best Bakery
Martha’s Country Bakery
Parisi Bakery
Il Fornaio Bakery Cafe

Best Brazilian
Kilo Astoria
Favela Grill
Pao De Queijo

Best Brunch
Sanfords Restaurant
The Shady Lady
Queen’s Room

Best Budget Dining
Create
Duzan
King of Falafel & Shawarma

Best Burger
Burger Club
Burgerology
Sweet Afton

Best Chinese
Jujube Tree
Fatima’s Halal Kitchen

Best Dessert
Vesta
Ample Hills Creamery
Chip

Best Diner
Bel Aire Diner
Neptune Diner

Best Greek
Taverna Kyclades
Stamatis
Telly’s Taverna

Best Indian
Seva
Yaar
Tikka Indian Grill

Best Italian
Vesta
VIA VAI
Trattoria Ora

Best Japanese
Watawa Sushi
Junko Sushi
Kondo
Matsu Sushi

Best Mexican
Maizel Restaurant
Mojave
Los Portales

Best New Restaurant
Comfortland
Queen’s Room
The Highwater

Best Pizza
Milkflower
Tufino Pizzeria Napoletana
Sac’s Place (more…)

BOAST 2018 Winners by the Numbers

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There were a lot of BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 winners. Here are some numbers from the results.

Total Categories
46 (20 in EAT, 12 in DRINK, 14 in DO & SEE)

Total Winners
142 (61 in EAT, 39 in DRINK, 42 in DO & SEE)

Total Write-In Winners
7 (3 in EAT, 2 in DRINK, 2 in DO & SEE)

Winners in multiple categories
5 – Queen’s Room: (1st place – 1, 2nd place – 2, 3rd place – 2)
3 – Vesta (1st – 3)
3 – QED (1st – 2, 2nd – 1)
3 – Gossip Coffee (1st – 1, 2nd – 1, 3rd – 1)
2 – Astoria Park (1st – 2)
2 – Il Bambino (1st – 2)
2 – Jujube Tree (1st – 2)
2 – Sanfords (1st – 2)
2 – Astoria Coffee (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – J’aime Nails (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – MOMI (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – Seva (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – Comfortland (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – The Astorian (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – The Bonnie (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – The Last Word (1st – 1, 2nd – 1)
2 – The Local Bar (1st – 1, 3rd – 1)
2 – Madam Marie’s (2nd – 2)
2 – Sek’end Sun (2nd – 2)
2 – Sweet Afton (3rd – 2)

Winners that have multiple locations
Library (4)
Brooklyn Bagel (3)
New York City Bagel and Coffee House (3)
Astoria Bier & Cheese (2)
Create (2)

Winners by location
36th Ave (N/W): 2
Broadway (N/W): 24
31st Ave: 7
30th Ave (N/W): 29
Astoria Blvd (N/W): 11
Astoria-Ditmars Blvd (N/W): 31
Steinway St (M/R): 9
LIC: 5

BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 Winners Announced

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The BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 results have been published to the BOAST website, and you can see all the winners on the EAT, DRINK and DO & SEE pages. You can also view the winners by location on the LOCATION page with an interactive map broken into categories, with subway stop in parentheses. We have added new photos to the site, as well as new Featured BOAST Locations on the sidebar. (If you want to be a Featured BOAST Location, write to us at [email protected].) We also have some new categories this year, including Best Bagels, Best Bubble Tea, and Best Massage. We want to thank those who filled out the survey, especially those who did write-ups, and give a special note of appreciation to businesses who donated prizes: a trucker hat from The Bonnie, a Duvel Gift box from Astoria Bier & Cheese, ticket vouchers from Astoria Performing Arts Center, a VIP pass from Q.E.D., a gift card from Astoria Coffee, and a gift certificate from Trattoria Ora.

Congratulations to all the BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 winners. These are the places that make Astoria great, and why we enjoy it so much.

BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 Survey is Live

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Can you believe it’s already the end of 2018? We think this year completely flew by. The BOAST: Best of Astoria 2017 party at The Queen’s Room felt like it was just the other day, although it was in February! But with the end of the year comes the BOAST: Best of Astoria 2018 Survey! Please fill out the form and enter your name and email if you’d like a chance to win a prize. We always appreciate short write-ups about your favorite places, but keep in mind that there are 51 total categories, so answer as many as you’d like. The survey will be open until the last day of the year, December 31. There’s been a lot of change in the neighborhood in the past year, so we look forward to seeing what your favorites are right now. The link to the survey is boast.nyc/survey, and please share with anyone who knows and loves Astoria!

– The BOAST Team

APAC Announces 2018-19 Season featuring “Caroline, of Change” & “Queen”

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There will be performances of Luna Park on December 1 and 2.

[From Astoria Performing Arts Center]

Astoria Performing Arts Center Announces 2018-19 Season

Award-Winning Theater Presents 18th Season Featuring New York Premiere of Queen and Tony-Nominated Musical Caroline, or Change

Following an acclaimed 17th season that included sold-out performances, critical accolades, and multiple New York Innovative Theatre (NYIT) Awards for its record-breaking production of Follies, Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) returns for its female-driven 18th season, featuring a benefit concert of Luna Park: A New Musical and two mainstage productions: the New York Premiere of Queen and the Tony-nominated musical, Caroline, or Change.

Last season’s Follies also marked APAC’s final production at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church in Astoria, the company’s former home of ten years. APAC’s benefit concert of Luna Park will take place at the RIOULT Dance Center (34-01 Steinway Street) and APAC’s mainstage productions of Queen and Caroline, or Change will take place at the Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens (21-12 30th Road) in Astoria.

“This season we are excited to be producing two shows which feature dynamic female characters, who, through sacrifice and struggle, reveal their humanity,” says APAC Artistic Director, Dev Bondarin. “In Queen, the careers and friendship of two women are put on the line as they grapple with the truth, while Caroline, or Change resonates anew with its tale of a Black woman navigating an America at a crossroads. We are also proud that with Caroline, or Change and our benefit concert of Luna Park we are presenting the work of two female composers. We are thrilled to continue providing high-quality professional theater to Western Queens audiences and glad to be producing at both the RIOULT Dance Center and Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens.”

On December 1 and 2, 2018, APAC will produce a two-performance benefit concert of Luna Park by Hyeyoung Kim (Music & Additional Material), Michael Cooper (Lyrics & Additional Material), and Daniel F. Levin (Book) at the newly opened RIOULT Dance Center. Set in Coney Island at the turn of the century, the musical chronicles the birth of the most iconic and controversial amusement park in the world. Both performances will be followed by a Coney Island-themed post-show celebration for select ticket buyers.  (more…)

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filed under: APAC

Sugary Divinity at Comfortland

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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 will keep you coming back eager to try their new baked goods. Follow Comfortland on Instagram and you’ll be counting down the days/weeks/minutes ’til your next visit.

The cute donut shop ambience makes for a fun quick meal. The buttermilk biscuit sandwiches are divine. Pair it with the delicious truffle tots and take your donut to go.

Your reviewer is currently too full to eat the nutella creme brulee donut now, but can’t wait to sink her teeth in it in a few hours!

Comfortland
40-09 30th Ave
(631) 457-9815

The Sparrow Film Project Signup at The Letlove Inn

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[From Sparrow Film Project]

Sparrow Film Project 2018 is now in its 10th year with major sponsorship from Kaufman Astoria Studio. The Sparrow Film Project is a short film competition where filmmaking teams have three weeks to fully complete a three-minute film.

We are proud to announce will be hosting the signup for the 2018 installment of The Sparrow Film Project on the night of Sunday, September 9th, at The Letlove Inn.

Registration will begin at 7pm and will close at 10pm when the assignment will be announced and teams who are present may draw their specific details. For those unable to attend or stay through the drawing process, their assignments will be randomly selected and sent to the team contact via email the following day. Entry fee is $20 per team in cash, $25 when paid online.

We will once again offer online registration beginning on September 7th at sparrowfilmproject.com for those unable to attend.

For more information please visit sparrowfilmproject.com.

Mike Vecchione’s New Comedy Album

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Mike Vecchione, an Astorian comedian who recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, recently released his second comedy album, The Worst Kind of Thoughtful.

Recorded live on Long Island at Governor’s Comedy Club, this high-octane comedy album from one of NYC’s top comedians gives you over an hour and twenty minutes of autobiographical stand up comedy.

The Worst Kind of Thoughtful covers a wide range of personal topics including: growing up as an Italian-American in the rust belt with an overbearing father, becoming middle aged, failed relationships, dating in his 40’s, the pain and pleasure of Indian food, dealing with millennials, getting his car stolen and having to travel on a Megabus to perform his stand up comedy all while living under a train in Queens.

The album can be purchased at www.ComicMIkeV.com/thoughtful

Ample Hills is Open in Astoria (yum)

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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 back after dinner to find the line still long. They opted for scoops in cups and sat in one of the few booths in the front window. One taster thought it will make a great place for first dates!

The new Astoria inspired flavor, Nectar of the Queens, made with local baklava, tasted like a sweet Greek goddess. The classic Peppermint Patty had a refreshingly clean taste. The Munchies flavor was good, but adding the Chocolate Trip made for a delightful pairing since you can pick two flavors to put in a cup. The line was much shorter the following day once normal hours resumed.

A tip from the couple behind our group in line: Divide and conquer. Ample Hills and Chip (30-06 34th St) are across the street from each other. One person picked up cookies at Chip and the other was waiting to buy ice cream at Ample Hills. Sounds like they had a sweet sandwich!

 

Ample Hills Creamery
34-02 30th Ave
amplehills.com
Sun-Thu: Noon-11pm
Fri-Sat: Noon-12am

Summers Movies in Astoria and LIC

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It’s June, and that means this month outdoor movies are starting in Astoria Park and Hunters Point Park South, by the LIC ferry station. All movies begin around sundown.

Here’s the schedule for Astoria Park:
Friday, 6/15: Grease is the drive-in movie at the Astoria Park parking lot

After that the movies are shown on the Great Lawn.
Thursday, 6/21: School of Rock
Monday, 7/23: Bambi
Monday, 7/30: Moonstruck
Monday, 8/6: ET: the Extra-Terrestrial
Monday, 8/13: Casablanca
Monday, 8/20: Black Panther

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Here’s the schedule for Hunters Point Park South:
Saturday, 6/9: The Wizard of Oz
Friday, 6/15: Moonstruck
Thursday, 6/19: Sleepless in Seattle
Thursday, 8/16: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Saturday, 9/15: Ratatouille

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