Susan Sez: Come to Astoria for Historic Walking Tour

New York City’s oldest beer garden, Christopher Walken and Steinway pianos are just a few of the diverse things birthed in Astoria. Although named for John Jacob Astor, America’s first multi-millionaire never actually set foot in the Queens neighborhood.

Don’t pull an Astor and miss out on all that Astoria has to offer. Known for its large Greek population, Astoria has the best baklava, moussaka and tzatziki in the city. Try Taverna Kyclades for whole grilled fish, Ovelia Psistaria for homemade Greek sausage or Mezzo Mezzo for its pinewood-grilled octopus and arni souvlaki.

If you’re not in the mood for saganaki, Astoria is home to an international population. You can find eateries offering up tastes of Bosnia, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Egypt, and the Czech Republic, among other nationalities. For beer lovers, Bohemian Hall beer garden, opened in 1910, holds 800 people and stays open year round.

Astoria is more than a neighborhood to whet your appetite. Visit Jim Henson’s Muppets at the Museum of the Moving Image, where you can also see 130,000 artifacts relating to the art, history, and technology of the moving image. Check out the Steinway & Sons piano factory and Astoria Park, where the U.S. held the 1936 and 1964 Olympic swimming trials.

Hop on the N train to let Susan Birnbaum, of SusanSez NYC Walkabouts, lead you through Astoria’s rich history and culinary diversity.