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What you’ll pay: $500,000
What you’ll get: An 830-square-foot two-bedroom condo in new construction
Distance to midtown: 30 minutes on the N or R train
Even though the Steinway Piano Company, which developed parts of Astoria in the 1870s, no longer offers residents factory-town perks like a private school, an amusement park and a baseball team, its continued operation still adds to the area’s artsy cred. Many creative types call this place home, like Vicky Barranguet, an artist, and her musician husband, Gustavo Casenave, who love the northwest Queens neighborhood for its cultural attractions and wide range of ethnic food.
Elmo addicts will be impressed to learn that the red monster and his buds shoot Sesame Street episodes at New York’s historic TV and film production center, Kaufman Astoria Studios, just around the block from its 14-screen movie theater (UA Kaufman Studios, 36th Ave at 38th St; 800-326-3264). On hot summer days, families head to Astoria Park (23rd Rd to Hoyt Ave, between 19th St and Shore Blvd; 718-626-8621) for its huge pool, playgrounds, shady spots for picnicking and views of Manhattan. Parents also bring little ones to nearby Long Island City, where they can play at Socrates Sculpture Park (32-04 Vernon Blvd between Broadway and 10th St, 718-626-1533) or take part in the Art for Tots workshops at the Noguchi Museum (9-01 33rd Rd at Vernon Blvd, 718-204-7088). Astoria’s toy shops and essential businesses—banks, laundries, grocery marts—are concentrated in the area around Broadway and Steinway Street, where familiar chains are interspersed with family-owned stores.
