Underneath the Hell Gate Bridge between Steinway Street and 23rd Avenue, a mural depicting mythical Greek characters covers the wall next to Olympia Sports Bar and Billiards.  Medusa, with green skin, a piercing stare, and hair of colorful snakes with razor sharp teeth, is the standout portion of the painting.

Astoria, Queens–This mural featuring Greek mythical creatures can be found on Steinway Street and 23rd Avenue, next to Olympia Sports Bar and Billiards (12/10/15, Janae Hunter)

Astoria, Queens–This mural featuring Greek mythical creatures can be found on Steinway Street and 23rd Avenue, next to Olympia Sports Bar and Billiards (12/10/15, Janae Hunter)

Painted in 2012 by students at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, in collaboration with “Lady Pink” a local street artist, the mural is a part of an initiative created in the ’90s by the New York Anti-Crime Agency to combat graffiti in the neighborhood.  Since the initiative’s start, the students have created multiple murals throughout the neighborhood that depict various themes and characters.  The use of Greek characters in this particular piece pays tribute Astoria’s large Greek community.  Astoria is home to 13,829 people of Greek ancestry, according to the American Community Survey.

Astoria, Queens–This mural titled “Great American Arts and Culture” features prominent cultural icons such as Michael Jackson and various Broadway plays.  It is located under the N/Q train at the Astoria/Ditmars stop (12/10/15, Janae Hunter)

Astoria, Queens–Characters from the Broadway musicals “Hairspray”, “Phantom of the Opera, “Wicked”, and “The Lion King” are depicted in this mural under the Astoria/Ditmars train stop, painted by students at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (12/10/15, Janae Hunter)

Other murals by the students and Lady Pink can be found under the Astoria/Ditmars subway stop on the N/Q line and at 23rd Avenue and 33rd Street.

Astoria, Queens–Home is Where the Fantasy Is, depicting garden gnomes , fairies, and aliens, located at 23rd Avenue and 33rd Street (12/10/15, Janae Hunter)

Located between Broadway and 30th Avenue, Astoria has been a central part of the neighborhood since it’s opening in 2013.  Despite Amazon accounting for 30 percent of book sales in the United States and chain bookstores closing their doors, owner Lexi Beach, 34, says customer loyalty and the neighborhood’s general support for small businesses has allowed her business to flourish.

A short clip from an audio interview I did with Wendy Chua, one of the owners of Astoria’s first FLGS (Friendly Local Gaming Store). In this clip, Wendy discusses what sparked her and her business partner/boyfriend, Syrus, to open up shop in Astoria.