NYC & Company encourages travelers to visit Astoria in Queens as part of Neighborhood x Neighborhood campaign

— NYC & Company Features Astoria’s Restaurant Scene, Cultural Attractions, Boutique Shops and More to Its Number One International Market During World Travel Market 2014 in London —

London, United Kingdom (November 5, 2014) — NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced at the world’s leading travel trade show, World Travel Market, Astoria as the next spotlight in its Neighborhood x Neighborhood campaign. Astoria is a quintessential melting pot, and visitors and New Yorkers can travel from Midtown Manhattan to Astoria to taste some of the best Greek food this side of Athens faster than they can say Opa! Conveniently accessible by the N and Q trains, Astoria is home to world-class ethnic restaurants, impressive cultural institutions and green space in Astoria Park. For more information on all there is to see and do in Astoria, visit nycgo.com/nxn.  

“From the remarkable Greek and international cuisine to the fascinating cultural and arts scene, we are pleased to be promoting all there is to see and do in Astoria to our number one international market during one of the most important international travel trade shows,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “We invite visitors from around the world and across the United States to discover or rediscover Astoria.”    

“It’s no surprise that the borough of nations is home to Astoria, a culturally diverse community known as both a creative neighborhood full of praiseworthy cultural institutions and a food destination popular for everything from Greek to Italian to Brazilian cuisine,” said Marty Markowitz, vice president of borough promotion and engagement at NYC & Company. “There is something for everyone in this bustling Queens neighborhood, and we encourage New Yorkers and visitors to spend a day in Astoria.”

Beginning today, Astoria is being highlighted as the third feature in a three-part Neighborhood x Neighborhood documentary series. The videos feature a local’s guide to the neighborhood, focusing on the shops, restaurants, attractions and history that make every NYC neighborhood distinct and provide further reasons for tourists and locals to get out and explore. To view the video of Astoria, visit nycgo.com/nxn.

“Must-See Astoria” Highlights

The following activities, places, venues and more are featured on nycgo.com/nxn.

• Socrates Sculpture Park exhibits large-scale sculptures and multimedia installations in its unique outdoor environment, and the park offers family activities, a place to picnic or jog along the East River and panoramic skyline views.
• Established in 1988, the Museum of the Moving Image offers visitors an understanding and appreciation of the art, technique and history of film, television and digital media. In 2015, the Museum will debut a new Jim Henson gallery that will include nearly 400 puppets, props and costumes donated by The Jim Henson Company and Henson’s family.
• Founded and designed by the internationally renowned Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, The Noguchi Museum complex is an open-air sculpture garden tucked away inside a converted industrial building that houses a collection of the artist’s life work.
• Extending from south of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formerly the Triborough) to north of the Hell Gate Bridge, Astoria Park offers visitors panoramic views of Midtown Manhattan. The 60-acre park is equipped with playgrounds, tennis courts, athletic fields, baseball diamonds, pedestrian trails and the largest swimming pool in NYC.
• Home to a prominent Greek culture, Astoria offers visitors a wealth of Greek cuisine that can be found at Ovelia, Taverna Kyclades, Telly’s Taverna, BZ Grill, MP Taverna and Artopolis Bakery.
• Astoria’s restaurant scene offers foodies the opportunity to savor international cuisine from around the world. Stop by Malagueta for a taste of Brazil, Mombar for traditional Egyptian fare, Le Gamin Astoria for French delicacies, Piccola Venezia or Trattoria L’Incontro for Italian specialties or Arepas Cafe to tap into the lively atmosphere and delicious treats of Venezuela.
• At the heart of Astoria’s social scene, microbreweries and beer gardens welcome everyone to taste the City’s best tap selections and enjoy live bands in an open-air casual environment. Whether you are looking for a bit of history (try the 100-year-old Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden), seeking out a brand-new watering hole (The Garden at Studio Square is a good choice) or just looking for the biggest space to fit all your friends (check out SingleCut Beersmiths), you can find a good time year-round in Astoria.
• Boutique designers offer hard-to-find vintage clothing. Shop jewelry, bags and boots or collections like Pierre Cardin duffels and Diane Von Furstenberg at LoveDay31.

Visitors looking to experience more of Queens can extend their stay at one of the borough’s hotels—from Long Island City to Flushing to the airport areas of LaGuardia and JFK.

Neighborhood x Neighborhood: The Essential Guide to NYC

New York City is made up of five distinct boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. The Neighborhood x Neighborhood initiative spotlights the affordability and accessibility of these diverse communities, including areas that have seen new hotel development in recent years. Neighborhoods and featured highlights are chosen in collaboration with community leaders and with consideration of NYC & Company’s members.

In order to continue to grow New York City’s tourism industry, Neighborhood x Neighborhood, first launched in March 2013, targets repeat visitors, intrepid first-time visitors and New Yorkers seeking new adventures here in their home city. The campaign was designed to highlight the diversity of offerings in New York City’s five boroughs, encourage exploration in areas outside traditional tourist locations and generate economic activity in the featured neighborhoods.

Neighborhood x Neighborhood is produced by NYC & Company and its Presenting Sponsor, Santander Bank, N.A. The sponsorship includes production of taxi videos each month, bus stop shelters and street-pole banners highlighting the selected neighborhoods.

For more information about Astoria and other things to see and do across New York City, visit nycgo.com/nxn. To read the monthly Neighborhood x Neighborhood press releases and to view B-roll and photos of neighborhood highlights in the media library, visit nycgo.com/press. Follow @nycgo_press on Twitter for the latest information about New York City travel and tourism. 

For PR, media and communication in Scandinavia/Finland contact:

Elin Norlin, elin@comvision.se, 070 279 86 40  

About NYC & Company:

NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com

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