A guide to the top annual events in Astoria and Long Island City

By Jessica Militello

Western Queens is known for more than its bustling streets and diverse neighborhoods—it’s also a place where community-driven entrepreneurship thrives. Local business owners and residents continually find innovative ways to support one another, uplift new talent, and provide spaces for creativity, wellness, and connection. While the spirit of collaboration can be felt across Astoria and Long Island City, several standout organizations and businesses are helping to shape the local culture and economy in lasting ways.

Built in 1892—the same year Ellis Island opened—this striking terra-cotta structure once served as the headquarters for the New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Company. Nestled beneath the Queensboro Bridge, it remains a standout for architecture buffs and history lovers. The building acted as a full-scale model for the company’s clients and was once surrounded by factory buildings, now long gone. Though it stood vacant for years, the building earned official landmark status in 1982 and still stands as a tribute to Long Island City’s industrial legacy.

Perched quietly on a hill above the East River and surrounded by warehouses, the 1858 Steinway Mansion is an architectural marvel built by optician Benjamin Pike Jr. and later purchased by William Steinway of Steinway & Sons. Designed in the Italian villa style with granite blocks and cast iron detailing, the mansion served as the Steinway family’s summer retreat. Though not open to the public, the mansion’s dramatic exterior and rich history make it a worthy detour on any local stroll.

By Jessica Militello and Shane O’Brien

There is always something new to taste, try, or toast to in Astoria and LIC. These neighborhoods continues to thrive as a culinary destination, with new restaurants, cafés, bakeries, and markets opening at a steady clip. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic Italian sandwich, halal Thai-Malay cuisine, or Brazilian sweets and coffee, the ever-expanding food scene in Western Queens offers something for every palate.

May 12, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

On any given morning, Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria hums with energy—artists welding steel, neighbors walking their dogs, and visitors pausing to admire large-scale artworks taking shape before their eyes.

May 2, 2025 By Ethan Marshall

Since its founding in 1970 by Tom and Fred Elghanayan, the real estate development company TF Cornerstone has played a pivotal role in helping to shape the current landscape of the waterfront of Long Island City, as well as western Queens as a whole.

May. 6, 2025 By Mayor Eric Adams

May 5, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

May 5, 2025 By Bill Parry

Police from the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst and Transit District 20 are looking for a suspect who allegedly assaulted an MTA conductor in the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue/74th Street subway station on the night of Thursday, May 1.

May. 5, 2025 By Athena Dawson

The event, held on Monday, April 28, outside Queens Borough Hall, was organized in partnership with Samaritan’s Peer Alliance Recovery Centers (PARC). Richards was joined by Mitchell Netburn, President and CEO of Samaritan Daytop Village, along with Peer Recovery Professionals and community advocates.

May. 5, 2025 By Colum Motherway

Queens senior citizens have been taking center stage this spring, thanks to Inside Broadway’s vibrant and engaging arts programs made possible through a partnership with the NYC Council’s SU-CASA initiative.