Here’s a fact: if you research Astoria, NY, you will undoubtedly be overwhelmed by At the site of one of the so called “pigeon bridges” one can oen see giant flocks of pigeons arcles raving about its immense diversity and abundance of quality restaurants. It is no secret flying repeatedly in what seems to be a calculated circle. I cannot seem to find any evidence that the northwestern corner of Queens can boast endlessly of fantasc taverns, hookah bars, online that somebody is orchestrang these pigeons (although I did find out about a couple butchers, and an uncanny ability to nearly always be within a five block radius of a Hellenic gi who nurses sick pigeons), but on one special occasion while my friends and I were watching store, yet I find that Astoria has even more to offer than tasty food and a rich culture. Situated a the show, a man stopped and proclaimed “Pigeon flying! It used to be illegal, y’know?” comfortable fieen minutes from Manhaan, Astoria has found the sweet spot. It’s where the Whether or not The Pigeon Man truly exists is trivial, it is the fact that Astoria is a place that urbanism of the city and the charm of a small town are synthesized; it’s the kind of place where fosters these sort of characters and this brand of child like wonder that makes it such a special kids make up stories about their town’s own pigeon man. place. It is simple enough to recognize the diversity of Astoria. There are landmarks of The charm does not stop at the sights that you see in Astoria. There is certainly a diversity dong its map: the Greek American club on 23rd avenue, the Maltese club on Astoria great degree of child like wonder sparked by the people who occupy the neighborhood. It is Boulevard, the Czech beer garden on 24th avenue or Laguli’s Bakery on Ditmars. These are, without safe to say that there are, admiedly, a few homeless characters well known around the area. a doubt, significant members of the community; they’re the sort of places that make it onto the Depending on who you are, this may or may not be charming to you, but no maer who you “Top Reasons to Live in Astoria” (Roleke). However, Astoria has the misfortune of adopng the are there is no doubt that you will be fascinated by the story of Astoria’s most famous street- significantly negave connotaons that are unfairly aributed to the enre borough of Queens. dweller, Cadillac Man. Living under a railroad viaduct, Cadillac Man won’t reveal his real Due to my immense adoraon and bias, I cannot arculate why somebody might not fall in love name, but claims that he gets his nickname from having been struck by a Cadillac on six with Astoria, but according to a writer’s experience with moving to Astoria, “Telling people you’re different occasions in 1994. Cadillac Man is a favorite of many Astorians (I have a friend who moving to Queens is like telling them you have a history of mental issues or that you have a cancer takes great pride in having once exchanged a head nod with the famed homeless man) and with a high survival rate or that you were in a terrible accident as a child. They’d be remiss to has even wrien a book and been the subject of a documentary. He is the sort of character actually dismiss you or express repulsion, but the informaon has an interesng way of cloaking that seems to only exist within movies and urban legends, yet we are blessed enough to have you in this very thin ick” (nyc pudding). Perhaps Astoria appears so unaracve because it is not him here in Astoria. There is another character that is suspected to live in Astoria who also known for its thriving art community or vintage shops, yet I insist that thanks not only to its meets the qualificaons of an “urban legend”. As the Ditmars area of Astoria lives primarily in diversity, but its uncanny ability to regenerate a sense of child-like wonder, that living here is an the shadow of crisscrossing bridges and railroad tracks, there is a lot of real estate for New enriching experience for just about anybody (especially an arst). York’s pigeon populaon. At the site of one of the so called “pigeon bridges” one can oen There is a certain magic in vising a community that me seems to have forgoen. see giant flocks of pigeons flying repeatedly in what seems to be a calculated circle. I cannot However, Astoria is not one of those places. Instead, in Astoria we have certain “hidden gems” of seem to find any evidence online that somebody is orchestrang these pigeons (although I the past placed within a modern context, a contrast so powerful that it becomes even more did find out about a couple who nurses sick pigeons), but on one special occasion while my precious than a place that is steeped in anquity. Walking into Old Astoria, you find two streets of friends and I were watching the show, a man stopped and proclaimed “Pigeon flying! It used Victorian houses and antebellum mansions juxtaposed against an enormous apartment complex to be illegal, y’know?” Whether or not The Pigeon Man truly exists is trivial, it is the fact that called Shore Towers (FNY). The site of a black and white Victorian home feels like a new discovery Astoria is a place that fosters these sort of characters and this brand of child like wonder that each me you lay your eyes upon it, and the fact that it’s in the shadow of Shore Towers make you makes it such a special place. want to save it. This sensaon, discovery followed by aachment, is what solidifies one’s love for Aempng to photograph the essence of Astoria and reiterate that it is truly a “special place” Astoria, and it is one that is consistently felt all over Astoria’s map. I have felt it when standing on was extremely difficult in that the assignment required me to condense my fondest memories the plaorm of upper-L on 31st street, and nocing a Victorian house hidden behind all the and place them in a context where the magic of actual experience was lost. In order to reflect storefronts with no visible entrance (Ruhling), and never do I feel it so strongly as when I visit my perspecve, I created a series of ultra-saturated photos matched with photoshoped lights Steinway Mansion. Situated on top of a hill and flanked by factories is the property that used to (somemes floang about like a fairy tale, somemes emanang from a window, and belong to William Steinway of Steinway & Sons pianos (Green). It is a fantasc home in its own somemes enhancing a neon sign) to recreate a world that is boiling over with wonder. To right, but what is even more sensaonal is the feeling one gets when they know that such a emphasize the child-like perspecve and the fact that Astoria, to me, feels fit for a movie, I magical place exists, tucked between a power plant and a coffee factory, just a few blocks away. transformed each photo into faux movie sll, with black horizontal bars to mimic the wide The charm does not stop at the sights that you see in Astoria. There is certainly a great degree of screen effect, and subtles intended to sound as if they came from children walking around child like wonder sparked by the people who occupy the neighborhood. It is safe to say that there the neighborhood. Thanks to the process of photo manipulaon, I have arculated my are, admiedly, a few homeless characters well known around the area. Depending on who you adoraon into a bunch of pixels that will hopefully find their way through the eyes, and to the are, this may or may not be charming to you, but no maer who you are there is no doubt that you hearts of their viewers. will be fascinated by the story of Astoria’s most famous street-dweller, Cadillac Man. Living under a Psychologist say that what people truly want is a sense of community, but nobody is immune railroad viaduct, Cadillac Man won’t reveal his real name, but claims that he gets his nickname to the thrill and wonder that accompanies adventure and discovery. Astoria is where these from having been struck by a Cadillac on six different occasions in 1994. Cadillac Man is a favorite two desires meet; it is where everybody knows where to get the best cannolis and rainbow of many Astorians (I have a friend who takes great pride in having once exchanged a head nod with cookies, but only you and your friends know about the alley way behind 36th street that looks the famed homeless man) and has even wrien a book and been the subject of a documentary. He like Narnia I understand that Queens can be tacky. I understand that one block does not need is the sort of character that seems to only exist within movies and urban legends, yet we are three different 99 cents stores, that maybe souvlaki everyday isn’t the best idea, and that blessed enough to have him here in Astoria. There is another character that is suspected to live in perhaps aer a while the smell of hookah can become a lile nauseang. Yet, there is Astoria who also meets the qualificaons of an “urban legend”. As the Ditmars area of Astoria lives something about the kind of place where kids make up stories about their town’s own pigeon primarily in the shadow of crisscrossing bridges and railroad tracks, there is a lot of real estate for man that makes tahe northeast a lile warmer. New York’s pigeon populaon. Roleke, John. “Top 7 Reasons to Live in Astoria, Queens.” About Queens, NY. Web. 24 Feb 2013. Walsh, Kevin. “Astoria Village Part 3, Queens” Forgoen New York. Wordpress, 1 Dec 2007. Web. 24 Feb 2013. Green, Grace. “Astoria's Famous Steinway Mansion For Sale (PHOTOS)” The Huffington Post. 06 Jan 2011. Web. 24 Feb 2013. Ruhling, Nancy. “Astoria Characters: The Hidden House” The Huffington Post. 29 Jan 2013. Web. 24 Feb 2013. “Why Queens Sucks” citypudding. n.d Web.