Astoria, Queens: everybody’s neighborhood

Written by Abbey Kurtz Astoria reminds me of my third grade class geography project — 20 students studying 20 different countries and putting together a visual presentation to share with the other kids and their families for world culture day. We had rows of desks filled with food, artifacts, clothing, posters, and dictionaries lining our small, cozy classroom. Making your way around the room, you accumulated delicious food, colorful jewelry, new ways to say “hello,” and the excitement of feeling...