Ditmars | Steinway

The small Ditmars-Steinway area of Astoria is incredibly diverse; while the population is predominately Caucasian, there are also significant numbers of Hispanic, Asian, and African American residents. Residents are also diverse in age, with retirees and young people all choosing to live here. The stores and restaurants also offer diversity: there are trendy cafes and small family stores in the same area. The people here love food, so you can find just about every cuisine without leaving the area. The housing prices in this neighborhood are far from cheap, but they offer excellent values for their unique combination of location, size, and quality. Transportation is easily accessible, and the commute to Manhattan takes under twenty minutes, making it even more desirable to professionals and commuters. The school district is very good and Astoria Park has gorgeous views of the city's skyline. While there are plenty of houses, condos, and co-ops, a large percentage of the rental properties in this area are small apartments over commercial properties. Each spring, there is a neighborhood street fair, and lots of people visit the Bohemian Beer Garden. The major problem with the area is that the air quality is supposedly bad because of the neighborhood's power plants and the nearby airport.

Ditmars Steinway is a neighborhood in northwestern Queens which lies within Astoria and is bounded to the north by Bowery Bay. As the name implies, Ditmars Steinway was named after the piano maker, Steinway & Sons, who was a major land-owner and developer of the neighborhood. Locals refer to the area as simply “Steinway.”

Ditmars Steinway is characterized by two family red-brick row houses with small yards. Apartments located over stores and offices are also common in this area. Transportation fairs well in Ditmars Steinway. It is a fifteen minute commute from the terminus of the N and W lines at Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard to 59th Street and Lexington Avenue. The Q10A bus also runs on Ditmars Boulevard to the subway.

Public school, Mamie Faye or P.S. 122, is located in the neighborhood. The elementary/middle school is well known and describes itself as a magnet school for core knowledge. There are approximately 1,370 students from pre-K to eighth grade. The Steinway School is also in Ditmars Steinway and offers magnet programs in global arts and learning.

There are a plethora of businesses in Steinway and you will never have trouble getting a manicure or something to eat. From high-end pastry shops to delis, you will find exactly what your taste buds desire. The Bohemian Beer Garden is quite a draw among locals and tourists alike. Located along 24th Avenue near 29th Street, this is a great hang-out. Many coffeehouses are found on Ditmars Boulevard near 23rd Street, including a personal favorite, the Waltz-Astoria. There is also a park in the area named Astoria Park which boast over 65 acres, and offers a track, playground, tennis courts, and landmark 1935 swimming pool.