The Man Who Clothes Cathedrals

The cane, shiny like a sword, doesn’t bother Konstantinos Pylarinos that much. He’s learned to shuffle slowly with it on one side and his daughter Penny on the other. Konstantinos owns Byzantion Woodworking. It’s not his feet that he’s worried about. It’s his hands. After the stroke struck him in his 71st year, he couldn’t carve any more, and that hurt transcends the physical pain. Konstantinos, the owner of Byzantion Woodworking, started whittling when he was…

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The Ghosts Guide

Just when you think you’ve heard everything odd about Astoria, Marie Carter starts telling stories. Marie’s a tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead. Did you know that the ghost of Roaring Twenties matinee idol Rudolph Valentino downs martinis in The Astor Room? Have you seen the pregnant shrouded spirit who floats around 34th Avenue at 44th Street? And have you ever had a close encounter with the garroting ghost of Old Astoria Village? Marie’s a freelance writer and editor. He strangled…

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The Song and Sales Man

Steven Shane Wolhar is trying to drink his morning coffee, but every time he’s about to take a sip, his cellphone interrupts. A client calls; a client texts; another one or two or three email. Steven works for Halvatzis Realty. Steven, an agent for Halvatzis Realty, makes his living selling houses and renting apartments. In New York City, these transactions are not simple matters, so it’s Steven’s job to make them seem easy. He spends so much time on this job — and on his…

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The Blue-Collar Champion

You can’t miss Sergio Furnari’s pickup truck. It’s the dusty-silver 2002 Dodge Ram carrying 11 passengers on its roof. Sergio’s . Sergio climbs into the cluttered cab and drives toward the East River. When the skyline comes into view, he stops the engine and scales the scaffolding to take a seat with his pals on the I-beam. He unfurls the flag and lights a Marlboro. Sergio: sculptor/producer/dreamer. It doesn’t get any better than this. In case you don’t know…

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The Queen of Ice Cream

Jane McGinn has always had a sweet spot for ice cream. She loves it in and of itself, but her affection for the beat-the-heat summer treat is more than cream deep. Jane grew up on ice cream. You see, her grandmother married her grandfather because of ice cream. (OK, he also was a good dancer, but that has nothing to do with this sweet story.) Their melt-your-heart romance began when he took her on a date and they shared a dish of the decadent dessert. Sweet Janes is on 24th Avenue at 27th Street. When…

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