Astoria Characters: The Yogi with 5 College Degrees

“Would you mind removing your shoes before coming in?” Jagadisa-devasri Dacus, a tall, toned man with a shaved head and a bushy beard, is standing at the door of his apartment in black flip-flops, toenails painted the color of ripe cherries. Jagadisa-devasri is a social worker, behavioral scientist and yogi. He went on a business trip to San Francisco, and he just got home a half hour ago on the red-eye flight. He hasn’t had any sleep. He says he’s tired, but he looks wide awake. It’s…

Continue Reading →

Astoria Characters: The Cocktail Curator

When you’ve just finished an overnight shift, 9 in the morning feels like an exceedingly unseemly hour. Which is why Alex Mouzakitis keeps apologizing; he got off at 5:30 a.m. after working 15 hours and hasn’t had much sleep. Alex is a co-owner of HandCraft Kitchen & Cocktails in Manhattan. He has his Mets cap pulled down over his somnolent eyes and worries when he takes it off that he has hat hair. (He doesn’t; his tresses looked professionally tousled.) He’s not going to lie, he’s…

Continue Reading →

Astoria Characters: The Guy Who Loves Pi and Pizza Pie

“Not all pizza is created equal,” says Walid Idriss as he sprinkles flour on the countertop and places a roll of dough in the center. Walid is the owner of Macoletta. The crust may be a little thicker or thinner. The toppings may be arranged slightly differently. Or in the case of the one he’s making, the pie may not form a perfect circle. Macoletta, the pizzeria and beer/wine bar, is at 28-15 24th Ave. And that’s OK by him. In fact, it’s kind of the point. When Walid opened Macoletta,…

Continue Reading →

Astoria Characters: The Bakers Who Are Sweet on Each Other

It is pouring down rain, but Michael Dellapolla, the owner of Gian Piero Bakery, doesn’t notice the deluge. Gian Piero is at 44-17 30th Ave. What he sees are the customers pouring in. Sure, he wishes the sun were out, but in the 23 years the bakery has been in business, he’s weathered far worse weather. He goes out to do some errands, leaving his wife, Anna, in charge. When he returns, the rain has eased and there’s a line outside his door. Michael and his family came to America when he was…

Continue Reading →

Astoria Characters: Vinny and Suzy and the Harley

“Wanna go for a ride?” Suzy runs circles around the living room coffee table, yes, yes, YES! Vinny and Suzy get ready to ride. Satisfied with her enthusiastic answer, Vinny Ombres grabs his black leather vest and helmet and heads out the front door, Suzy prancing at his heels. As he takes the protective cover off his cherry red Harley Road Glide Ultra, Suzy sits patiently on the sidewalk. Suzy, who is named for Vinny’s grandmother, in her biker doggie basket. Once the bike is road ready,…

Continue Reading →