Nancy Ruhling's Astoria Characters

 Brittany Kwait knows that her longtime boyfriend, Clay Knobler, is going to propose. She picked out her engagement ring, an ample pear-shaped diamond, in April, and she’s pretty sure he’s going to pop the question before she starts her residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center Northwell Health in Manhasset, Long Island, on July 1. But she hasn’t figured out when or where Clay will do this. It should be noted that Clay’s not very good at surprising her – she found…

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It’s a really funny and inventive name: Tootles & French. As with most things in life, there’s a story behind it, one you’d never guess in a million years.When Chad Goldsmith was 3, he and his much more experienced and sophisticated older brother, who was 5, were ordering in a restaurant. French, aka Chad. Chad had chosen French fries, and his brother had selected noodles. Much to the horror of the boys and their fledgling taste buds, the waiter mixed up their orders, prompting…

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Daniella Vitolo is sitting in her silver Dodge Caravan perusing a pile of textbooks while preparing for a Zoom conference. A certified ADHD/executive function parent and child coach who helps students prepare for success, Daniella has turned her 2016 car into a home office of sorts. Daniella is an ADHD/executive function coach. “I generally am parked on the side of my house,” she says, showing off her lower arms, which are a golden tan from leaning out the car windows. “Everybody…

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“Guys are selfish.” George Fuiaxis makes this matter-of-fact declaration with just the correct hint of disgust in his voice. George is a real estate broker and author. This is the conclusion he came to after writing a book on female orgasms. This bears repeating: He’s a guy – guys are, by his experience and definition, selfish — and he’s the author of a manual on women’s sexuality. If he realizes how odd this sounds, he doesn’t let on. But when prompted, for…

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After whipping the buttercream icing, Alexis Heugly places the first layer of the chocolate birthday cake on a crystal stand that’s on the dining table in her apartment. Alexis is from Utah. She spreads on some ganache and sets the second layer, which had been cooling momentarily in the freezer, on top. She ices the confection, filling a piping bag to decorate it with a bouquet of rosettes. “This cake was easy to make,” she says. “It didn’t take me too long.” Alexis, who…

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