Nancy Ruhling's Astoria Characters

There are no cupcakes in Michael Cyril Creighton‘s apartment. Something is terribly wrong. Since July, the world has been watching with delicious delight as Michael stuffs his face with Bakeway cupcakes on , the comedy series he created for YouTube whose second season starts today. “I do not like cupcakes; Jack does,” he says emphatically in his stage-perfect diction. “I would prefer a taco. I’m more savory than sweet.” This is a blow, especially after the workout…

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It was a muggy August night when Steven Feigenbaum sent the text message – “I have something that will change your life” — that set everything in motion. What’s surprising is that Dan Bowen could have Rollerbladed over, but he didn’t. He hopped on his motorcycle. He arrived on Steven’s stoop at 8 p.m. “I’d like you to go across the country with me,” Steven told him. “On Rollerblades.” As calmly as if he were agreeing to go to…

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It’s tough being famous. Just ask Oskar. He’s standing in the window of his chic pet boutique, The Jumping Bulldog, getting ready to sunbathe on his royal-red bed when I show up. Nobody told him about this interview and photo shoot, and his day is packed with play dates. But like all great celebrities, he smiles and takes it in stride. His mommy, Tanja R. Firrigno, will hear about it later no matter how many treats she proffers in apology. Oskar — like Cher and Madonna, he doesn’t…

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Strong sunlight streams onto the circular coffee table, illuminating a pyramid-shaped amethyst crystal and a white candle that sends out the scents of lemon and verbena. Golda Poretsky settles herself on the plush red-velveteen sofa and places her tarot cards on the table. After asking the universe, in the name of the Cosmic Mother and the Cosmic Father, to bless the reading, she slowly shuffles the deck. Flip, flip, flip, she turns over the oversized, sapphire-color cards. She pushes her long dark…

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Soft music plays, crystal chandeliers sparkle like diamonds in the dimmed light and candles fill the air with the seasonal scent of bayberry. “What can I get for you – wine, lemonade, filtered water?” asks Timothee Faberger. He stands at attention, smiling as if getting the answer is the only thing in the world that matters. Timothee, flight attendant/caterer/tour guide, has made a profession of making guests feel at home whether they’re at his three-family house in Astoria,…

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