Astoria Characters: The Singer Who Calls Himself Sick Walt

The muscle man with the booming voice, shaved head and neon blue eyes who calls himself Sick Walt is pacing up and down the dining room of his apartment like a lion trying to break out of a zoo cage. He doesn’t like sitting still, never has, that’s something all his high school teachers could have told you. Sick Walt is a singer and so much more. A big buy with an even bigger smile, Sick Walt has a no-holds-barred, rollicking laugh that makes you want to crack up, too. He’s a…

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Astoria Characters: The Queen of 3-Liners

Caitlin Diana Doyle, the sovereign of 17 syllables, wonders whether she’ll be able to conjure up enough words for a casual conversation. Caitlin is the author of Urban Haiku. You see, she’s used to curating her remarks to create hilarious haiku sound bites about the city. What was your first reaction when you moved to Manhattan? “welcome to New York: your pizza slice is larger than your apartment” That’s how Caitlin, a model-tall woman with eyes the color of cream-less…

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Astoria Characters: The Woman Who Put the Mystery Journals in the Park

It’s such a simple idea. Megan M. Stier, a self-described performer/educator/motivational speaker (there’s rent to pay,  so it depends on the day) bought five notebooks and five pens from the dollar store and “hid” them in plain sight in Astoria Park. Megan is the person behind The Journal Project NYC. She wrote “Read Me” on each cover. Those who were curious enough to do so were instructed to record their thoughts anonymously in the volumes and leave them for the next…

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Astoria Characters: The Proprietor of The Brass Owl

Juggling. That’s what Nicole Panettieri excels at. She has two babies – a 2-year-old named Nate and a 7-year-old she called, for no deep, compelling reason, other than that it sounds so cute, The Brass Owl. Nicole opened The Brass Owl in 2014. Each is more than a full-time job, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Nate is at home with his father, so things will be a little easier at The Brass Owl today. Nicole, who lives within walking distance of the shop, has long, dark…

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Astoria Characters: The Absinthe Aficionado

You’ve never drunk The Green Fairy? Don Spiro grabs a glass goblet, chilled water and a nearly empty bottle of the spirited spirit also known as absinthe. Don’s the co-founder of The Green Fairy Society. Planting his Panama hat at a rakish angle, he heads to the rooftop, a covid-safe party space. As he pours the amber-emerald liquid into the glass, Don, who’s wearing the ghost of a grey goatee and a vintage Cuban celadon guayabera that complements the color of the absinthe,…

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