The Tops of Astoria 2006
By Meg and Sooz of Joey in Astoria

Seeing as how this weekend can basically be described as "PARTY," we here at JIA thought it would be great to sum up our past year. There is no real rhyme or reason to it at all, just the years notables... good and bad! I'm sure in here you will find SOMETHING to do or try this weekend. Have a blast whatever it is!

Joey in Astoria's Tops of 2006

• Yummiest Condiment: Pebre from San Antonio.

• Tastiest Conversation: Anything with Ali at Kabab Cafe.

• The best way to stay active in the community: Biking and boating around with the guys over at the Waterfront Group.

• Best Wings...so far: beer and pool to boot, McCann's

• Best way to pamper your toesies: Give the ladies over at Athena's a couple of hours and you'll leave a happy girl

• Revamped Bar: From Tupelo to Sparrow, that birdie sings sweet-sweet music in the form of a great beer selection

• Most pointless renovation: Avenue Cafe ...

• Best sandwich competition: Sal, Chris & Charlie's vs. Sorisso's

• Biggest blown out of proportion blog entry: Why does the world have such an issue with my opinion on the Beer Garden? Geesh!

• Most notable food out of a truck: El Rey Del Taco - can't go wrong with anything on the menu

• Summer's worst: The never ending Blackout and the Astoria Pool Melee

• Best food filled guest blogger: Your foodie friend and mine, Annie in the Supermarket, lost as always

• Best French addition to the hood: Le Petit Prince of course

• Worst French loss in the hood: Le Sans Souci closed before I ever got to try out those Frenchy yumms :(

• Best fishy surprise: the $16.99 all you can eat of fresh sushi at Ginza

• The place to see giant artistic objects: Socrates Sculpture Park. Happy 20th birthday!

• Ugliest renovation: The Eagle Electric Plant near Astoria Park. WTF?

• Best source of fresh organic vegetables: Hellgate CSA

• Most consistently unreliable promise: Shiny new, robot-enhanced N trains...still haven't seen one.

• Best place to practice your foodie speak in Spanish: Original Mexican Food Deli. And don't forget the sub-$2 tamales!

• Best factory tour of a world famous cultural icon: Steinway Piano Factory. It's also been rated one of the top 5 factory tours in the country.

• Best bottled beer selection (not in a bar): Heliopolis Deli. They also sell a spicy feta-sun-dried tomato concoction that is unbelievably delicious.

• Weirdest burger preparation: Jackson Hole Diner. Steamed burgers? Why, I do not know.

• Creepiest epidemic: Bedbugs. Totally gross.

• Tastiest addiction: Sabra Humus, made in Astoria. It's the new crack! Toss in some Astoria Pita and who needs to leave home?

Stay tuned for 2007's adventures in the hood :) Happiest of Happy's to all our neighbors and friends and thank you so much for making this year here at Joey in Astoria a great one!