Astorian Weekend Edition - July 8
By Foodista of Joey in Astoria

We’ve finally hit summer! There’s nothing better than chillin’ at a fabulous outdoor venue in the sun, whether a café, a bar, a beer garden, or a park.

Join the Drinking Liberally group this Friday, 7:30 p.m., at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden for some good-natured fun and potent brew. They’ll meet outside where you can spot them, sporting their black t-shirts with a blue bottle logo. Cheers!

If you’re in the mood to check out a new beer establishment, visit the Studio Square Beer Garden (35-33 36th St, Astoria, 718-383-1001). They’ve made some changes in their menu: now also serving sushi and festive homemade cupcakes, which are perfect for celebrating a birthday. They even supply candles -— how thoughtful! Tip: get there as early as you can, as this place gets packed after 8 p.m.

Looking for a delicious summery brunch? I recently tried Vesta’s (21-02 30th Ave, Astoria, 718-545-5550) offering and loved it! Besides the scrumptious whole-wheat french toast with apricot preserves and the hangover pizza, I enjoyed the white grapefruit sorbet. It’s paired with fresh fruit and is simply to die for.

Another great brunch option is Ovelia (34-01 30th Ave, Astoria, 718-721-7217), featuring tasty Greek omelets and interesting alternatives such as the tiropita toast. They were recently the runner up in DCA’s 4th Annual Sidewalk Café Mix Off with their signature drink, the sikatini. Made with dried figs and Metaxa, this refreshing concoction should not be missed.

Gantry State Park in LIC is the perfect way to spend a warm afternoon. In the words of an enthusiastic resident, "it’s simply delightful. They have wooden lounge chairs, hammocks, lots of grass and even a cool concession stand, which will open soon.” Sounds like a winner to me!