ASTORIA & LONG ISLAND CITY

THE BASICS: MoMA QNS and the “Matisse Picasso” show have earned Long Island City its fifteen minutes of fame and then some. But would-be Warhols and others searching for cheap space have been colonizing the area for some time. Attached and semi-attached townhouses and multi-family homes are most common; studios and one-bedrooms are in comparatively short supply. “You’re getting the people who lived in Manhattan and wanted out, but there’s still a large immigrant population,” says Mary Jane Feimer of First Choice Realty. “Somehow, everyone lives harmoniously.”

WHAT'S NEW:The Avalon Riverview offers 372 apartments (starting at $1,745) and gorgeous views of the East River. Two-family houses with garages have been popping up. There’s also a spiffy new rental building at 21st and Broadway. BARGAIN HUNTING: Head east toward the edges of Jackson Heights and Woodside, where prices are lower because you’re farther from Manhattan—and local subways.

HOT SPOTS: Tournesol, opened by a former Artisanal maître d’, brings upscale bistro fare to Queens. Local favorites for cheap eats include Kabab Cafe for baba ghannouj and newly opened Bella Via for brick-oven pizza. Hipsters head to the Café Bar for board games and drinks, and to the old-world Bohemian Hall for beer.

PREDICTION: Development has been piecemeal here, which explains the uneven price changes. Smaller rentals continue to be in demand, though, and as more people seek bargains outside Manhattan, the area should continue to gain momentum. Who knows—Manhattanites visiting “Matisse Picasso” may start calculating prices per square foot and decide to put down roots. For expanded versions of our neighborhood guides, with extra restaurant recommendations, shopping information, and more, visit newyorkmetro.com/realestate.

CONTRIBUTORSJoy Armstrong, Christopher Bonanos, Amy Boshnack, Ada Calhoun, Sara Cardace, Lauren DeCarlo, Matt Gross, Boris Kachka, Steffi Krammerer, Tara Mandy, Rebecca Marx, Byrd Schas, Deborah Shapiro, and Michael Steele.

Related:

• Archive: “Cover Story”
• Table of Contents: March 10, 2003 issue of New York | Subscribe!