Community Board 1, #1

It’s a recording and some pictures my first-ever community board meeting a few weeks ago at the Astoria Manor, a place I don’t think I had ever entered. I kept hearing what a dump the Manor was but I found it acceptable for what it is, even likable. It is old and maybe a little dated in decent shape. I think the place does well for being true to whatever genre of interior design it represents. The ceilings and low-hanging chandeliers in the lobby areas are a little claustrophobic.

What has always confused me about the Manor is the signs out front making it look like there is a restaurant and cocktail lounge inside. As far as I could tell here is not. The place hosts catering and events.

Here is a little of the audio I recorded, which I think came out reasonably listenable given that all I used was my phone and I was not actually intending to record these proceedings.

I stayed for about an hour of CB1, and will probably attend future meetings. I took particular pleasure in hearing complaints (in the above recording) about those ridiculous British K6 phone boxes placed outside George’s Café on 35th Avenue a couple of years ago. I was sorta-kinda happy to see them, as a phone booth guy, but just as ready to agree with others that Kaufman Astoria Studios has no British connection whatsoever, and even Astoria itself has no particular British enclave, as far as anyone I know knows. The light shows those booths spit out after dark are, as one CB member agreed, vomitous.

Complaints about the phone booths, the orange paint, and the prison-like gates will probably not make it to the management of George’s. The man making the presentation was an attorney for the café, and seemed to be fresh to the gig since hew knew blessed little about the place. His presence at CB1 was not even necessary, really. He was looking for additional support for his proposal to the Landmarks Commission. The café wants to turn the place into a more permanent structure, which would mean drilling holes and changing innards of the landmarked building at Kaufman Astoria. CB1 has no authority to approve or deny such a request, but this attorney just wanted their endorsement to the Landmarks Committee would be impressed.

I’ve never entered George’s Café, so through this I learned that the place puts most of its furniture into storage every night after they close. I had noticed the portable shitters over by 35th Street, and thought those made the place look fly-by-night. Also, it turns out the café’s awnings and outdoor seating on 36th Street are completely illegal. These are the things you learn at community board meetings.

My friend Don has complained about George’s since the day they started setting it up. He used to use the space to let his dog run around, while he ate a sandwich or whatever . It was like a little park. Now it’s caged in like a fucking prison. Even if George’s fails they will probably never get rid of that cage, so the little community park is probably gone forever.

About 150 people, boardmembers included, attended the meeting, by my estimate. It was far more interesting and engaging than I expected. On my way out, while not trying too hard to capture images of the place in all its glory, I got some pictures of the Astoria Manor.