Astoria Packed After Dark

This weekend as in the last couple weeks on Steinway Street endearingly called “Little Egypt”, the streets are alive like they are in Dubai.

The stir crazy crowds, mostly mask-less, have gotten so large, that they have blocked traffic and caused roadblocks. They park dozens of motorcycles and quads on the sidewalk then congregate with friends smoking drinking, dancing and smoking hookah.

Crowds stay up till 5am not social distancing and creating a lot of noise pollution – over 100 decibels.

Partygoers congregate in front of the Melody Lounge and dozens of other restaurants and taverns serving liquor, food and hookah. The cash-starved businesses are happy to serve eager patrons. But they need to do more to enforce social distancing. They have done an amazing job building up their decks and patios and each night the crowds get bigger and bigger.

It’s hard to eat and drink with a mask. Plus with record-setting temperatures, many New Yorkers decided to strip them off. The police did show up to hand out masks to people who weren’t wearing them. But there was not much they could do without more assistance.

New York City is scheduled to upgrade to Phase 4 on Monday. Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Saturday afternoon, calling the crowds “unacceptable.”

“New Yorkers have made too many sacrifices to to fight COVID-19. We can’t let up now,” the mayor wrote. “We’ll be out in Astoria and across the city tonight to make sure restaurants are doing their part to keep diners and their workers safe.”

The city will look into closing some restaurants and bars that are violating social distancing. Three strikes and you’re out.

Pilgrimage to Lil’ Egypt