The area now known as Astoria was originally called Hallet's Cove, after its first landowner William Hallet, and his scandalous wife, Elizabeth Fones Winthrop Feake Hallet, who settled there in 1659.  A secret deal with ol' Pegleg Peter Stuyvesant,saved her from the gallows.  From there begins a New York tale that has it all - from manufacturing to murder.  Join us as we explore the history of this fascinating Queens Neighborhood.  Among the sites we will be visiting are: Socrates Sculpture Garden, Sohmer Piano Factory, Welling Court, Steinway Factory and Mansion, The Bridge to Riker's Island and the Riker Lent Homestead.  Lunch will also be a tribute to Astoria history, as we will dine in Bohemia Gardens - proudly serving Czech food and beer since 1919.  After lunch - we visit the bakery formerly owned by the family of an Astoria Legend.  

Bring the usual assortment of a stuff that you take on the ride.  MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE A GOOD LOCK - AS THE BEER GARDEN DOES NOT ALLOW BIKES INSIDE AND THERE IS ONLY STREET BIKE RACKS.  This ride will have various stops, as we discuss this interesting part of our fair city.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: YOU MUST HAVE AND WEAR A MASK WHEN NECESSARY ON ALL 5BBC RIDES AS INDICATED BY THE RIDE LEADER. THIS RIDE HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF SPENDING SOME PERIOD OF TIME INDOORS. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE AND JOIN ANY INDOOR ACTIVITY, YOU MUST BE MASKED, VACCINATED AND BRING PROOF OF VACCINATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE 5BBC MAKES NO REPRESENTATION AS TO THE VACCINATION STATUS OF ANYONE ON THE RIDE OR ENGAGED IN ANY ACTIVITY, INDOOR OR OUT. THE RISK INVOLVED IN ANY ACTIVITY ON THE RIDE IS ASSUMED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL RIDER.