Suanne L.
Yelp
Astoria World Manor is located a short walk from the N/Q line. It was probably built in the late 60's or 70's, as the facade and architecture are reminiscent of the Flushing World's Fair Park built in 1964 with its futuristic details, penchant for gold and shiny glass. It sticks out of the neighborhood, which is quiet and lined with parking lots, small neighborhood shops, and offices. Inside is a bit similar, with gold and more glass and enough mirrors to humor the closet narcissist at every turn. AWM has multiple wedding banquet rooms, potentially having up to four weddings at a time (the odds of that are very unlikely though). AWM is two floors, with a small back elevator to comply with ADA requirements, but otherwise isn't used.
Each wedding usually has the option of reserving one room for cocktails and one for the banquet. Fiance and I toured the Ballrom and the Astoria room, which were connected by a sky lit Atrium for cocktails. The rooms had full hardwood floors, which definitely showed some wear (but who would see it in a dark room)? Each had a separate maroon colored "stage" which elevated the head table and was removable in one room but not the other. The decor was a little fluffy - ruffles and drapes in pink and bronze, white tulle. More gold and mirrors. We also looked at the "chapel," which was located in the basement. It was dimly lit, narrow, and the ceilings were very low. The walls were baby blue and there was a lot of silk flowers and vines. The "photo studio" is the same, with silk flowers, a painted sky background, and even a tiny gurgling fountain.
The website is outdated and hard to navigate, but they do a decent job of explaining all the different rooms they had. The photos are not the best quality, but they'll do if you just want to look.
That all said, our meeting with the general manager went really well. I had emailed two days before to set up an appointment with a banquet manager, was assured I didn't need one, and that I could walk in anytime. That was definitely nice and we visited two days later. The general manager was on duty that Sunday morning. After we filled out an initial questionaire about what we needed, we walked around and asked questions. Compared to some others we have met, Ike was really really kind. He was straightforward, gentle, and friendly. He didn't criticize my list of questions and actually seemed appalled that there would ever be hidden charges or fees.
The menu is a bit sparse compared to other venues, but it includes cake and the open bar and all the fees. The lack of choices is made up for in the price point, which is amazingly affordable. Considering how large the hall is and that you could do everything all here, its a good option for those on a tight budget. And I like the people a lot.
One parting note - I've received at least 5 phone calls with vendors associated with AWM even though I didn't book with them. I'd appreciate a little more privacy with my information, especially since I'm already being spammed left and right.
Disclaimer: My reviews in the Wedding Venue search list are based solely upon my initial visit, interaction with staff via email, and how well it fit with the requirements for my wedding (access to public transportation, can fit over 200 people, can hold the ceremony on site, offered a sit down dinner in my buget).
