Artist and Medusa owner Katherine Grammes.
BY COLE SINANIAN
cole@queensledger.com
ASTORIA — For any Astorians who may have been wondering what exactly goes on behind the green facade of Medusa Art Studios at the corner of 21st St. and Astoria Blvd, you’re in luck. The studio and event space is now opening as a whimsical new bar, part of owner Katherine Grammes’ yearslong vision to merge her love of hospitality, art, and fantasy into a single, one-of-a-kind experience.
Grammes has operated Medusa as an art studio since 2021, but as she explained in an interview, integrating her two livelihoods — art and hospitality — into a single venture had always been the plan.
“I thought it’d be a cool idea in the end to eventually have a place that could support both things,” she said.
Originally from Maryland, Grammes has lived in Astoria since 2019, where she’s worked as a photographer and set designer, supporting herself as a bartender in between when necessary. Now that she’s finally got a liquor license for Medusa, Grammes has committed to hiring fellow artists who can’t quite make ends meet on their art alone; one of her bartenders has a homemade candle business, another is a singer.
Medusa’s decor comes mainly from Grammes’ personal antique collection. It counts a cozy back patio, a spacious back room with several tables and a fireplace (stand up comedy happens here), a transitionary nook with a giant leather chair and a “cave wall,” and a “splash room” decked out with curtains and ever-changing mood lighting. Gargoyles, Roman statues, masks, skulls, faux ivy and whimsical paintings of all sorts adorn Medusa’s corners, the bounty of a lifetime of perusing the antique shops of America.
“It brings a welcoming aspect to the space,” she said. “So when people come here, they can speak to another world a little bit, but also just relax and feel welcomed.”
From the bar at the front comes an expansive list of bespoke cocktails with names like “Strawberry Monster Matcha Martini” and “Medieval Cherry Blossom” featuring several varieties of nordic meads (one of which is called “Viking Blood”). For the less adventurous there’s wine of all shades and local beers by the can.
Regarding her mead-heavy cocktail menu, Grammes explained that the ancient honey-wine pairs well with Medusa’s aesthetic.
“It worked well with the fantastical and the Renaissance— we have a lot of those themed events here,” she said. “Not everyone’s tried mead, so the first week I had to do a buy-one-get-one-free so people would be more open to trying.”
Rather than just a bar or art studio, Grammes wants Medusa to be something in between, what she describes as a “community creative space.” Come on a Tuesday and you might find comedy in the back room. If it’s a Wednesday it might be a movie in the “splash room.” Grammes’ calendar is already packed— on Thursday, April 16 an event called “Intuition and Oracle Cards 101” is listed, during which a professional Tarot reader will give a class on the secrets of her craft. Last Thursday was Dungeons and Dragons. Come on a weekend afternoon for a “Ritmo and Reiki’ Zumba class or a workshop on “enchanted figure drawing.” While the activities are fun, guests are welcome to drop in for a quick drink as well; the separate rooms are intentional, allowing multiple vibes to be cultivated simultaneously without interference or interruption.
“Tuesdays, you can still chill out, but if you want a good laugh at the end of the night, come,” Grammes says. “Wednesdays, if you want to chill and watch a movie and just get the week over with, you can watch the film or you can still hang out over here.”
As for the name, Grammes says it comes from her childhood affinity for the monstrous Greek goddess, whom she says is misunderstood. Also, with her Greek roots and deadly looks, Grammes pointed out that there’s something vaguely Astorian about Medusa.
