BoroMag_0217_p22

BM022017

Romel & Evelyn When Romel Ragasa was 16, a new family moved into his Astoria neighborhood, and he was curious to see who they were. Evelyn Ong’s brother was taking out the trash one day and Ragasa approached him and asked if he played handball. Ong’s brother said yes and asked if he could bring his sister along. The next day, the three of them played handball at Ravenswood Park in Long Island City. Ragasa and Ong, both 26, bonded over handball. They went to different high schools (he to Long Island City High School and she to Townsend Harris) and played on separate handball teams, but Ong would stop by to see Ragasa practice. Later she confessed to him that she walked 15 minutes out of her way just to see him; it wasn’t on her way home. A couple months later, Ragasa asked her to be his girlfriend. Ong says that since they were so young, they kept the relationship from her family for a while and said that Ragasa was just her brother’s friend. They would spend time together in Astoria Park and Long Island City Piers. Ong loves Socrates Sculpture Park, and Ragasa knows that when they fight, he can find her on one bench in the corner of the park. 22 FEBRUARY 2 0 1 7 They went to different colleges, but that didn’t hinder their relationship: “She was always helpful and supportive and has always been there,” Ragasa said. “She’s really been a big part of my life,” he continued. “We both developed together. We’re high school sweethearts … and saw each other grow.” After nine years, Ragasa decided to propose. He rented out The Foundry in Long Island City for two hours and had all of Ong’s friends and family come and hide on the mezzanine. He had a flash mob on the bottom floor to propose to her, and if she said yes, her friends and family would pop up and surprise her. She said yes, and the couple will get married on June 24, 2018. They will move in together in Astoria this summer. FAVORITE DATE SPOTS: Sanfords Restaurant Tamashii Ramen Blend on the Water Astoria Park Long Island City Piers Lydia & Neil Lydia Billings, 25, and Neil Ruiz, 31, didn’t technically meet in Astoria; they met in a communication course that Billings was taking in Manhattan in October 2014. “Neil was actually the coach in my course, and after the course ended, I asked him out,” Billings said. The two Astoria residents went out on their first date at Astoria Bier and Cheese on Broadway—but Ruiz didn’t know it was a date. “For me it was going really well,” Billings said. “It seemed kind of flirty. We were having a great time.” They went over to Sweet Afton and continued their conversation, and Ruiz said something about never having been asked out by a woman before. “He said it in this way that was like he still didn’t think he had ever been asked out by a woman, and I was like, ‘Neil, how do you think we got here?’” Billings said. “She said, ‘You know we’re on a date, right?’ and I was like, ‘Ohhhh, OK,’” Ruiz said. After that, the couple said the mood of the date shifted and became more romantic, and they had their first kiss. They remember taking “Pickle Back” shots and drinking the Dirty Pickle Martini at Sweet Afton— drinks they still enjoy there to this day. Billings, a photographer and photography teacher, and Neil, a leadership development professional, just got engaged on New Year's Eve and are talking about getting married in September. They’re even looking at locations in western Queens as a potential wedding location. FAVORITE DATE SPOTS: Q.E.D. The Pomeroy The Bonnie Astoria Bier and Cheese on Broadway Photo courtesy of Romel Ragasa VALENTINE'S DAY


BM022017
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