ASTORIA, NY – Thunderstorms and heavy winds did little to keep young Greek-Americans at home on Saturday, June 6. More than 250 people from across the tri-state area gathered at Ovelia for the Andros Society of USA’s Parea Party, where live violin music and Greek dancing transformed a rainy evening into a celebration of community.
Founded in 1929, the Andros Society seeks to foster a sense of community among those with ties to Andros Island and preserve the culture and values of its Greek heritage. One way the society fulfills that mission is through its Parea Parties.
“While a lot of older people stay involved in the society, [the board] realized we needed more young people to get involved because otherwise this was going to die out,” Nicoletta Gasparis, secretary of the Andros Society, told TNH.
What began as small wine nights at Stafili Wine Cafe, promoted through flyers and word of mouth, soon grew into something much larger.
“We didn’t really have a name or brand yet,” Gasparis said with a chuckle. “But we did know that the people existed… we just needed to bring them together.”
A group of young Greek-Americans at Saturday’s Parea Party pose for a picture (Photo Courtesy of @androssocietyusa)
Upon seeing a strong turnout from attendees, the Andros Society continued hosting events at larger venues and eventually rebranded them as Parea Parties.
According to fellow board member Margarita Gasparis, the name originates from the Greek word ‘parea’ – a circle of friends brought together by conversation, music, and shared experience.
“We became our own parea through the process of planning these events,” she said.
In many ways, the board’s own experience of community mirrored the environment they hoped to create for attendees.
And for many attendees, that shared sense of parea was Saturday night’s main attraction.
“It wasn’t a party where you tried to look cool because you paid money for a section,” Demetrios Giannopoulos, who DJ’ed the event, told TNH. “It’s just a massive friend group – a family – that got together and had a good time.”
DJ Demetri played a mix of Greek music throughout the evening, keeping the energy alive. (Photo Courtesy of @androssocietyusa)
Giannopoulos said the enthusiasm generated by one successful event often carries over to the next. He credited the growth of the Parea Parties to attendees spreading the word and sharing photos and stories with friends, who then ask when the next party will take place.
“I think the main reason why Saturday attracted so many people is because they saw how fun the last party was,” he said. “When others observe a sea of young Greeks having a blast, they want to emulate that, so interest in the following event grows.”
And what’s a party without lively music? Violinist George Vlandis found himself at the center of one of the night’s most memorable moments.
Climbing onto the shoulders of assistant secretary Sam Vartholomeos, the 18-year-old played Greek singer Konstantinos Argiros’ ‘Kabanes’ on his violin while the crowd sang and danced along.
The moment later caught the attention of Argiros, who reposted a video of the performance to his Instagram story.
The kefi couldn’t be contained as George Vlandis played the violin, drawing attendees out onto the street. (Photo Courtesy of @androssocietyusa)
“It was spur-of-the-moment,” Vlandis told TNH. “Kind of like a panigiri.”
Raised in Connecticut with roots in Andros, Vlandis said the violi holds special significance on the island. Having learned to play traditional island songs, nisiotika, through his grandparents, he viewed his performance as a way of bringing a piece of Greece to Astoria.
“It felt like being teleported to Andros,” Vlandis said. “Whether you’re from Andros or a different island, [the atmosphere] made you feel like you’re back home in Greece.”
With attendance continuing to grow, organizers said they hope the Parea Parties will continue bringing young Greek-Americans together while strengthening connections to their shared heritage. Follow the Andros Society of USA on Instagram @androssocietyusa.
An attendee in the center of the floor during a traditional Greek dance, echoing the atmosphere of a classic Greek panigiri. (Photo Courtesy of @androssocietyusa)
