The Brunch Baron Introduction

Hello, and welcome to The Astoria Brunch Column.  I'll be your host.  You can call me the Brunch Baron.  I like alliteration.  And the title of royalty. 
So here's the deal.  I love brunch.  I mean, I REALLY love brunch.  It is a magical meal.  You can get a sweet dish, a savory dish, coffee, tea, or something stronger.  Drinking alcohol before noon isn't considered gauche, but rather a requirement.  A good brunch will put you in a pleasant mood for the rest of the day and help prepare you for the week ahead.  Nothing is better than walking in tired and worn and walking out with a pleasant buzz and a full stomach, the taste of coffee and alcohol lingering on your tongue.
The very best part of brunch, though, is the people you spend it with.  The conversations can ramble from serious to seriously funny.  They can be deep and meaningful or humorous and ethereal, just as your meal can be heavy and fatty or light and fresh.  Or any combination of the above.
My friends and I have visited a ton of brunch places in Astoria, where we live.  A few months ago, the ringleaders of our little gastronomic group decided to formalize the arrangement.  Now, every Sunday, we try a new brunch place in Astoria.  Since I'm bored and have lots of free time, I figured I'd write up what I think of these places and help out what I know are the other brunch aficionados out there.
So there you go.  I'm sure we will revisit some of my favorite places, or if you have suggestions, please let me know.  We may even make the occasional venture outside of Astoria for those of you in the rest of the world.
Happy Brunching!