The Norblad was a funky stay in a funky part of old Astoria. In what appears to be a converted boarding house, this hotel combines no-nonsense basic rooms with shared bathrooms with larger suites with modern ensuite facilities. Across the street in the Astor Building, additional suites offer even more posh. I stayed in one of the Norblad suites and my brother stayed in an Astor suite.
The suites are really nice and seem to each have their own design and style. The Astor building suite had a small kitchenette. Mine had a vaguely-70's vibe. Everything was clean, tidy, and comfortable.
On the downside, the rooms are not air-conditioned, which is only an issue when you're visiting Astoria on a hot day (which we were). But leaving windows open at night only amplified the pretty significant noise from traffic and nearby bars and brewpubs. Even with windows closed, light sleepers in the main building (with lower floors) might need to use the earplugs which they provide in the rooms. Staying in one of the Astor building suites on a higher floor would likely reduce noise.
The neighborhood is packed with beer halls, coffee shops and just a few blocks from the main drag of downtown Astoria. Street parking wasn't a hassle, but my brother paid extra for private parking.
I'll likely stay here again in the future, but will stay in the Astor Building vs. the hotel facility. The suites are worth the up sell and provide a little more privacy and quiet.