Jackson Heights Insider

Hey neighbor, One of my favorite things about Jackson Heights is how the neighborhood can look completely different depending on where you’re standing. Local artist Bonnie Astor recently shared paintings of Travers Park and the view from her rooftop, and they capture something familiar: trees and brick buildings up close, the Manhattan skyline hovering in…

Hey neighbor, Let’s start off with a quick reminder for everyone who saw Dinner Club in a previous email and thought, “That sounds fun. I’ll sign up later.” Neighbor, it is officially later. Our next dinner is Tuesday, and this is the last call to join. Sign up here, then come hungry and ready to…

Hey neighbor, This past neighborhood was full of music, dancing, food, and community spirit. The first South Asian Unity Parade filled 37th Avenue with color and celebration. Simultaneously on 34th avenue, Jackson Heights Day brought activities, vendors, and DJs to five whole blocks. Our streets had more moves than most of us do before our…

Hey neighbor! From dinner tables to parade routes, Jackson Heights has been keeping us busy. Last week, another fantastic bunch of neighbors joined our monthly community dinner. Groups headed to Juquila, Cora, Leo’s and Kitchen 79, where they shared a meal and got to know some new faces. Fancy joining us for the next one?…

Hey neighbor! The Jackson Heights forecast lately seems to be: warm, sunny, possibly stormy, then unexpectedly beautiful. We may not know whether to carry sunglasses or an umbrella, but the dramatic clouds do make for some wonderful sunsets, like the one below. Photo credit: Demetri Tee Luckily, our neighborhood appetite is much more predictable. The…

Hey neighbor, Meeting new people in New York usually requires courage, careful scheduling, and at least three unanswered group-chat messages. Fortunately, we found an easier way. Last week, we held our quarterly newcomer meetup on 34th Avenue Open Streets. Neighbors got to know each other and heard more about the events happening there, including the…

Hey neighbor, Jackson Heights is fully in summer mode. On Sunday, the Peruvian Parade filled 37th avenue with music, dancing, and plenty of red and white, kicking off the neighborhood’s Latin American parade season in style. Photo credit: Ramy Mahmoud The soundtrack continued at Travers Park, where the Queens Jazz Trail opened with a concert…

Hey neighbor, We had another Jackson Heights Insider dinner club on Tuesday, and it was a good one. Neighbors were spread out across Black Thai, Uncle Peter’s, Cafe Salamanca, Pio Pio, and Queensboro, where everyone came together afterward. If you haven’t joined one yet, here’s how it works. You get paired with a small table…

Hey neighbor, It is going to be a scorcher this week, with temperatures expected to climb close to 100 degrees on Friday. So please take it easy out there! Drink water, check on neighbors, and maybe do not choose this week to prove you can carry six grocery bags home from Food Bazaar in one…

Hey neighbor, Today is Primary Election Day, which means Jackson Heights gets to do one of its favorite things. Have strong opinions, then go vote on them. Polls are open from 6am to 9pm, and if you are on line at 9pm, you can still vote. You can check your polling place and see a…