Hey neighbor… Winter is still doing its thing, but the neighborhood is busy!

A new tea house has opened on 37th Ave and 76th Street, a Qahwah Valley coffee house is coming soon, and Raising Cane’s is opening this week on 82nd Street in the former bank building (see more details in the events below). With Restaurant Week now underway (check out our full guide here), there are plenty of reasons to step inside somewhere warm and eat well.

Despite the weather, we also had a great Newcomer Meetup last night at Art Retail Therapy.

Big thanks to Charlie & Francisco at A.R.T. for hosting, and to Riha from the Jackson Heights Mural Project, Nitin from Epicenter NYC, Jim from 34th Ave Open Streets, Samantha from Queens Distance Runners, Megan from Indivisible, Leslie from Counseling Space and Nick from Marketito for bringing the vibes, the projects and the community love. The next newcomer event will be in April – mark it now, future you will be glad!

Speaking of Nick and Marketito, he is also looking for artists and vendors interested in participating in Open Streets this spring. If that’s you (or someone you know), you can join his NYC DOT applciation by filling in the form here.

Alright neighbor. Gloves on, calendars out. Let’s do this. 🧤📅

Scroll on for events, food, and reasons to leave the couch (or at least think about it).

Looking for more? This is just a short list. See the full calendar at jacksonheightsinsider.com/events
​Have an event coming up that the neighborhood should know about? Submit it here: jacksonheightsinsider.com/submit-event​

This Week in Jackson Heights

January 20 to January 26, 2026

Featured Event

🎉 Build in Queens. Startup Networking Night | Tue, Jan 20, 6:00–8:00 PM | Leo’s Restaurant & Sports Bar

Meet local founders, entrepreneurs, and neighbors building what’s next in Queens. Expect good conversations, new connections, and a peek at the 2026 Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge. Appetizers and drinks included.

Free. RSVP encouraged → RSVP here​

Tuesday, January 20

Build in Queens. Startup Networking Night | 6:00–8:00 PM | Leo’s Restaurant & Sports Bar • founders welcome, snacks included → RSVP here​

Rayna Duo. Latin American Singer-Songwriter | 7:00–8:00 PM | Terraza 7 • soulful vocals, intimate vibes • $20 → Get tickets​

Wednesday, January 21

Raising Cane’s Ribbon Cutting | from 9:00 AM | Roosevelt Ave & 82nd St • free swag, live music, early birds → See details​

Thursday, January 22

The Art of Flower Arrangements by Anna Kao | 4:00–5:30 PM | Jackson Heights Library • hands-on florals, take one home. Adults. RSVP required → Register​

Flexibility + Focus Yoga for Teens | 5:15–6:15 PM | 2nd Story Pilates + Yoga • bilingual, no experience needed. Ages 11–15 → Email to join​

Friday, January 23

Babies Class with Kids Music Together | 11:30 AM–12:15 PM | 35th Ave & 81st St • sing along, caregiver bonding • $30 preview. RSVP required → Sign up​

Joe Knipes Trio | 8:30–11:00 PM | Espresso 77 • coffee, jazz, chill Friday → Show details​

Saturday, January 24

JHBG Tree LC Volunteer Day | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | 37th Ave • gloves provided, community credits available → Just show up​

Grant Writing 101 Workshop | 3:00–4:30 PM | World’s Borough Bookshop • practical tips, real templates • $75. RSVP required → Reserve a spot​

Sunday, January 25

Book Club Discussions | 2:00–3:00 PM | Jackson Heights • relaxed convo, snacks welcome → Learn more​

Monday, January 26

Drink N Draw. Figure Drawing Session | 7:00–9:00 PM | A.R.T. Shop • sketch, sip, focus • $20. Ages 14+ → Get tickets​

Restaurant Week Winter 2026 in Jackson Heights

(January 20 – February 12)

Participating restaurants:

• Queensboro: $45 Dinner, $45 Sunday Dinner
• Romeo’s Italian Restaurant: $30 Lunch, $30 Sunday Lunch or Brunch, $45 Dinner, $45 Sunday Dinner

​Full breakdown with menus, details, and other participating restaurants here​

Come Solo. Leave with Plans. At our monthly dinner club, we pair you with 5 others at a Jackson Heights restaurant for a meal, then everyone meets up at a nearby bar after. Most people come alone. Everyone leaves knowing at least two people they’d grab coffee with. Sign Me Up for the Next Dinner (28th January)

More to do in Queens

In partnership with events newsletter Astoria Live – another local events newsletter well worth having in your inbox

Astoria Live Astoria Live is your weekly guide to what’s happening in Astoria, Queens — from live music and comedy shows to pop-ups, classes, and community events. Sign up for the newsletter to discover local gems and connect with your neighbors every week. Subscribe​

Queens Chamber of Commerce New Member Orientation | Wed Jan 21, 10:00–11:00 AM | Queens Chamber of Commerce, East Elmhurst • members only, RSVP required, spots limited → Save your seat​

Southwest x Southeast Asia. A Special Evening with Siti & Zaab Zaab | Thu Jan 22, 7:00–10:00 PM | Elmhurst • eight-course dinner night • $85, reservation required → Book your table​

The Bossa Nova Breeze | Sat Jan 24, 7:00–8:30 PM | Uke Hut, Long Island City • relaxed live music, drinks included • $20 → Catch the breeze​

Heads-up: times and places can change, so make sure you confirm event details with the organizers before you go.

And remember – this list is just a selection of everything that’s going on locally. You can check out full listings for more events at JacksonHeightsInsider.com/events​

High-Fives & Local Love

Shout-out to the brands keeping this newsletter going:

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That’s all for now. Remember to wear the scarf. Eat the food. Support the neighbors. Repeat!

Jonathan (JBS)