Hey neighbor!

You know what I love about this neighborhood? You can sit down at a restaurant with five people you have never met, and by the time the check comes you are making plans to hang out again. That is basically what happened at last week’s Dinner Club. Several tables out across Jackson Heights, and then everyone converged at Nancy Blake’s afterwards. Photos below.

If that sounds like your kind of night, our next Dinner Club is Tuesday, April 28th. Sign up at dinnerclub.jacksonheightsinsider.com. You get matched with a small group, try a local restaurant together, and meet the whole crew at a bar after.

Before that though, mark April 13th for our Newcomer Meetup. We pick a different “third place” each time, and you get to meet neighbors and hear from local community leaders about their initiatives. It is open to everyone, not just newcomers. If you have lived here for years and want to meet some new faces, this one is for you too – signup available here.

And a big thank you to Joseph Faillace and Oda Friedheim for supporting the newsletter! Ora wanted to give a shoutout to Chhaya, a nonprofit right here in the neighborhood that has been working on housing, tenants rights, and language access for South Asian and Indo-Caribbean communities for over 20 years. The kind of organization that makes Jackson Heights, Jackson Heights. If you’d like to join Ora & Joseph in supporting the newsletter and unlock a couple of extra perks while you’re at it, you can do so here.

Last thing. We might start doing regular deep dives. Local businesses, community orgs, people doing cool things around here. Who do you think we should feature? Reply and let us know!

And now, let’s get into it, your future self is already making plans you don’t know about yet 🙂

This Week in Jackson Heights

March 31 – April 6

Featured Event

🎶 Alex Kautz Trio — Brazilian Jazz | April 1, 7:30 PM & 9:30 PM | Terraza 7

Smooth grooves, samba rhythms, and world-class musicianship. Let the trio transport you straight to Rio for the night.
• $20 cover → Feel the rhythm​

A different kind of evening in Jackson Heights Join the Wellness Circle on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00pm for guided reflection, real conversation, and a space where you can just show up as you are. Request to Join

Tuesday, March 31

Drag Story Hour | 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | 79-01 Broadway • joyful, all-ages storytelling → Celebrate together​

Paella Nights @ Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar | 4:00 PM – 10:30 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • saffron rice, seafood dreams → Order the paella​

Wednesday, April 1

Alex Kautz Trio — Brazilian Jazz | 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM, 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM | Terraza 7 • smooth, sultry, transportive → $20 • Feel the rhythm​

Thursday, April 2

Craft Hour With Queens Botanical Garden | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Queens Public Library • get crafty with nature → Make something lovely​

Wine & Dine at Addictive Wine & Tapas Bar | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • five courses, wine flowing → Book your seat​

Friday, April 3

Baile Folklórico | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 34th Ave & 93rd St • dance, smile, repeat → Join the dance​

Dads’ Night | 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM | The Queensboro • beers, banter, no kids → Pull up a stool​

Saturday, April 4

Clases de Baile – Cumbia Sonidera | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | 34th Ave & 93rd St • hips don’t lie, all levels → Learn the moves​

Sunday, April 5

Jackson Heights Greenmarket | 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM | 34th Ave & 79th St • fresh produce, neighborhood vibes → Shop local​

Monday, April 6

Queens Distance Runners: Jackson Heights Community Run @ Queensboro | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | 80th St & Northern Blvd • no Lycra required, 5K fun → Run with the crew​

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 Tech + Innovation Challenge: Networking & Finalists Announcement | Tue Mar 31, 6:00 PM-8:30 PM | Flushing Town Hall, Flushing • meet local innovators, free refreshments → Make some smart friends​

Spring Declutter for a Cause | Wed Apr 1, 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | East Elmhurst • swap clothes, give back, RSVP encouraged → Clean out that closet​

NYC Kids RISE Spring Marathon Tune-Up | Sat Apr 4, 7:00 AM-12:00 PM | Unisphere, Flushing Meadows Corona Park • choose 10K, 20K, or 30K. Registration required → Run for a good cause​

(Visiting Presenter) Accusefive “Run, Run, Run!” 2026 Live Tour | Sat Apr 4, 8:00 PM-10:00 PM | Colden Auditorium, Flushing • intimate Taiwanese rock show. Mandarin language → Catch the live energy​

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:

Own a local business? Help keep this neighborhood newsletter free and community-powered, with your logo featured above → Sponsor Jackson Heights Insider​

And a big thanks to our personal supporters: Emily Hackenburg, Zach McCurdy, Diana Chery, Nikki Amberstone, Alice Crespo, John Capouya, Nancy Cardenas, Ursula Avelino, Philip Washburne, Paola Bakos, Joseph Varghese, RJ Harden, Barbara Goodwin, Patricia Marjoribanks, Sara Klar, Sam Raker, Ankit Gupta and Arlene Gilbert.

Want to join them in supporting this newsletter? → Become a Jackson Heights Insider supporter here (and unlock extra perks)

That’s all for this week! So see you in the streets, one paella, one jazz set, and one “how did I end up here?” moment away from your next favorite night 🙂

Jonathan (JBS)