Hey neighbor,

Travers Park is having a moment. The trees are lush, the grass is bright, and the whole place looks like it is trying to convince us that the heat is charming.

And honestly, it almost works. On a scorching day, a shady bench in Travers feels less like a bench and more like prime neighborhood real estate.

In transportation news, the city is proposing a dedicated bus lane on Broadway between 69th Street and Roosevelt Avenue for the Q70 LaGuardia Link. The idea is to speed up the airport bus before the World Cup arrives next month, but hopefully it helps everyday neighbors long after the soccer fans go home. Because when a bus is moving slower than walking speed, even your abuela with a shopping cart has a fair complaint.

And apparently, Jackson Heights is one of the NYC neighborhoods where buyers can save fastest for a 20% down payment. We came in third. “Fastest” still means about 9.2 years, so maybe do not cancel your rent check just yet, but hey, we’ll take the win.

Big thank you to Rachel Schwartz for supporting the newsletter. Rachel also wants to shout out K&L Deli, which feels very on-brand for a neighborhood where deli loyalty is a serious matter. You can support the newsletter too and gain extra perks.

One more thing. Last call for Dinner Club is this Sunday evening. It’s happening next Tuesday, and the idea is simple. You sign up, we match you with a small group of neighbors, and you all meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Good food, easy conversation, and no need to awkwardly ask, “So… does anyone want to hang out?” We handle that part. Grab your spot before signups close Sunday evening.

Now let’s get into what’s happening around the neighborhood before we all turn into sidewalk empanadas.

This Week in Jackson Heights

Tuesday, May 19 to Monday, May 25

Featured Event

🍷 French Wine and Dining | Thursday, May 21, 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas

A five-course French dining experience with each dish paired with exceptional wines from France. Fresh fig salad, chilled vichyssoise, filet mignon, chocolate cake, and more. $100 per person, tax and gratuity not included. RSVP encouraged. Reserve your French feast​

Upgrade Your Social Life With Our Upcoming Dinner Club If you’ve been meaning to meet more people where you live… join us this next Tuesday at 6:30pm. Great food, curated tables, and an easy bar hang afterward for whoever wants to keep the night going. Sign Up for Dinner

Tuesday, May 19

Art Class Adults | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church • Individual guidance, grown-up art time → Pick up a brush​

Paella Nights @ Addictive Wine and Tapas | 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • Saffron rice, worth the wait → Follow the paella pan​

Wednesday, May 20

BYOB: Bring Your Own Book! | 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • Food, stories, and sharing circle → Bring your story​

Thursday, May 21

Innovation Stations: Songwriting Your Story | 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • Teens, write your first song → Find your chorus​

Salsa2026: Voces Latinas Fundraiser | 6:00 PM | Lima Restaurant • Dinner, cocktail, salsa class, good cause • $100 → Dance for a cause​

French Wine and Dining | 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • Five French courses, perfectly paired • $100, RSVP encouraged → Reserve your French feast​

Friday, May 22

Alternative Rock and Roll Night | 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Nancy Blake’s Tavern + Tap • Local amps, Friday energy → Turn it up​

Saturday, May 23

Jackson Pilates Open House | 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Jackson Pilates • Tour the studio, no Lycra required → Stretch your curiosity​

CQA Poetry Slam | 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • Student voices, big feelings → Cheer the poets​

Duduka Da Fonseca Quadrilogy | Samba Jazz | 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM | Terraza 7 • Brazilian jazz, master drummer • $20 mezzanine cover → Catch the groove​

Music Show: Virginia Marcs | 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM | Espresso 77 • Coffee, tunes, cozy vibes → Sip and listen​

Sunday, May 24

Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 83rd Street • Open Street art stroll → Browse the block​

Lao Lao’s Dumplings | Pages in the Park | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Travers Park • Dumplings, stories, bring the kids → Read in the park​

Monday, May 25

Queens Distance Runners: Jackson Heights Community Run @ Queensboro | 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | 80th St & Northern Blvd • Friendly 5K, weekly photo first → Join the neighborhood jog​

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 Business Expo 2026 | Tue May 19, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Citi Field • Big networking energy, RSVP encouraged → Meet Queens business​

Jackson Heights Orchestra | Wed May 20, 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM | Trinity Lutheran Church, Astoria • World premiere, big strings energy → Hear the premiere​

2026 Dancing with the Queens Stars Gala | Thu May 21, 6:00 PM | MoMA PS1 • Queens dance, food, open bar → Vote with your feet​

Queens NY Practical Philosophy Meetup | Sun May 24, 6:00 PM to 7:45 PM | Arya Cafe, Elmhurst • Deep chats, no homework needed → Think out loud​

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: Lisa Reswick, John “Sandy” Needham, Felice Amera, Emily Moore, Oda Friedheim, Joseph Faillace, 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 a wrap for this week! May your paella be worth the wait, your bus lane be swift, and your weekend plans be delicious.

Jonathan (JBS)