Hey neighbor,

We had another one of our monthly dinners last week, which meant a few dozen neighbors scattered across Sol Boulevard, Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar, Lima Restaurant, and Queens Beer Factory, eating very well and discovering people they hadn’t met yet but live within a few blocks.

Big thanks to all four spots for hosting us. There photos are below, and the next dinner is Wednesday, September 23. If meeting a handful of strangers over dinner sounds either delightful or mildly terrifying, you can sign up here. It usually turns out to be the first one 😉

Saturday brought a very different kind of gathering, with the Jackson Heights Running Festival taking over 34th Avenue.

It was a great day out, with runners, families, kids, spectators, and at least one person moving at a speed I personally associate more with the 7 train when it skips a stop. A new one-mile course record was set at 4 minutes and 26 seconds!

If you missed your chance to sprint through Jackson Heights, neighboring Astoria is holding its mile next week on September 12th. The signup link is here for anyone whose legs apparently still have unfinished business.

There is also difficult news this week. The deadly flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border has affected families with deep connections to our neighborhood. Local Nepali and Tibetan residents have spoken to The Guardian and Spectrum News about what families are going through. With the Momo Crawl coming up, organizers have created a GoFundMe page for relief efforts, and there is also an official Nepal government disaster fund.

And finally, a big thank you to Richard Newman, our newest supporter. Richard is a keen writer who organizes First Tuesdays, a monthly literary series at Espresso 77, which feels like an extremely Jackson Heights combination of books, coffee, and people willingly leaving their apartments on a Tuesday night. If you’d like to join Richard in supporting us, you can do that here!

Alright, onto this week. Your calendar is about to get a little more crowded.

This Week in Jackson Heights

September 1–7

Featured Event

🚲 NYC Unicycle Festival 2026 | Saturday, September 5 | 12:00–5:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 93rd Street

One wheel, somehow enough. The festival’s family weekend lands in Jackson Heights with demonstrations, games, relays, unicycle basketball, and a learn-to-ride area for kids and adults. All ages and abilities welcome. Bring water and snacks, and helmets are strongly suggested if you plan to give it a go. Free. See what they can do on one wheel​

Tuesday, September 1

Paella Nights @ Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar | 4:00–10:30 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • Tuesdays taste better with saffron and seafood → Order the paella​

Wednesday, September 2

Collage Crafting Cloth and Coffee | 3:00–5:00 PM | Jackson Heights Library • Crochet, sew, collage, caffeinate, all skill levels welcome → Make something​

Run / Walk for Nepal | 7:00–8:00 PM | Jackson Heights Train Station • 5K for Nepal flood relief, walkers very welcome → Run, walk, support​

Thursday, September 3

Jackson Heights Science Fiction Book Club | 6:00–7:00 PM | Jackson Heights Library • Sci-fi regulars and curious newcomers welcome, no registration required → Enter another dimension​

Weekly ¡DALE! Runs | 6:30–8:00 PM | Queens Beer Factory • Choose 2.5K or 5K, RSVP on Strava → ¡Dale, dale!​

Friday, September 4

Take Your Time: Debut Novel by Enzo Escobar | 6:30–7:30 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • Time travel, teenage chaos, and a local Elmhurst author → Meet the author​

Samuel Torres Salsa Orchestra: Tribute to Ray Barretto | 7:30–9:00 PM | Terraza 7 • Big-band salsa for Samuel Torres’ 50th birthday → Feel the rhythm​

Saturday, September 5

Toastmasters International: America’s Best | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Elmhurst Hospital + Zoom • Practice speaking without being thrown to the wolves, arrive early for a seat → Find your voice​

NYC Unicycle Festival 2026 | 12:00–5:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 93rd Street • Learn to ride, watch the pros, question the need for a second wheel → Give one wheel a chance​

Sunday, September 6

Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 AM–6:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 83rd Street • Open-air art, right in the middle of the Open Street → Browse the gallery​

Pages in the Park: Alight with Molly Magnell | 11:00–11:15 AM | Travers Park • Sunday storytime in the amphitheater → Bring the little readers​

Central American Heritage Parade | 12:00–3:00 PM | 37th Avenue, 69th to 89th Street • Culture, heritage, and a very lively stretch of 37th Ave → Catch the parade​

Monday, September 7

Spanish Conversation Club | 6:00–7:30 PM | 93rd Street & 34th Avenue • No quizzes, no pressure, just practice speaking → Practica tu español​

Figure Drawing (Drink and Draw) | 7:00–9:00 PM | A.R.T. Shop • Nude figure drawing, BYOB, beginners encouraged • $20, materials included → Sharpen your pencil​

More to do in Queens

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

Astoria Live All the events in Astoria, Queens 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​

Rockaway Film Festival | Wed Sep 2–Sun Sep 6, 7:00–9:30 PM | Arverne Cinema • Movies by the beach, some screenings free • Prices vary → See what’s screening​

BrasilFest | Sat Sep 5, 2:00–7:00 PM | 31st Avenue & 35th Street, Astoria • Brazilian food, music, dance, and block-party energy → Join the festa​

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: Leslie Garcia, Rachel Schwartz, Lisa Reswick, John “Sandy” Needham, Felice Amera, Emily Moore, Oda Friedheim, Joseph Faillace, Emily Hackenburg, Zach McCurdy, Diana Chery, Nikki Amberstone, 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)

Until next week! May your week involve more paella than parking drama, and fewer sprints than that 4:26 mile.

Jonathan (JBS)