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Jackson Heights Insider: Local Events & Community Updates

A weekly roundup of the best events, markets, and happenings in and around Jackson Heights. Perfect for neighbors who want to stay in the loop and support local life.

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đŸ„Ÿ Nov 24–Dec 1: Meet Your New Neighbors and Grab a Slice in Jackson Heights

Hey neighbor! It has been a lively week around here. Our first communal dinner meetup on Tuesday was super fun and it was great meeting everyone at the bar afterwards. Such an easy group to chat with! Dinner meetup at the bar after! Also, a big shoutout goes to Keetick, who hosted a business Thanksgiving potluck on 82nd Street with a really impressive bunch of small business owners and new entrepreneurs. The Queens Success Collective Potluck Meetup If you run a business, I highly recommend...

4 days ago ‱ 3 min read

Hey neighbor, I just recently got back from Web Summit (in Lisbon, Portugal), which is basically Disneyland for tech people. Lights. Stages. Badges everywhere. Fun, sure, but my heart kept wandering back to Jackson Heights. I found myself surrounded by fancy robots doing handstands and still thinking “I miss my corner store guy who calls me ‘my friend’ whether he remembers my name or not.” Then out of the blue, I get a message from Jai Punjabi from the Masters of Scale podcast (which he runs...

11 days ago ‱ 4 min read

Hola amigo, Do you ever notice how the best conversations in Jackson Heights don’t happen at big events, but over a good meal? Someone passes the salt, someone else shares a story, and suddenly you’ve got new ideas and a new friend. That’s the spirit behind our community dinner happening next Tuesday, November 18th at 6:30pm. It’s simple. You answer a few quick questions: things like your dietary preferences and what kind of conversations you enjoy
 and we’ll match you with five other locals...

18 days ago ‱ 3 min read

Hey neighbor, Big day in the neighborhood
 we’re voting for our next mayor! đŸ—łïž If you haven’t voted yet, this is your moment. You can find your closest polling place here. And if those ballot questions have you scratching your head, our friends at Epicenter NYC made a super clear cheat sheet that explains it all. Oh, and in fun local news - Jackson Heights Insider just won the Awesome Foundation grant! Feeling extra grateful for this wonderful community that made it possible!!! But enough...

25 days ago ‱ 2 min read

Hi neighbor! You’ll see some photos below from a busy week around the hood. We were out representing Jackson Heights at Queens Tech Night with Epicenter NYC and Astoria Live, connecting with small business owners through the Queens Success Collective, and chatting about local media at the World’s Borough Bookshop. Oh - and this very newsletter was just named a finalist for the Awesome Awards! None of this happens without you cheering us on. Now, onto something else that’s super fun. Our first...

about 1 month ago ‱ 2 min read

Hey neighbor, Ever notice how music can make Queens feel even more like home? Meet Kacia Flórez, a Colombian-Ecuadorian singer-songwriter born and raised right here in Jackson Heights. Her songs mix the folkloric sounds of Latin America with modern Queens energy, and you can explore her music and story on her new profile in the Queens Media Collective directory I just set up for local creators yesterday. If you’d like to meet more amazing neighbors (and maybe share your own project or...

about 1 month ago ‱ 3 min read

Hey neighbor! Ever wish you could meet more folks from around Jackson Heights without having to plan a thing? We’ve got you. Our first community dinner is happening on November 18, and it’s a fun, low-stress way to share a meal and support a local restaurant, and help sustain this newsletter. Here’s how it works: take a short personality quiz, pay a $16 booking fee to confirm your spot, and we’ll handle the rest. We’ll pair you with five other locals for dinner, and after everyone eats, we’ll...

about 2 months ago ‱ 3 min read

Hola vecina/o! Last week I was talking about the importance of “third spaces” - those cozy spots where you’re not at work, not at home, but somehow feel completely yourself. I think it’s fair to say that Espresso 77 nails it. Dating back to 2010, Afzal and Julie turned an architect’s dream into the kind of cafĂ© that feels like the neighborhood’s living room. You’ll find artists chatting with parents, musicians tuning up for the evening, and half the block comparing notes over a honey mint...

about 2 months ago ‱ 3 min read

Hey neighbor! My friend Tony Bacigalupo once wrote about the best gathering spots in his town of Norwalk, and it got me thinking about what that looks like here in Jackson Heights. Apart from the obvious ones like Espresso 77, The Queensboro, Travers Park, Jax Inn Diner, EJ’s barbershop and Nancy Blakes, here are some of my personal favorites: There's World Borough Bookshop where owner Adrian (AKA Bookpapi on TikTok) hosts author talks, art events, and meetups that often come alive on Open...

2 months ago ‱ 3 min read

Hey neighbor, Usually I like to start this newsletter with good vibes, little wins, and neighborhood cheer. This week, though, it’s impossible to ignore something heavier. If you’ve ever eaten at The Queensboro, you probably know Dino - he’s been there since the early days, always smiling and welcoming everyone. Sadly, he was recently taken by ICE, deported and separated from his wife and three children here in Jackson Heights. The response has been both heartwarming and overwhelming: In just...

2 months ago ‱ 3 min read