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.
🥟 Aug 11-17: Paella, parade & park beats in Jackson Heights
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Hey neighbor, This past neighborhood was full of music, dancing, food, and community spirit. The first South Asian Unity Parade filled 37th Avenue with color and celebration. Simultaneously on 34th avenue, Jackson Heights Day brought activities, vendors, and DJs to five whole blocks. Our streets had more moves than most of us do before our morning coffee.
The celebrations continued at World Borough Bookstore, which marked its third anniversary., and Epicenter featured Bonnie Wong, who helps run this wonderful neighborhood shop. The second public segment of the 34th Avenue documentary was also released. It shows how the Open Streets Coalition has helped teach thousands of people, ages 3 to 77, how to ride a bike. That is a lot of helmets and happy new cyclists. Our thoughts are also with everyone affected by the devastating earthquake in Colombia, including the many families in our neighborhood who are worried about loved ones. A local collection drive is accepting new, unopened hygiene products, baby supplies, first-aid items, emergency supplies, and cleaning supplies. Donations can be dropped off at Salvaje Social Club, 79-11 Northern Blvd; Lechoneria, 84-17 Northern Blvd; Seba Seba, 83-03 Northern Blvd; or Kabu Lounge, 85-09 Northern Blvd. Contact John Londono at events@capamembers.com or 929-522-7195 if you have questions. Finally, our monthly community dinners are still going strong, and we are looking for ambassadors to help document and promote them. Ambassadors receive a complimentary ticket. Apply here if you are interested. Now, after a weekend that packed a parade, a street festival, a bookstore birthday, and a few thousand bicycle lessons into one neighborhood, let’s see what Jackson Heights has planned next. This Week in Jackson HeightsAugust 11 to 17, 2026 Featured Event:🎶 B.I.M - Summer Sundays | Sunday, August 16 | 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. | Travers Park, 76-09 34th Ave. Bangla fusion takes over Travers Park, blending traditional Bengali sounds with international styles for a vibrant summer evening. Feel the fusion​ Tuesday, August 11 ESL Conversation Club | 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. | 34th Avenue & 93rd Street • All levels, lesson at 4, conversation at 5 → Practice your English​ Paella Nights at Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar | 4:00 to 10:30 p.m. | Addictive Wine and Tapas • Order early, it takes 20 to 30 minutes → Dig into paella​ Wednesday, August 12 Queens Distance Runners: Jackson Heights Community Run | 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | 80th Street & Northern Boulevard • Run a friendly neighborhood 5K → Hit the pavement​ Thursday, August 13 Trio Libre | Contemporary Afro-Latin Jazz | 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. | Terraza 7 • Two adventurous sets, $20 mezzanine cover → Catch the groove​ Friday, August 14 IRL: Teen Time | 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • Teens, games, new friends, and snacks → Come hang out​ Saturday, August 15 Knots of Luck: A Lucky Knot Workshop with Bonnie | 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. | The World’s Borough Bookshop • Make a lucky knot with charms → Get crafty​ Sunday, August 16 Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 34th Avenue & 83rd Street • Browse art in the open air → Stroll the gallery​ Bolivian Day Parade | 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. | 37th Avenue, 69th to 89th Street • Floats, costumes, culture, and live performances → Join the celebration​ B.I.M - Summer Sundays | 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. | Travers Park • Bring a chair and feel the fusion → Move to the music​ Monday, August 17 Pencil's Up! Sketching Workshops | 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. | Art Retail Therapy • Ages 13+, materials provided, supplies 15% off → Start sketching​ Restaurant Week Summer 2026 in Jackson Heights(Until August 16th) Participating restaurants:
More to do in QueensIn partnership with events newsletter Astoria Live - another local events newsletter well worth having in your inbox Networking in Your Neighborhood! Bourbon Street Rooftop | Wed, Aug 12, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. | Bourbon Street, Bayside • Bring business cards, enter the $50 raffle → Make new connections​ Queens Jazz Trail Concert: Wallace Roney Jr. | Thu, Aug 13, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | Merrick Boulevard, Jamaica • Celebrate Miles Davis with a rising trumpet star → Follow the jazz trail​ Taste of Merdeka | Sat, Aug 15, 12:00 to 9:00 p.m. | Culture Lab LIC • Eat, dance, and celebrate Indonesian independence → Taste the celebration​ Spirits from Both Sides: Arturo O’Farrill x Vincent Hsu | Sat, Aug 15, 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. | Flushing Town Hall • Dance, then stay for the artist talk → Dance across cultures​ 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 LoveShout-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) And that's all for this week! See you on 34th Ave, most likely accidentally attending three things at once ;) Jonathan (JBS) |
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.
Hey neighbor! 👋 First things first. Want to meet some new neighbors over a delicious meal? Our next Dinner Club is Tuesday, October 20, and this is your last chance to join! We match you with five other neighbors for dinner at a local restaurant. No speeches, no name games, just six people sharing a table and plenty of laughs. Afterwards, all the groups get together for a casual drink. It's a pretty lovely way to turn strangers into familiar faces. Come join us! Speaking of meeting neighbors,...
Hey neighbor, This week’s neighborhood news has a little bit of everything: generosity, pandebono, mysterious storefront activity, pen pals, and one sad goodbye. Some of you may know New York Turk, the social media creator who visits struggling restaurants and tries to give them a boost. He’s been dealing with serious health issues lately, and apparently he was not keen on accepting help himself. The team at nearby Greek restaurant Plaka decided to ignore that part. They started a GoFundMe...
Hey neighbor, If there’s one thing this neighborhood is never short on, it’s opinions, restaurants, and people trying to get through Roosevelt Ave station. Conveniently, all three came up this week. First up, last week’s Dinner Club was one of my favorites so far. We sent small groups out to Armondo’s, Plaka, and Bistro Eloise, with a couple of dinners happening just across the neighborhood line in East Elmhurst. Afterward, everyone met up at Cassidy’s, turning three separate dinners into one...