Hey neighbor!

This week felt like a great reminder of how much culture and community is packed into our corner of Queens. I caught Viñedos at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, a powerful Mexican traditional dance performance full of color and energy.

Fun fact. The executive director there is Andrew Ronan, a longtime Jackson Heights resident. And KC Trommer, another local neighbor, helps lead marketing and community engagement at Flushing Town Hall. Turns out we are quietly surrounded by people doing really meaningful work in the arts! A full list of arts and culture venues in Queens is coming soon.

On a more everyday note, I stopped by Seba Seba on Northern Boulevard the other day, which has been open for 38 years! They just refreshed the interior and it looks great. Exposed brick walls, Colombian-style window details, and a perfect spot for coffee or pastries.

One important reminder. If you have ever thought about getting involved locally, you can apply to serve for the community board here before applications close on the 13th. In case it helps, I uploaded six years of Queens Community Board 3 meeting minutes and transcripts into NotebookLM, so you can look up what has been discussed over the years.

Knowledge is power! And fun is next. Let’s get into the events happening around the neighborhood.

Looking for more? This is just a short list. See the full calendar at jacksonheightsinsider.com/events Have an event coming up that the neighborhood should know about? Submit it here: jacksonheightsinsider.com/submit-event​

This Week in Jackson Heights

Feb 10 to Feb 16, 2026

Featured Event

🎨 Gals & Pals Valentine Craft : Felt Frames, Feb 14 | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop, 34-06 73rd St

Make an adorable felt photo frame for you or someone you love. Bring a 2.5 x 3.5 photo (mini Polaroid size) or they can snap one for you. Supplies included. RSVP here​

Turn Strangers Into Neighbors (Over Dinner) Small tables. Great food. Conversations that actually go somewhere. Our dinners make it ridiculously easy to meet people in your neighborhood... without awkward networking. The next one is in 2 weeks, on Tuesday the 24th! Grab your Seat at the Table

Tuesday, Feb 10

Black History Month: Art Workshop With Art Studio NY: Portraits Of Pride | 3:30 PM | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • for young royals, ages 6 to 11 → Get details​

Wednesday, Feb 11

Relational Practice: Body, Identity and Camera | 8:00 PM | 2nd Story Pilates + Yoga • bring a charged phone, RSVP required → RSVP​

Thursday, Feb 12

The Queen’s Cartoonists - Cartoons, Comedy, & Cocktails / Jazz & Comedy | 7:00 PM | Terraza 7 • $20. weird cartoons, live jazz, big laughs → Grab tickets​

Open Mic Night | 8:00 PM | Nancy Blake’s Tavern + Tap • kitchen’s open, cheer on neighbors → See details​

Friday, Feb 13

Gabo Yanez Concert | 8:30 PM | D’antigua Restaurant Bar • Marc Anthony tribute, bring your singing voice → Get tickets​

Saturday, Feb 14

Big Kids Art Club! / Clases de Arte para Niñxs! (ages/edad 6-13) | 9:00 AM | A.R.T. Shop • $25. bilingual class, messy hands welcome → Sign up​

Gals & Pals Valentine Craft : Felt Frames | 1:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • RSVP required, bring a tiny photo → RSVP​

Sunday, Feb 15

K(now) Y(our) R(ights) Business Outreach | 12:00 PM | Jackson Heights • RSVP encouraged, 30-minute training included → Learn more​

Argentine Jam with Emilio Teubal | Tango Jazz & Jam | 8:00 PM | Terraza 7 • $20. sit in or just sip and listen → See details​

Monday, Feb 16

Mid-Winter Recess Kids Art Class | 11:00 AM | A.R.T. Shop • screen-free creativity, ages 4 to 13 → Reserve a spot​

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​

Taking the Fear Out of AI: A Beginner's Guide for Small Business Owners | Wed Feb 11, 9:00–11:00 AM | Queens Chamber of Commerce, East Elmhurst • beginner friendly, bring a laptop, RSVP encouraged → Build confidence with AI​

Valentine’s Day Gift Market | Wed Feb 11, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM | Bulova Corporate Center, East Elmhurst • handmade gifts, easy browsing → Shop local love​

Not So Lucky Valentine’s Day | Fri Feb 13, 7:30–9:30 PM | Queens Theatre, Corona • $25. comedy night, adults recommended → Laugh it out​

Valentine's Day Concert: Miramar with Bolero Dance Lesson | Sat Feb 14, 7:00–9:00 PM | Flushing Town Hall • $25+. dance lesson included, romantic vibes → Dance the night away​

Improv Night | Sun Feb 15, 7:00–8:00 PM | Grove 34 Comedy Club, Astoria • no scripts, big laughs → See it live​

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: Ursula Avelino, Philip Washburne, Paola Bakos, Joseph Varghese, Mark Kuhl, RJ Harden, Barbara Goodwin, Patricia Marjoribanks, Sara Klar, Sam Raker, Ankit Gupta, Arlene Gilbert and Nancy Cardenas.

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. If you need me, I’ll be somewhere between a dance floor, a craft table, and a coffee from Seba Seba, doing very important neighborhood research.

See you out there,

Jonathan (JBS)