Hey neighbor,

There’s a lot cooking in Jackson Heights this week, in some cases literally.

First, thank you to everyone who came out to dinner club last week. We had groups at Arepa Lady, Red Chilli, Kitchen 79, and Baht, then wrapped things up with a meetup at Espresso 77. It was great seeing old friends, new faces, and the beautiful local tradition of everyone having strong opinions about where to eat next.

The next dinner is June 30, and you can sign up here! The idea is simple: small groups of neighbors have dinner at different local restaurants, then everyone can join a casual meetup afterward. Good food, new faces, no awkward 40-person table.

This Sunday is also Queens Pride, one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the city and a major part of Jackson Heights history. It started here in 1993 to honor the LGBTQ community, remember Jackson Heights resident Julio Rivera, and help people feel proud, visible, and welcome in their own neighborhood. Pride Month runs all June, but this Sunday is when 37th Avenue really gets its rainbow moment.

Also worth noting, the Knicks begin the NBA Finals this week (games on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday at 8:30 p.m), Summer Sunday concerts are coming back later this month, and the Food Bazaar on Junction Boulevard is now open 24 hours. So yes, you can now buy mangoes, emergency paper towels, and maybe emotional support snacks at 2 a.m.

Okay, enough neighborly chitchat. Let’s open the events menu and see what’s good.

This Week in Jackson Heights

Tuesday, June 2 to Monday, June 8

Featured Event

🏳️‍🌈 Queens Pride Parade & Festival | Sunday, June 7, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM | 37th Avenue, Queens

The neighborhood’s biggest rainbow moment of the year takes over 37th Avenue this Sunday, with the parade, multicultural festival, music, community groups, and plenty of Jackson Heights energy. Come for the celebration, stay for the people-watching. Free to attend. Join the celebration​

Tuesday, June 2

Build NYC! | 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 93rd Street • Lego, Magna-Tiles, tiny architects welcome → Build something fun​

Paella Nights @ Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar | 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • saffron rice, seafood, worth the wait → Save room for paella​

Wednesday, June 3

John Benitez Wednesday Jam / Latin Jazz Jam | 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM | Terraza 7 • bring your horn, or your ears • $15 mezzanine, $10 jammers → Feel the Latin jazz​

Thursday, June 4

Wine & Dine | 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM | Addictive Wine and Tapas • five courses, fancy fork energy • $100, tax and gratuity not included → Toast the summer menu​

Movies Under the Stars: Wicked: For Good | PG | 8:30 PM to 10:45 PM | Travers Park • bring a blanket, leave glass bottles home → Go green in the park​

Friday, June 5

Art Opening Party | 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM | Espresso 77 • new paintings, neighborhood coffeehouse vibes → See the new work​

Saturday, June 6

Pride Month: Cuban Transformismo in New York City | 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • queer Cuban history, drag, and song → Explore the archive​

Making & Meaning of Pride + Community Sing | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • stories, songs, all generations welcome → Sing into Pride​

Sunday, June 7

Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 83rd Street • open-air art, Sunday strolling encouraged → Browse the block​

Queens Pride Parade & Festival | 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM | 37th Avenue, Queens • rainbows, history, and neighborhood love → Join the celebration​

Monday, June 8

Community Class: Flow + Connect, Yoga Para Todos | 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM | 2nd Story Pilates + Yoga • bilingual Spanish and English, newcomers welcome • $10 → Stretch into Monday​

More to do in Queens

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Nearby Events

LPAC Community Choir Open Rehearsals | Wed, June 3, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | LaGuardia Performing Arts Center • free rehearsal, all voices welcome → Warm up those vocals​

Elmhurst Day 2026 | Sat, June 6, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM | Elmhurst, Queens • food, culture, dancing, neighborhood pride → Celebrate next door​

AI for the People | Sun, June 7, 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Museum of the Moving Image • free summit, demos, workshops, AI help → Meet your robot neighbors​

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: Rachel Schwartz, 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)

And that's all for this week! Wishing you rainbow vibes, strong coffee from Espresso 77, and just enough neighborhood gossip to keep things spicy :)

Jonathan (JBS)