Hey neighbor,

Big week on 34th Avenue. First, there’s a giant soccer ball art installation on the Open Street, just in time for World Cup fever to start creeping into the neighborhood. It’s hard to miss, and honestly, it might be the only soccer ball in Queens that nobody is allowed to kick.

Speaking of the World Cup, NYC is giving people a chance to enter a daily draw for $50 tickets at regnyctix.com. The draw opens at 10am each day until Saturday, and tickets go very fast, so this is one of those “set an alarm and hope your fingers are quick” situations (more info about that here).

In very practical neighborhood news, starting June 1, many homes and smaller apartment buildings will need to use an official NYC trash bin (full enforcement starts in September). So yes, even our garbage is getting a little more organized.

On Roosevelt, we also heard about a new Nepalese woman-owned cafe called Nomads Brew, between 72nd and 73rd. It seats about 12 people and serves breakfast and coffee. Thanks to Diana Latzanich for the tip. We love a tiny neighborhood cafe with main character energy!

There was also some nice attention for the 34th Ave Open Street Coalition this week. Streetsblog wrote about how western Queens, including Jackson Heights, could be a model for low-traffic neighborhoods, which are designed to make side streets calmer and safer for walking, biking, and just existing without a car zooming by.

And speaking of neighbors coming together, our Jackson Heights Insider Dinner Club is tonight. RSVPs are already closed, but you can already sign up for the next dinner on June 30th. It’s a simple idea we love: neighbors sign up, we place them in small dinner groups at local restaurants, and everyone gets a low-pressure way to meet people over good food. No awkward networking vibes, no standing around with a name tag. Just a table, a meal, and a few new people to say hi to next time you’re walking down 37th Ave.

Alright, now that we’ve got soccer, safer streets, and dinner plans on the menu, let’s see what else is happening around the neighborhood this week.

This Week in Jackson Heights

May 26 to June 1

Featured Event

💃 2026 Queens Dance Festival Tour Opening Event | Sat, May 30, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Travers Park and 34th Ave plazas

Queensboro Dance Festival kicks off its 13th season with an afternoon of performances, dance lessons, and 21 Queens-based dance companies along 34th Avenue and in Travers Park. Free and open to all. Feel the rhythm​

Tuesday, May 26

Art Class (Adults) | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church • Paint, draw, and get guidance → Make something beautiful​

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

Wednesday, May 27

Queens Upstairs Presents: Devil Wears Prada | 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM | Upstairs Cocktail Bar • Dress runway ready, or not → That’s all​

ART Crochet Club! Beginner to Intermediate Friendly Workshop (7+) | 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM | Art Retail Therapy • Ages 7+, English y Español, RSVP encouraged • $20 → Get hooked​

Thursday, May 28

Community Class: Flexibility + Focus, Yoga For Teens | 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM | 2nd Story Pilates + Yoga • Ages 11 to 15, bilingual, no experience needed → Stretch into it​

Immerse Yourself in Korean Culture | 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • Traditional dance and live percussion, all ages → Enjoy the showcase​

Booze and Board Games (Free!) | 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM | The Queensboro • Games provided, food or drink purchase encouraged → Roll the dice​

Friday, May 29

ESPY’s 2nd Annual Youth Mental Health & Wellness Conference | 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM | NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst • Youth wellness, tools, and community voices. RSVP required → Save your spot​

Music Show: Love's Crossing | 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM | Espresso 77 • Classical meets contemporary → Catch the sound​

Saturday, May 30

AAPI Market Celebration | 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM | The World’s Borough Bookshop • 35+ AAPI creatives, treats, art, and good vibes → Shop the celebration​

2026 Queens Dance Festival Tour Opening Event | 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Travers Park and 34th Ave plazas • Dance all afternoon, rain date Sunday → Feel the rhythm​

Sunday, May 31

Les Petites Gallery | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | 34th Avenue & 83rd Street • Open-air art on the Open Street → Stroll the gallery​

Queens College Jazz Jam Series at Terraza 7 | 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM | Terraza 7 • Faculty, students, and serious improvisation • $20 mezzanine, $10 jammers → Follow the jazz​

Monday, June 1

Creative Aging: Crafts for Older Adults Series (in Spanish) | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | Queens Public Library at Jackson Heights • Older adults, Spanish, first come first served → Create together​

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​

Monthly Artist Meetup | Wed May 27, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Flushing Town Hall • Creative neighbors, light refreshments, parking limited → Meet your art people​

LPAC Community Choir Open Rehearsals | Wed May 27, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | LaGuardia Performing Arts Center • Sing with neighbors, all voices welcome → Warm up those pipes​

Film Fatales NYC Artist Connection | Fri May 29, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Museum of the Moving Image • Filmmakers, cocktails, RSVP required → Get camera ready​

Babar & Friends: A Family Concert with the Queens Symphony Orchestra | Sun May 31, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Location TBD • Family concert, storytime, Babar raffle → Bring the little listeners​

Tech Trends Unleashed: Explore, Engage, Excel in Queens! | Mon Jun 1, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Location TBD • Small business tech, networking, NY Tech Week → Upgrade your business brain​

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: 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 a wrap! Go dance, dine, stroll, sip, and please do not try to kick the giant World Cup ball ;)

Stay neighborly, stay hungry, and remember, in Jackson Heights, even a quiet week comes with dance lessons, dumplings, and a giant soccer ball.

Jonathan (JBS)