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, a big thank you to everyone who joined us at last week's Newcomer Meetup! The Queens Public Library kindly hosted us, and we heard from some wonderful local organizations, including the First Tuesdays Literary Series, the 82nd Street Partnership, Counseling Space, and 34th Avenue Open Streets Coalition. It's always a nice reminder of just how much is happening in our little corner of Queens.

And if you'd rather get to know a neighbor the old-fashioned way, Notes to Neighbors is matching local pen pals! They've extended their signup deadline to October 21, and we've got a little discount for you. Use code JHIxNTN to get 20% off, bringing the registration fee down to $28. Find your pen pal here.​

Meanwhile, Roosevelt Avenue has been giving us a little too much drama lately. First Jia, now Upstairs Cocktail Bar. Both were forced to close with just 36 hours' notice after Unidentified Flying Chickens downstairs unexpectedly shut its doors. The silver lining is that neither business wanted to leave, and both are searching for new Jackson Heights homes. We're rooting for them! Nearby, Mababa Cafe is also up for sale.

On the subject of looking out for our neighbors, Mitra Kalita has written a really useful piece for Epicenter NYC about practical ways we can help protect and support immigrant New Yorkers. Definitely worth a read.

Elsewhere in the neighborhood, autumn is looking pretty good on Jackson Heights. Between the changing leaves and the increasingly elaborate Halloween displays, there's plenty to admire on a walk around the block. 🍁

And finally, last week's poll revealed that Espresso 77 is our neighborhood's favorite place to work remotely with 37% of the vote, beating Over the Moon (20%) and Qahwah Valley (18%). This week's poll: if you could add just ONE thing to the neighborhood, what would it be?

​More parks​
​More independent shops​
​A community garden​
​A public swimming pool​
​A movie theater​

Unfortunately, we can't promise you a swimming pool by Friday. But we CAN tell you what's happening around the neighborhood this week. 👇

This Week in Jackson Heights

October 13–19, 2026

Featured Event

🎨 JH Art Talks: Comic Artists | Tue, Oct 13, 8–9pm | Espresso 77

Pow! Zap! Meet the creative minds behind the comics. Local artist Jesse Lambert hosts an evening featuring Kim Chan, Brendan Leach, Christopher Gomez, and Anoush Froundjian. Free to attend, but please support Espresso 77 by buying a drink or snack. Arrive early for a seat, and enjoy happy hour specials until 8pm. → Meet the comic artists​

Upgrade Your Social Life One Dinner at a Time If you’ve been meaning to meet more people where you live… this is your sign. Great food, curated tables, and an easy bar hang afterward for whoever wants to keep the night going. Sign Up for next Tuesday's Dinner

Tuesday, October 13

📚 Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen: Author Conversation | 6–7pm | The World's Borough Bookshop • Magic, mystery, and three brilliant authors → Enter the magical world​

🎨 JH Art Talks: Comic Artists | 8–9pm | Espresso 77 • Four artists, endless imagination. Arrive early! → Get your comic fix​

Wednesday, October 14

🧶 ART Crochet Club | 7:45–8:45pm | Art Retail Therapy • Ages 7+. Beginners welcome, knots included! → Get hooked​

Thursday, October 15

🥁 Afro-Caribbean Dance and Drum | 3:30–4:30pm | Queens Public Library, Jackson Heights • All ages. Bring your dancing feet! → Feel the rhythm​

🏛️ Queens Community Board 3 Monthly Meeting | 7–9:30pm | Renaissance Charter School • Your neighborhood, your voice. Budget discussions ahead → Get involved​

🎷 Polish Roots: Bogna Kicińska & Kuba Cichocki Group | 7–10pm | Terraza 7 • Polish folk melodies meet NYC jazz • $20 mezzanine cover → Jazz things up​

Friday, October 16

🎨 Gouache Botanical Workshop / Clase de Pintura de Gouache | 7–8:15pm | Art Retail Therapy • Ages 13+. Paint plants, discover your inner artist → Get creative​

Saturday, October 17

🎤 Toastmasters International: America's Best | 10am–12pm | Elmhurst Hospital & Zoom • Find your voice, leave the nerves behind → Take the mic​

Sunday, October 18

📖 Pages in the Park: Sunday Funday with Aram Kim | 11–11:15am | Travers Park • Storytime under the autumn sky → Turn the page​

🍁 Fall Layers: Watercolor Workshop / Taller de Acuarela | 3–4pm | Art Retail Therapy • Ages 12+. Paint autumn, embrace happy accidents • $30, materials included → Paint the season​

🚲 34th Avenue Bike Classes | 3–5pm | 34th Ave & 93rd St • All ages. Free lessons, bring your courage! → Get rolling​

🥘 Time Bank Potluck | 4:30–6pm | Travers Park • Share food, swap skills, meet neighbors. Rain location: Terraza 7 at 5pm → Bring something to the table​

🎶 Summer Sundays Plus: Jack Marcin | 6–7pm | Espresso 77 • A little live music with your coffee → Catch the tunes​

Monday, October 19

💐 Festival of the Flowers Parade | 12–3pm | 37th Ave, 69th–89th Sts • Colombia's colorful flower tradition takes over 37th Avenue → Follow the flowers​

🏳️‍🌈 Fierce Figures: Coming Out / Into Ourselves 3.0 | 3:30–6:30pm | Jewish Center of Jackson Heights • LGBTQIA+ stories, community, and a neighborhood walk. Discussion at 3:30pm, walk at 5pm → Share the stories​

More to do in Queens

In partnership with events newsletter Astoria Live - another local events newsletter well worth having in your inbox

Astoria Live All the events in Astoria, Queens 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​

🧠 Making Art in the Era of Neurotechnology | Thu, Oct 15, 6:30–9pm | Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria • Art meets brain science. Free, RSVP required → Expand your mind​

🀄 Learn and Play Mahjong with Ukulele Tunes | Thu, Oct 15, 7–9pm | Uke Hut, LIC • Beginners welcome! Mahjong with musical accompaniment • $15, snacks included. RSVP encouraged, walk-ins welcome → Play your tiles right​

📚 Meet the Author: Sonia De Los Santos, La Golondrina | Sat, Oct 17, 11:30am–12:30pm | LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, LIC • Bilingual stories, music, and fun for kids. Free book included! → Let the stories fly (half off ticket deal with code JHINSIDER)

😂 Ravi Gupta: Kal Ki Chinta Nahi Karta | Sat, Oct 17, 7–8pm | Colden Auditorium, Flushing • Big laughs, sharp observations. Performed in Hindi → Laugh the night away​

🇵🇭 Little Manila Parade & Block Party | Sun, Oct 18, 12–6pm | 37th Ave & 70th St, Woodside • Filipino pride takes to the streets! Parade at noon, block party from 1pm on 70th St → Join the celebration​

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: Richard Newman, Leslie Garcia, Rachel Schwartz, 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, 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)

Until next week! Here's to new friends, colorful leaves, and finding a seat at Espresso 77 before everyone else does!

Jonathan (JBS)