Hey neighbor, Jackson Heights really said, “let’s keep things interesting” this week. First, a big thank you to Emily Moore for her support for this newsletter. She also gave a nod to Just Made 4 U on 37th Ave and 80th which is a bright, casual spot full of good options like smoothies, salads, crepes, and sandwiches that will not slow you down. You can join Emily in supporting the newsletter and receive additional perks while you're at it by signing up here. Meanwhile, you may have also seen...
9 days ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor! You know what I love about this neighborhood? You can sit down at a restaurant with five people you have never met, and by the time the check comes you are making plans to hang out again. That is basically what happened at last week's Dinner Club. Several tables out across Jackson Heights, and then everyone converged at Nancy Blake's afterwards. Photos below. If that sounds like your kind of night, our next Dinner Club is Tuesday, April 28th. Sign up at...
16 days ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor! If you were anywhere around the neighborhood last week, you probably caught the energy. Hundreds of henna tables lining the streets, families shopping for holiday outfits, incense in the air, Bollywood music on the next block. It was Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, and Jackson Heights was celebrating in the most Jackson Heights way possible. Photo credit: Taurat Hossain On the civic side, Thursday's monthly Community Board 3 meeting ran past 10pm and...
23 days ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor! The neighborhood is in full swing right now - St Patrick’s Day today, Eid al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan) coming up, the weather occasionally acting like spring, and Open Streets already providing free entertainment with a guy jumping the barricades like he was in a track and field event. Photo credit: Clarence Eckerson Also spotted this week, the new spring edition of Views From the Heights is out. If you're not familiar, it's a local neighborhood publication run by the...
30 days ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor, A few tasty updates from around Jackson Heights this week. First up, a new restaurant called Cora just opened on 37th Avenue and 84th Street. They are serving Peruvian and Colombian fusion food, which sounds like a pretty delicious combination. Just along the avenue, Red Chilli also expanded and opened a new dining room. Always a good sign when a neighborhood restaurant is growing. Which reminds me... If you enjoy trying new restaurants and meeting new people from around the...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor! If you show up early on Sunday and no one else is there, check your clock. Daylight saving time begins March 8, so we spring forward one hour. The same day is International Women’s Day. Strong women, extra sunlight. We love to see it… Technically it is actually International Women’s Month. And honestly, appreciation should not be limited to one day or one month. This neighborhood runs on strong women. Shop owners. Organizers. Moms juggling everything. The woman at the bakery who...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor! Notice anything different up top? That's right, we got ourselves a shiny new logo. We're finally going pro over here (well, kind of - I'm still writing this in my pijamas). That said, we always loved the idea of a logo designed by someone from the neighborhood. So consider this a soft call-out: if you're a local artist with ideas, or you'd just love to see a community logo competition happen, hit reply and let us know. Enough interest and we'll make it a thing. 🎨 Hope you stayed...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
Hey neighbor, As February winds down, we are marking the end of Black History Month while many neighbors continue celebrating the Lunar New Year. It is a beautiful overlap that reminds me how lucky we are to live somewhere with so many traditions side by side. And in a moment that feels especially meaningful here, legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman passed away this week at 96. Over a career spanning decades, he made around 50 films capturing the rhythms and inner workings of everyday life,...
about 2 months ago • 6 min read
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...
2 months ago • 4 min read