Hey neighbor, This week’s neighborhood news has a little bit of everything: generosity, pandebono, mysterious storefront activity, pen pals, and one sad goodbye. Some of you may know New York Turk, the social media creator who visits struggling restaurants and tries to give them a boost. He’s been dealing with serious health issues lately, and apparently he was not keen on accepting help himself. The team at nearby Greek restaurant Plaka decided to ignore that part. They started a GoFundMe...
9 days ago • 6 min read
Hey neighbor, If there’s one thing this neighborhood is never short on, it’s opinions, restaurants, and people trying to get through Roosevelt Ave station. Conveniently, all three came up this week. First up, last week’s Dinner Club was one of my favorites so far. We sent small groups out to Armondo’s, Plaka, and Bistro Eloise, with a couple of dinners happening just across the neighborhood line in East Elmhurst. Afterward, everyone met up at Cassidy’s, turning three separate dinners into one...
16 days ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor, First, I owe you an answer. A few weeks ago, we asked which came first, the 7 train reaching Jackson Heights or LaGuardia Airport opening. Then the poll formatting got a little wonky, some of the choices disappeared, and I somehow forgot to reveal the answer the following week too. Oops! So, finally: the 7 train came first! It reached Jackson Heights in 1917, more than 20 years before LaGuardia Airport opened. Now for a question that might cause even more disagreement: if you...
23 days ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor, First things first. Dinner Club is next Wednesday, September 23, and sign-ups are closing soon... If you’re new here, the idea is simple. We match you with five other neighbors, send your group to a local restaurant, and then everyone can meet up afterwards. New faces, good food, very little pressure. Sign up here! Elsewhere in the neighborhood, Sunday’s Momo Crawl was a huge one. More than 30 venues took part, passports sold out, and many spots had lines around the block. Om...
30 days ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor, If Jackson Heights feels a little different this week, that might be because thousands of backpacks, lunch boxes, and slightly sleepy children have returned to our sidewalks. School is back! The adults, meanwhile, have other things to dream about. The neighborhood had some big lottery winners in the news, including a pair of very lucky ticket holders. So if you bought a ticket recently and haven’t checked it yet, perhaps now would be a good time. We would like to say we knew you...
about 1 month ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor, We had another one of our monthly dinners last week, which meant a few dozen neighbors scattered across Sol Boulevard, Addictive Wine and Tapas Bar, Lima Restaurant, and Queens Beer Factory, eating very well and discovering people they hadn’t met yet but live within a few blocks. Big thanks to all four spots for hosting us. There photos are below, and the next dinner is Wednesday, September 23. If meeting a handful of strangers over dinner sounds either delightful or mildly...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor, One of my favorite things about Jackson Heights is how the neighborhood can look completely different depending on where you’re standing. Local artist Bonnie Astor recently shared paintings of Travers Park and the view from her rooftop, and they capture something familiar: trees and brick buildings up close, the Manhattan skyline hovering in the distance, and all those little rooftops in between. It’s a nice reminder to occasionally look up from whatever we’re doing. There will...
about 2 months ago • 5 min read
Hey neighbor, Let's start off with a quick reminder for everyone who saw Dinner Club in a previous email and thought, “That sounds fun. I’ll sign up later.” Neighbor, it is officially later. Our next dinner is Tuesday, and this is the last call to join. Sign up here, then come hungry and ready to meet a few new faces! We also have a new referral program! Invite friends to subscribe to Jackson Heights Insider by copying and sharing your personal link: [SHARE_URL GOES HERE] .... so you can earn...
about 2 months ago • 4 min read
Hey neighbor, This past neighborhood was full of music, dancing, food, and community spirit. The first South Asian Unity Parade filled 37th Avenue with color and celebration. Simultaneously on 34th avenue, Jackson Heights Day brought activities, vendors, and DJs to five whole blocks. Our streets had more moves than most of us do before our morning coffee. Baile FolklĂłrico dancers at Jackson Heights Day The celebrations continued at World Borough Bookstore, which marked its third anniversary.,...
2 months ago • 4 min read