Jackson Heights, New York City, USA

Jackson Heights – a little New York city neighborhood, located somewhere between Pakistan and Colombia. At least, that’s how one of my new neighbors described it. As Jackson Heights is the most diverse neighborhood in the most diverse city (NYC) in the United States, a country of immigrants, I would have to agree. Several months ago, Neil and I decided to trade in our East Village rental for a place of our own, and the historic district of Jackson Heights seemed like the perfect ‘hood to do it in. Even though it’s only a short subway ride to Times Square, traveling to Jackson Heights makes a New Yorker feel like they’d better pack a passport. I did some drawings at the plaza near the 74th St. subway station, a section of the neighborhood that is full of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and more recently, Tibetan shops.

There are reportedly 167 languages spoken here, and I heard several of them as I drew in the plaza. It’s taking a little while for all this to feel like home, but I’m really enjoying my new surroundings. Jackson Heights is in the borough of Queens, across the East River. Those of you who live in Manhattan might understand the feeling of leaving Manhattan after 15 years. Remember the scene in Sex and the City where Miranda moves to Brooklyn? And what a major upheaval it was? The movie was not exaggerating in the slightest. Manhattanites think the world ends at the Hudson and East Rivers, and I was a little trepidacious, to say the least! What about my 24 hour deli? My take out addiction? My need to mingle with people I don’t know, who are moving about in large crowds? I’ve found that I’ve been able to fulfill all of those Earthly needs here, albeit in a package without English words. 

The shop to the left is one of many selling multi-colored fabrics. There are many sari shops and jewelry shops full of traditional Indian gold necklaces, earrings, etc. along 74th St.  Living here is certainly going to sharpen up my accessories wardrobe. As you walk down the street past these various shops, the shopkeepers speak to you in many languages, trying to entice you in to view their wares. Oh, and did I mention that the whole street smells like curry? It’s starting to smell like home to me.

This drawing is of the 74th St. elevated station, and the darkness of Roosevelt Avenue below. The 7 train runs along Roosevelt Ave., which is a different world from 74th Street, even though it’s only feet away. Roosevelt Ave. has plenty of empanada shops (more on that in a later post) as well as bars with taxi dancers, massage rooms, karaoke, cheap 99¢ stores, vendors with push carts selling some of the best tacos I’ve ever had (my cholesterol has shot up from living here, no joke!) and plenty of gay bars. Jackson Heights is one of the earliest gay neighborhoods in NYC – I told you it was diverse! And if you take the 7 train one more stop to 82nd Street, you’ll be in the largest Colombian neighborhood in New York City. The two subway stations surround the historic district, full of old NY brick buildings, parks, and flowers. It’s exciting to have a new neighborhood to explore, and now that summer is almost here I’m looking forward to drawing, and posting, a lot more.