C U L T U R EFrom The Peopling of New York City
Jackson heights is composed of many ethnicities. However, the two predominant cultures seen in the neighborhood are of South Asian and Hispanic origin.
Little India     Jackson Heights is comprised of many ethnicities; one of the prominent cultures on the streets of the neighborhood is a mix of South Asian culture. South Asia usually refers to countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. You cannot miss out on “Little India” if you are taking a stroll through 74th Street between Roosevelt and 37th Avenues. In fact, one of the streets is named “Kalpana Chawla Way” in memory and honor of Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian woman to go into space. You are likely to see older women walking around in traditional Indian clothing, saris, or smell a mix of aromas coming from many restaurants such as Delhi Palace and Jackson Diner. Jackson Diner is known for its grand lunch buffets, when customers have the chance to taste foods from every part of India. It started as a small restaurant with mediocre prices, but has become the largest Indian restaurant in Little India, due to its popularity, and has raised its prices. As you walk past Jackson Diner, you will end up in front up Patel Brothers, a chain of Indian grocery store. Anything an Indian person might need to make an authentic Indian dinner can be found here. From spices, frozen meals, basmati rice, exotic vegetables and different breads, all kinds of different Indian materials can be found here. You will also see bottles of Thumbsup, an Indian soft drink similar to Coca-cola and bottles of mango juice, a popular drink. Past this grocery store, there are also many delis that sell Halal meat, for the large numbers of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, the majority of whom are Muslims. Last but not least, who can resist those hot, spicy samosas? Samosas are sold in almost all restaurants and fast food places. They run from $0.50 to $1.50. Delhi Palace is a small restaurant that has the most popular samosas in Little India. This small triangular pastry contains a filling of spicy potatoes and peas, and can be eaten with mint or tamarind chutneys. While all the available foods and ingredients allow you to experience South Asian cuisine, you can spend some time trying on some traditional Indian clothes such as salwars, chooridars, and saris. This traditional dresses are made from soft fabric and have a large amount of beading and decoration on them. Usually, saris can run from $300 and up, while salwar kamis will be a lot cheaper. As you window shop, you are likely to hear many South Asian languages on the street. This is because of the varied culture and languages that are found in South Asia. However, the most commonly spoken language in Little India is Hindi, the mother tongue of India. Additionally, you will sway your body to the rhythmic Bollywood music blasting from the music stores. Their entrances are plastered with Bollywood movie posters, and as you enter, there will be stacks of bootlegged CDs of songs, VHR cassettes, and DVDs of movies. All the movie stores have large signs of DVD sales and newly released movies. Many people also go to Eagle Theater, a theater that exclusively features Bollywood films, for recreation.
Hybrid Culture While initially one may be overwhelmed by the exclusively South Asian culture, it is easy to detect signs of hybrid culture. One snickers upon reading the sign “Khan Baba’s Halal Chinese buffet” – the idea just seems out of the blue. Believe it or not, hybrid culture is actually very possible. In fact, restaurants vary the taste of the Indian foods to accommodate to their customers, many of who are not very accustomed to the authentic spices. Also, hints of Americanization can be seen through the younger generation walking on the streets of Jackson Heights.
Hispanic Culture    The other prominant culture in Jackson Heights is the Hispanic culture. Some of the most visible aspects are from the Colombian, Mexican, and Peruvian Hispanic cultures. Food is the best indication of Hispanic culture in the neighborhood with restaurants serving some of their ethnic dishes. The Peruvian restaurant Pio Pio is one of the most popular restaurants serving its famous South American rotisserie chicken with its green aji sauce. It also attracts natives to provide them with Peruvian dishes such as ceviche, a citrus-marinated seafood salad, jalea, a fried seafood mixture and salchipapas, sliced hot dogs or sausages with French fries. The Colombian restaurant Natives is also known as a theatre. It is well known for providing tasty Colombian dishes consisting of delectable and unique-tasting steaks and chicken, paella, assorted seafood, empanadas, and arepas. Many Colombian restaurants around the neighborhood also sell rotisserie chicken usually called “Pollo a la Brasa”. The Colombian bakery Seba-Seba is another hot spot for eating out providing pandebono, a savory cheese bread. Other Mexican restaurants in the neighborhood also contribute to the variety of cuisine available. For example, Fiesta Mexicana is a famous Mexican restaurant, known for it’s scrumptious home-cooking styled tamales, chicken enchiladas, beef flautas, shrimp in Verzacruz sauce, and tamales. Besides restaurants, local groceries provide the ingredients for natives to create the dishes they are normally used to eating right at home. Los Paisanos and Despana Brand Food are grocery stores providing ingredients to create dishes at home. Some may never find their Peruvian olives or the soda Inca Kola in a regular American supermarket, so these Hispanic specialty stores provide these needs.
Cultural Events in Jackson HeightsThe Jackson Heights Film and Food Festival is a popular event amongst the residents and fellow New Yorkers. This festival brings together cultural foods from different restaurants and international films made by students and residents from different backgrounds. Restaurants along Jackson Heights set up vendors, while Eagle Theater allows for viewing of these independent films, that are mostly documentaries of the lives of different people. The festival was held on September 28 to September 30 of last year. This was their second annual festival, and with its success they hope to continue this tradition.[2] Another event that occurs in Jackson Heights is the Diwali Festival in Little India. This festival is often called the "feast of lights" and it marks the beginning of a new year and celebrates the victory of good over evil. Buildings are decorated with lighted lamps and fireworks are displayed. Additionally, there is a stage built for dancers to perform Indian dance routines of a Bollywood song, show their vocal talents or play the Indian drums, the tablas. Also, many food vendors are set up by the different restaurants and there are henna booths for girls to get their hands decorated with mehandi.
Interview with Jackson Heights Resident Maggy RamirezPart I
Part II
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