Get to know Jamaica

Though it may go slightly unheralded in the roll call of neighborhoods, Jamaica is as essential to Queens’ essence as MoMA PS1, Rockaway Beach, or the Mets’ Home Run Apple. Its lineup of locals has included athletes, musicians, writers, actors, and countless more. Modern-day Jamaica sits near other residential enclaves like Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, and the historic Addisleigh Park district of St. Albans, comprising a passionate community with a particular pride for the place they call their own. Residences offer options for everyone, presenting a mix of freestanding houses and townhomes, high- and low-rise apartment buildings, and modern condominiums. Jamaica is a transit hub, but not only because of the multiple subway lines and bus routes that find their way within its borders. The neighborhood’s Long Island Rail Road station is a critical waypoint, while flights at JFK International Airport are mere minutes away.

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Jamaica Commerce & Culture

There’s history everywhere in Jamaica, even if it’s simply a cast-iron clock on the sidewalk. Founding Father and Constitution signatory Rufus King began living in Jamaica in 1805, his old home now preserved as the King Manor Museum. Loew’s Valencia Theater no longer operates as a movie palace, but its intricate brick and terra cotta facade are sights to behold. In some cases, past and present harmonize perfectly. Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning — a community organization offering youth programs and regular showcases — operates out of the historic limestone Office of the Register building on Jamaica Avenue and puts on performances in the c.1859 Romanesque church down the block. Ever the multi-faceted thoroughfare, Jamaica Avenue is its namesake neighborhood’s shopping hub, encompassing a seemingly endless world of items to spend money on. Jamaica’s dynamite cuisine selection contains multitudes, representing an intercontinental invitation to dine out and dine well.