What's Happening This Week in
Downtown Jamaica
Jamaica Center BID Presents Procrastination Station: Relief for last-minute holiday shoppers!

Delayed in your Holiday Shopping? We’re here to help! We’ve all been guilty of procrastinating at one time or another. If you didn’t get around to shop for your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus celebrations yet, no matter! Jamaica Center BID is a safe space for last-minute holiday shoppers. From December 14-25 we are offering a slew of shopping support services crafted specifically with procrastinators in mind!
“Procrastinator Saturday", December 14: Missed Black Friday and Cyber Monday? You’ll have more fun shopping on the Ave on our new holiday Procrastinator Saturday ! We’ll have brass band Underground Horns playing live tunes along Jamaica Avenue from 12 - 2 p.m. Stop by Parsons Public Space to pick up a Jamaica Ave BID tote (while supplies last) and our latest Free Winter Cultural Events guide, then enjoy a Meet n’ Greet with Jamaica Avenue’s resident snowman from 12 - 2 p.m. The day caps off with Cultural Collaborative Jamaica’s Holidays on the Ave Tree Lightin g —a neighborhood tradition! — at 6:00 p.m. at Rufus King Park (more info on the tree lighting later in this newsletter!). 
This is also a BID Sidewalk Sales Day Weekend where many merchants will have products for perusing in a festive outdoor atmosphere!
Procrastinator Bonus Bags : Sunday, December 15 - 24 (All Day Long) : Shop or dine at any business on Jamaica Avenue* from the 15th - 24th and YOU just might be one of several lucky winners handed a Jamaica Avenue Seasonal Swag Bag packed with fun winter surprises and a gift card for extra shopping on the Ave! In this case, procrastinating pays off! 

*Bonus bag promotion applies within BID boundaries of Jamaica Ave from 169th to Sutphin Ave and Union Hall between Jamaica Ave and Archer. One bag will be given to a randomly-selected local shopper daily.
Ugly Sweater Selfie Jam : Visit our Ugly Sweater selfie station at 159-26 Jamaica Avenue and show us your ugly sweater game. Snap a pic, then post to social media tagging @jamcenterbid on Instagram or Jamaica Avenue on Facebook with hashtag #UglySweaterJam. In early January we’ll post all ugly sweaters on our Instagram story soliciting votes for the best pic. The winner gets a $50 gift card for even more shopping on Jamaica Avenue. What a great way to start the new year!
Last Minute Gift Ideas : Follow us on Instagram and Facebook . From December 14 -23 we will post a curated list of gifts you can purchase on the Ave!
Holidays on the Avenue

Holidays on the Avenue is back. Join Cultural Collaborative Jamaica , Jamaica Center BID and other community organizations for fun and gifts with friends and family. There will be a Children's Holiday Workshop with holiday arts and crafts, refreshments, gifts and Santa followed by a community tree lighting at Rufus King Park !

Remember to come to Jamaica Avenue early this day for our Procrastination Station kickoff mentioned above!

New Restaurant Coming to Jamaica Avenue

Have you seen a new storefront sign at 161-21 Jamaica Avenue (former Applebee's site)? Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood and Bar is slated to arrive in January. This seafood restaurant with a Cajun twist will offer seafood combos, po-boys, raw oysters, salads, chowders and a slew of signature cocktails like the "Reel Mule" with gin, ginger beer and fresh lime juice and the "Lynchburg Arnold Palmer" with bourbon, honey bourbon, iced tea and lemonade.
Make Me Over Beauty Bar

Congratulations to Make Me Over Beauty Bar on their own store makeover! They just got a new black and white striped awning and now the store's exterior is just as stylish as the interior.

Want to learn more about this local small business and the two women running it? We recently featured Make Me Over Beauty Bar in our social media Small Business Saturday campaign here and here !
'Twas The Night Before Kwanzaa

The Black Spectrum Theatre Company invites one and all to a holiday comedy that finds Santa Claus diverted to Africa to learn about Kwanzaa. Written by Carl Clay. Directed by Rome Neal.

Kwanzaa Celebration
In Partnership with Kofago Dance Ensemble, Bautinga Arts and Queensborough Community College  

A holiday fostered by Africanist scholar Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa is a celebration held across the US and in other nations of the African Diaspora from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. 

More than 25 dancers will participate in this community event. 

The Nutcracker w/ Sylvan Winds Quintet and Scottie Davis

Meet the characters of E.T.A. Hoffman’s original story of The Nutcracker, as our dynamic storyteller dramatizes the tale to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, played by a woodwind quintet. The program explores the magic of music by using the children’s imagination to compose a drama, picking the musical themes to match the characters.

The AirTrain Jazz Festival with James Rohlehr

The AirTrain Jazz Festival series continues next week with James Rohlehr on the AirTrain Jamaica stage. 

Winter Festival & Holiday Market 2019

Celebrate the holidays at Black Spectrum Theatre! Events and attractions include:

  • Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • World's Largest Kinara
  • Rides for Children
  • Vendor Booths
  • Musical Guests
  • Santa Claus
  • Brother Kwanzaa
District Deals
Jamaica Center BID Value Card

Sign up for our Value Card and we'll send you a digital version of the card to use in participating stores on Jamaica Avenue.

Below are the stores that are accepting the Value Card with 10% discounts! Check them out when you're out and about.



Jamaica Center BID businesses: Have a district deal you want to share with over 3,000 people? Send it to us, and we'll post it in our newsletter! Email us below!
Raymour & Flanigan

  • Save up to 10% on living rooms
 
Downtown Jamaica Business Resources
Jamaica Center BID Banner Program

Calling all businesses! Participate in our banner program and promote your brand throughout Downtown Jamaica through a sponsorship banner! Contact the BID to learn more.
Restaurant Loan Program

Jamaica Center BID's recent Commercial District Needs Assessment identified that local residents and workers want more restaurants in the neighborhood. Now is an opportune time to open a restaurant: Greater Jamaica Development Corporation is looking to help restaurant entrepreneurs open restaurants in Downtown Jamaica with a loan program offering up to $150,000! Learn more and apply below.
Downtown Jamaica Leasing Opportunities
Holiday Toy Drives
Many elected officials are conducting toy drives. (All toys must be new and unwrapped!) The list of toy drives is below.

Youngworld ( 162-17 Jamaica Avenue ), Cookies ( 166-21 Jamaica Avenue ) and Burlington ( 160-08 Jamaica Avenue ) are just a few locations within our Business Improvement District selling toys. Please buy local!
Community Assistance & Resources
Grants for Community Improvement Projects

Have an idea to improve the quality of life in your neighborhood? The Citizens Committee for New York City awards grants up to $3,000 to grassroots groups working on community-building projects across NYC. Apply by Monday, January 20 .
About Business and Event Promotions in this Newsletter : Businesses and organizations located in the Jamaica Avenue Commercial District between Sutphin Blvd and 169th Street are invited to submit promotional information for possible inclusion in our newsletter. Events happening near or immediately adjacent to the Jamaica Avenue Commercial District may also be considered for inclusion on a case-by-case basis. We reserve the right to reject or edit materials for length, style, timeliness, and appropriateness. This newsletter serves to inform our community about events, opportunities and commercial activity in Downtown Jamaica, within specifically the Jamaica Center BID boundaries.