By Tracy Zwick
Are you ready for the best two weeks of the tennis year? Now that the congresses are over, you are excited about politics and “it is the fourth quarter“ of the 2024 election cycle? Fancy some delicious sushi in a chic atmosphere at the UWS?
Let’s make weekend!
23 – 25 August 2024
Get ready for world-class tennis at The US Open: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens
Tennis is not just a sport, it is magic. Don’t worry if you missed Fan Week and the qualifying rounds. That was the taster. Starting this Monday, there will be a smorgasbord of world-class tennis, just one Subway ride off the UWS. (Click the link for directions.) Be dazzled by the 2024 US Open Tennis Championships! Whether you have an afternoon, an evening, a weekend or the whole two weeks free, money is no object or you’re looking to save, the Rag has you covered. I’ve been to all four Grand Slams (Wimbledon, the French Open, the Australian Open and the US Open) and have logged many visits to our home tournament, so I hope you’ll trust me as you read through the Upper West Sider’s Guide to the Open I’ve put together that should give you a great time in Flushing Meadows. The link is – HERE.
But now I’ll tell you what I’m looking forward to and what I recommend: Rounds 1 and 2 from Monday to Thursday. Buy yourself a Terrain pass (retail price $80) which gives you day and night access to all the courts in the complex, except for Arthur Ashe Stadium. All 256 men and women in the draw will play their first game on Monday and Tuesday. That gives you dozens of exciting games to watch and a lot for your money! I’ll be there all week and hope you’ll cheer along with me Aleksander Kovacevican Upper West Sider currently ranked #75 worldwide. Aleks is 25 years old and a proud graduate of PS9 on West 84th Street and Beacon High School.
I love tennis, but you don’t have to know much about the sport to have fun, enjoy the gorgeous late summer weather, and spend time with family and friends or meet new people at the Open. There’s food from UWS chefs and restaurants like Kwame Onwuachi of Tatiana at Lincoln Center and New York City food trucks like King Souvlaki, and more: Carnegie Deli, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Crown Shy, tacos, pizza, burgers, poke, salads, smoothies, ice cream, champagne, Aperol Spritz, and the US Open’s signature cocktail: the Honey Deuce. There’s music, shopping, and sponsored experiences. Go!
Maintain political momentum at New York Historical Society: 170 Central Park West at 77th Street; Tues. – Thurs. 11am – 5pm, Fri. 11am – 8pm, Sat. – Sun. 11am – 5pm
Even if you’re not into tennis, you must be into politics after the conclusion of the conventions last night. Whoever you see sitting in the Oval Office come January, you can imagine them behind a model of the Resolute Desk and take a selfie yourself there (I did!) in the New-York Historical Society Theater.Meet the Presidents and the Oval Office” exhibition. It includes a replica of the Reagan-era White House Oval Office, where presidents have served since 1909. Adjacent galleries trace the evolution of the presidency and include official portraits of all heads of state, the real Bible used by George Washington at his inauguration, and an interactive game, “Playing the President”where visitors must make the same decisions FDR faced in his first 100 days. My 12-year-old nephew made 4/6.
Enjoy the UWS’ newest sushi paradise, Sugarfish: 207 West 75th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam
It’s only been open for a few weeks, but my daughter has been there twice and has tagged this oasis on the UWS and invited my sister and I there for lunch last week. Sugarfish doesn’t take reservations, but we had no trouble getting a table for lunch right away on a weekday. The decor is modern and minimalist, the noise level is ideal for conversation, and the service was excellent. Sugarfish makes it easy for indecisive diners with its $39.trust me” and $29 “Trust Me Lite” options, which include edamame (served cold) and various sashimi, sushi and handroll dishes. If you’re hungrier, there are “The Nozawa Trust Me” ($50) and “Don’t Think Just Eat” ($76) combos. Gratuities are included in the price; no tipping is allowed. We all enjoyed the salmon nigiri with sesame seeds, and my sister and daughter loved the handrolls in their combos, one of them saying the salmon and rice “melted” in her mouth.
Until next week!
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