The Gothamist reports the following good news for those tennis fans who can't afford or get tickets to the US Open:
From Friday, August 29 through Sunday, September 7 between 11:00 AM and 11:00 PM, you can watch the U.S. Open at Madison Square Park, where they're setting up huge viewing screens and stadium seating. There's no charge to watch, and in addition to the ever-present Shake Shack, Country, Hill Country, and Rickshaw Dumpling Bar will be running stands in the park.
Hill Country will be serving up pork spare ribs, barbecue beef sandwiches, cole slaw, baked beans and a bourbon pecan pie; Rickshaw will have pork, chicken and veggie dumpling options, sesame noodle salad, jasmine rice crispy treats, and mochi dumplings; and Country will offer an eclectic upscale comfort food menu, including caramel corn Parmesan popcorn, peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches, cold spiced fried chicken with potato salad, and mint chocolate chip ice cream sandwiches. Each stand will also be serving drinks of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic persuasions, so beware the long lines outside the electronic pay toilet.
Instead of sucking on the teat of corporate America (Seriously, Arthur Ashe Stadium has more various corporate branding around it during the US Open than any other event I've ever attended) at Arthur Ashe Stadium, just suck on it at the park. Or suck on a milkshake from ever popular burger shop Shake Shack nearby. It's up to you.