The Sunnyside Of Life

During the regular course of the year, I am able to impress a bevy of friends by telling them I play tennis at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where they hold the US Open. Granted I’m taking lessons or doing a cardio tennis class, but I still get impressed by going there each week. After Wimbeldon, the US Open is the biggest Grandslam (4th Grand Slam), so all you tennis nerds unite! Now that Nadal has ended Federer’s 237-week reign at No. 1 and earned men’s singles gold medal Sunday at the Beijing Olympics, will he be able to remain top dog? I want to see Blake stage some upsets, esepcailly after he beat Federer in Beijing.

US OPEN 2008 will be held from August 25 to September 07 2008, Its cash worth $1 million in prize money. The 2008 US Open Qualifying Tournament giving a week of free tennis events at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center that culminates with Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day presented by Hess, on Saturday, August 23, and the fifth annual US Open Practice on Sunday, August 24. The schedule is held FREE to people from Tuesday August 19 to Friday August 22, which is Qualifying round, in this qualifying round over 128 men and 128 women are participating for the final 32 count (16 men and 16 women). Matches start at 11AM each day.

USTA is accessible by subway 7 to Willets Point-Shea Stadium. For  schedule of play, please go to: www.usopen.org.

Revolutionary food journalist Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, gives a lecture in the P.S.1 courtyard in front of P.F.1 (Public Farm One), an installation designed by Young Architects Program 2008 winner WORK Architecture Company. With this vibrant and productive “urban farm” as a backdrop, Pollan discusses the power of taking the plant’s point of view and why it’s important to solving our environmental problems.

Friday, August 8, 7:00 p.m.
P.S.1
www.ps1.org/calendar/view/52

Join your friends, family, neighbors, and members of Transportation Alternatives, the New York League of Conservation Voters and other local community organizations at our “Sunnyside of the Block Party” this Sunday, August 10 from 10am to 3pm. The block party will be on 46th Street, between Skillman and 43rd Avenues, in Sunnyside.

Learn how to ride a bike*, get active in your community, learn about environmental issues, have your face painted, dance, eat, jump rope, or just relax in the shade with the Sunday paper. Festivities will also include a live jazz performance from 1pm to 3pm, a book swap (leave a book, take a book), giant chess, street art, and board games.

All are welcome – free.

For more information, email SunnysideBlockParty@gmail.com or visit www.blockpartynyc.org/parties/13/read

See you on the block!