stevelyon

Hi and hope you can help.
We are hoping to combine our love of tennis with our first trip to New York. We aim to go to the Open on the first Monday. We understand that tennis tickets do not go on sale until the 6th June - this seems quite late. Is there a stampede for tickets? How easy are they to acquire? Does a main court ticket allow you to prowl the grounds watching other play? If we cant get a main stadium can we easily acquire a ground ticket watching outside court play?

We intend to enjoy places en route like Grand Central Station and maybe look around Queens/Flushing - any tips here? Any other advice that may make our trip satisfying?

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

sf7307

If you have reserved tickets for Ashe (the "main stadium"), you have access to everything, including Ashe, Armstrong, Grandstand and the other outer courts. If you have reserved tickets for Armstrong, you have access to Armstrong, Grandstand and the outer courts. If you have a grounds pass, you have access to the outer courts, and to unreserved seating at Armstrong and Grandstand.

nytraveler

Yes, better to buy tickets as soon as they go on sale - or you may end up paying a premium. Be aware that food at the venue is very expensive - check the website before deciding to eat there.

IMDonehere

Get back on the 7 train in the opposite direction of Grand Central and go to the last stop. It is a most interesting area filled with various Asian cultures.

We are going this Wed. to have lunch with some friends who usually go to the Grand on Main St. but we might go elsewhere this time.

stevelyon

Thanks as always everyone. We love Asian food so stopping at the last stop to eat is a bonus! In what district is the last stop - Queens? If we stay until the very end of the tennis will we be able to get transport back (in Manchester... where I live... the trams stop around 1pm)?

IMDonehere

The area in Queens is also called Flushing and the NYC subway runs 24/7. It is a hectic frenetic area. (I am sure you meant the tram stops running at 1 AM.)

If Ekscrunchy is around, she will have other restaurant recommendations.

nytraveler

While the subway does run all night be aware that in the small hours you might have to wait 20 minutes for a train as opposed to 5 or so in rush hour.

MissMandy

Tickets are really easy to get hold off compared to Wimbledon. We brought ours last year on a resale site about a month beforehand and they were very reasonable considering their position on Ashe. It was a great day out - but very different to Wimbledon!

stevelyon

Thanks as always everyone, very reassuring. I hope to let you know how I get on but it's awhile away yet.

IMDonehere

Went to Flushing for Dim Sum. We saw a Holiday Inn just a few blocks from the 7 train stop, that is just before the Tennis Center 111 ST.

Went to the Grand Restaurant today, which is both a banquet palace and dim sum place. Today they were really on their game. We loved the chicken feet and the beef tendons. We also had har gow, lotus leaf rice, turnip cake, and sui mai. Distinct tastes. Five people with tip $50.

If you are looking for a number 7 with an egg roll, this is not for you.

ekscrunchy

Yes, take the train to the stop MAIN STREET FLUSHING. I will be happy to give you additional ideas for eating, but tell me if you want spicy food or not.

There is now a highly regarded JApanese place near the train stop but I have not been there yet. Unless you have a big craving for sushi and a generous budget, probably best to stick for Chinese.

There is some good info in this thread; Little Pepper, mentioned in the thread, has moved to College POint, so forget that one:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...estaurants.cfm

ekscrunchy

Also please tell me if you like lamb, and if you are ok with some fat on meat.

stevelyon

Thanks ekscrunchy, we love spicy but not sure about the relevance of the lamb question as I don't associate lamb with Chinese/Oriental unlike Indian menus which offer lamb dishes.

ekscrunchy

Hi..Lamb is a central protein in DongBei cooking, from the NE, near Korea, and also in Muslim Chinese and Sichuan. One of my go-to places when coming by train, and so looking for spots nearby, is Fu Run on Prince Street. Their specialty is Muslim Lamb Chop, rack of highly seasoned lamb heavy with cumin. Not super spicy. They also have one of my favorite Flushing dishes, the Dry Tofu Skins with Hot Pepper. If you are interested I will give more suggestions.

Just nearby and also on Prince is the very popular Sichuan place, Spicy and Tasty. This place gets quite a few westerners so they should speak English well, not slways the case with staff at Fu Run.

And one more idea is Nanxiang on Prince, good for soup dumplings and other Shanghai dishes. I love thier kaufu, a wheat gluten dish with mushrooms and raisins..in the cold case at front of restaurant.

I will give more suggestions if any of these are of interest....there should be lots of info on each of them online; Fu Run was once called Waterfront International.

Also, there is a new-ish place called Sicuan Mountain House that I have to try soon...

Flushing is not too strong on Cantonese but if you want that and if you like seafood, Imperial Palace is very good, but you need to do some reading to order ideally...there they also have cards on tables with specials, a good place to start. That one has even been written up in the Times.

It is hard for me to write on the iPad but later I can try to post links when I can use computer....hope this helps a little..

stevelyon

Thank you so much ekscrunchy, you have given me a lot of information and very grateful.