The U.S. Open is just around the corner (it starts next Monday) and you know that that means: Tennis. And, also, over-priced food, drinks and heavily-branded crap. In fact, to make sure you don't miss out on a chance to drink a pricey cold one or sip on some unsubsidized bubbly, the U.S. Tennis Association has built two new hospitality areas at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center to make it easier for you. Phew! Now where do we get the Honey Deuce—that Grey Goose specialty cocktail where the melons chunks are supposed to symbolize tennis balls?
This year the well-stocked Queens sports complex is adding a Heineken Red Star Cafe and and "Bar 17" to the lineup of drink purveyors:
The Heineken Red Star Café, next to the South Plaza Fountains, will occupy the top floor of a new two-story building and also serve a menu of fine foods to complement the beer. The café will offer tennis fans a unique, bird’s-eye view of the grounds.
The Heineken Light Lounge, located in Chase Center off of the East Gate, will also offer beer and food in a remodeled outdoor cafe. Meanwhile, Bar 17, a casual outdoor drinking spot, will be housed near the new 2,800-seat Court 17.
In addition to those spots, the complex still has lots of stands within the stadiums to get your food and drink, and the better-than-it-should-be "food village" where you can get, for prices which the USTA has not released yet, everything from Mexican to Glatt Kosher cuisine, pizza to Indian. And yet every year we still just find ourselves pigging out on too many of those delicious, greasy waffle fries...
