The US Open is in Full Swing!  (Sorry about that. Though, our extensive research shows only 300 people or so have made that same pun online, so it’s not that bad.)

While there are a couple of tennis fans among us, the real treat is what happens to our nearby park (previously mentioned, here and here) during US Open season:

Madison Square Park [is] transformed into the ultimate tennis experience, including giant viewing screens, stadium seating and concessions from NYC-area restaurants, Country, Hill Country Barbecue Market and Rickshaw Dumpling Bar.

An official link is here.

Sadly, convenient dumplings and pulled beef sandwiches are only around until Sunday.  So enjoy ‘em while you can.  (After Sunday, we’ll have to walk a couple of extra blocks for dumplings again!)

p.s. Yes, it’s another food post.  I promise we’ll put up the “results” of the last mix CD really soon.

p.p.s. Oh, and people are still wearing ties etc. on Fridays, if you were curious.

Forgive the late notice, but some friends of the family are coming to town, as per the message below!

The Guitar Zeros, the plastickiest band this side of the Mississippi, is crossing the Mississippi. in a small plastic paddle boat. not really. We’re playing 2 shows in NYC, and would love support from anyone who wants to help us…… please consider telling your friends in New York, if you’ve got some you think might be interested, about our shows and maybe we’ll be so lucky to have some people show up to witness the plastic shredding.

• July 17 @ Lit Lounge in Manhattan
• July 18 @ Union Hall in Brooklyn

The Guitar Zeros is a group featuring some Ubisoft employees that play original music using the plastic peripherals from the recent onslaught of music based games. You can read more about them here.

Our office is located a couple of blocks from Madison Square Park — former home of Madison Square Garden, and current home to the Shake Shack. Once a year the park dons a big bib and gets its BBQ on. That is to say, this weekend is: the Big Apple BBQ Block Party!! Their website is down at the moment. Hopefully, it will be up by the time you’re reading this. In the meantime, here’s a quick summary:

“The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, Danny Meyer’s annual, free mega-event in Madison Square Park, just announced the participants for June 7 and 8, and we are pleased to see familiar, delicious names. Ed Mitchell of North Carolina will do his legendary whole-hog BBQ, and Chris Lilly of Big Bob Gibson’s in Decatur, Alabama, will be on hand with his pulled pork. Jimmy Hagood of Black Jack BBQ in Charleston, South Carolina, is a notable newcomer, bringing his state’s distinctive mustard-based sauces to a city more familiar with the North Carolina tradition. The New York contingent consists of Blue Smoke, Hill Country, Dinosaur, and the rarely mentioned but worthwhile Rack and Soul.” (Quoted from NYMAG.)

A couple of us will be working this weekend. And more of us will be playing Fourth Edition. But, all of us will be enjoying BBQ.

(Apologies to our non-meat eating cohorts.)

Twice a year, the pedestrian commuters of NYC get a little treat: Manhattanhenge!

For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes on Thursday, May 29h this year, one of only two occasions when the Sun sets in exact alignment with the Manhattan grid, fully illuminating every single cross-street for the last fifteen minutes of daylight.

Read the rest of the quoted article at Newyorkology. Also, there’s a neat Flickr pool with more Manhattanhenge images.

Every now and then we’re going to use this space to feature something about NYC, especially our neighborhood, that gives us much joy. Today we focus on: The Shake Shack. It’s only a few blocks south of our office, in Madison Square Park. Here’s a nice write up. It’s not for the cholesterol conscious. In fact, I don’t think we can legally recommend this place without also reminding you to exercise regularly. Oh, then we should probably mention that you should consult a physician before any strenuous exercise. Of course, don’t see a doctor without checking their references. And eat an apple. Unless you’re allergic.

All that said, the lines can get pretty crazy, so it’s good to go during off hours. Fortunately, the clever folks at The Shack have provided a quick way to check out the length of their queue. In fact… there’s no line right now!!!

(Disappears in a puff of smoke.)