We have lift-off

IT WAS the summer of 1969 when Jim Lewis witnessed the launch of Apollo 11, the unforgettable mission that landed on the moon. He was a young lad of 17 then.

His dad, who worked for a Florida newspaper, had obtained a pass for him to watch the momentous event at the Kennedy Space Centre.

“The Saturn V Moon rocket lift-off is still the most exciting rocket launch I have ever seen,” said Lewis, who has produced TV coverage for the launching of at least 150 rockets. He founded Communications Concepts Inc (CCI) in 1978, a Cape Canaveral-based audio-visual company specialising in TV and web production.

But even a TV guy such as Lewis conceded, “television at its best cannot capture the full impact of a rocket launch.”

“When you are at the launch site, the rocket blast off sight and sound literally hit you like a warm sensation and pounding wave in the ocean.”

Since CCI is located close to the Kennedy Space Centre, his company, naturally, has produced TV coverage of rocket launches numerous times.

It was also contracted by the Malaysian Government through Mimos to produce coverage of the Angkasawan mission.

“Your astronaut project could be a great starting point for the Malaysian space programme or it could be a one-time thing, something like how the United States went to the moon and then stopped. Again, the future is what you make of it. The US is now once again working to go back to the moon.”

He loves the space business. “Space is a great business with great people.”

Over the years, Lewis has been enthralled by stories told to him by astronauts.

“Most of the stories are about silly and funny things that they did or had happened to them.”

All that said, it was a statement that Al Warden, who flew around the moon in Apollo 15, that stuck in Lewis’ mind.

“Al said that while he was on the dark side of the moon he could look out at the stars and see them so much more clearly then you could here on earth and it was amazing how many stars there are out there.”

Lewis said that the Malaysian astronaut was so fortunate to go to space. “I would gladly trade places with him,” he said.

Likewise, Malaysian space buffs might also want to switch place with Lewis, whose home is near to where all the action is. For the locals there, watching rocket launches is as regular to them as night and day.

(Janie Johnson, who provides airport transfers to travellers, said she had lost count the number of rocket and shuttle launches that she had seen since moving here three years ago. “I always get a wonderful view as my house is near the launch site,” she said.)

Like most kids who grew up having the Kennedy Space Centre in their backyard, Lewis has unending stories to share.

His family moved near there in 1962, so he has lived 45 years of his life with the space programme.

“In May 1961 when I had just turned nine, I was riding in the car with my parents, brother and sister when the final countdown to America’s First Manned Space launch was announced on the radio.

“My dad pulled the car to the side of the road and listened to the entire mission. It lasted only 15 minutes but it was so cool.”

Florida is also among only three sites in the world that sends people into space; the other two being Kazakhstan and China.

Kennedy Space Centre, which is just 45 minutes from Orlando, has quite an impact on the local community.

“Roads are named after astronauts and space programmes; and there is an ongoing schedule of manned and unmanned launches from what is known as the Space Coast,” said Andrea Farmer, who is public relations manager of the Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex.

Children in Florida are more aware of the space programme. All six-grade students would take part in a space week project while seventh grade students had another programme for them.

“There is tremendous pride in the space programme in our community, as more than 14,000 people work at Kennedy Space Centre,” she said.

About 1.5 million visitors from around the world make the trip there annually.

And why shouldn’t they be fascinated? According to its website, it is “the only place on Earth where you can tour launch areas, meet an astronaut, see giant rockets, train in space flight simulators and view a launch.”

It is mankind’s ultimate journey, as the Kennedy Space Centre would say.

It’s all think big and talk big

ALL the hoopla and moolah during his book launch was a mirror to the world according to Donald Trump.

The real estate mogul promoted his latest book Think Big and Kick Ass last week at a New York City bookstore on where else, but Fifth Avenue, where its reputation as one of the world’s most expensive shopping streets remains solid despite the weakened dollar.

Curvaceous women in black little T-shirts emblazoned with the book title on the front and “I love Donald” at the back worked the crowds, giving out chocolate gold coins.

There was a mascot as well, bearing a resemblance to The Donald, complete with the infamous hair.

But the greatest bait was probably the US$100 (RM336) offered to the first 100 people who bought the book.

“I downed three cups of coffee to stay warm,” said Christopher Forbes, a 20-year-old student who began queuing up at 10pm the night before the book event.

His effort paid off. Forbes, who described Trump as his role model and that he wanted to become a real estate tycoon like him, was the first person in line. The second guy for the 12.30pm book launch last Tuesday arrived at 5am.

It was a happy crowd that day. Someone shouted: “I made US$100 today! Do you want to interview me?”

Trump sure seemed to have his fans. They held up placards proclaiming “Donald, Teach Me Think Big”, “My Eyes are on the $$$”, “Donald for President. Get Rid of Bush” and “Trump Kicks Ass”. One boy clutched a Donald doll.

Yvonne de Groot, a tourist from Holland, came for his signature when she found out that Trump would be at the Barnes & Noble bookstore. “He is quite big in my country,” she said.

His arrival drew cheers and chants of his name.

“That’s quite a hair,” an elderly man said, upon spotting The Donald. Indeed, his hair looked even more terrible close up.

Trump addressed the crowd for a couple of minutes in a brief speech that proved that it was all about think big and talk big.

“It is a bestseller already. It is going to be number one. I have been told that today’s turnout at Barnes & Noble here is the biggest in the past five years,” he said.

He had had a good life, he said, and the book carried a message of success.

Last Sunday, the New York Post published one full page of excerpts from his book. It highlighted his advice to couples that they must always have a prenuptial agreement.

He cited the example of Paul McCartney, calling him “the poor bastard” for making the mistake of not having a prenuptial agreement with Heather Mills.

Mills would still be a nobody if she had not married the ex-Beatles, he wrote.

The 61-year-old billionaire told his third and current wife Melania that she was beautiful and they would have a great marriage but “just in case it doesn’t work out, sign on the dotted line.”

He conceded that that was not the most romantic act but it was necessary.

The Donald sure has a mouth that matches his bank account. He was blunt about Angelina Jolie (“she’s no beauty”), George Clooney (“little and short”) and Martha Stewart (he’s upset about her ingratitude).

He granted a quick interview to an entertainment TV station before he proceeded to sign copies of his book that day, where he once again was on the offensive against Jolie.

“She was frenching her brother at the (2000) Academy Awards; then there was all that with Billy Bob Thornton and now she is representing the United Nations on world peace. Give me a break,” he said.

He thought of her as a pretty woman but “she’s no great beauty.”

Trump certainly did not forget comedian and former talk show host Rosie O’Donnell, his favourite target. “Rosie’s a bully. I have never respected her,” he said.

He mentioned as well that he had been asked to appear on Saturday Night Live.

“Should I be on Saturday Night Live?” he quizzed, somewhat teasingly. The people around him cheered.

Trump went on to say that the new version of The Apprentice, which would feature celebrity guests, was going to be a monster hit. The cheers began again. His fans were fired up and no one got fired.

No clash of cultures here

KOSHER meat is widely available. One tour agency arranges for travel on Emirates, Etihad, Kuwait, Qatar and Gulf airlines.

There is a mosque, too. And there is a “yeshivah” (Orthodox Jewish school), just a five-minute walk away.

Nearby, a sign outside a barbershop proclaims: “We speak English, Russian, Urdu and Yiddish.”

Welcome to Flatbush, a neighbourhood in Brooklyn presenting a New York City seldom seen on celluloid.

In a way, they are worlds apart yet there is no clash of civilisations here. Muslim men in “kurta” and Orthodox Jews in their distinctive long, black suits and large hats co-exist in Flatbush without any problems.

One fruit stall on the street populated by Orthodox Jews says “Golan Dry Fruit” and carries a Star of David. Another shop sells religious articles such as yarmulke (knitted skullcaps worn by the Jews).

“I have so many friends who are Orthodox Jews,” said Mohammad Razvi, a Pakistani-born American who has lived here for 30 years.

According to him, most of the 130,000 Muslims in Flatbush are Pakistanis.

Mohammad formed a coalition organisation with the local Jews after the Sept 11 tragedy to address issues on discrimination.

“We want to ensure that whatever happened outside of the United States would not happen to us here,” he said.

Almost half of the estimated 972,000 Jews in New York City reside in Brooklyn, and about 240,000 are Orthodox Jews.

“Theirs is an insular community,” said David M. Pollock, associate executive director of Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. They have their own school system where Yiddish is the first language.

In the Flatbush neighbourhood, believers from the two faiths live side-by-side partly because of their similarities, he said.

“They have similar food restrictions, they place great importance on the family, and their dressing is modest.”

Orthodox Jews, he said, pray three times a day. Theirs is a fast growing community due to their views on birth control.

“In a 2000 census, the average household in Williamsburg (another Brooklyn neighbourhood populated by Orthodox Jews) has about six children. It is common to see triple bunk beds there,” he said.

The New York Times, quoting the US Census Bureau, reported that the population in an Orthodox Jewish village in Orange County, New York state, went up by 51% in the past six years.

This rate was faster than any community in the state because of their ban on birth control and because women there tend to marry early.

Pollock also noted the Jews also continue with the tradition of circumcision. A baby is circumcised eight days after birth.

A large number of the community in Brooklyn are known as Hasidic Jews.

“The basic theological difference between them and the centrists is that the Hasidics follow a charismatic leader, someone who leads a very holy life and who comes from a holy lineage,” Pollock said.

Think Dalai Lama, if a parallel is to be drawn here.

Inter-marriages are discouraged by orthodox believers.

“The non-Jewish partner is expected to convert,” Pollock said.

Noah Feldman, a Harvard University law professor, wrote in the July 22 issue of The New York Times Magazine that he went to his high-school reunion with his girlfriend, who later became his wife.

A group picture was taken but he saw in the alumni newsletter later that both his and his girlfriend’s images were omitted.

“My fiancée was Korean-American. Her presence implied the prospect of something that, from the standpoint of Orthodox Jewish law, could not be recognised: marriage to someone who was not Jewish,” he wrote in the article titled The Orthodox Paradox.

“The 12 years I spent at a yeshiva day school made me who I am. Now the school doesn’t acknowledge who I’ve become.”

The 31-year-old Jewish Community Relations Council of New York is an umbrella body of at least 60 other organisations.

Pollock, who has worked there for 27 years, said the council would deal with issues related to religious liberty and hate crimes against Jews.

“The Jewish community embraces a diverse mix of cultures, each with its particular concerns and priorities,” said its website.

Leaping off to a better life

IT is a well-trodden path, one that many have been taking. To them, it leads to the Land of Opportunity.

So they “leap off the plane” (or tiew fei kei, a Cantonese metaphor meaning illegal entry), taking the step in hope of a better life.

They become waiters, drivers or take on jobs in restaurants or the construction sector.

The early years are tough, both physically and emotionally. Home is usually the basement of the landlord’s house. There is no health insurance provided by their employers.

Besides having to cope with a new culture and long working hours, loneliness often hits those coming without their families.

Stories are aplenty about blistered hands and the sense of desolation that led to them later confiding to friends that they had wept silently.

One woman here has not seen her husband and two children for five years as she has not returned home to Malaysia.

But most of them seem content when asked to share their stories.

T.C., 43, a fruit deliveryman, has been working in the United States since 2000.

“I came here with my wife to visit relatives in New York. I wanted to check out the job prospects, too. A week after I arrived, I began looking for work,” he said.

His first job was as a furniture delivery guy. The pay was US$350 (RM1,190) a week but he made extra every day in tips.

“That felt good,” he recalled.

There was also no fear of being nabbed by immigration officers. “I was free to roam about.”

Work was tough, though. He had to lift heavy furniture, sometimes up to the fifth floor of a building.

There was no need for such hard labour in his previous job as manager of a furniture shop owned by his sister in Kuantan.

Back then, he earned about RM2,500 a month. With a house mortgage and two small children, it was a struggle to make ends meet.

Now, he sends about US$1,000 (RM3,400) back to Malaysia every month.

His mother-in-law takes care of his son and daughter, aged nine and 11, who he has not seen since arriving in the United States.

He had no trouble adapting to life in New York, although his command of English was limited. “I am always in Chinatown, anyway.”

“I have no regrets coming here. It’s a good place in which to earn a living. My only worry is my kids. I regret not applying for visas for them to come with me,” T.C. said.

He calls them three times a week, admitting that he is missing out on their growing-up years.

“I can only see them through videotapes sent to me. They have never asked when I would be coming home. Of course I am distressed that there is no closeness between us, but what can I do? I need to cari makan here,” he said.

Even his 80-year-old mother in Kuantan has never persuaded him to return. “In fact, she asked me not to go back as it is better for me to work here.”

T.C. said he never thought he would stay on so long.

Initially, he was thinking of spending just five years here.

But now he has no intention of returning to Malaysia, not just yet. “If it turns out that there really is no way for me to bring my children over here, then I might make plans to return,” he said.

“But still, it is hard to say what’s in store. As long as I can still hold a job, I guess I will remain in the United States.”

His wife works in the same fruit stall.

He spoke of friends who went home and started their own businesses. “One of them opened a telephone shop but the business went bust.”

Some of his friends have since returned to the United States.

Michael Chong, 46, was a rubber factory supervisor in Malacca, earning RM700 a month, when he decided to make the journey to New York in 1983.

His uncle, who was here earlier, had invited him to come over.

Chong’s first job, as a kitchen help, required him, among other things, to mop the floor, cut vegetables and cook the rice.

It was a 12-hour job. By the end of the first week, he wanted to take the next flight back to Malaysia.

Nevertheless, Chong persevered. His wife came to join him and they slogged away, not returning to his hometown in Perak in the first 10 years.

He worked for a Jewish boss for 16 years, helping him make sandwiches. “He saw that I was hardworking and helped me get a green card.”

Chong’s life is better now. He has been an insurance representative for the past two years.

“I never thought I would stay so long,” he said. “I had assumed that I would return home once I have saved enough money.”

His dream was to retire in Malaysia and the family did try to resettle in Malaysia in 1997.

“We bought a house in Ipoh. My wife went back with the kids. They stayed for eight months but could not adapt to things back home.”

The house was sold and everybody was soon in New York again. The family now owns a US$220,000 (RM748,000) double-storey house in Staten Island, a New York City borough.

“My three children (aged 16 to 21) are now getting a good education here,” he added.

It isn’t always a success story. Others are known to have become gamblers, squandering their money and returning to Malaysia with empty pockets.

Kwong Yoo, who is Malaysia Association of America president, said nobody could tell for sure the number of Malaysians who had “leapt off the plane,” although an oft-mentioned estimate for the tri-state region (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) was 40,000.

“They came in great numbers during the recession in the 1980s,” he said.

The numbers may have dwindled in recent years, he said, but the dream of a new – and better – life still beckons many.

When New York comes to a standstill

THE sign on the door screamed for attention with three exclamation marks: “Warning!!!”

“Military working dog inside. Dog will bite. Do not enter,” the notice declared in bold, capital letters.

It was no empty threat. An army officer occupied the service apartment with his canine partner. They were in town on security detail for the 62nd UN General Assembly.

His neighbour readily testified about the dog’s monstrous size. “No one dares step inside the lift with them,” said Ezani Amir, a Malaysian on an assignment with the United Nations.

Besides, who wants to mess with dogs that wear police badges?

“You want to say hi to Brit?” asked one dog handler, during a chance encounter with one such four-legged fellow.

“Don’t worry, he’s a friendly one,” he said, patting the five-year-old German shepherd.

Uhm, no thank you! Not when Brit, despite sitting upright looking coy, is up to the waist of his six-foot master.

As more than 100 world leaders gathered in New York City for the annual meet, security personnel are on heightened alert for any clear and present danger. Unmarked police cars line the streets, besides hazmat teams.

All roads leading to the UN headquarters and designated hotels were teeming with sniffer dogs, secret service guys and policemen who put up French barriers (aluminium partitions) at roadblocks.

The NYPD (New York Police Department) is everywhere. These men and their machines are lean and mean, arriving in trucks, big bikes and good old bicycles.

Its emergency service unit looked like action heroes from Hollywood thrillers. They barely blink, their rifles ready in their arm with their trigger-finger in a position ready to swing into action as they watched the crowd like hawks.

These sharpshooters, in their full assault gear, patrolled the streets in black vans with all the doors wide open, appearing unhesitant to fire their weapons at the first sign of danger.

Such vigilance wasn’t just displayed on the roads only. Security officers were stationed on rooftops, armed with telescopes and guns.

Datuk Hamidon Ali, Malaysia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, found that there were extra security measures this year due to the presence of a number of leaders from countries considered “high-risk”.

Access to the UN headquarters was stricter and sometimes even ambassadors were not spared close scrutiny.

“Six types of access passes have been issued this year for delegates. They are allowed entry only specific areas and meetings, depending on the pass that they have,” he said.

Last Thursday, the Malaysian permanent mission hosted a reception for foreign dignitaries to commemorate the country’s 50th anniversary of its UN membership.

As part of the security preparations, secret service officers came to the permanent mission for reconnaissance prior to the event.

“They wanted to know who would be serving the food, who the guests were, and so forth,” Hamidon said.

“They wanted to ensure the security of all leaders. For instance, they advised us to cover the back of our reception area because it was open, facing apartments. ”

Due to the tight security procedures, Hamidon said he would make sure there was ample time before leaving for any meetings, sometimes allocating even up to 30 minutes extra.

When President George W. Bush is in town, the route he passes through is cordoned off.

Hamidon recounted an anecdote last year when Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar was walking to the nearby UN building from the Malaysian mission. Bush and his entourage were passing through, and all pedestrians were stopped in their tracks.

Several months ago, Hamidon witnessed an amusing exchange between an old man and a traffic policeman at a roadblock near the UN building.

“The elderly guy asked the cop who was coming through. When he was told that it was Bush, he questioned why he should make way for the president as he did not even vote for him.”

The policeman replied: “Neither did I vote for him. But you just have to stay put till I say you can proceed.”

New York motorists have to bear with the traffic gridlock during the UNGA (UN general assembly).

“Think of the GA in UNGA as ‘Gridlock Alert’ or ‘Got Aspirin?’,” Paul J. Browne, deputy police commissioner, was quoted as saying in Newsday newspaper.

The estimated cost of providing security is expected to run into a multi-million-dollar bill, he added.

Broadway still draws them in

THEIR vocals soared over Times Square, signalling the arrival of a new Broadway season in New York City.

Leads from The Phantom of the Opera sang All I Ask of You while the cast of Mamma Mia delivered the upbeat Dancing Queen.

By then, the thousands of fans who jam-packed Times Square were swinging along to the classic Abba tune.

It was a sunny Sunday morning of Sept 16, the weather was cool and the crowd was wooed by the Broadway on Broadway concert that presented the cast from popular musicals like The Lion King, Wicked, A Chorus Line and Mary Poppins.

The two-hour free concert was hosted by Lance Bass, former member of boy band ‘N Sync, who is making his Broadway debut in the musical Hairspray.

Broadway fans got a sneak peek of the season’s new musicals during the annual concert that also featured tunes from long-running shows that have become old favourites.

Cast members were casually dressed that morning. Most were in jeans and black T-shirts emblazoned with the name of the musical they were performing. Jersey Boys, another hugely popular musical, sang Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.

Show promoters distributed paper fans and stickers to spectators who applauded wildly after each performance.

“I have been a staunch Broadway fan ever since I watched A Chorus Line back in the 1980s,” said Erica Flower, an office assistant who took a two-hour train ride from Connecticut to attend the concert.

She has seen dozens of musicals. “There’s something about seeing a live performance. I love the energy and the appeal,” she said.

Her most recent Broadway show was Wicked in July. “It was excellent. It was my fourth time seeing it.”

Wicked, by the way, grossed the highest amount last season at US$1.38mil (RM4.75mil). Average ticket price to watch the untold story of the witches of Oz was US$98 (RM337.53).

But Flower’s all-time favourite was Crazy For You which won the 1992 Tony Award for Best Musical.

“I must have seen that a dozen times. It’s no longer showing.”

These days, the productions are flashier as they had bigger budget and the quality was just as good, she said, adding that she planned to watch The Little Mermaid next.

Such diehard fans partly explain why Broadway performances have been a roaring success.

Even celebrities are known to take their children to watch the shows. Last Sunday, the former king of pop Michael Jackson took his three children to watch The Lion King.

Statistics from the League of American Theatres and Producers indicated that the shows collected about US$938mil (RM3.23bil) during the 2006-2007 season when about 12 million tickets were sold.

There are 39 theatres staging performances that attracted more crowds than those at baseball matches. Their seating capacity ranges from 589 to 1,813 seats.

“Broadway contributed US$4.8bil (RM16.5bil) to the economy of New York City, supporting 45,000 local jobs,” according to the League of American Theatres and Producers.

It is, undoubtedly, a tourist magnet as well. About 57% of Broadway audiences are visitors to the Big Apple.

Take Diane Fraser, a housewife from South Africa. She was in town for a week and all geared up to catch Hairspray.

“The movie version with John Travolta is being screened in my country now. So I thought it would be great to watch the musical here,” Fraser said.

Since women made up 62% of the audience, the League of American Theatres and Producers has, for the first time, set Oct 24 as “Ladies Night Out on Broadway”. Attractions include a 20% discount on tickets.

Broadway producers spent US$755mil (RM2.67bil) to run their shows, based on statistics from the 2004-2005 season.

As noted in an economic impact report from the League of American Theatres and Producers: “Broadway is more than just drama and music. Broadway is also a business, an industry that nourishes the economy of New York City.”

A place in NY to call home for all communities

THERE is a small world out there in Queens, literally. It has the distinction of being the most ethnically diverse county in the United States.

As the biggest of the five boroughs in New York City, Queens sports a decidedly different face from the rest of its counterparts.

Facts from the US Census Bureau confirmed its diversity. Asians formed a staggering 21% of its 2.2 million inhabitants although they are just about 7% of the overall New York population.

Which is why the No 7 subway train is nicknamed the Orient Express; its last stop is Flushing, the neighbourhood that has the second biggest Chinatown in the city. A Korean community thrives there as well.

Its ever-bustling public library located in Flushing is further proof of the mixed bag that is Queens.

Besides setting a national record last year for the 20 million items loaned, the Queens Library has collections available in 70 languages.

Overall, the Empire State has a population that is about 74% white but in Queens, the number drops to 55%.

IT specialist Michael Swamy, who has lived in the borough for the past decade, loved the community feeling in Queens.

“I feel comfortable here. The Indian community is here. We share common values, lifestyle and culture,” said Swamy, who is originally from Barbados.

Indeed, there is a Little India in Jackson Heights, the neighbourhood where he lives with his Malaysian wife.

Jackson Heights is also well known for its eclectic choice of eateries; Ecuadorean, Mexican and Colombian fare are all available here.

Another neighbourhood, Astoria, has carved its name as home to a huge Greek population.

As for the people of Latino origin, they form about 26%, which is also much higher than the 16% recorded at state level.

The range of cuisine available is mind-boggling. An Afghan restaurant sits next to an Indian food outlet. There are also Argentinean steakhouses, Mexican diners, and Uruguayan bakeries; indeed, one New York Times writer said he moved to Queens for the food.

But for Swamy, 43, he has more than one reason for being in Queens.

Besides the convenience of transportation (a mere 15-minute subway ride to midtown Manhattan), the reasonable rent is a huge draw for him unlike the exorbitant rates in pricey Manhattan.

He pays US$1,200 (RM4,179) monthly for his one-bedroom apartment although, admittedly, the price has spiralled compared to his earlier years here where such a dwelling would only cost him US$700 (RM2,437) .

“There is also easy access to supermarkets and groceries. Cost of food is cheaper, too,” he said, citing that a slice of pizza is just a little over US$1 (RM3.48), with a Coke thrown in. Canned food such as condensed milk is priced at two for US$1(RM3.48).

Consumers would need to pay double or even triple of those prices in Manhattan.

Maureen E. Walthers, publisher and editor of the Times Newsweekly, is someone who knows Queens inside-out. She has worked for the 99-year-old local newspaper for three decades.

“There is a very strong sense of community here,” she said. Perhaps not coincidentally, the borough has 55 community newspapers that are sold on a weekly basis.

Walthers speaks of Queens affectionately, saying that people here tend to stay in areas that reflected their ethnicity but that did not stop them from being involved in a bigger, more public level in their neighbourhood.

“This place is nice, the people are very good. Rent is affordable and there are good schools. The shops are marvellous shops. You can find anything you want,” she said.

Queens, to put it simply, is great for the family.

Walthers does not think that Queens is being overshadowed by Manhattan.

“No, not at all. The people here are very strong-minded. They made their views known very clearly,” she said. Queens is very much in control, apparently.

Still unfamiliar with Queens? Think the US Open where Roger Federer emerged king again last week. Tennis players battled it out here annually for the final Grand Slam of the year.

This is also the location of New York’s two main airports.

So, New York City isn’t just about Manhattan. Queens reigns the day, too.