MadParkNews.com, covering New York City's Madison Square Park & Flatiron

MadparkNews finally hit Flatiron ping pong hipster epicenter SPiN (48 East 23rd Street) last night to test our pong skills and check out the scene.

SPiN features 17 ping-pong courts, a full bar, restaurant, pro-shop and private VIP room and of course is co-owned by Susan Sarandon. Check out newyork.spingalactic.com/spingalactic/media.php to see all the celebs and hijinks that go on there.

It’s a great spot for groups as well (happy hour, adult birthdays, re-living college days) and for the hardcore, they have tournaments and memberships that get you half off table rates among other perks. All info at newyork.spingalactic.com/spingalactic.

Here is some quick (iphone video) of the place:

Contrary to the original signage, the US Open tennis viewing in Madison Square Park will continue today for the Men’s Final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Start time is 4pm according to http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/index.html.

It’s the next best thing to being there. The viewing is hosted by the Madison Square Park Conservancy and sponsored by American Express. There are stadium bleachers set up and AstroTurf to sit on, as well as food and beverages from Eataly, Graffiti, and Resto.

The US Open Women’s Finals match between Serena Williams and Samantha Stosur (AUS) will be up on the Jumbotron TV in Madison Square Park today. It was a big crowd yesterday for the semi and the crowd was totally into it. It’s the next best thing to being there. It is hosted by the Madison Square Park Conservancyand sponsored by American Express.

There are stadium bleachers set up and astroturf to sit on, as well as food and beverages from Eataly, Graffiti, and Resto.

It’s a great event where you can get the feel of the crowd even if you can’t make it out to the actual tournament in Queens.

We have also learned that this year will also feature a special offer for American Express Cardmembers who “sync their Card to their Facebook or Foursquare accounts: a $10 statement credit when they spend $20 on their American Express Card at the Madison Square Park Shake Shack location.”

There is a new and very large sports bar in the Flatiron called Bounce Sporting Club (55 West 21st Street between 5th and 6th Avenue). It opened last week and features 4000 square feet of space to watch 30 HD TVs for game watching. They also have a full bar with drinks from mixologist Charlotte Voisey, and restaurant menu with gourmet burgers, sliders, wings, and more.

It was also immediately named top sports bar in New York City by Haute Living. Not a bad first week!

We haven’t been there yet for a game, but will check it out soon. Give them a call at 212-776-1997 to see if your game is on.

Once again the Jumbotron TV will be up in Madison Square Park this year so you can watch the US Open Tennis tournament. It will run from September 5th-September 11th and is hosted by the Madison Square Park Conservancy and sponsored by American Express..

There are typically bleachers set up and astroturf to sit on, as well as food vendors.

It’s a great event where you can get the feel of the crowd even if you can’t make it out to the actual tournament in Queens.

We have also learned that this year will also feature a special offer for American Express Cardmembers who “sync their Card to their Facebook or Foursquare accounts: a $10 statement credit when they spend $20 on their American Express Card at the Madison Square Park Shake Shack location.”

You can bike, rollerblade, walk and play today on Park Avenue as part of New York City Summer Streets, but today is the last of the three Saturdays (August 6th/13th/20th). Park Avenue is closed to cars all morning (from 7am-1pm) from Central Park down through connecting streets to the Brooklyn Bridge.

In the Flatiron at 25th and Park Avenue South they will have the Midtown rest Stop, where you can rent bikes or rollerblade for free, have a picnic in the Whole Foods Family Picnic Area and more.

Check out all the activities and the route map at www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/home/home.shtml.

New Balance announced the opening of its first North American Experience Store right here in the Flatiron at 150 5th Avenue (between 19th street and 20th street). The store features their current line of New Balance shoes, some favorites from the back catalog, and some store-only exclusive shoes. It also has a Mondo running track and a demo area.

Learn more at www.newbalance.com/nyc or stop by the store!