Naosha Gregg

As a native New Yorker, I have always considered Flushing the hidden hybrid pocket of Queens and Brooklyn. Nestled atop the two boroughs, the neighborhood is the fourth-largest central business district in New York City, blending vivacious Asian culture and modern city living, with a sprinkle of suburbia. I could always rely on the area for my perfect bubble tea and dumpling fix, or a quick indulgence of greenery and sunbathing in parks.  So, like most New Yorkers, I dread when the US Open comes to town. Traffic times double and, while it becomes a great space for tourism and the economy, popular hot spots quickly become crowded and uncomfortable.  But it also becomes the perfect time to highlight all the neighborhood has to offer – from its hidden gems of archery and dazzling rooftop views to authentic Chinese dumplings and classic tea houses, Flushing is rich in entertainment.  So if you’re in town and want to kill time between matches or are simply looking to avoid the sea of polo shirts and chino shorts, here are 22 daily things to do in Flushing that don’t involve the racket-swinging sport.  Smell the dinner plate hibiscus flowers at the Queens Botanical Garden Trade post-game adrenaline for soft tranquility at the educational garden. Whether you want to participate in one of their free composting courses, sniff one of their 29,000 residential plants, admire one of their ongoing “Art in the Garden” displays, or compare the August focal hibiscus flower to a real dinner pl

I’ve always had a mundane experience with saunas. My routine with them was always uniform: take a dip in the pool, use the sauna to dry off, and go about my business. I never considered the space to be one of healing and community, especially as my focus was always on a test of endurance against the room's slowly rising temperature. So when I heard that Bathhouse was opening North America’s largest sauna in my humble abode, the borough of Brooklyn, and hosting the Aufguss finals, I was intrigued. Located at 540 Atlantic Avenue, just blocks from Barclays Center in the mod neighborhood of Boerum Hill, the now-condominiums and luxury spa space were once home to an early 20th‑century factory building that housed the Brooklyn Daily Times. The space capitalizes on Brooklyn's inviting culture, providing a much-needed oasis for relaxation and, most importantly, sweat. RECOMMENDED: The best spas in New York for some R&R “[Atlantic Avenue] sits at the intersection of four of Brooklyn's most vibrant neighborhoods. The energy is palpable," said Jason Goodman, co-founder of Bathhouse. "This location feels like stepping into another world but also truly local, and offers a convenient place to sweat and reset closer to home." Photograph: Adrian GautBathhouse Stepping into the bathhouse, I found the soft white walls peppered with swimsuits and bathhouse essentials for sale. However, once I checked in, I immediately descended downstairs to a darkened oasis. Buried in the depths of the iconi