As the leaves change color and the air gets crisper, Thanksgiving is on the horizon. One of the most fun things to do is show up at our Bryant Park location and get around the crowds for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (allow yourself some extra time!) to come in and play squash. Afterwards, go catch the Snoopy float with your friends and family, and snap some amazing pictures! (*We’re still waiting for Macy’s to do a squash-themed float, but maybe next year).
At Open Squash, we've always believed in the power of community, gratitude, and, of course, the love of our favorite game. This Thanksgiving, why not create a new tradition that combines all three? This year both of our two squash locations — in Bryant Park and at FiDi — are going to be very busy with players looking to hit. We asked some of them what made playing squash on Thanksgiving so special last year…
“Thanksgiving is like squash, it’s a gourd time to be grateful,” said Rahul Kapoor, who played with his two kids last year on Thanksgiving, and so, evidently, felt like making some dad puns.
“My family doesn’t celebrate Thanksgiving but playing on the day with some of my closest friends gives me a sense of community and makes the holiday feel special even if the city feels a little empty,” said Adil Khan, who also played last year.
“Squash is a game that beckons and lures. With unrivaled passion and dedication, players respond to its siren's call and just show up,” said Daniel Tai. “Last Thanksgiving morning I went to Bryant Park partner-less and was rewarded with hearty games against like-minded souls (Christoph Hauser, Rob Green, Nina Traylor). Such impromptu, serendipitous matchups represent one of the most unique and satisfying features of the squash community.”
“If you find yourself playing squash on Thanksgiving, you’ve either made amazing life decisions or terrible ones,” said Ben Winkler, who played last year, too. “Either way, it’s better than watching the Cowboys.”
"I played with Eunice, Liana, and Angelique on Thanksgiving Day last year,” said Wanni Tsai. “I loved the rush of going through the police barricades to get to Open Squash in the morning during the Thanksgiving parade. We had a few intense, fun games and then went back together to prepare for the Friendsgiving dinner. What a great way to spend Turkey Day!!"