32 THE QUEENS COURIER • AUGUST 20, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Photo courtesy Dominick Totino US Open to host fi rstever free day for fans BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 The cover charge for one day at the U.S. Open will be love — or, in other words, free. NYC & Company, the city’s offi cial marketing, tourism and partnership organization, announced on Aug. 18 that the 2015 U.S. Open — which will take place from Aug. 31 through Sept. 13 – will hold a free day for fans on Sept. 10. During this day, tennis enthusiasts will be able to enter the grounds free of charge and watch the best doubles teams — men’s, women’s and mixed — play on the courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. During the day, there will be no games played in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fans are then invited to stay and watch that evening’s women’s singles semifi nals on the video screens throughout the grounds. A purchased ticket is needed to get into Arthur Ashe Stadium for the women’s semifi nals. “The U.S. Open is one of the most exciting times to be in New York City, where people come to the Big Apple to see the best tennis players in the world compete at one of the world’s greatest venues, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing,” said Marty Markowitz, vice president of borough engagement and promotion at NYC & Company. “While in Queens, we encourage all U.S. Open guests to experience the wonders of New York’s largest borough, which has so many diverse neighborhoods offering authentic cuisines and cultural attractions that send visitors on a journey around the world without ever leaving the borough.” The 2015 U.S. Open will begin on Aug. 31 with a performance by multiplatinum-selling artist Josh Groban and appearance by tennis legend Billie Jean King, who will be on the court to welcome fans to the opening night along with USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams. The opening ceremony will be shown live on ESPN2 as part of the network’s tournament coverage. The announcement of the free day was joined by NYC & Company’s highlights of “must-see activities and destinations to explore throughout Queens during the 2015 U.S. Open.” Some highlights include crossing Roosevelt Avenue and catching a New York Mets game at Citi Field, surfi ng at Rockaway Beach, visiting Queens’ largest Park Flushing Meadows Corona Park — where guests can enjoy the New York Hall of Science, Queens Zoo and Queens Museum —and also heading down to Long Island City and enjoying cultural centers like MoMA PS1 and the Museum of the Moving Image. “We urge visitors to see and experience for yourselves just why Queens has been named the country’s top tourist destination,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said. “When you’re not watching the exciting action at the Open, we urge you to take advantage of the unparalleled array of culinary, cultural and shopping attractions that befi t the ‘World’s Borough.’” NYC & Company also highlighted the variety of hotel offerings in the borough which include locations in Flushing and Long Island City such as the Z New York Hotel, Wyndham Garden Long Island City and The Parc Hotel. For more information visit nycgo.com/queens or nycgo.com. Screenshots via nbc.com Ira and his mom Miriam at Bel Aire Restaurant & Diner in Astoria. Astoria puppet visits Queens and vies for votes in America’s Got Talent live round BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] @aaltamirano28 Along with wowing audiences for a third time on America’s Got Talent – with an act fi t for Las Vegas – one unique contestant made his return to the place he says will always be in his heart: Astoria. Besides his soulful voice, the thing that makes 32-year-old Ira, an Astoria native, stand out from all the other singers and competitors is that he is a puppet. During his performances, the audience never sees or meets the puppeteer. Before taking the stage at Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 18 for the popular NBC reality competition show’s round two of live shows, Ira hopped on the subway – with his mom Miriam, also a puppet – and took a trip to Astoria, a neighborhood he called home for about 29 years. During their visit to Queens, both puppets stopped for some pancakes at the Bel Aire Restaurant & Diner, located at 31-91 21st St., and then walked around the streets and were stopped by a cop – also a puppet – who said Ira was stealing America’s heart. They also visited an old landlord, who asked for some rent they owed him, before walking off into the sunset thinking of what they could spend $1 million on. According to Ira, he grew up in Astoria and then decided to make the move to Los Angeles with his mother, who wanted to chase her dreams of being a singer. However, the dream then became Ira’s and after just singing as a favorite pastime, he decided to take it to the big stage. For his performance on the live show, Ira stepped it up a notch and took the stage not only with his mother, who played a saxophone and was whisked away inside a clam by a group of muscular men, but with an ensemble of puppet dancers and musicians all to the tune of Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual.” The act featured a nautical theme with Ira singing on top of a ship surrounded by waves, dolphins and mist. His performance was met with praise from judges Howard Stern, Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B – the former Spice Girl who melted Ira’s heart since day one, when he dedicated his audition performance to her. “These guys are fun and we want to have fun on a show like ‘America’s Got Talent,’” Stern said. “You took a guy like me and made me like what essentially looks like an old smelly sock and I’m in love with an old smelly sock.” Mel B, who during Ira’s fi rst performance didn’t see the potential in the puppet, couldn’t hold back her love for the act on Tuesday night. “The smile on my face did not leave my face one single bit for one second. You’re entertaining and you’re adorable and you’re winning me over all the time more and more,” Mel B said right before winking at Ira. Although the judges loved Ira and his performance, it is now America’s turn to decide if the beloved puppet and his mom will hit the stage again. As of press time, the votes were being counted to see if Ira would make it through on Aug. 19 on NBC.
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