Donna - I'm with you. Watching the stars practice on the outside courts and seeing some of the up-and-comers thisclose is why we go in person. We got so spoiled when Louis Armstrong was the show court as there isn't a bad seat in that stadium. We'd rather watch the matches on TV than sit up in the top tier at Arthur Ashe. IMHO the USTA screwed up big time when they allocated all the good tickets to the corporate sponsors. I understand it, though, as it was the late 90s and every corporation was willing to take the tickets. Most days those seats are empty. Can't be good for the sport.

Lee - Your wardrobe sounds exactly right. If it's convenient, you can take the PATH train from Jersey City into Penn Station and catch the Long Island RailRoad right to the Shea Stadium/US Open venues (they are very close together).

Have a safe journey here and a great visit with your son. I think you will find lots of keen tennis enthusiasts at the US Open who will be thrilled to talk to someone who has been to the Aussie Open. That's the great dream for the US tennis enthusiasts. If they could get to either Wimbledon or the Aussie Open, they will die happy. If we see Leyton Hewitt, we'll lead the "Aussie-Aussie-Aussie-Oy!Oy!Oy!" cheers in your honor. You should be seeing great matches on the dates you've got tickets.

Let me clarify my earlier comment. We've had no trouble whatsoever with food at the US Open venue (have gone at least four times as we live in the greater NYC area). My comment about the food poisoning was meant to apply to buying lunch in New York City and then carrying it with you to the US Open. Food is pricey within the US Open but no more so than any other sporting event. I would personally not risk taking food from home OR buying it along the way to save a few bucks on the cost of food that's been properly stored at the US Open venue. I once had mayonnaise based food poisoning when I was in college from having brought my own food and not having refrigeration options for a few hours. It wasn't that hot, yet I still learned my lesson!

Lee, I welcome your advice on the Aussie Open. Are you a tennis player, too? I'm not but it is my husband's other great passion in life. Perhaps we can encourage Ngaire's sister June to join all of us in 2007! She's a keen tennis player.

Please send me an e-mail so I can contact you. If you've got time while you're in the area in the next few weeks for a cup of coffee, let us know. Cheers, Anne