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The JOOLA Pops Tour Is Heading to New York — Here Are 5 Reasons to Stay a Little Longer

The JOOLA Pops Tour Is Heading to New York — Here Are 5 Reasons to Stay a Little Longer

The JOOLA Pops Summer Tour doesn't slow down, and this weekend it's pulling up to the city that never sleeps. After an unforgettable stop in Chicago, the JOOLA Pops Summer Tour ice cream truck is making its next major stop — New York City.


New York is known for many things including pizza by the slice, bagels, a skyline that never gets old, and a energy that is completely unlike anywhere else on earth. And just like everything else in this city, New York didn't just adopt pickleball, it made it its own.

Even if you can't make it out to meet the JOOLA Pops truck at City Pickle Atlantic Terminal on Saturday, June 13, or at City Pickle Hudson Yards on Sunday, June 14, we've got you covered. Here are five reasons to stay a little longer in New York City:


First, pickleball. Where to play?

New York City doesn't do anything half-@$$, and its pickleball scene is no exception. From seasonal courts inside Central Park to rooftop clubs in Midtown and community-driven spaces in Brooklyn, the city has built a pickleball culture as unique and diverse as its five boroughs. Here's are a few of JOOLA's favorite spots to find your game:

City Pickle City Pickle is your premier destination for pickleball in iconic New York City locations. With four locations across the city including a flagship club in Times Square and a seasonal location at Wollman Rink in Central Park, City Pickle makes it easy to find a court no matter where you are in the city. And with a soon-to-be-opened location by the Brooklyn Bridge, they are just getting started.

Gotham Pickleball Gotham Pickleball is NYC's premier indoor pickleball facility in Long Island City, offering open play, clinics, leagues, and tournaments, open 5 AM to 2 AM daily. Located in the heart of Long Island City, the club fosters a vibrant and welcoming community, bringing together players who love the sport as much as they do. Book your court at .

Hell's Kitchen Pickleball Club Hell's Kitchen Pickleball is a private indoor pickleball club in NYC featuring pickleball courts, a fitness center, golf simulators, co-working space, and a recreational lounge and bar. Their seven indoor courts and one outdoor court boast exceptional width and length, setting a new standard for indoor pickleball in New York City. And yes, as an official JOOLA facility, the courts are outfitted with competition-grade nets. 

Red Hook Pickleball Club Red Hook Pickleball Club is proud to be Red Hook's first professional indoor pickleball facility, bringing five professional courts and a tight-knit community to one of Brooklyn's most iconic neighborhoods. Whether you're just picking up a paddle or chasing your next tournament win, the team at Red Hook Pickleball Club is here to make sure the club becomes your go-to spot for fun, improvement, and connection.


Where to Eat?

There's not enough time, or attention span for us to list out all of the amazing food you'll encounter in NYC, but here are a few of our favorites:

Pizza — Joe's Pizza
You cannot visit New York City without eating a slice of pizza, and Joe's Pizza on Carmine Street is widely regarded as the epitome of a solid, quintessential NYC slice. Fold it in half, eat it standing up, and don't overthink it. 

Bagels — Russ and Daughters Since 1914, Russ and Daughters has been continuously owned and operated by four generations of the Russ family, making it one of the last true appetizing shops in New York City. The bagels are legendary, the lox is exceptional, and the line wrapping down East Houston Street is part of the experience. 

Katz's Delicatessen Open since 1888, Katz's Delicatessen has built a reputation not only for its food but for capturing the essence of old-school New York. The walls are covered in retro photos, the countermen still hand-slice the meat, and the store refuses to modernize. Order the pastrami on rye, hold your ticket, and don't skip the pickles. 

Hot Dogs — Gray's Papaya Gray's Papaya has been serving inexpensive, high-quality hot dogs on the Upper West Side since 1973 and routinely makes the list of must-eat New York food. The famous Recession Special — two hot dogs and a tropical drink — remains one of the best deals in the city. 

Something Sweet — Levain Bakery In 1995, a little neighborhood bakery opened on West 74th Street, and after The New York Times described their cookies as possibly the largest, most divine chocolate chip cookies in Manhattan, the shop became an overnight sensation. 



What fun activities or locations do I need to see?

New York City was built to keep you busy. Here are four stops that capture the city from four completely different angles:

New York Transit Museum The New York Transit Museum is the largest museum in North America dedicated to mass transit, with a collection of more than one million objects and a wide range of educational programs. Housed in a real decommissioned 1936 subway station in Brooklyn Heights, it is one of the most uniquely New York experiences you can have. 

The Strand Bookstore In 1927, Ben Bass opened the Strand Bookstore with $300 of his own money and $300 borrowed from a friend, naming it after London's Strand, a street long associated with writers like Charles Dickens, Virginia Woolf, and George Eliot. Even if you don't read, the Strand tote bag is one of the best souvenirs in the city. 

Broadway There is nothing quite like a Broadway show, and the 2026 season is bringing the heat with an extraordinary lineup of new productions and revivals. Hamilton continues to captivate audiences with its groundbreaking blend of hip hop, pop, and American history, while Wicked, The Lion King, and Chicago continue serving as Broadway's foundation for first-time visitors.

Coney Island Coney Island offers a vibrant historic seaside escape in Brooklyn with iconic amusement parks, a lively boardwalk, and a beautiful beach. Stroll along the 2.7-mile Riegelmann Boardwalk, ride the legendary Cyclone roller coaster, a wooden marvel from 1927 that still delivers, and grab a hot dog at Nathan's Famous — one of the most iconic food stops in the five boroughs. 


Where are the best spots to capture a selfie?

New York City was built to be photographed. Put your phone on portrait mode and clear out some storage — here are the spots worth stopping for:

Staten Island Ferry — Selfie With the Statue of Liberty, For Free The Staten Island Ferry is a free 24/7 commuter ferry running between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and Staten Island, passing within viewing distance of the Statue of Liberty on a 25-minute voyage. 

Pro tip: Sit on the right side of the boat when departing from Manhattan for the best view.

DUMBO — Manhattan Bridge At the intersection of Washington Street and Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn, you will find one of the most iconic photo spots in New York City — the Manhattan Bridge framed perfectly between two rows of red brick buildings. On a clear day, if you line it up just right, you can even see the Empire State Building framed between the legs of the bridge.

Pro Tip: Go early in the morning or closer to sunset for the best light and fewer crowds.

The Flatiron Building One of New York City's most recognizable and photographed buildings, the Flatiron is best captured from the small triangular plaza at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street. The narrow wedge shape of the building makes for a striking shot from any angle, and the surrounding neighborhood is one of the most walkable and charming in all of Manhattan — worth exploring well beyond the photo op.

Times Square — Day or Night Times Square is overwhelming, chaotic, and completely unlike anywhere else on earth — and that is exactly why you have to get a photo there. The neon signs, the billboards, the energy of the crowd — it all comes together in a way that looks like New York City at full volume. 



What do I do to experience the great outdoors?

New York City rewards the people who go outside and explore it on foot. Here are four of the best ways to do exactly that:

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge The Brooklyn Bridge spans 1.3 miles between Lower Manhattan and DUMBO Brooklyn, and walking it is one of the quintessential New York City experiences. The pedestrian path runs elevated above car traffic with sweeping views of the East River, the Lower Manhattan skyline, and the Brooklyn skyline in every direction — and it is completely free, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Central Park Central Park spans 843 acres in the heart of Manhattan, and you can spend an entire day exploring it and still only scratch the surface. From the peaceful Strawberry Fields memorial honoring John Lennon to the sweeping views from Belvedere Castle, the park is packed with iconic landmarks, scenic walking paths, and a surprising amount of wildlife right in the middle of the city. 

Free Kayaking at Pier 26 Here is one of the best kept secrets in New York City — the Downtown Boathouse at Pier 26 offers completely free kayaking on the Hudson River from late May through early October, with no reservations required. Simply show up, sign a waiver, get a short paddling lesson from a volunteer, and head out onto the water for views of the Freedom Tower, the Jersey City skyline, and the Manhattan waterfront from a perspective most visitors never get to experience. 

The High Line Built on a long-abandoned elevated railway in Chelsea, the High Line seamlessly blends the built environment with the natural world, offering stunning views of the city while creating an elevated getaway from the bustle of the streets below. The 1.45-mile park runs from the Meatpacking District all the way through Chelsea to Hudson Yards, and is free and open daily from 7 AM to 10 PM. 



New York City, it's been a pleasure — from the courts to the pizza to the Brooklyn Bridge. Whether you made it out to see the JOOLA Pops truck this weekend or you're already planning your next trip to the city that never sleeps, we hope this guide gives you every reason to come back for more. And if you loved this one, stay tuned, the JOOLA Pops Summer Tour is still rolling, and more city guides are on the way. Next stop, coming soon.

Previous Stops on the JOOLA Pops Tour
Chicago

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