As the summer's second half gets underway, your standing squash and softball games just aren't cutting it.And as always, you want to get your blood pumping in ways you hadn't even thought of before (if that's evenpossible). Prepare yourself, then, for the five sports the city's been hiding from you all these years.
If you're yearning to give your two-wheeler an alterna-preppy workout, try tangling with the city's bike messengers at this LES free-for-all. The game is three-on-three pickup and all are welcome: Just grab a bike with short handlebars and hair-trigger brakes, duct-tape some plastic pipe to a ski pole and strap on shin guards and a helmet. You'll want to put as much between you and the pavement as you can.
The oldest stateside rugby organization, this club houses teams of all ages and skill levels, from the Under 19 team to the "Old Boy" gentleman's squad. Bruisers are ideal, but there's a place for smaller bodies, too. The sidelines, for instance…
For something more beer-soaked and less…athletic, head to Union Hall or Floyd, both of which host open bocce nights that will pit you against Brooklyn's finest. Just stay out of the way of the league crowd, or you'll risk incurring some Lebowski-esque wrath.
Get your aquatic fix in Midtown with this inflated (and considerably less exhausting) version of the infamous Olympic showdown that should give your paddling skills a run for their money. But rubber ain't cheap, so it'll also set you back a hundred dollars per seven-week season, on top of any side bets you happen to make…
The New York Croquet Club should satisfy your appetite for downtown lawn sports (look for white suits and punch bowls). But if you're willing to venture out to West Hartford, you'll find a more exotic version of the sport that forces you to navigate around trees, sand, hills and running water. For once, Connecticut makes the Village look tame.
