Handball Court

Another gray-brick building disappears within the warehouse stretch of Essex Street, but the squeaky bounce of handballs betrays a hidden practical court. Handball Court occupies a single space here, where players shuttle in for a no-frills game of wall-bouncing strategy and sprinting bursts. The place keeps the box simple, no locker rooms or refresh bars, just the court and the ritirata. Locals dial 212-555-8765 when the noon whistle sounds and the hallway yawns into daylight from 7至9th between Clinique and the auto shop. East Village kids sprint off the F train at Delancey and aim for this address. If the bricked cul-de-sac flips your GPS to Massachusetts, head east two long blocks, then glance left for the black lettered awning. Directions: open the map.