mermaid parade!

saturday was perfect for merpeople, rides, cyclones opening game @ mcu park + fireworks!
last year’s drizzle did not damper the parade and this year, with a high pushing 90, crowds were just as sticky + enthusiastic

fortunately i know a certain rooftop to be super breezy + viewed the marchers sweat-free

though i found last year‘s viewpoint to be equally exciting, crowds can be so intense on cement

many marching jellyfish publicly wished harm on bp + well for their inspiration in the gulf
and then i met these guys, and the day was complete.

 

timeless

if i weren’t STILL!! on crutches, i’d have photographed coney in the incredible snow storm (like last year) – plus new addition of my dog in snow.  black dog + white fluff would have been pretty great.  but: shoulda/woulda/coulda right? instead i’ll admire hugh crawford‘s image from otbkb

i love how timeless + serene it is. ahh vicarious livin’

 

TAD/myconey

for my joe o’ the day i chose a coney tuesday friendly joe, 68 dogs in 12 minutes: the champ

JOEY JAWS CHESTNUT

joey is ranked as the number one competitive eater in the WORLD by the international federation of competitive eating – some accomplishment.  generally, i despise disrespecting food <cough adam richman man vs. food> in abundance, but somehow the hot dog eating contest has always amused me . . . exceptions are allowed, right?  chestnut trains by fasting and stretching his stomach with gallons of milk, water and protein supplements – ick.

for more on the #1 eater:
wikipedia
i.f.o.c.e. eater profile
forbes article
myspace

 

always orange around the outside

coney island banner artist, marie roberts, will be holding an open studio this coming weekend, dec 12-13, from her special place on the second floor of coney island USA.  visit with this 3rd generation coney islander from 1pm – 4pm @ 1208 surf ave (@ W12)

i think i see her through the window

does her work look familiar?  cake boss fan?  the banners were made sugary by buddy – watch the ep here & don’t skip ahead, the major league eaters cake is even better phenom

<more open studio info @ amusing the zillion>

and if you are so inspired to make a banner of your own – don’t head to pearl paint just yet, consider her banner painting workshop in march, first

 

swing batter batter

first and second and awesome:

from a very unofficial new york mets fan site

(1) the brooklyn cyclones <mets affiliate> opening game is this friday, june 19 @7pm.   up against the staten island yankees, this evening is bound to be a fantastic time.  best part of the cyclones’ site is first FAQ: I live in the area. Can I try out for the Cyclones? interesting concept: location playing a role in drafting athletes

another entertaining cyclones bit from wiki:

In 2006, the team introduced a new unnamed mascot: a blow-up “ZOOperstars” type pelican. Despite a contest to name the character, it was never given an official name. Fans were not entertained by the pelican which has not made an appearance since the 2006 season.

suppose we’re left with sandy the seagull and pee-wee

(2) friday also marks the official kick-off to fireworks season in coney island. ka-pow!
<fireworks can be purchased just across the NJ/PA border>

(3) mermaid parade! 2pm saturday the 20th.
this is the nation’s largest art parade and one of new york’s finest spectacles.

from wiki:

thnx Jo Weldon's flickr photostream

The parade pays homage to the tradition of the Coney Island Mardi Gras parades of the very early 20th century, when Coney Island was at its zenith as the primary amusement destination for the great majority of the inhabitants of New York City.

The Mermaid parade is well-known for extraordinary marine costumes, and for the occasional partial nudity. (This is not as surprising as it may sound, because it is legal in New York State for women to be topless in public, as long as this is not part of a business venture.) The parade is however very much a family event . . .

legal to be topless in public? can a lawyer comment please?

the coney island usa website boasts king neptune as harvey keitel + his queen mermaid daphna; also special appearances by the uptown string band from the philadelphia mummers parade + recording artists they might be giants on a float.  what i am looking forward to most of all is monster truck ‘blue thunder’ performing a parade prelude!

so come on down to coney island this weekend for mascots, tnt + pasties

 

sk8r_gurl

lola staar’s dreamland roller rink opens for another season with a summer spectacular party on may23.   winner of tommy hilfiger’s 2008 ‘live your dream’ contest, activist dianna carlin launched her vision thanks to his & co-sponsor<glamour magazine>’s generosity.  the initial plan was one night of skating bliss – but the public’s response was so positive and overwhelming that carlin<staar> vowed to keep at it + here we are one year later, still rolling.  the rink is located in the childs restaurant building on 21st + the boardwalk.  the landmark has stood tall for over 80 years but had been closed to the public for the better part of the last decade.

ornate building detail

childs restaurant building 2009

amazing what a fragrance promotional campaign can accomplish.  come check it out!

Flashdance Skate Party- Grand Opening Spectatular!!
May 23rd!! 7-12PM!!
$12 / $10 (reduced)
$5 Skate Rentals
21+!!

 

siren number nine

the annual village voice siren festival has shared it’s initial 2009 line-up.  set-list-listed:  built to spill, the raveonettes, frightened rabbit, grand duchy, monotonix, micachu + the shapes with more to come.  i’m hoping my favorite mexican truck will be back in time -love me those grilled corn on the cob with cheese and hot spices -arriba arriba andale andale

see you <pl> saturday july 18.
always free, always hot, always all day.  captured this image last year :

< note that the amusements pictured have since been replaced with thor's flea by the sea >

p.s. go eat some guac for me, k? thanks.

 

not to worry

slice.seriouseats.com assures us that totonno’s will re-open in early june.

in the mean time, a truck located in astroland’s abandoned lot serves up fried anything. located on the south side of surf between 10th and jones walk (across from the cyclone) i’ve had the pleasure of devouring 6 deep fried oreos as well as the deep fried rice krispies treat – which was a lovely marriage of sticky sweetness with mush <no really, very tasty>.  something magical happens when you bread something, drop it in hot oil + top off with powdered sugar.  i do plan on sampling every item they offer + will report back with personal favs.

doesn't the yellow light lure you in?

 

this coming thursday

Please consider the 5th annual Coney Island USA Spring Fundraising Gala. All proceeds go directly towards funding CIUSA’s many unique programs and the fight to save Coney Island’s amusement district. The 2009 Coney Island USA Spring Fundraising Gala HONORARY CHAIR : HARVEY KEITEL Thursday, April 16th 2009 7-11pm M2 Ultra Lounge 530 West 28th Street (btw 10th and 11th avenues) Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres will be served. BUY TICKETS ONLINE NOW! Festivities Include: • The Cast of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, featuring the Heather Holiday, Scott Baker and Serpentina • The Lucky Devil Thrill show with Tyler Fyre & Thrill Kill Jill • Aerial Artistry by Ekaterina + Harvest Moon • NYC’s Finest Burlesque Stars including: Little Brooklyn, Trixie Little & Evil Hate Monkey, World Famous *BOB*, 2009 Miss Coney Island; Gal Friday and Jo Boobs with students from the New York School of Burlesque • Fisherman’s Xylophonic Burlesque Orchestra • Featuring the Great Throwdini and Bulls-Eye! • Knife in Your Name -A death defying fund raising feat by Dick D. Zigun & Throwdini • Plus Little Jimmy’s Mini Mermaid Parade! • A stellar silent auction of art and curiosities • Get your portrait taken in the photo studio! plus The New York Times City Room coverage Ticket Info: General admission tickets $100 ($80 tax deductible) VIP tickets $250 ($200 tax deductible) The VIP ticket experience includes access to a private seating area with table food and drink service, goodie bag and meet and greet with our performers! Tickets will also be available at the door.

For more information: (718) 372-5159 or info@coneyisland.com

 

skeedaddle

100 years old this year, ski-ball was born in the city of brotherly love <my birth town too> by j.d.estes in 1909.  originally lanes were 36 feet long – thankfully few people were strong enough to roll wooden balls that distance and were reduced to 14 feet, and eventually 10 ft as they are today.  several places banned the game entirely because it was considered a form of gambling.  in the 1980′s chuck-e-cheese picked up the classic arcade game and made it a national pastime.

want to improve your roll?

here’s a tip from maroongirl:
To win at Skee-Ball, I find it best to be either very short (LOL), or get on your knees. This somehow helps you with consistency, and that’s exactly what you need after you ‘calibrate yourself’. Let me explain: The best way to roll the ball is NOT straight down the alley. That way is much too hard to hit consistently; it’s so far away. It’s much easier to hit the ‘bullseye’ by selecting a point about halfway down the alley on the side-rail – this will resemble a bank shot in Billiards. This effectively brings the place you have to aim for 50% closer to you. You’ll see right off, once you make ONE ball in the middle, aim for the exact same spot on the rail and you’re home free.

You’ll want to start over to the left a bit, so you have room. Slide the ball as if you were playing air hockey; don’t try to do this under-handed, as in bowling or Skittles. Launch the ball by sliding it, and aim for that spot along the right side rail. This is something you’ll have to do yourself to understand, but it’s very easy to catch on, especially when you see just how accurate you can be this way. I used to empty all 9 balls in less than x20 seconds, rapid-fire style. Once you see the spot to aim for on the rail (it will be the same spot every time, and you can literally SEE it.), and you sink the first one, that’s it, every ball thereafter is an ace.

ski-ball is one of several amusements still active this summer season in coney island. yay