How did the Brooklyn Cyclones team fare this season?The Cyclones reached the halfway mark in their 76-game season with the completion of their game on July
26, and they ended their first half with a record of 18–20 and in last place in the McNamara Division, trailing the first place Staten Island Yankees by six games.
Little girl who was presumed drowned in Coney Island has been found.The medical examiner said the body found by a fisherman off the coast of Brooklyn this morning is that of the 10-year-old girl who disappeared over the weekend.
Image courtesy of Rubys Host Plus4 Dead, 3 Missing in Waters Off New York4 Dead, 3 Missing in Waters Off New YorkThe Associated PressThe search for a 10-year-old girl in the waters off Coney Island has been suspended.Coney residents and visitors angry and upset over the drowning children.
A quick visit to Coney Island for those who haven't lately.
Astroland Amusement Park's orginal space-age theme is revisted through the new exhibit at the Coney Island History Project.The exhibit will open and the Coney Island History Project.
During the early 1960s the Albert family transformed a square block occupied by Feltman’s Restaurant, birthplace of the hot dog, into a futuristic amusement park that exists to this day.
The exhibit honors the Albert Family’s four-decade commitment to Coney Island and includes the original plans of the park and photographs of the construction of the Astrotower, Mercury Capsule Skyride, Diving Bells, AstroRocket, Water Flume, Cyclone, Space Orbit and the Astroland Restaurant, formerly Feltman’s
Image courtesy of Rubys Host
Image courtesy of Patrick Drennan (Fotki.com)
A few posters at the Coney Island USA message board feel that another group to 'save Coney' is lessening the strength of one organization is confusing and spreading our messages too thin.The purpose of Coney Island United is to create and move forth an agenda for the preservation and enhancement of the Greater Community of Coney Island; the preservation and upgrading of services for the existing residential community; the updating of the crumbling infrastructure; the improvement and expansion of the already existing amusement area; the restoration of Coney Island to its former glory as America’s Playground for those of every means.
Coney Island United's agenda is all inclusive, encompassing all elements in Coney Island united for common cause.
Image courtesy of lornagrl (Flickr.com)
The Coney Island waters has still not released the bodies of two who are presumed drowned. Akira Johnson, disappeared Saturday while swimming in Coney Island.The Queens student was one of seven presumed drowning victims during a weekend of mayhem at city and Long Island beaches. The drownings appear to be linked to rip currents from "long-period" waves produced by winds out of the south, according to the National Weather Service.
They do 3 rounds with several fights. At midnight they were still going on. It started about 8:15. I took a bunch of shots then went to see Smokey Robinson. While walking home at about 11:30, they were just starting another round of fights
Strongman Steve Ekstance will show off his muscle powers to raise funds for Camp Sunshine's cause to help poster child Sienna Cavallo who is currently undergoing much needed medical treatments. Strongman Steve will attempt to use his teeth to pull a dump truck as well as dead lift thousand of pounds. The spectacular stunt will take place at the Beer Garden directly behind Steve's Grill.
From the Coney Island USA website:The show, the Acme Miniature Flea Circus, is an authentic Victorian flea circus that features trained fleas Midge and Madge who perform spectacular circus stunts as seen before (and on top of) the crowned heads of Europe. Midge and Madge will perform their star turn at Coney Island's
historic Museum.
Details magazine called the show "One of the top alternative circuses in the country." The New York Times said "The appeal is irresistible... Gertsacov is every bit the fantastical impresario, in his purple top hat and cash-register voice, introducing us to the wondrous insects itching (sorry) to perform" And the Los Angeles Times says that "Professor Gertsacov holds the audience (and the stars of the show) in the palm of his hand."
A new source for your local news covering the greater Coney Island area is coming soon. Ben Nadler who has written for Kinetic Carnival is part of this news outlet. This new news source is not affiliated or produced by Kinetic Carnival. And the logo above is not part of this news outlet. Stay tuned for further announcements. 
Coney Island lover Ruby's Host wants to set the record straight. She doesn't want the press to set the wrong tone about the closing of Coney Island. In a recent e-mail burst she expresses her concerns:Coney Island IS Not "SHUTTING DOWN" the rides as quoted by "Tricia Vita" that are "packing up" are not the Actual Coney Rides as Astroland and Deno's. They are a group of traveling carnivals with rides, games etc that were only contracted by Thor to be here from Memorial day weekend to the end of July. They are scheduled to be in TN for - I believe a state or county fair. Coney Island is still here. We, as owners/operators were told they would be here for a short stay this summer. Coney Island has always had traveling carnivals " Stop by for short visit" .
There was a second traveling carnival that was here as well that left the middle of June as their contract with Thor had stated. The property that the traveling carnival housed was purchased by Thor about 4 years ago.
We are trying to preserve the acres that are zoned as the amusement park section along with the heritage of Coney Island etc. The true section of Coney Island is about 3+ miles long not just the main artery of Stillwell and Surf Ave. Coney Island is a spirit of adventure - the birth place of roller coasters, food, boardwalk, friends, beer, new and strange wonderful - mysterious things not just a ride by the beach. This struggle will be on going for the next few years now that Thor and the city have started their Public Scoping hearings etc.
Best,
Rubys Host
Despite what feels like a dwindling down of the Coney spirit under the hot and humid air, many are seeing small businesses and attractions closing down and leaving Coney Island. Crowds are looking thinner at times and a few biz numbers are down. But for Lola Staar she isn't sitting around just dreaming - instead - the Dreamland Roller Rink is already open for business. With the Siren Festival over she hopes the rink will do better this coming weekend. The buzz around is that she is planning another opening party sometime around the August 2nd weekend. Watch out for official announcements coming up real soon.
Image courtesy of hn0j (Flickr.com)
Listen to the melody clangs of Harley Sadler as he works his xylophone at the Coney Island USA Freak Bar.
The Coney Island USA renovations for the additional museum space and new Freak Bar is almost complete. Soft cool pastel colors in retro Miami Beach flavors adorn the new space and already have been utilized for a few small events. A few weeks ago, while still in progress, it housed the hunger striking Queen Mermaid who starved live on-cam over the internet for the cause to save Coney Island. In the last few weeks it hosted a musical xylophone event.Expect a big push in the next few weeks, especially as the lights go up.
With an inventive modern European fare coinciding with the Freakish Beer selections from Coney Island Lager is the tasting menu of five courses being dished out at the Fork & Knife restaurant.Ready for some simply savory food matched with a variety of new and original beers? Then head down to the East Village on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 as Chef/Owner Damien Brassel of Knife + Fork (108 East 4th Street, between 1st and 2nd Avenue, NYC, NY 10003; 212.228.4885; www.knife-fork-nyc.com) will be creating a 5-course tasting menu, pairing his inventive, modern European fare with Coney Island Lager’s unique selection of “freakishly good” beers.
This year's Coney Island state of Coney Island by Dick Zigun will take place as part of the Coney Island USA 'Ask the Experts' series.
From the Astella Development's website:Astella's 18th Annual Sand Sculpting Contest and Coney Island Unity Day Prizes, live music, dance performances, information tables
This announcement comes from a close source: Lola Staar's Dreamland Roller Rink will open for July 19th until mid October from 12 noon to midnight every weekend.
For most of the Carnival rides that were placed at the Stillwell Avenue lots owned by Thor Equities, their stay was brief. It now seems that on their lot on W. 12th Street across from Deno's they have moved in more of those unConey yellow school buses. Some posters on the Coney Island USA message board are asking weather this is legal for a C7 zone.
It's interesting that Thor's Joe Sitt proclaims in the video below his vision for Coney Island of the future . "You take a look at a lot of Coney Island today and it's hard to believe, but you've got hundreds and hundreds of buses being kept in a storage here in the boardwalk, on the beach", says Sitt in the video clip, which attempts to win you over with their plans of a very small, tight, and vertical space of an 'action packed environment' in a dramatic rescue of Coney Island that only the Thor super powers could achieve.
Video posted by coney112006 [YouTube]
Photo courtesy of William Mebane for The New York TimesExplore Coney Island Creek by canoe as we go in search of wading shore birds, the remains of NYC's shipping history, and float by the wreck of a real submarine. Paddling experience required.
From the Coney Island USA website:A high camp burlesque soap opera, featuring twirling tassels, flying underpants, and death defying nudity!Hosted by Donny vomit. Featuring: Plum Manchego, Cherry Pitz, Rosie 151, Fem Appeal, Amber Alert, Connie Baker & Ginger Fringe.
I am happy to have chugged on posting about Coney Island here at Kinetic Carnival for this long and intend to continue on. I thank all those who've supported me throughout the last couple of years. And may our efforts to save the true character of Coney Island win over the corporate and political mentality.
Lola Staar's "Dreamland" documentary is part of a film series to help promote Tommy Hilfiger's fragrance for women, 'Dreaming'. In collaboration with Glamour Magazine. The series is called Glamour Reel Docs:Glamour Reel Docs is a documentary film series brought to you by they award-winning production team at Glamour magazine. In partnership with Dreaming Tommy Hilfiger.
Now we can see more clearly what Lola Staar was doing on the night of the Scoping Meeting. Diana Carlin aka Lola Staar rolled out her fabness on the red carpet at the premier of her new doc film, "Dreamland". The event was accompanied by Tommy Hilfiger, Rosie Perez, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Angie Pontani, Gavin Degraw, and Lola's very own 90 year old grandmother, Pasquale.
Image courtesy of Leslie F. Miller (Flickr.com)Amusement-safety consultant Walt Reiss, asked by The Post to conduct checks at local funfairs, said that if it were up to him, he would padlock a fairground set up on land on Coney Island owned by developer Joseph Sitt.Posters on the Coney Island USA message board speculate that this is a conspiracy that connects Thor to the Post via Stefan Friedman, spokesman for Thor Equities who also used to work for the Post. But since newspapers always use headline grabbers, it’s difficult to detect a ‘conspiracy’. Though more accurate would be to point out the rides in question which are those that Thor Equities contracted that were inspected by amusement ride inspector Walter S. Reiss. It makes sense that the papers would generalize it with: ‘Coney Rides’. Also since the rides on the inspectors warning list are those rides brought in through Thor Equities onto their property, it would not make sense for the Thor spokesman to bring attention to the unsafety of those rides.
This [Post 'unsafe rides' story] is not to be confused with a report a few weeks ago that the Cyclone, which is operated by Astroland, was causing some injuries and is in no way connected to the problems with the boardwalk, which has been causing average trip-and-fall injuries due to its crappy condition. Also, it is totally unrelated to the "unfortunate accident" in which the dude fell through the floor of the bathroom at Rubys on the boardwalk and emerged covered in crap dirt.So, unless there is a continued string of negativity associated with Coney Island, the stench of a conspiracy will be difficult to smell.
