Happy New Year 2009 From Kinetic Carnival

The Real Coney Island Savior Material Girl Gets The Pink Boot

A few emails have come our way stating that Lola Staar (Dianna Carlin) of the fabulous pink boutique, Dreamland Roller Skating Rink, and Coney's genuine diva is not getting a new lease for the 2009 season. While others operators of the boardwalk businesses are signing new leases (some with much higher rents) and coming back for 2009, buzz has it that Lola Staar's continuous playing with the press has probably backfired on her.

At this point, word in emails has it that, Ruby's is still in negotiations while Steve's Grill will be open for next year. Cha-Cha's fate is still pending.

Save Coney Island Org. Conducts A New Year's Day Demonstration!

Please Help us Save Coney Island!!!

WHEN:
Thursday, January 1, 2009, 12 Noon.
WHERE:
on the Boardwalk near West Tenth Street, at the memorial shrine on Boardwalk Gates of Coney Island's closed & dismantled Astroland Park. BRING SIGNS!! Bring photos, drawings, letters, poems, flowers to add to the shrine. Make your own protest signs or download protest signs/flyers here!

Coney Events: Coney Polar Bear Annual New Years Party At Ruby's

Despite the scare tactic by Thor Equities to force leases with triple prices, the official Polar Bear Club Party as Ruby's is a go, go, GO!!!


Coney Island Polar Bear Annual New Year's
Day Party at Ruby's
January 1, 2009
10 am to 5pm (swim at 1pm)

at Ruby's Bar & Grill

on the Coney Island Boardwalk

Image courtesy of Rubys Host

Coney Vid: Ofer Cohen on Special Assignment On Coney Cyclone

Ofer Cohen takes you inside the underbelly of the glorious Cyclone Rollercoaster in Coney Island.

Videographer Ofer Cohen on Special Assignment to Coney Island's Cyclone

Description:
Videographer Ofer Cohen and Reporter Dave Barker tell the story of the historical Coney Islands Cyclone. Few roller coasters have achieved the legendary status that the Coney Island Cyclone has. This roller coaster has weathered the storm and is still around to thrill generations of New Yorkers and coaster enthusiasts that flock to this amazing coaster.

Posted by ofercoheninhd [YouTube]

Coney Polar Bears Makes Reuters The Top For Travel Picks

Reuters news organization picks their top ten travel picks for New Year's Day. And at the top number one slot is the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Dip.

1. Coney Island; Brooklyn, New York

Although most people associate New York with the ball dropping in Times Square, an even crazier celebration takes place on January 1. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club uses the day to take a dip in the freezing waters of the Atlantic.

Give Back That Stolen Collage For A 25 Dollar Reward!

Image courtesy of me-myself-i (Flickr.com)

Last week over the holidays Tricia Vita of the Coney Island History project hung a collage of photos and artwork to start a shrine to say goodbye to Astroland. While some attention was paid to the nice move to pay tribute to the now closed up amusement park, Coney's roving eye discovered the artwork stolen and the incident was splattered over many news outlets.

Image courtesy of me-myself-i (Flickr.com)

Now there's a reward for its return by the Mermaids of Coney Island (MERCI). They are offering the reward without no questions asked.

Flickr Convoy: The Demon Complains To The Heavens

Image courtesy of Pablo57 / KC Flickr Group

The fiery demon of Dante's Inferno has been removed from its lair which mortified guests for decades at the Astroland Amusement Park in Coney Island. Now it's raising hell asking the heavens above...'why?'

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

ImagineConey Presentation

On the night before the deadline for Coney idea submission, January 14th of 2009 at 6:30 pm the Muncipal Art Society will be participating in a public meeting in Coney Island at Our Lady of Solace Church where they will display a selection of the ideas submitted as well the economic and design work conducted by the charrette team. Please feel free to email them at imagineconey@mas.org with any thoughts, comments or questions.

ImagineConey Presentation
Wednesday, January 14
6.30 - 8.30 p.m.
at Our Lady of Solace Church
1717 Mermaid Ave.
Brooklyn NY
Click here for a map.
P.S. If you wish to make a year-end donation to support our advocacy for Coney Island, click here. All donations are tax-deductable.

Your Last Chance To Be A Coney Imagineer

For more than a century the New York Municipal Arts Society has helped shape forums and think tanks to help preserve and revitalize New York City more than any other organization. This time they has stepped in to try to save the Coney Island unique character and spirit from certain demise.

With you (the public's) vivid imagination they can help to generate and inspire those who have the power to make a difference. But you only have until January 15th of 2009 to submit them to the ImagineConey team. You can view their gallery of submitted ideas here.

Another Petition: This One Aims To Save Astroland

Okay, it only has about 8 signatures at the moment of this posting but it would be interesting to see how many people won't konk out because they would do anything (or at least sign this petition) to help save Astroland from its already presumed death. The only thing to save it would be a last minute push by the city, which already bought the land under it, to give the park operators a new last-minute-lease. But there hasn't been much mention about the city having a desire to help the Alberts who operated the Coney Island amusement park for nearly 40 years.

Even though it could be just for kicks, sign the petition started by Nick Palermo on the Care 2 Petitionsite where they say; start a petition and save the world.

Clicke here to go and sign the 'Save Astroland' petition.

Car Ride Over The Coney Cyclone Coaster Tracks

Here's what it would look like if the fate of the Cyclone Roller coaster would be left in the hands of greedy developers. A stoning and demolition party in celebration of the new condos to go up on the lot. And for the main attraction: A death defying car ride over the tracks with a bikini-bombshell at the wheel. Luckily Miss Cyclone turned the gig down.

Note: 1) Check out some of the school buses on the Cyclone lot. (Thor wins over and buys the land from the city), 2) Taconic high-rises in the background.

GTA 4 (Grand Theft Auto 4) Coney Island Cyclone

Description:
Posted by lipskamafia [YouTube]

Coney Vid: Coney Island Aquarium Wave

Here's a great little side attraction at the New York Aquarium in Coney Island. Weather it's actual wave water pouring into the attraction or not, it sure is an inspiring place to conjure up some good Coney Imagineering.

Coney Island Aquarium Wave

Posted by BklynDahl [YouTube]

Coney Island Loses A Legendary Figure: Bettie Page

She was considered to be one of the most notorious pin-up girls of the 20th Century and credited for helping to set the stage for the sexual revolution of the 60's. Bettie Page died this Thursday, December 11th. She became gravely ill a few weeks ago. She was 85.

Page was discovered by a photographer on the beach at Coney Island in 1950.

Flickr Convoy: Coney Pier Getting Upgraded Planks?

Image courtesy of Rubys Host / KC Flickr Group

Surely looks like the Coney Island Pier is getting some new kind of material for the refurbishing of their planks.

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

Coney's New McDonald's To Be Upscale: 'McCafe'

Images courtesy of Rubys Host

The new and 2nd McDonald's in the immediate Coney Island area will turn out to be an upscale McDonald's called 'McCafe', according to a worker at the site.



A franchise is still a franchise and something Coney Island could do without anymore. But, unfortunately for the summer season masses that go to Coney and the locals on a daily basis will cater mostly to what they know.

Happy Holidays From Kinetic Carnival

D Day For Coney Island Boardwalk Businesses Looms

Image courtesy of Mr Jonsey PabloJonsey (Coney Island message board)

The talk around Coney yesterday and today are all the "Store For Lease" signs that went up over all the Coney Island boardwalk businesses from Gregory & Paul's to Steve's Grill House. Word has it that Thor Equities is probably bullying them either to vacate their premises or pay a triple rent for the 2009 season. Whether this is a nasty scrooge tactic by Thor Equities or not, it sure is alarming and a clear sign that for the first time in decades, Coney Island of 2009 will be hugely different than its every been. If not completely vacant - or temporarily make-shifted by Thor Equities. Worst of all - this could spell doom for Coney Island trademark businesses on the boardwalk like Ruby's and Lola Staar. A conference call with proprietors will be taking place as they wait for word of negotiations before D Day: December 30th.

New Coney Eatery Turns Out To Be Just Another Fast Food Franchise

Hopes for a new eating establishment (posted here) at the corner Mermaid and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island turns out to be just another fast food franchise. According to an e-mail sent to us by Charlie Denson, the renovated space on the corner will be just another McDonald's.

Flickr Convoy: Coney Winter Sunset

Image courtesy of Rubys Host / KC Flickr Group

A beautiful sunset during a very cold Coney Island sunset

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

Your Contributions Could Help Fuel That Coney Imagination

The Municipal Arts Society is asking for your support and contrubution to help with their "ImagineConey" programs.

Right now we need your support. We’re putting on a full court press to ensure Coney’s future: a 2009 exhibition of the plans and ideas, major public programs and discussions and an ambitious agenda for summer 2009.

Whimsy and amusement may seem unlikely subjects in these troubled economic times, but MAS believes that Coney Island, reinvented in the right way, can become a true economic engine for the city.

New Yorkers need to show that we can reinvent Coney Island as a creative, inventive and economically viable amusement area. To this end, through public workshops and our “Imagine Coney” website MAS has collected more than 200 new ideas – from the outlandish to the inspiring: a Ferris wheel powered by the waves off Coney Island’s beach; a rebuilt Elephant Hotel; an interactive “Dig a Hole to China”: “Keep Coney Island subversive, quasi-outlaw, quirky, individual and raffish” wrote one articipant.

For more than 115 years, The Municipal Arts Society has helped pave the way to reinvent New York City with saving Times Square and creating the largest park in Fresh Kills, Staten Island. They hope to do the same with Coney Island. They say their simple strategy is: to bring the public voice into the shaping of the city.

Flickr Convoy: First 2008 Year-End Coney Winter Snow

Image courtesy of micilin / KC Flickr Convoy

First winter snow that blankets the Coney Island boardwalk before Christmas 2008.

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

New Eatery Opening Up In Coney's Mermaid Avenue And Stillwell

Image courtesy of Rubys Host

Ruby's Host sent us this picture across the street from the Stillwell Avenue station entrance at Mermaid Avenue. A new eatery on the north west corner of Stillwell and Mermaid avenue which at the moment has no name is either a diner or restaurant.

New Subways Shop At Coney Stillwell Subway Station

Image courtesy of Rubys Host

Our friend Ruby's Host brings us knowledge of a new store opening up at the Coney Island Stillwell Avenue Station in one of the station's storefront's that after a lengthy vacancy have started to welcome new businesses. Opening up is a new Subways sandwich eatery.

Flickr Convoy: Testing The Polar Waters

Image courtesy of Rubys Host / KC Flickr Group

A few possible Polar Bear contenders testing the Coney winter waters for Polar Bear's dare dip this Polar Bear Day Swim, January 1st 2009.

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

Last Chance To Vist Lola Staar's Union Square Boutique

Coney Island's favorite Boutique is bringing enchant-a-licious Coney Island Holiday Joy to Union Square!

New Location!! Come check out our spectacular booth located conveniently just outside the entrance of the Union Square Subway Station (L, R, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6) on the South West Corner, Booth Number B4.

Market Hours: Mon - Thurs - 11:00 AM to 8:00 PMFriday- 11:00 AM to 9:00 PMSaturday - 10:00 AM to 9:00 PMSunday - 11:00 AM to 8:00 PMChristmas Eve - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Now Open every day until Christmas Eve!

Coney Vid: Coney Island Warriors

Fun guys having running, falling, eating, and being funny at Coney Island in this music video.

Coney Island Warriors

Description:
A day out in Coney Island

Posted by spideratemybrain [YouTube]

Rubys Bar & Grill Invites You To Their Polar Bear Day Party

(click image for larger view - by Ruby's Host)

Ruby's Bar Still Awaits Lease For 2009

Image courtesy or Rubys Host (Flickr.com)

As our favorite Coney gal, Ruby's Host informs us: the famed Ruby's Bar & Grill on the Coney Island boardwalk is still awaiting a lease for the 2009 season. As most likely assumed, the other boardwalk businesses under the same landlord, like Lola Staar's boutique may also be waiting to hear from Thor Equities on any lease extensions.

As Rubys Host is concerned that Polar Bear Day Party at Ruby's may be the last one to take place at the bar. Two days after the December 30th last day of lease. At this point...no negotiations. She also points out that last year they knew about a lease for this year by August of 2008.

Coney And Bensonhurst Have a New Baby Blog: The ConeyHurst Blog

Daniele Pinto brings you a mash-up of Coney Island and Bensonhurst news with The ConeyHurst, a blog of both neighborhoods under the BrooklynInk blogfull of blogs.

The Brooklyn Ink is a biweekly news site covering life, business and politics in New York City’s most populous borough. With up to date accounts of current events in Brooklyn, our aim is to make the news interesting again by presenting real stories rather than the dry, boiled-down articles of yesteryear. By taking advantage of short and long form writing, blogs, interactive graphics, video, photo and audio slideshows, we cover the borough’s many culturally diverse neighborhoods, from DUMBO to Canarsie, Clinton Hill to Brownsville, better than any other media website.

Daniele Pinto was a news assistant for The New York Times bureau in Rome, Italy, where he previously worked as an assistant producer with Associated Press Television News and as an intern to The Associated Press before that.

Will Another Familiar Coney Spot Be Gone In 2009?

Denny's Ice Cream on Surf Avenue has a 'for sale' sign up on their establishment which could very well mean they will be out of business by next season of '09. Even though not much has been heard about this food concession it sure is one of the most recognizable spots in Coney Island. Balloonhedz writes in the Coney Island USA message board:

Even if Ive been boycotting them ever since they sold me a nuked funnel cake....its still suck to see another oldtimer go.

Images courtesy of Mr Jonsey PabloJonsey (Coney Island USA message board)

ImagineConey Deadline For Ideas Extended

With over 200 submissions so far ranging from a Sushi Skate Park to a pumpkin chucking contest, the ImagineConey organization launched last October by the Municipal Arts Society has been gathering ideas from across the board. Ideas fall into any of eight categories:

general principles, planning concepts, programming ideas, new structures, rides, art and culture suggestions, sustainability and energy concepts, and ideas for new events.

ImagineConey wants your ideas and you have until January, 15th of 2009 to submit them.

How's about a A children's permanent puppet theater in the tradition of the old "Bread and Puppet Theater" that was housed in Coney Island in the 70's. With this new puppet theater in Coney Island the daytrippers who visit Coney would catch short puppet shows for all ages. School trips could come and watch the various puppet shows that are cranked out daily in the style of the sideshow. An in-house puppet production company as well as international puppet troupes would perform at the puppet theater. A great attraction to add to your fun filled day at the amusement park.

Coney Vid: Coney Fever Hits Havana Cuba

Coney Island Experience in Cuba

Description:
10 year old Diego visits the brand new Coney Island Park in Havana in one of his many trips to Cuba and rides the most exciting roller coaster of that Park where Elpidio Valdes is the main character.

Posted by Jarmijo [YouTube]

Coney Events Beyond Coney: Sideshow At The Highline Ballroom

More wonderful outsourcing of Coney entertainment will be enjoyed by Manhattanites and visitors with Coney Sideshows at the Highline Ballroom.

From Coney Island USA:

The Freaks come out at night! Ring in the New Year as The Coney Island Sideshow Takes Manhattan!

CONEY ISLAND SIDESHOW AT THE HIGHLINE BALLROOM
Friday, January 2, 2009
8pm
Tickets are $10, all ages show
Click here to buy tickets in advance.
The Highline Ballroom
431 W. 16th StNew York, NY 10011
between 9th and 10th Ave
(212) 414-5994

The Plea To Save The Icon Of Coney's Last Amusement Park

With death to Coney Island's last complete amusement park, which held the fabled place intact for almost four decades comes the plea to save one of its iconic symbol: the Astroland Rocket.

The long-time unused vessel that has stood proudly on top of the Gregory & Paul's food stand on the boardwalk may be sold for scrap unless it finds a new home, preferably in Coney Island. As the Coney Island History Project has stated, the ship, which was originally a ride was first built as the "Star Flyer" in 1962. It rocked and shook its passengers as a film that ran about three minutes showed space shots of trips through space. It was later re-christened the "Astroland Space Rocket" a year later and continued to thrill riders all through the 70's.

Now an urgency to save the rocket has started. In an e-mail release from the Save Coney Island Group they plea states:

Help us Save The Astroland Rocket!! We have to find a new location for the Astroland Rocket soon or it will be sold for scrap metal!! Astroland will pay to relocate the rocket if we find a space for it!! It has to be somewhere secure, where people can't vandalize it. Any ideas??

Astroland owners Carol and Jerry Albert have indicated that they would be willing to donate the structure to the Coney Island History Project but curator and custodian of the rocket itself said they would love to receive it but with their limited space there simply isn't enough to park a rocket in it Representatives of Astroland and the CIHP are seeking out other for a possible home. A few on the Coney Island USA message board feel it should belong on top of the CIUSA building. One good use for it, as a poster mentioned, would be to screen short films in it during the Coney festival.

At any rate this matter is rather urgent since Astroland has to vacate the premises by January 31st. The CIHP has sent out information for anyone who knows of a good place for the rocket.

If you know of a good home for the Astroland Rocket, please contact Lois Colin at lscastroland@aol.com or 718 265 2100 ext. 13 or Charles Denson at the Coney Island History Project at info@coneyislandhistory.org

Here's a press release by the Coney Island History Project on Saving the Astroland Rocket which was posted on the Coney Island USA message board.

Coney Vid: Coney Island Blues

Coney Island Blues

Description:
Music performed by Waitswatchercover song of Tom Wait's "How's It Gonna End". WW's Awesome Channel. Coney Island was originally a Dutch Settlement(Konijn Eiland in Dutch)off the coast of NYC in Brooklyn. It was named for the large rabbit population. Coney is also an obsolete and dialectal English word for rabbit

Posted by BigLoveZone [YouTube]

Flickr Convoy: The Destruction of Astroland's Bumper Cars

Image courtesy of Pablo57 / KC Flickr Group

As Astroland slowly disappears we feel the wrath of Thor's bolt behind the destruction of Coney Island.

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.

Coney Vid: The Coney Island Sunset

Here's a short take dedicated to those not currently in Coney Island and in the mood for a solemn stroll on the boardwalk.

The Coney Island Sunset

Posted by iamnero1 [YouTube]

For Your Coney Holiday Shopping List: Gaydar Gadget At Lola Staar

The Lola Staar boutique brings you the ultimate in gimmick gadget for you or your gay friends: The gay detector key chain!

From Lola Staar:

Gay? Straight?? Can't Tell?? If they are on your radar, Use Gaydar's amazing powers of detection to find out for you. Gay, straight, or undecided, GAYDAR will tell you instantly!!

Just point this mechanism at your target and press the button! The gaydar will answer....

"Oh, No!! ... you're like totally...Straight!!...what a waste!"

"Hmmmm..that's a maybe baby...this one's still deciding!"

New Coney Photo Blog: Dedicated To Astroland's Last Day

Rebekah Burgess brings us her images of Coney Island during the last days of Astroland in her photo blog at lastdaysofastroland.blogspot.com

B & B Carousel Storefront And Old Sign Reworked For A New Biz

Image courtesy of Capt_Nemo (Coney Island USA message board)

Coney's roving inspector Capt_Nemo caught the old B & B Carousel building and front signage being re-plasted and repainted for a new business coming in. Capt_Nemo writes in the Coney Island USA message board:

...the original sign on the building was metal nailed into the brick. The sign had to remain when the carousell was removed because it was part of the building now, and could not be removed without damaging the brick work.

So was the sign finally removed and the people repairing the brick before being painted again?

Flickr Convoy: Coney At Dusk

Image courtesy of Pablo57 / KC Flickr Group

As cold shrouds the Coney Island atmosphere the last remaining sunsets still create an ominous feel to our Coney Island nights.

For Your Coney Holiday Shopping List: The Coney Lager Pint Glasses

The Coney Island Lager pint glasses are now available at the Coney Island USA gift shop for $10 a glass. Now all I need are the coasters I've always asked them for.

"Poor Man's Follies" A Documentary On The Saga That Is Coney Island

In what are six parts of a documentary entitled "The Poor Man's Follies", written and directed by Micropunta you can see Reverend Billy speaking out against the monoculture that is swallowing us up if we don't fight against it. He spoke outside of the public meeting which took place at Lincoln High school which was held this summer by the Coney Island Development Corporation. Also hear Dick Zigun, Stan Fox, Sideshow personalities, and the eccentric people that make up the spirit of today's Coney Island all in hopes of protecting the place they love the most. If you really want to feel what Coney Island means to those who love it then you got to see these video clips of this documentary.

MTV's Real World Brooklyn Rommies Get A Coney Room

There's a Coney room in the new Brooklyn home where cast members of the 21's season of MTV's Real World, which takes place in Brooklyn, has a Coney room. Four rooms in the apartment or loft are dedicated to Brooklyn landmark places writes The Brooklyn Paper:

In the 21st season of the show, the eight-member cast has the full run of Pier 40 in Red Hook. the house's front balcony overlooks the Statue of Liberty and interior decorators cutely named the four bedroom after Brooklyn landmarks: Coney Island, Promenade, Grand Army and Carousel.

The producers and cast will conduct a panel discussion in Manhattan this Friday, December 5, 2008 at the Paley Center for Media (Anyone can attend the panel starting at 6:30 pm EST for between $10 and $15 dollars by purchasing a ticket here.). The public is invited to attend, so it would be interesting to see if any pictures of the Coney room would be shown.


Unreal World! Our critic gets a peek at MTV's Brooklyn reality show [The Brooklyn Paper]

Flickr Convoy: Light Portal From Coney Sky

Image courtesy of Rubys Host / KC Flickr Group

Coney Island boardwalkers strolling under a beam of light piercing through the clouds.

Join the Kinetic Carnival Flickr Group to add your Coney Island images and have them featured on this blog.