Coney Events: Coney Island Beard And Moustache Competition

For the third year in a row, people are coming from near and far to celebrate facial hair long and short, quaffed and unkempt at Donny Vomit’s third annual Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition.

Shaving Demonstrations and Victrola Spinning by the Antique DJ, Michael Harr starts the night off while contestants enter their furry faces in categories including Best Moustache styled, Best Moustache Natural, Best Beard Style, Best Beard Natural, Best Fake (or real!!) Female, Best in Show and the coveted Worst in Show.

Entertainment by Cowboy and World Champion Trick Roper, Chris McDaniel and Jennifer Miller, The Lady with a Beard.
Judges (Cowboy Chris McDaniel, Heather Holliday & Donny Vomit) will award the best display of hair with customized Coney Island Fez’s-an honor that only few can cherish.
Come out whether as spectator or competitor-and enjoy a night of lovely faces, Schmaltz Brews and good company!

Coney Island Beard and Moustache Competition

Saturday, September 11

6 pm

$15
Coney Island USA

1209 Surf Avenue

Coney Events: Ringling Racers Compete In Coney!

Ringling Racers Compete In Coney!

Behind the Scenes At the 2nd Annual Stop the Violence Soapbox Derby!

08.25.2010 – On a mid-August weekend, a group of Brooklyn kids took to the streets of Kaiser Park on Neptune Avenue in Coney Island to compete for glory and bragging rights in the Second Annual Stop the Violence Soapbox Derby.

The event was the result of a partnership between The Coney Island Generation Gap, a consortium of Brooklyn professionals, and a group of sponsors, which included Feld Entertainment, parent company of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.

"Our goal here in Coney Island is to not only bring wholesome family entertainment to Children of All Ages, but to also be part of the community," said Steve Yaros, Vice President of Event Marketing and Sales for Feld Entertainment. "Working together with the CIGG, we want to support great kids and their families -- and the people who are working hard all year round making a difference in the lives of families on Coney Island and throughout Brooklyn."

"The CIGG's mission is to enhance, enrich and enlighten the children, families and senior citizens of Coney Island by organizing and hosting safe, wholesome, family centered events that bring advancement opportunities for the people who live there," said CIGG Executive Director, Pam Harris.

for more info go here!

Another Chance To See "Last Summer At Coney Island"

If you missed the world premiere at BAM a couple weeks ago, here's another chance to catch the film everyone's talking about.

Rich Calder, in NY Post's Brooklyn blog writes, "Director JL Aronson's ambitious documentary, "Last Summer at Coney Island," exquisitely portrays the ongoing push over the past few years to revive the gritty seaside amusement district as the bumpy roller coaster ride it's been."

see the rest of the press release after the jump

Thor To Send In The Opera Clowns To Coney Island

Slated for early September, Thor Equities will lend one of their empty lots, 50,000 square feet to be exact to a popular Italian which tells a tale of strolling performers or clowns.  This one is said to be set in Coney Island as well.  According to Crain's New York, the vacant lot near the Boardwalk and Nathan’s at West 15th Street that is owned by Brooklyn developer Joseph Sitt’s Thor Equities will become a performance space of the fine arts for a temporary period.

Crain's New York quoted:

"As we have always said, we will do everything in our power to help bring Coney back to prominence and restore its proud history as the People’s Playground,” said Thor Equities in a statement. “While we are working hard to help rebuild and revitalize the area, we’re pleased to be able to offer the land and bring the wonderful Mercury Opera to Coney.”

The Mercury Opera's version of "Pagliacci" which is an Italian word for Clowns, will be set in Coney Island during the popular Mermade Parade.

“I love Coney Island’s history, and we’ve embraced its energy putting this show together,” said Darcia Parada, the Mercury Opera’s artistic director, said in a statement, adding that the company cast New Yorkers in a talent search and casting competition in May. “My home town fell for our debut production, and I’m thrilled to bringing it to Coney Island.”

Coney Island landlord calls in the opera  [Crain's New York]

Coney Weekend TV - Talent Show

Build your own custom video playlist at embedr.com

Coney Events: Costumed Pets Take On Coney's Slew Of Recent Competitions

With all the annual and first-time (especially this year) competitions to spring about at Coney Island, the little furry sweethearts can't be left behind.  From the quirkiest little creature pets to the usual cast of cats and dogs, "Coney Island's Sweetheart 2010 Pet Pageant" is sure to be a best in show!

From Coney Island USA:

Coney Island, NY, August 2, 2010 – In one of the most inspiring and historical sites of entertainment in New York City, nightlife starlettes Sequinette and Bambi the Mermaid present the first edition of the Annual Coney Island Sweetheart Pet Pageant.

Inviting our smaller, cuter, and furrier friends to join us in the spotlight, this family oriented event will bring New York's cutest, most beloved and well-dressed creatures great and small under one roof. The pageant is open to all pets - dogs, cats, birds, fish, turtles, snakes, rodents and any other creature that would enjoy a day at the sideshow. Audience members are strongly encouraged, but not required to bring their pets.

All pets in costume will be eligible to enter the costume contest! A fantastic show will be put on by the contestants and members of the Coney Island Sideshow at this kid-friendly day-time event at the beach. In addition to all of these great festivities, an eagle will be making a special appearance! Raffle tickets with fantastic prizes will be sold to raise money for BARC Animal Shelter. Proceeds go to BARC and Coney Island USA.

Coney Island's Sweetheart 2010 Pet Pagean
Saturday, August 14, 2010, 11am
Coney Island USA
Sideshows By The Seashore
1208 Surf Ave. (between Stillwell Ave. and West 12th St.)
Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-372-5159
D, Q N or F train to Stillwell Avenue
www.coneyisland.com
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.

Historic Coney Walking Tour This Sunday

Another historic walking out of Coney Island's destined (we hope) grand historic district.  Before the dirty hand of greed that will forever stain the name of Thor Equities if they destroy these precious buildings the Save Coney Island group has put together their tour of history.  Don't miss it.  Coney's history in Coney's future needs your support.

From Save Coney Island:

Our next historic walking tour will be this Sunday. Don't miss it!

The guided tour will cover all the historic buildings along Surf Avenue, as well as some of Coney's existing landmarks.

Learn more about Coney Island's rich history, the importance of preserving it, and what Save Coney Island is doing to protect what remains of this extraordinary heritage.


WHERE - In front of the Shore Theater, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Aves
WHEN - Sunday, August 8th at 11:00 am
FREE! (but suggested donation of $10 appreciated.)


Join Save Coney Island for a stroll down Surf Avenue in which we will discuss Coney Island's surviving historic buildings. Unfortunately, several of these buildings are threatened with imminent demolition.  These include Henderson's Music Hall, where Harpo Marx first performed with his brothers Groucho and Gummo, and the Grashorn Building, Coney Island's oldest structure.

We will have historic pictures so you can see what the buildings once were; and a few renderings illustrating how these buildings could be creatively restored and reused.

This will be a great opportunity to find out more about the corridor that we hope will remain the historic core of a spectacular 21st-century Coney Island that honors the area's heritage.

Hope to see you there!

Coney Events: Magic At Coney

Illusionists, mentalists, and magic mayhem infiltrate the Coney Island Circus Sideshow.

From Coney Island USA:

An evening of fun for the entire family. "Magic at Coney" is a magical variety show highlighting world-class, award winning magicians. Featuring illusionists, mentalists and close-up magicians from around the world with performers that run the gamut from mild to wild.

MAGIC AT CONEY!!!!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 9PM

$10 ADULTS, $7 KIDS (UNDER 12Buy Tickets in advance by clicking here.

Coney Island USA

1208 Surf Ave.

Film World Premiere Of "Last Summer At Coney Island"

The long-awaited documentary about Coney Island's recent redevelopment battle will premiere at BAM Rose Cinemas and at Tribeca Cinemas in Manhattan.

From the press release:

A documentary about Coney Island's roller coaster relationship with redevelopment premieres on Monday August 9 at BAM Rose Cinemas in downtown Brooklyn. Two weeks later, the festival premiere will take place at Tribeca Cinemas in Manhattan as part of the ACE Film Festival. As Coney Island begins a new chapter in its fabled history, it's critical that we look back to see just how this chapter was written, the pitfalls and pratfalls along the way, and where it all might be headed.

2007. Coney Island is known throughout the world as the birthplace of the hot dog, the roller coaster and—broadly speaking—popular culture. But Coney Island is not what it used to be and the area has lingered for years as a specter of its former magnificence. As one local artist puts it, “The things that are NOT there are more there than the things that ARE there.”

Now, after years of false starts, change is coming to Coney Island. Come Hell or high water, the city of New York is determined to revitalize the once glorious, world capitol of amusements. Meanwhile, a private developer with dubious motives has been purchasing every square foot of land he can get his hands on. The neighborhood’s residents, along with the amusement community and the millions who cherish Coney Island’s legacy are left wondering what will happen next. Seaside salvation or Brooklyn boondoggle? History will decide but this film is the first draft. "Last Summer at Coney Island" juxtaposes images of the past and present with interviews and observervations featuring many of the key players in this transformation.

Featuring: Charles Denson of the Coney Island History Project, Carol Hill Albert of Astroland Amusement Park, Dick Zigun of Coney Island USA, Dianna Carlin of Lola Star Souvenir Boutique, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr. of the New York City Council, Lynn Kelly of the Coney Island Development Corporation and Dennis Vourderis of Deno's Wonder Wheel Park.

STEP RIGHT UP!
Be the first to see the film! Tickets on sale now!

Monday - August 9, 2010
4:30pm, 6:50pm, 9:30pm  (Q&A w/ filmmakers and special guests follows the 6:50pm screening)
BAM Cinemateque
30 Lafayette Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11217www.BAM.org

Saturday - August 21, 2010
3:20pm (Q&A w/ filmmakers and special guests follows the screening)
Tribeca Cinemas -- as part of the ACE (American Cinematic Experience) Film Festival
54 Varick St., NY, NY 10014www.acefest.com

Afterparty on August 9 at Habana Outpost from 8:45pm!757 Fulton St (corner of South Portland Ave)Three blocks from BAM!
visit the website: www.LastSummerAtConeyIsland.com

Coney Events: Fisherman at the Freak Bar

Fisherman plays the historic 100-year old Harley -Sadler Marimba Xylophone with special guests Mat Fraser (Drums) and Princess Pat (Vocals, Piano).

Fisherman at the Freak Bar
Saturdays in July
5pm to 8pm 

FREE

at The Freak Bar at Coney Island USA
1208 Surf Ave.