Rally To Save Coney Island's History Gathers For Last Time While City Does Nothing

We've been pointing out Coney's nemesis Thor Equities for not giving Coney Island's historic district a chance to survive, but the city is equal to blame.  Last year the city saved the amusements in Coney Island by purchasing the land under the former Astroland.  But now they, are sitting still and allowing Thor Equities to bulldoze the only remaining historic buildings in Coney Island.  What seems like part of their plan with Thor Equities to allow him his chance for profit while disrespecting New York's important culture, the city is doing nothing but allow this killing spree to take place.  

The last chance to save Coney Island's historic district will take place this Saturday October 30th 2010, which will include the last walking tour of the historic area, Sunday, October 31st, before it's dead and gone thanks to greed by those who simply don't care about the city and its people but merely their own profit.

From Save Coney Island group:

Please join Save Coney Island for a rally to preserve the amusement district's endangered historic buildings.

Four of Coney Island's most historically significant buildings -- three more than a century old -- are in danger. Demolition appears imminent. Developer Thor Equities has thus far ignored the pleas of leading historic preservation groups.

We need to raise our voices and say that we want these buildings saved, restored, and made part of Coney's future.

One of the endangered buildings, the Henderson Music Hall, is where Harpo Marx made his stage debut, alongside his brothers Groucho and Gummo.

That's why we're giving our demonstration a Marx Brothers theme - "A Many Marxes March to Save Coney Island's History."

PLEASE JOIN US!

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 30, at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Meet at the corner of Stillwell and Surf Avenues in Coney Island

WHAT TO BRING: Yourself and your friends. Signs focused on the importance of
saving these buildings and preserving Coney Island' s history are welcome. (We are
trying to keep our message as positive as possible.)

WHAT TO WEAR: Costumes are optional but welcome. In particular, we need Groucho
Marxes and Harpo Marxes! (Groucho glasses are available for $5 at most Halloween
stores.)

AFTERWARD: Stick around to watch the brand-new Coney Island Children' s
Halloween Parade at noon.


Walking Tour on Sunday (last one!)
Don't miss your final chance this season to join us in our walking tour of historic Coney Island! The guided tour will cover all the historic buildings along Surf Avenue, as well as Coney's existing landmarks. We will discuss the famous history of the district and the importance of restoring its historic buildings in order to create a unique 21st Century Coney Island.

WHERE - In front of the Shore Theater, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Aves
WHEN - Sunday, October 31st at 11:00 am

FREE! (but suggested donation of $10 appreciated)

All comers get a free Save Coney Island button and a copy of our brand new Save Coney Island map! (while supplies last!)

Forward this to a friend! As always, thanks for your support!
Save Coney Island

Coney Island Nemesis Thor Equities To Start Killing Spree!

Thor Equities will end up on Coney's wall of shame

In the style of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, Thor Equities slowly begins the drilling of holes in its victim before the final blow to death!  In the name of pure disrespecting greed, Thor Equities will demonstrate more than ever how little they care about Coney Island.  Ever since Joe Sitt and Thor Equities stepped into Coney Island, they have nothing but lied, fabricated stories of redevelopment, and in their wake, killed existing amusements, turned honky tonk into trailer-trash 'amusements', while creating more rotting dead zones than Coney Island has ever had in the last three decades.  Their meddling has risen property  value to a level that will impede most amusement operators from existing here.  The future of Coney Island will will place Joe Sitt with the likes of Robert Moses and Fred Trump on the list of nemesis that tried to kill the spirit and amusements of Coney Island for their own selfish gain.

Dahmer-style holes by Thor Equities

Now, without any remorse, Thor Equities is moving quickly to demolish the oldest buildings remaining in Coney Island for what only they could replace it with; temporary, tasteless boxed run-of-the mill retail spaces.  Instead of working to profit from creating a historic district for Coney Island - that could probably turn out to even more profitable then the lackluster they are planning - Thor Equities is shooting themselves and their investors in the foot.  It's hard to imagine selling the vacant property to another developer, which is really what they are planning, in order to build high rise hotels in an amusement area which, due to its size, will not merit it.  All is traced back to the real scenario at play here; which seems to be the stubborn push for condos.  Their hope is that even with a shiny new amusement park now thriving at Coney, a high rise condo will still be of value, since the noise below could be cushioned with distance.  The distance being a few floors or retail and other indoor facilities.
 

And like the serial killer; selfishness and a lack of consideration carries them through their senseless actions. 


Bank Building Images courtesy of Eric Kowalsky (Facebook)

Lola...The Shiniest Star Above Planet Coney

If one person has all the zing zing and bally hoopla of the Coney kind...it's Lola Star.  Her Burlesquesque sparkling style keeps popping up everywhere like Coney rabbits overloading on pink popcorn!  From the rebirth of the boardwalk boutique to the long anticipated shiny spot at the subway terminal, and now all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge to the hottest pink pop-up this side of Houston Street in Manhattan's Soho district!

A soft opening for the Soho location is going on right now.  Every day from 11 am to 7pm.  Located at 435 Broome Street at Broadway.  The official opening will be on October 23, 2010 for this 1,500 square feet of pure Coney Island magic!

Lola Star boasts:

Unicorns, shooting stars, roller skates and rock and roll bunnies... All my seven year old fantasies have exploded into day glow rainbow reality in our massive new pop up boutique in Soho!

Coney Island was named by the Dutch settlers. The word "Coney" is the Dutch word for Rabbit. Bunnies were the first to rock the Island we know as Coney Island. They filled it with thrills, magic and enchantment. The Dutch settlers were shocked to find that the Island was populated by millions of starry eyed bunnies, already christening the land of enchantment with their bunny pizzazz. The bunny party was already rockin' way before the Dutch settlers arrived!

This marks the third store for the Coney Island impresario.  After her original boardwalk boutique was shut down by Coney's nemesis; Thor Equities, there was a well deserved rebirth and reopening of that location on the boardwalk.  Then after a long awaited and overdue wait by the Transit Authority's over-long process, the Lola Boutique at the Stillwell Subway terminal was finally opened for the summer of 2010.

So, just in time for the fall and upcoming holiday season you can shop for all your Lola Star goodies at all three locations.  Well, there's more.  This holiday season you can also stop by the annual Union Square kiosk (not yet announced) and the hopefull return of the Lola Star Dreamland Roller Rink...?

As somewhat secretly announced on the Lola Star website; the Dreamland Roller Rink may be open again.  Or will it?  We hope so!  The Lola Star website says, "Well, start getting ready because we have some exciting plans which we cannot tell you just yet... but hopefully by springtime we will have a Dreamland Roller Rink for your to rock your roller fashion once again!"

All pictures courtesy of Lola Star

Coney Events: Nights Of Horror At Coney Island's New Luna Park

The new Luna Park amusement park in Coney Island gets into the Halloween Horror fascination with their "Nights of Horror" with a mix of fun and thrills of amusement park rides and live Halloween haunting terrors.  This one is suitable for children and adults of ages 14 and up.  And just one price includes unlimited access to twelve rides and the haunted maze intertwined throughout the park.

Nights of Horror

Luna Park Coney Island

October 2010
Fridays 15th, 22nd, and 29th

Saturdays 16th, 23rd, and 30th

Sundays 17th, 24th, and 31st

Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm to 12am

Sundays 5pm to 10pm

Luna Park at Coney Island
1000 Surf Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11224
Phone: 718-373-LUNA (5862)

Coney Event: The Ride Inspector's Nightmare

The Halloween extravaganza at Coney Island USA is interactive, creepy, and a "ride" into a twisted nightmare of an amusement park gone hellishly wrong.

THE RIDE INSPECTOR'S NIGHTMARE is an interactive show (allow 45 minutes for the complete experience) that tours various rooms at the Coney Island Sideshows by the Seashore building generally not available to the public such as the damp creepy basement, back stairs, etc.

Audience members will take a "tour" of several amusement park ride "NYPD Crime Scenes" including a deadly collapsed roller coaster  and will meet living-dead performers along the way including drunken incompetent ride inspectors, creepy ticket sellers  and lots of dead and decapitated bodies of innocent tourists. At the conclusion of the show, the audience will also get to partake in a courtroom trial of the negligent ride inspector and will be sworn in for horrific jury duty.

CREEPSHOW AT THE FREAKSHOW is Coney Island’s original Halloween extravaganza and one of the best haunted tours in all of New York City. This year, the rides at new Luna Park will be open weekends during the October run of the show. Come see what the New York Press called "Not only the best and wildest haunted house in town, but the smartest as well."


Creepshow at the Freakshow 2010
"The Ride Inspector's Nightmare
Recurring nightmare dates and times:

Friday, October 15, 7pm - Midnight
Saturday, October 16, 5pm - Midnight
Sunday, October 17, 5pm - 10pm
Friday, October 22, 7pm - Midnight
Saturday, October 23, 5pm - 9pm
Sunday, October 24, 5pm - 10pm
Monday, October 25, 7pm - 10pm
Tuesday, October 26, 7pm - 10pm
Wednesday, October 27, 7pm - 10pm
Thursday, October 28, 7pm - 10pm
Friday, October 29, 7pm - Midnight
Saturday, October 30, 5pm - Midnight

Sunday, October 31, Halloween!, 4pm - Midnight

All tickets $10 at the door.
Parent or Guardian must accompany anyone 13 and under.

at Coney Island USA
1208 Surf Ave. (between Stillwell Ave. and West 12th Street)
Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-372-5159

City Needs To Acquire More Coney Land For A Prosperous Coney Future

Image courtesy of  Pavement Pieces  (Flickr.com)

The city did wonders to purchase the  6.5 acres of land from Thor Equities then lease it to Zamperla USA for their new Luna Park.  The new amusement park, making this past summer season one of the busiest Coney Island has seen in a while.  It also created a fixture in Coney Island for amusements. But more property currently owned by other private entities like Thor Equities needs to be purchased by the city or other civic minded entities in order to maintain the integrity of Coney Island as an amusement destination. And to also make the area in a viable revenue generator for the city itself.

In a panel discussion this past Thursday, September 28th 2010, entitled, "Heritage, Rides, Redevelopment: What's Next For Coney Island?",  executive at the Walt Disney Company, David Malmuth, argued that the area could easily draw 3.5 million visitors and tourists.  He stated that, “Land control is the key to making Coney viable and successful on a long-term basis,”

In a press release today the Save Coney Island group indicated about Malmuth's comments that, at least 26.5 acres of land for rides were require to accommodate this level of attendance. At present, he said, only 11.5 acres of land are set aside for amusements and only 6.5 acres are currently in active use.

“Size does matter,” he said. “If we’re going to make Coney Island a successful destination, we have to get to a certain scale that allows it to draw people, and hopefully draw people on a year-round basis.”

But he warned that land prices in Coney Island’s amusement district are currently too expensive for amusement operators to be able to invest in buying land for amusements.

Malmuth went on to stress the city needs to step it up and carry the major load in acquiring more property.  And how massively important it is to keep those historic buildings that are days away from their permanent doom.  Renovating them and showcasing them as Coney's historic area is hugely important in "terms of connecting people to place", to paraphrase Malmuth.

The city is running out of time.  The next few days and weeks are imperative to the future of Coney Island.

[The full release by the Save Coney Island group after the jump]:

Coney Island Even Has A Festival For Kites

That's right!  This weekend the sky at Coney Island's shore will be garnished with a spectacle in a colored variety competing for attention over the fabled sandy beach.  The Coney Island Kite Festival takes flight this weekend.

The event will be held this weekend:
Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd and 3rd
10am to 5pm on Coney Island's beach.
It's free!
Bring your kite or come by to see what others are flying.


(Image courtesy of Norman Blake)