Coney Events: 3rd Annual Coney Island Talent Show

(Courtesy of Coney Island Talent Show website)

It's going to be a spectacle of sunshine and lollipops on the boardwalk Today at 3pm see a variety of acts demonstrate their talent and preform for prizes. It's the 3rd Annual Coney Island Talent Show presented by Thirsty Girl Productions.

From Coney Island Talent Show website:

The Coney Island Talent now in its third year has proven to be an event true to Coney Island’s nature and intent. It has brought in packed crowds each years and hours of entertainment for the young and the old. We are very excited to embark on our Third Annual event and look forward to working with all the Coney Island businesses in 2012!

Join Hostess The World Famous *BOB* and the fanfare of legendary talent that has come out of Coney Island, by being a part of the Third Annual Coney Island Talent Show on the boardwalk (between 10th and 12th street) on July 28th from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Categories for this year’s talent contest are: 

Creative kids 9-12 years old 

Creative kids 13-17 years old 

Circus Freaks and Sideshow Geeks 

Song and Dance 

Best Drag Performance 

or Celebrity Impersonator

1st Prize in each category will receive a cash prize of $250, and day passes to participating Coney Island Amusements

2nd Prize in each category will receive a cash prize of $100, and day passes to participating Coney Island Amusements

3rd Prize in each category will a cash prize of $50, and tickets to participating Coney Island Amusements.

The Best Dressed person in each category will receive a special mystery prize.

This years celebrity judges include Dick Zigun , Julie Atas Muz, Broadway Brassy, Dirty Martini and Sequoia Harrison!

3rd Annual Coney Island Talent Show

Saturday, July 28th 2012

3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m

FREE!

On the boardwalk between 10th and 12th street

Coney Island

Coney Events: Coney Island Variety Show By Adam RealMan

(Image from the Coney Island USA website)

Adam RealMan will be presenting his Coney Island Variety Show on the Sideshows by the Seashore stage every third Wednesday of each month.

The Coney Island USA website says:

This fast paced vaudevillian romp showcases the best of New York’s variety artists. Each show promises a healthy dose of sideshow, magic, comedy, circus arts, storytelling, unusual acts and zany feats.

They will be fantastic giveaways and a few prizes from the folks at both the Schmaltz Brewing Company and Norton Records.

Featured performers for the July 18 show: Synchronized Swimmers: The Good To Go Girls, Award Winning Storyteller: Peter Aguero, Hula Hoop Sensation: Pinkie Special, Strongman: Chris Schoeck.  (Chris will attempt to break the worlds record for ripping decks of cards in half)  Also Magician and Star of the off Broadway hit "Spook Show": Cardone

Hosted by that daring duo you all know and love, Adam RealMan and Kryssy Kocktail.

 

Coney Island Variety Show!

Wednesday, July 18th

9pm

$10 In advance or at the door.

Click here to purchase tickets in advance.

Sideshows By The Seashore

1208 Surf Ave.

Coney Island, New York

Coney Vid: Bus Driver Steven St. Bernard Save Little Girl's Life

Bus driver in Coney Island saves a little from a three story fall and is being hailed a hero today.  Steven St. Bernard saw little girl dancing atop an air conditioner three stories high and ran to save her as she fell on his shoulders.

Steven St. Bernard, NYC Bus Driver Hailed A Hero

Posted by wiseuppeopletv [YouTube]

Coney Events: Circus Sideshow Open Daily

[Image from the Coney Island USA website]

The cultural arts center in Coney Island marches on with their ten-in-one circus sideshow at Sideshow By The Seashore.  Part of Coney Island USA.  They’re here, they’re real and they’re all alive!  Alive on the inside.  The freaky and amazing curiosities are performed daily and include a wide variety of zany characters; Insectavora, Serpentina, Ray Valenz, Scott Baker, Illustrated Penguin, Betty Bloomerz, Princess Pat, Baron Von Geiger, Alejandro Dubois, John Mendez, and Alfonso Cruz


Coney Island Circus Sideshow
Open Daily
1 pm to 8pm (Last ticket sold at 7pm)
TICKETS $10 for adults, $5 for kids (under 12)
Sideshow By The Seashore
1208 Surf Avenue
Brooklyn, New York

Pic-O-Day: Modern Beach Shop Signage

(Image courtesy of Sam Dow)

In this photo, by Sam Dow, the Brooklyn Beach Shop located on the Coney Island Boardwalk boasts a throwback feel with a modern attitude.  This version of a Steeplechase / Tillie funny face looks like some sort of baseball team or brewery company mascot.  It proudly stands atop of the Brooklyn Beach Shop along with the rest of the boardwalk shops that have donned on a modern look with their signage.  This is something most of the new Coney Island has become.  A shiny Zamperla influence for sure, though impressive and likable, for us anyway.

In a post last May, Amusing The Zillion commented on the new signs; "The new look for the Boardwalk includes lighted custom signs replacing much of the quirky hand-painted signage of recent decades. One of the Boardwalk’s new stores, the Brooklyn Beach Shop, is a shining example of the new Coney Island. Located between the entrance to Scream Zone and Ruby’s Bar, the glass-fronted storefront features custom brickwork and a 6-foot-tall stone Steeplechase face sculpted by Italian artist Mario Ambroselli."

The souvenir shop owned by Maya Haddad and her father Haim Haddad, sells beach gear and t-shirts.  They also own and operate the wonderful Coney Island Beach on Stillwell Avenue right behind Nathan's.

This recent photo above from Sam Dow and a friend, who call themselves photo bugs, is part of their collection of pictures taken on their annual trek to Coney Island.


[Image of The Brooklyn Beach Shop signage lit up at night taken by Amusing the Zillion is after the jump]

Joey "Jaws" Chestun Wins It Again!

  (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

For the sixth year in a row, Joey "Jaws" Chesnut from California wins the hot dog eating contest by scarfing down a total of 68 dogs in only ten minutes.  Six years ago Takeru Kobayashi of Japan also had won six consecutive years.  In that aspect Chesnut and Kobayashi are tied.

As reported by the Star Tribune - Sports; Chesnut said,"I feel good, it was a great win," Chestnut said after the contest, adding he wished he could have eaten a record number of hot dogs for the audience. "I tried my best. I'm looking forward to next year already." 

(Posted by Josh Pacheco for SportsGuru)

Sonya Thomas, known as the Black Widow, from Virginia downed 45 hot dogs - giving her the win for in the women's competition. She won the pink champion's belt and $10,000.  She said she'll be back to win again next year.

Chestnut, who will also be back next year won $10,000 and a mustard champion's belt.  Let's see if he wins eight years in a row beating Kobayashi for straight wins.

Coney Vid: Bloomberg Curses In Pun-Filled Speech

Showing his human side, even the Mayor of New York City, couldn't help emit a curse word during a corny pun-filled speech.  At the Coney Island hot dog contest weigh-in yesterday, the Mayor seemed forced to drivel a string of references to the eating contest. "Now, let me be perfectly frank, this is one of my favorite traditions. I relish it so much", smirks Bloomberg.

As reported by The Raw Story; He [Bloomberg] added later, “They’ll come to find out if Joey ‘Jaws’ Chestnut will swallow the competition and take home a sixth-straight title; if first-ever female champ Sonya Thomas can top her record of 40 H-D-Bs, to use the technical term (hot dog buns); or if one of their dogged pursuers will finally ‘ketchup’ cut the mustard and be pronounced ‘Wiener.’ No question, it’s going to be a dogfight.”

It looks like the Mayor was running out of steam for these kinds of presentations and with the pun redundancy, he couldn't contain himself.  The release did leave a more tickled Mayor to continue the remainder of the speech.

"Who Wrote This Sh*it" - New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg ask

Posted by edrichome [YouTube]

Happy 4th Of July 2012!

Pop Bites: Cyclone Roller Coaster Turns 80

Coney Island iconic wooden roller coaster has gone over the hill more than once.  Turning a strong eighty years old this past June 26th 2012, the coaster still manages to thrill and bang around riders summer after summer. 

Heather Wiggin of the New York Daily News writes of those who brought the coaster to Coney Island; "Brothers Jack and Irving Rosenthal commissioned the legendary Vernan Keenan to design, and Harry C. Baker to construct, the preeminent wooden-tracked roller coaster. The design had to be exceptionally tight and steep because of the relatively small ground space that was available for the attraction. The construction of this masterpiece began on a historical site which was significant in the world of roller coasters -- the Cyclone graces the place which contained the world's very first roller coaster, LaMarcus A. Thompson's Switchback Railway".

The coaster became an official New York City Landmark in July 12, 1988.  Later in June 26, 1991 , on its 59th year anniversary, the coaster became an official National Historic Landmark.

After the close of Astroland, its former operator Carol Albert was supposed to continue operating the Cyclone Roller Coaster but it later went to the hands of Luna Park's Zamperla.  They are doing a wonderful job of, not only, operating the Cyclone Roller Coaster but, bringing life, in full living color, back into Coney Island as well!

(Image above courtesy of Coasterimage.com)