Flickr Convoy: Winter Lull

Image courtesy of Coney817 / KC Flickr Pool

On a boardwalk bench in a last winter lull before Coney Island enters a new era. An era of change and rebirth.

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

Coney Vid: Coney Island Dream

Here's a great little Coney vid found via the Coney Island Houses blog. Video by Joshua Brown.

Coney Island Dream

Description:
A subdued Coney Island as a winter storm approaches. I will be making prints available soon, follow me on twitter if you would like to be notified. If you like the film, please share it. I am primarily a still photographer, but I am looking to work and collaborate on more films.

Coney Island Dream from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

Thor's Coney In Shambles

Images courtesy of Captain Nemo (Coney Island USA board)

Coney roving eye, Captain Nemo, has caught some current neglect in some of Thor Equities and Joe Sitt's land. The failed flea market tents and signs have been left to blow in the recent nor-easterly gusts creating continued eye sores in Coney Island.

As of mid-December, the flea market tents have been left to be shredded by the winter winds and now signs of the flea market are flapping off in the high winds. With the influx of Polar Bears and spectators coming in for the New Year's swim, we hope Thor gets off his mighty butt and clean up their part of the act.

Happy Holidays From Kinetic Carnival

Coney Vid: The Coney Island Polar Bears Take A Post Blizzard Dip

The always high-strung Coney Island Polar Bears are always eager to jump into the cold Coney waters. Here is their first dip after this years first and probably last real blizzard! Don't forget to catch them for their big New Year's Day dip coming up!

Coney island polar bears

Description:
Day after blizzard.Burrrrr

Posted by paullee54 [YouTube]

Coney Goodies: Lola Staar's Holiday Wonderland

There's plenty of Coney Island goodies for this holiday season. Take a trip to Lola Staar's Holiday Wonderland and treat yourself to some wonderful holiday gifts for you, your friends, and family!

Visit Lola Staar's Holiday Winterland!

Happy Holidays!

City Closes Deal On Almost Half Of Thor's Coney Land

Though this still does not put Joe Sitt and Thor Equities out of Coney Island completely, it does make a change for the better. The city now has the opportunity to modify their plan for the main amusement core in Coney. Let's see if they now turn around and make the needed changes to the oxymoron parts of their plan.

Here is the press release from Thor Equities press rep.; Stefan Friedman:

THOR EQUITIES CLOSES DEAL WITH CITY OF NEW YORK TO SELL 6.9 ACRES IN CONEY ISLAND

Thor Retains Nearly Half of its Coney Parcels, Will Remain Largest Private Landowner in Amusement District

Plans to Develop Hotels and Retail as Part of Revitalization of ‘People’s Playground’

(BROOKLYN, NY): Thor Equities and the City of New York have officially closed on the sale of 6.9 acres within the amusement district of Coney Island, officials from Thor Equities announced today. The deal allows Thor to retain nearly half of its parcels in Coney Island.

"Today marks a new beginning for Coney Island and the culmination of a lot of hard work," said Joseph Sitt, Chairman and CEO of Thor Equities. "In the end, we all wanted the same thing: to return Coney Island to its historic grandeur and prosperous past. The sale of half of our land allows the City to move forward with its vision and for Thor to continue to be an integral part of Coney’s future. Now it’s time for all of us to come together and get back to work in restoring the People’s Playground to its prominent position as the preeminent amusement and entertainment destination in the world."

The sites sold comprise approximately 300,000 square feet of land, mostly within approximately 9-acres of planned parkland located between KeySpan Park and the landmarked Cyclone roller coaster along the boardwalk, where the City plans to develop an outdoor amusement park as part of its 27-acre amusement and entertainment district.

As part of the deal, Thor Equities will retain roughly six acres in Coney Island, enabling the company to join the City of New York in a dynamic partnership. As the city works to attract the best of the best in amusements, Thor intends to build new hotels and bring in new retail stores and services to the region as soon as infrastructure improvements are made by the city that will help put Coney back at the top of tourist destination spots.

All these elements will help spur economic growth and deliver year-round jobs for Coney Island the people of New York.