Guardian Spirit atop the Spook-A-Rama in Deno's Wonder Wheel Park. Photo © Tricia Vita
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Legislative breakfast and briefing on the future of Coney Island’s amusement district
Coney Island USA, Save Coney Island, and Astroland co-owner Carol Albert invite you to the first of several breakfasts that we, advocates for a vibrant Coney Island amusement district, will host this summer to share our thoughts and ideas about the City’s proposed rezoning plan for the area.
Coney Island is a world-renowned amusement destination and a “People’s Playground” for New Yorkers of all backgrounds and incomes. Its future is a matter of city-wide concern.While we welcome the City’s interest in Coney Island’s redevelopment, we have misgivings about several aspects of its plan. We would like to share our concerns with you in advance of the City Council ULURP review. We hope to see you or a representative of your office at our briefing.
Wednesday, June 10th at 8:30 a.m. at the Puffin Room, 435 Broome St. between Broadway and Crosby, SoHo. Please RSVP to 212-608-0333 or info@saveconeyisland.net
With the City Planning Commission now reviewing the rezoning plan, Save Coney Island is rallying those who love Coney Island to urge the City to fix its plan:
The future of Coney Island is in danger! The City’s current flawed rezoning plan would destroy Coney Island’s unique character and undermine its historic amusement district: It allows high-rise towers up to 27 stories tall in the heart of Coney Island’s amusement district. It limits the area reserved for the outdoor rides to a narrow, nine-acre strip of land. It endangers Coney Island’s historic buildings.
And time is running out! The Planning Commission will vote on the plan in just a couple of weeks!
We must urge Mayor Bloomberg, Council Member Recchia, and the rest of City Council to fix this flawed plan:
* Expand the acreage for outdoor rides and amusements. Nine acres isn’t enough!
* Keep high-rises out of the heart of the amusement district.
* Protect small businesses, create amusement jobs, preserve Coney
Island’s historic structures.
Wednesday, June 10, 1 p.m., New York City Hall, Broadway and Park Place. Meet at 12:30 at the Fountain. Parade immediately after the demonstration
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
World Premiere of “Sea Legs” by Craig Butta at the Brooklyn International Film Festival
Sea Legs is a vivid, harrowing journey through the funk, vitality and downward spiraling world of Coney Island. With the power of gesture and a minimum of words, a riveting character embarks on a doomed enterprise — his responsibility for his father’s inheritance is transformed into a search for elusive, otherworldly beauty.
Craig Butta is a native New York artist who has been working in film and theater for most of his life. His short film Coney Island, USA, which he wrote, directed and starred in, premiered at SXSW in 2007, then traveled the country playing various film festivals and finally was acquired by PBS for their ReelNY series.
Thursday, June 11, 8 p.m., Brooklyn Heights Cinema, 70 Henry Street. View trailer and purchase tickets here.
Photo of Scott Baker by Laure Leber via Burlesque at the Beach/Coney Island USA
It’s the Minsky’s show gone mad at Coney Island, featuring the old-time Burlesque comedy routines we love but haven’t seen in twenty years or more.
Every Thursday & Friday during the Summer season, The Great Fredini & Bambi The Mermaid present our popular Burlesque on the Beach program- A revival of the most glorious and notorious of the “girlie revues” in Coney Island history.
Thursday, June 11, 9 p.m., $10
Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Ave at W 12th St, Coney Island
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Pay What You Wish Fridays at the Aquarium
Admission on Fridays beginning at 3:00 p.m. is pay-what-you-wish. Suggested donation is $13 for adults, $9 for children, and $10 for seniors.
New York Aquarium, 3-5 p.m, Surf Ave & W 8th St, Coney Island
Dreamland Roller Rink Funk & Soul Skate
Every Friday night skate to Funk, Soul & Gospel, 8 – 11 p.m. All Ages. $10 Admission, $5 Skate Rentals. Group discounts available,
Dreamland Roller Rink, Boardwalk at W 21st St., Coney Island
OPEN DAILY IN CONEY ISLAND
Rides & Attractions: New York Aquarium, Cyclone Roller Coaster, Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Eldorado Bumper Cars and Arcade, McCullough’s Kiddie Park, Shoot the Freak, Dreamland Park
Food & Drink: Nathan’s Famous, Ruby’s, Cha Cha’s, Gregory & Paul’s, Grill House, Gyro Corner, Denny’s Ice Cream, Footprints Café
Amusing the Zillion 