July | 2009 | Amusing the Zillion

Archive for July, 2009

Coney Island’s Xanadu: Dreamland Roller Rink Celebrates First Birthday

Posted in amusement park, Events, tagged Coney Island, Dreamland Roller Rink, Lola Staar, party, Roller Skating on July 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Happy First Birthday to Lola Staar's Dreamland Roller Rink! Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Congrats to entrepreneur Dianna Carlin aka Lola Staar! Her Dreamland Roller Rink opened one year ago in Coney Island’s long vacant terracotta palace known as the Childs Building. You’re invited to help celebrate the occasion on Saturday night. Dreamland’s birthday bash will be a Xanadu themed skate party with Roxy’s DJ Julio spinning skate-classics, music and imagery from the dreamy film Xanadu.

Saturday, July 25, 8 pm – midnight

$12 admission ($10 with Xanadu Attire), $5 skate rentals
21 and over

Dreamland Roller Rink, Boardwalk at W 21st St., Coney Island

This business closed at the end of the 2009 season and is seeking a new location.

Joe Sitt Plays in His Coney Island Sandbox

Posted in Real Estate, Redevelopment, tagged Bloomberg, City Council, Coney Island, Joe Sitt, rezoning, Thor Equities on July 21, 2009| 1 Comment »

Joey Sitt Plays with Bulldozers in His Coney Island Sandbox. Art by Tiny Tim

Joey Sitt Enjoys Playing with Bulldozers in His Coney Island Sandbox. Art by Tiny Tim

Some toddlers never grow up. Meet Joey “Bulldozer” Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities, largest landowner in Coney Island. After a City Council Subcommittee passed Mayor Bloomberg’s rezoning plan today, Sitt told the NY Post, “I’m the guy who controls this – it’s my sandbox.” He added that he would be willing “to share my sandbox with my friend Mayor Mike.”

Translation: Lawyers for Joe Sitt and the City’s Economic Development Corporation are wheeling and dealing behind closed doors. The deal is that Sitt would sell at least half of his Coney property to the City and keep the rest to develop or flip. With most favorable zoning of course!

Thanks to graphic artist Tiny Tim for sending us the photo collage of Joey demolishing Coney Island’s go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, and mini golf. Creating empty lots in Coney is this CEO’s favorite outdoor activity. The Astrotower is still standing because Sitt said he “fell in love” with it and wants to keep it.

Hey, we love the Astrotower too. We also believe Coney Island is the People’s Sandbox, not Joe Sitt’s. Give it back to us, you bully.

Target the Coney Island Arcade Cat Introduces His Sister Targeretty

Posted in Animals, Photo Album, tagged balloon dart, cat, Coney Island, Coney Island Arcade, Target the Cat on July 21, 2009| 3 Comments »

Target the Cat in the Basketball Game, Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Target the Cat in the Basketball Game on the Bowery near Jones Walk, Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Coney Island Arcade operator Manny Cohen, who owns Target the Coney Island Arcade Cat, sent us this photo of our favorite Coney cat and his sister Targeretty. Although we’ve been taking pix of Target since 2007, we’ve never even glimpsed his shy sister.

Portrait of Target and Targeretty, the Coney Island Arcade Cats. Photo © Manny Cohen

Targeretty hides out in the office of the Coney Island Arcade while the gregarious Target makes his rounds of the arcade and the games and rides on the Bowery. Target is also the official mascot of the flickr group Coney Island is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009!

Target the Cat at Home in the Coney Island Arcade. Photo © Manny Cohen

At the beginning of the season Jimmy was interviewed for a story in the NY Times and Target’s photo was featured in the slide show along with pics of the world famous Cyclone Roller Coaster and the Wonder Wheel. I’ve taken enough photos to make a flickr set called Target the World Famous Coney Island Arcade Cat. But fame hasn’t changed Target one bit. Before the parade got started on Mermaid Day, I found Jimmy and Target working together as usual in the Balloon Dart.