Easter Brunch at Paul's Daughter on the Boardwalk. April 4, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
We’ve set up our phone to live-tweet today’s last hurrah of Coney Island Boardwalk mainstays Paul’s Daughter and Ruby’s. The party starts around 12:30 at Paul’s and goes on till ??? ATZ will be there by around 2 pm. We expect to see many of our friends. If you can’t make it, follow us on twitter @AmusingZillion or on the web at http://twitter.com/AmusingZillion. “misscox,” who inspired us with her live-tweets from last Saturday’s “final last call–or maybe not?” at Ruby’s Bar, will be tweeting, too. Follow that girl! Ruby’s will be open today with cold beer and live music for what we’ve decided to call final final last last call (we hope not).
Final Last Call at Ruby's Bar. Novembe 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i
The family of Paul Georgoulakos, 81, who has been selling food in Coney Island since 1950, is throwing a party at Paul’s Daughter, formerly known as Gregory & Paul’s. The refreshments, including what we consider the best french fries in Coney Island, will be “on the house.” We’ve been a fan of G & P’s hand-cut fries since we first came to Coney in the 1970s and feel inexpressibly sad at the thought of eating our very last french fry at Paul’s.
Paul's Daughters: Tina and Valerie Georgoulakos with Tina's daughter Natalie. November 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr
‘”We just want to say ‘Thank You’ to the Coney Island community,” Paul’s daughter Tina Georgoulakos told ATZ about Saturday’s party. “It is a celebration of the life of this store and the people who love it and Coney Island. We really feel everybody needs a feel good day to get rid of some of the ugliness that has happened.” Founded as Gregory & Paul’s in 1962, the restaurant and eight other Boardwalk businesses were evicted by Luna Park operator Central Amusement International to make way for redevelopment.
In an op-ed in the Brooklyn Paper, CAI and Zamperla USA CEO Valerio Ferrari writes: “The multi-million dollar program will bring back the world-class mix of entertainment, dining and nightlife that was once a hallmark of the famed Boardwalk.” Shoot the Freak’s Anthony Berlingieri, who also lost his lease, responded “Where’s our thanks?” Shoot the Freak was not among the Boardwalk businesses that reopened last weekend to say a bittersweet farewell to friends and fans. As for this weekend, we’ll let you know via twitter…
UPDATE
As we tweeted on Saturday: Boardwalk biz owners met for round table strategy session with their attorney in front of Cha Cha’s. Although tomorrow, November 15, is the date they originally had to get out, notices of landlord CAI’s intent to sue for eviction were delivered or posted on their premises mid-week extending the vacate date through November 19.
When we left Ruby’s on Saturday at 5:30, the joint was still jumpin. It will be open again Sun & “on the house” party 2 doors down at Gyro Corner. Grill House also remained open for Last Hurrah Weekend.
Rubys host emailed on Sunday morning: “Busy schedule. Polar Bears swim @ 1…Killer Joe @ Gyro 1 pm – blues rock & soul…Neptune Jam @ Grill house 1:30 – Paul Sanchez. Bratva – w12/ Surf @ 2 – Changes – bike classic rock band – Richi Lupo – played at Rubys yesterday.”
Amusing the Zillion 