One of the pleasures of going to Coney Island for the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge is greeting friends and luminaries on the Boardwalk, at Ruby’s Bar and at Coney Island USA’s Freak Bar. Among the people ATZ wished a “Happy New Year!” today were Jimmy Prince of Mermaid Avenue’s Major Market, which closed in 2009, and John Dorman of Philips Candy of Coney Island, now in Staten Island. These two old friends have a long tradition of meeting on the Boardwalk on New Year’s Day.
On a day when New York City was inaugurating its first new Mayor in a dozen years at 1pm (the same time as the Polar Bear Plunge), Coney Island USA’s Dick Zigun remained “The Permanently Unelected Mayor of Coney Island.” And tattooed ladies, the MetroCard Man and other zany characters were gladly posing for photos. Cheers to another fun season at Coney Island’s beach and boardwalk!
Dick Zigun at Coney Island USA on New Year’s Day. January 1, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita
Related posts on ATZ…
January 2, 2014: Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge’s Best Dressed of 2014
December 25, 2013: Just Do It! January 1st Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge
December 18, 2011: Playing Santa at the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge
Jan 2, 2010: Photo Album: Coney Island Boardwalk, New Year’s Day 2010
Amusing the Zillion 
Thanks, Trish, for the great photo album! So sorry I wasn’t there yesterday- would’ve been a good day for the Yacht Club to play, but mighty cold out there!
Happy New Year to all!
Happy New Year, Richard! It was a little crazy,.They were filming a reality show at the Freak Bar. See you on Opening Day, if not before