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Flooded Aquarium’s Toy Drive Moves to Tom’s Coney Island

Posted in Events, News, tagged Coney Island, local, New York Aquarium, Tom's Restaurant, toy drive on November 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Donate Here: Toys (New Only) for Coney, Tom Restaurant, Coney Island. November 17, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

Last weekend at Tom’s Restaurant on the Coney Island Boardwalk, ATZ spotted this sign for the Wildlife Conservation Society’s annual toy drive. A hand-lettered note says “Toys (New Only) for Coney” and there’s a donation box on the floor. From November 17th through December 31st, the WCS is accepting new, unwrapped toys at the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo. Due to recovery efforts at the Aquarium, which was flooded by Hurricane Sandy and remains closed, donations in Coney Island are instead being accepted at Tom’s.

“Thank you for joining the New York Aquarium along with the newly formed Alliance of Coney Island to collect toys for families in need this holiday season,” says a post on the WCS website. “Toys donated will benefit families in need as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Donations can be dropped off at Tom’s Diner on the Coney Island boardwalk.” Donors will receive one free general admission ticket to the Bronx Zoo for every donated toy.

Tom’s Coney Island is open daily from 8am till 5pm with weekend hours till 7pm. The new restaurant, which opened only a few weeks ago, was miraculously spared damage from Hurricane Sandy and is one of the few stores in the area with electricity. Owner Jimmy Kokotas was able to quickly reopen and be here for the community. Tom’s has served as a command center for volunteers and a host for breakfast meetings about storm relief for Coney Island business owners.

Tom’s Coney Island, 1229 Boardwalk (at Stillwell Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11224. Phone 718-942-4200

Nov 18: Coney Island Hysterical Society Artists Slide Talk

Posted in art, Events, tagged 1980s, Coney Island, Coney Island Hysterical Society, Philomena Marano, Richard, slide talk on November 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Artists Richard Eagan and Philomena on empty Steeplechase Park site, circa 1982 Photo © Coney Island Hysterical Society

On Sunday, November 18th, artists Richard Eagan and Philomena Marano, who have been collaborating for over 30 years as the Coney Island Hysterical Society, will give a slide talk about their “Hysterical/Historical” work. The above photo from 1982 documents “Souvenir Views of Coney Island,” a “traveling show” that they brought to the then-empty Steeplechase Park site. The free event is at 4:40pm at 440 Gallery, 440 Sixth Avenue, in Park Slope. Eagan and Marano’s exhibit “Art of the Coney Island Hysterical Society,” is on view at the gallery through November 25.

Related posts on ATZ...

October 4, 2012: Art of the Day: Coney Island Hysterical Society

August 21, 2012: Art of the Day: Out of Disorder (Coney Island) by Takahiro Iwasaki

October 26, 2010: Studio Visit: Philomena Marano of the Coney Island Hysterical Society

October 26, 2010: Studio Visit: Richard Eagan of the Coney Island Hysterical Society

Read Full Post »

November 3: Volunteer for Coney Island’s Sandy Cleanup

Posted in Events, News, Photography, tagged beach cleanup, Coney Island, Mindy Gress, Sandy Cleanup, volunteer on November 3, 2012| 1 Comment »

Bus Stop Sign at Surf Ave and West 5th Street on the Morning After Hurricane Sandy. October 30, 2012. Photo © Mindy Gress

Update, November 4th: A second volunteer day has been scheduled for today — Sunday, November 4th, beginning at 9AM. Volunteer Relief Opportunities during the week at FEMA Distribution Site, National Guard Distribution Site, Coney Island Generation Gap on Neptune Avenue and at Sea Gate. For updates on volunteering or donating to help Coney Island, or to get help, visit coneyrecovers.org.

The Coney Island Dancers first put out a call for volunteers for a beach cleanup on Saturday, November 3rd, beginning at 9am on the Boardwalk at West 10th Street. On Friday it grew into a bigger outreach for the whole neighborhood due to the widespread damage from Hurricane Sandy and people asking how they could help. “Please note, this is NOT just–or even primarily–a clean-up effort,” the Coney Island Development Corporation posted on Coney Island’s Facebook page, which has more than 157,000 fans. “We have thousands of residents in need of immediate assistance, as well as hundreds of businesses that are devastated. Volunteers will be assigned a variety of tasks tomorrow. We thank everyone in advance for their support.”

Volunteers are needed to assist in recovery and cleanup in and around Coney Island.

Where: Volunteers will convene on the Boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue (outside of Tom’s Restaurant)

When: Saturday November 3, 9:00 A.M.

Dress warmly, wear sturdy footwear or boots, and bring work gloves! Bring your own flashlight (with extra batteries), a backpack, and snacks/water for yourself for the day.

Donation requests to help with Saturday’s work:

Power strips
Extra flashlights
Outdoor brooms

Please note that bathroom access on site will be very limited.

No RSVP required

You can refer to MTA.info for latest transit updates. Carpooling and biking are encouraged.

Please forward this to all of your networks.

Organized by the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Brooklyn Community Board 13, Astella Development Corporation, and the Coney Island Development Corporation

At 12 noon, CIBBOWS (Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers) and the Coney Island Polar Bears are also teaming up for a beach cleanup. “Meet us at the Municipal Parking Lot in Brighton Beach (Brighton 4th Street and Brightwater Court) at noon on Saturday and help us clean-up Brighton Beach and Coney Island,” says their Facebook invite.

If you are unable to make it on Saturday, stay tuned for more volunteer opportunities. Coney Island from Brighton Beach to Sea Gate was devastated by Sandy and the rebuilding will go on for months. The surreal photos in this post were taken by Coney Island resident Mindy Gress on the day after Hurricane Sandy.

ATZ is issuing an all points alert for a giant fiberglass burger last seen abandoned by a dumpster on West 15th Street. Looks like Sandy took a bite out of it. It belongs to Mama Burger, the A & W root beer figure on the roof of Paul’s Daughter, who was recovered after being toppled by the storm. Mama wants her burger back! Perhaps it will turn up during tomorrow’s Coney Island Cleanup.