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Thru Oct 17: Blues & Rock Salute to JT at Cha Cha’s of Coney Island

Posted in Events, Redevelopment, tagged Bluesball, Cha-Cha's, Coney Island Boardwalk, John Thomas, Kenny Lombardi, Robert Ross, Ruby's, Zamperla on October 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Robert Ross Band at Cha Cha's of Coney Island. October 15, 2010. Copyright © Kenny Lombardi 2010. All Rights Reserved.

ATZ enjoyed some great music and great company last night at Cha Cha’s in Coney Island. The fact that both the 2010 season and the leases of the Boardwalk businesses end on October 31 makes us appreciate the good times even more. Last night, Robert “Bluesman” Ross and his Bluesmanian Devils played some smoking hot blues and kicked off a weekend tribute to JT.

John Thomas, who passed away in September, was the general manager of Cha Cha’s and its predecessor Club Atlantis for many years. He gave quite a few bands their start, which is reflected in the line up for Sunday’s all-day jam session: Classic Rock with Girls on Top, Bridgid Bibbens of Viper Vixens, Mel “Guitar” Williams, Amy Madden, Phoenix Rivera, Stephen Porro and Paul Sanchez are among the musicians who will perform beginning at 2:30 pm.

ATZ will be back on the Boardwalk tonight to hang out at Ruby’s with South Brooklyn bloggers Brian Hedden of BK Southie and Ned Berke of Sheepshead Bites, among others. Then we’ll adjourn to Cha Cha’s to catch Bluesball’s set. The group performs music by Muddy Waters, Otis Rush, Little Walter, and Howling Wolf. Perhaps they will play “How Many More Years”…

Cha Cha's Bar & Cafe on the Boardwalk in Coney Island. June 1, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Last night we asked John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia, owner of Cha Cha’s and nearby Beer Island, if he expected to be back next year. “I’ll be back,” he vowed, “If they let me.” Ciarcia and other longtime business owners on the Boardwalk were required to submit business proposals to new landlord Luna Park/Zamperla to qualify for a 9-year lease. The City purchased the land from Thor Equities last year. Zamperla USA CEO Valerio Ferrari tells us some of the Boardwalk businesses will be back in 2011 and some won’t. Will the good times roll in 2011 at Cha Cha’s and Ruby’s? An announcement is expected on October 31. In the meantime, go and enjoy the last few weeks of the season. If you have a sentimental favorite, take some photos as a souvenir. Word on the street is the Boardwalk is going to look a lot different next season.

Photo of the Day: Kite Aerial Photography of Coney Island

Posted in Events, Photography, tagged American Kitefliers Association, KAP, Kite Aerial Photography, kite festival, Ron's KAP on October 3, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Kite Aerial Photography: Coney Island, Brooklyn. Photo © Ron's KAP via flickr

Kite Aerial Photography: Coney Island, Brooklyn. October 2, 2010. Photo © Ron's KAP via flickr

On Saturday morning ATZ tweeted: Hope to see some KAP – Kite Aerial Photography – of Coney Island from this weekend’s Kite Flying Festival! We got our wish: flickr member “Ron’s KAP” uploaded this splendid aerial view of Coney’s amusement area from West 12th Street to West 10th. You can see Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, the new Luna Park, and the Cyclone Roller Coaster. We have a total of 59 rides now in Coney, including 19 in the new park. The rides of 12th Street Amusements and McCullough’s Kiddie Park can also be seen on 12th St.

According to the photographer, “The wind was out of the NNW to WNW from 4-8 (maybe 9) MPH and some gentle gusts throughout that range. The only thing that would lift my rig is the ITW Triton.”

Which one of these elegant rigs did Ron’s KAP send into the sky over Coney? Perhaps he’ll return tomorrow and show us! Sunday’s forecast: Breezy with highs in the mid 60s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. In the photo below, American Kitefliers Association (AKA) members can be seen on the beach. Kite festival organizer Leucio Parrella’s red kite is aloft on the right.

The Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) pool on flickr has noteworthy aerial shots of Coney Island dating back to 2006, including shots of the Polar Bear Club.

Kite Aerial Photography: AKA Kite Festival at Coney Island. Photo © Ron's KAP via flickr

Kite Aerial Photography: AKA Kite Festival at Coney Island. October 2, 2010. Photo © Ron's KAP via flickr

Oct 2: Coney Island Hysterical Art on Gowanus Artists Studio Tour

Posted in art, Events, tagged AGAST, Coney Island Hysterical Society, Gowanus Artists Studio Tour, Open Studio, Philomena Marano, Richard Eagan on October 1, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Logo from Coney Island Hysterical Society Newsletter, 1987. Image © Richard Eagan & Philomena Marano.

In 1981, Brooklyn artists Richard Eagan and Philomena Marano co-founded the Coney Island Hysterical Society because they were “Hysterical” at the rate that the amusement rides and attractions were shutting down. ATZ found the whimsical sketch pictured above in one of the CIHS newsletters which Richard sent us this summer. The Society’s very first newsletter, in 1983, explained the design’s origin: “Oh Boy! Oh Joy! Where do we go from here? The Coney Island Hysterical slogan (or ‘motto’) accompanies the dancing figures on our letterhead, and will appear in the 1983 Coney Island Mural. We chose this logo for its optimistic statement and varied assortment of characters united in celebration.”

Richard Eagan and Philomena Marano, 25 Shoot, 39 x 52 x 8, Mixed media, 2009

Richard Eagan and Philomena Marano, 25 Shoot, 39 x 52 x 8, Mixed media, constructed collage, silkscreen print, enamel on wood. 2009

Nearly three decades later, Eagan and Marano continue to create Coney-themed art in the studio that they share in Gowanus. This invite arrived today:

To All our Coney Island Fans, “Savers”, friends and beyond

On as short a notice as possible, please accept our invitation to tomorrow’s open studio event as part of this year’s Gowanus Artists’ Open Studio Tour. As most of you know, Philomena Marano and I are the core of the Coney Island Hysterical Society (still crazy after all these years); we have been sharing a studio and exploring collaborations based on Coney Island themes. We are also planning a joint exhibition of Coney works, and are seeking a venue to that end. We’d love to see you tomorrow some time between noon and six!

Best wishes on a rainy day,

Richard Eagan
Philomena Marano

Annual Gowanus Artists Studio Tour (AGAST), Richard Eagan & Philomena Marano Open Studio, Saturday, October 2, 12 – 6pm. 267 Douglass Street, 3rd Floor, between Nevins St. and Third Avenue, Brooklyn. Subway: R Train to Union Street, one block to Third Avenue, three blocks to Douglass Street

Related posts on ATZ...

September 19, 2010: Art of the Day: Play Fascination by Philomena Marano

October 31, 2009: Traveler: Carnival Rides as Public Art at Toronto’s Nuit Blanche

October 4, 2009: The Wonder of Artist Philomena Marano’s Wonder Wheel

June 13, 2009: June 13: Coney Island Hysterical Society Artists in Conversation at A.M. Richard Fine Art in Williamsburg