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Photo Album: Gingerbread Coney Island in City Harvest Extravaganza

Posted in Events, Photo Album, Photography, tagged Aperitivo Restaurant, Christmas, City Harvest, Coney Island, Cyclone, gingerbread, Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien, Rolling Pin Productions on December 13, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Coney Island by
Rolling Pin Productions with Aperitivo Restaurant, Brooklyn. Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien. Photo via Rolling Pin Productions

Coney Island’s Cyclone, Parachute Jump and Carousel are among the gingerbread wonders on display at the Le Parker Meridien through January 8th to benefit City Harvest. Created by Susanna Caliendo of Rolling Pin Productions and Mario DiBiase of Brooklyn’s Aperitivo Restaurant, the Coney Island-themed confection is among 13 whimsical structures in the 5th annual Gingerbread Extravaganza.

Coney Island by
Rolling Pin Productions with Aperitivo Restaurant, Brooklyn. Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien. Photo via Rolling Pin Productions

The fondant Santa Claus and his elves ride the wreath-bedecked gingerbread coaster, which has tracks made of licorice and cookies. The Carousel’s poles are made of colorful candy canes. Caliendo researched and took great care in the making of the exquisitely detailed horses. She estimates that it took 60-80 hours of work for the two chefs to create the elaborate structure. DiBiase’s training as an engineer before getting into the culinary field was essential to the task of replicating the curve of the Cyclone’s track.

Coney Island by
Rolling Pin Productions with Aperitivo Restaurant, Brooklyn. Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien. Photo via Rolling Pin Productions

This year’s theme of “Quintessential New York” inspired the city’s top bakeries, pastry chefs, and restaurants, to craft such icons as the Chrysler, Empire State and Flatiron Buildings, the Guggenheim Museum, Katz’s Deli and New York Brownstones.

“With the constant change that is a part of the New York City evolution, Coney Island is one of the few major landmarks that keeps the nostalgia of the ‘old days’ going strong,” said the Gingerbread Coney Island’s creators Caliendo and DiBiase in their artists statement. “Surviving Hurricane Sandy and continuing on despite difficult times will always be a testament to the ‘quintessential’ strength of all of us here in New York City.”

Coney Island by
Rolling Pin Productions with Aperitivo Restaurant, Brooklyn. Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien. Photo via Rolling Pin Productions

You can vote for the structures on display in Le Parker Meridien’s atrium, which is open 24 hours, or online by selecting it on this page. Purchase one ticket for $1 or 5 tickets for $5 through the concierge desk or online to vote for your favorite. Each vote enters the donor in a raffle to win a 5-night stay at the Parker Palm Springs.

All proceeds benefit City Harvest, the world’s first food rescue organization, where every dollar rescues four pounds of food.

The creation with the most votes will receive the Gingerbread 2013 People’s Choice Award in January.

Under Construction: Coney Island by
Rolling Pin Productions with Aperitivo Restaurant, Brooklyn. Gingerbread Extravaganza, Le Parker Meridien

Photo Album: First Snow of the Season in Coney Island by Bruce Handy

Posted in Photo Album, Photography, tagged amusement park, B&B Carousell, Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, first snow. Bruce Handy, Luna Park, Scream Zone, snow, Wonder Wheel on December 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Coney First Snow: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park. December 8, 2013. Photo Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

In past years, ATZ has posted Bruce Handy’s first snow of the season photos in December and January and once in October during the weather event known as Snowtober. On Sunday night, the Coney Island photographer went for his first snow of the season stroll on the Boardwalk and Pier. We selected images of the amusement parks and rides enveloped in the quietness of a snowfall. It couldn’t be more of a contrast to the boisterous days of summer. You can see the complete set in the photographer’s Coney Island Photo Diary.

Coney’s First Snow: Wonder Wheel Sign. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Wonder Wheel. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Cyclone Roller Coaster. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Luna Park’s Pinwheels. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Scream Zone. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Photo Album: Parachute Jump Lights Way to Year-Round Coney Island

Posted in Photography, tagged Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower, Bruce Handy, Central Amusement International, Coney Island, lighting, Luna Park, Parachute Jump on November 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »

When the Parachute Jump’s dazzling new 8,000 LEDs debuted in June, Luna Park CEO Valerio Ferrari told ATZ the tower would be lit whenever the park was open. One of the things we’re thankful for this Thanksgiving is that after the park closed for the season at the end of October, the landmark tower’s light show has continued nightly. Photographers are jumping for joy. Coney Island’s Bruce Handy, whose photos are featured in this album, shoots the lighted Jump almost as frequently as he does sunsets.

Although there’s been no official announcement from the Parks Department or Luna Park, the unofficial word on the Boardwalk is the Jump is going to be lit year-round. This is exactly right considering the City’s stated goal ever since Mayor Bloomberg announced the Strategic Plan for the Future of Coney Island in 2005 has been to “transform the area into a year-round entertainment destination.”

The Parachute Jump lights the way to Coney Island for visitors. Brooklyn’s Eiffel Tower is visible from as far away as the Verrazano Bridge on the Belt Parkway. You can spot it from planes flying in and out of JFK. One of Bruce’s friends has taken photos of the Jump lights from his 37th floor of his office in lower Manhattan. “I also see it from the 71st St elevated D train platform,” says Bruce. “I’m sure it’s visible from the cruise ships leaving NY harbor every night and returning every morning at sunrise.” Currently, the Parachute Jump is lit nightly from 4:30pm until midnight or later (with the exception of random days when its timer is on the blink). Here’s hoping the Jump will remain lit year-round like the Empire State Building and the Eiffel Tower. Check the Coney Island webcam before you go.

Coney Island’s Parachute Jump first wowed visitors at the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair. Afterwards, the ride became the star attraction at Steeplechase, Coney Island’s world-famous amusement park, which closed forever in 1964. The pier and the Jump tower are the sole survivors of the park that once billed itself “Coney Island’s Only Funny Place, Where 25,000 People Laugh at One Time.”