Amusing the Zillion

June 26: Coney Island Joins Protest Against Offshore Oil Drilling

June 23, 2010 by Tricia

Mermaids carrying signs that said “Oil Makes My Scales Fall Off!” were among the dozens of BP oil spill-themed groups in Saturday’s Mermaid Parade. This Saturday at 11 am, New Yorkers will have a chance to join “Hands Across the Sand” on Coney Island’s Beach in an international protest against offshore drilling. According to a map on the group’s website, the event is being held on June 26 in all 50 states and 20 countries. Participants will gather at 11 am and join hands at 12 noon in their local time zones.

A statement on Hands Across the Sand NYC’s Facebook page says: “In the wake of the catastrophic BP OIL SPILL that has devastated the Gulf of Mexico and put the entire North Atlantic Ocean at risk: JOIN thousands around the world and draw OUR line in the sand: NO to OFFSHORE DRILLING/YES to CLEAN ENERGY.”

Hands Across the Sand began in February in Seaside, Florida, with a chain of people standing hand in hand on the beach to symbolize a wall of opposition to offshore drilling in Florida. The BP oil spill spurred the creation of Saturday’s worldwide event. Hands Across the Sand on Coney Island’s beach is one of 645 events being held in the U.S. on June 26.

Mermaid Parade 2010: Oil Makes My Scales Fall Off! Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

Mermaid Parade 2010: Oil Makes My Scales Fall Off! June 19, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

Posted in Events, News | Tagged BP oil spill, Coney Island, Hands Across the Sand, offshore drilling, protest, rally | Leave a Comment »

Happy Mermaid Day! Take the Subway or Submarine to the Parade

June 19, 2010 by Tricia

Mermaid Parade 2009: Metrocard Chrysler Building Mermaid. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

If you’re coming to Coney Island to see the Mermaid Parade, we recommend taking the subway ( F, Q to West 8th Street; D, F, N, Q to Stillwell Ave) as this Metrocard Chrysler Building Mermaid did last year. Or take your submarine….

Mermaid Parade 2009: Yellow Submarine Merman. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

If you want to avoid traffic jams, leave your car at home! Although parking is available at MCU Park, New York Aquarium and private lots, Mermaid Day is one of Coney’s busiest days of the season. If you must come by car and want to avoid traffic jams, we recommend parking a few subway stops away and then hopping on the train. Bicycling is also the way to go!

Mermaid Parade 2009: Rabbi Abraham Abraham & Bob Stewart of the Coney Island Ice Breakers. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

Posted in Events | Tagged Coney Island, Coney Island USA, Mermaid Parade, MTA, public transportation, subway | Leave a Comment »

Coney Island Fireworks Show: Every Friday Plus 5 Saturdays

June 17, 2010 by Tricia

Door of the Grill House: Free Fireworks 9:30 Friday Night. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i

UPDATE June 4, 2013: For 2013 Fireworks Schedule see “Coney Island Fireworks 2013: Fridays, 6 Saturdays and More…” The first Friday night fireworks show of Coney Island’s 2013 season will be on June 21 and this free weekly event continues every Friday through August 30.

UPDATE…May 25, 2011… Coney Island’s tradition of Friday night fireworks begins for the 2011 season on June 17 and continues through September 2. The pyrotechnic extravaganza starts at 9:30 pm. Best viewing is from the Boardwalk or the Wonder Wheel. Please patronize the main sponsors of the fireworks: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park; Luna Park, Scream Zone and the Cyclone; and the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team. In addition, the Brooklyn Cyclones have scheduled fireworks on the following five Saturdays after their home games as well as on one Wednesday and Sunday night:

Saturday, June 18th – OPENING DAY – vs. Staten Island
Saturday, June 25th – vs. Hudson Valley
Wednesday, June 29th – END OF SCHOOL SPECTACULAR – vs. Hudson Valley
Sunday, July 3rd – HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA – vs. Staten Island
Saturday, July 16th – Lowell
Saturday, August 6th – vs. Staten Island
Saturday, August 20th – DSNY APPRECIATION NIGHT – vs. Tri-City

When the weather is iffy, check the Coney Island tweeters on Coney Island Fun’s list for updates here.

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Coney Island’s first fireworks show of the 2010 season is this Friday, June 18th. On the eve of the Mermaid Parade! The free shows continue every Friday through September 3 and begin at approximately 9:30 pm. Best viewing is from the Boardwalk or the Wonder Wheel. Please patronize the main sponsors of the fireworks: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, the Cyclone Roller Coaster, Luna Park and the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team.

The Brooklyn Cyclones also sponsor free post-game fireworks on Saturday nights when they play a home game. Saturday night fireworks in Coney Island are scheduled for July 3, July 10, July 31, August 7 and September 4, 2010

UPDATE June 19 Fireworks!!

This weekend is going to be a double header as far as fireworks: Walking by MCU Park on the way to the circus, we passed by the Brooklyn Cyclones banner advertising the fireworks and just realized there’s a show on Saturday, June 19! Catch the fireworks after the Brooklyn Cyclones opening game of the season or the Mermaid Parade and Ball. Either way, Saturday is going to be an even more eventful day than we thought.