Amusing the Zillion

Coney Island Rides: Tug Boat and Carousel in McCullough’s Kiddie Park

June 8, 2009 by Tricia

McCullough's Kiddie Park on Bowery @ 12th Street has 12 rides including this cute tug boat and classic carousel. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

Coney Island’s much photographed Bumblebee ride and the kiddie rides surrounding it are part of McCullough’s Kiddie Park. Located on the Bowery at 12th Street, the park has 12 kiddie rides and is open for the 2009 season. The rides are the Bumblebeez, Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Swings, Motorcycles, Yellow Submarine, Dizzy Dragons, Himalaya, Ladybug, Frog Hopper, Circus Train and Tug Boat. The McCullough family is related to the Tilyous and has owned and operated rides in Coney Island for many years and we hope many years to come!

Although Astroland closed in 2008, Coney Island still has 52 rides up and running in the 2009 season.

How Sweet It Is: Wedding Party at Cyclone Roller Coaster

June 7, 2009 by Tricia

The newlyweds stopped traffic on 10th Street while they kissed. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

On Saturday this bride and groom drove up in their convertible and posed for photos at Surf and West 10th against the backdrop of the Cyclone’s iconic sign. I was able to stand alongside their official photographer and take a few photos for my flickr set.

Throughout the year wedding parties come to Coney Island to take photos on the Boardwalk and in front of Coney’s landmarks. The limos often park at the bus stop on Surf in front of the Cyclone. Some of them make arrangements for a photo shoot sitting in the roller coaster’s train. Others actually go for a celebratory ride! It’s a great photo op. Contact Cyclone Coasters for details.

A bevy of bridesmaids in front of Coney Island's Cyclone Roller Coaster. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

Sundown at Thor’s Unamusing “Festival by the Sea” Flea

June 7, 2009 by Tricia

Thor Equities Festival by the Sea tent on west side of Stillwell Ave on Saturday afternoon. Photo by me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

On Saturday morning, Thor Equities flea crew brought in a pump to remove the pool of rain water from the site on the east side of Stillwell where the tentless flea is held. The structure on the west side of Stillwell pictured above remained waterlogged. It is not being used since they don’t even have enough vendors to fill the spaces on the east side. The framework is still being reinforced to satisfy the DOB’s requirements and some of the tenting has been replaced. The tents have yet to get a C of O.

After the water was pumped out, vendors drawn to Thor’s flea by the steeply discounted rate of $20-$25 per space (plus the fee for tables and chairs) were able to set up their stands. A banner on the fence insists that the festival is “MUCH MUCH MORE THAN A FLEA MARKET.” Their caps, not mine. A more accurate statement would be IT’S NOT MUCH OF A FLEA MARKET AND IT DOESN’T BELONG IN CONEY ISLAND’S C-7 AMUSEMENT DISTRICT. My caps.

Tube sox at Thor Equities "Uniquely Entertaining and Amusing Flea Market" in Coney Island. Photo by me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

When I stopped by at sundown most of the vendors were packing up for the day. On the land where the Tornado Roller coaster (1927-1977), the Bobsled (1941-1974), and Stauch’s Baths and Dance Hall (1930-1998) once stood, where the Bumper Boats, Go Karts, Climbing Wall, Batting Cages and Mini-Golf thrived until Joe Sitt bulldozed them in 2007, we now have tube sox, new and used clothing, and odds and ends like auto supplies, a water filtration system, a company that installs showers.

Packing up boxes of shoes at Thor's flea market. Photo by me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

In the three visits that I have paid to the flea, I rarely see the same vendors twice. Perhaps that’s why the flea management is offering special deals like “bring a buddy as a vendor” to earn a free day for yourself. And “earn a free Friday when you purchase a Saturday and a Sunday for the same weekend.” One of my Coney friends said, “If the prices get any lower, Thor will be paying vendors to come.”