Amusing the Zillion

Dreamland Roller Rink’s First-of-Season Skating Party Tonight, New Cafe Opens May 30

May 23, 2009 by Tricia

Lola Staar’s Dreamland Roller Rink in the landmark Childs Building on Coney Island’s Boardwalk. Photo by me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

Scoot over to Lola Staar’s Dreamland Roller Rink tonight for a first-of-the-season skating party. Tonight’s theme is Flashdance. Lola’s new neighbor, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s “Coney Island Boom-A-Ring!” Circus is sending some performers to join in the fun. I wonder if the Ringling clowns, who usually wear those funny, bubble-toed clown shoes, will sport specially designed skates?

Lola’s new cafe opens May 30 with scrumptious pastries from Brooklyn Treats and sandwiches from Luscious. Lola Staar aka Dianna Carlin writes:

What could possibly be better that chillin’ on the Coney Island boardwalk with an Iced Astro-Mocha and delicious Cotton-Candy-Butterscotch Muffin??

Dreamland Roller Rink is expanding our fabulous Concession Area to include coffee drinks, yummy baked goods, ice cream and delicious sandwiches!! Dreamland Cafe will be open to the public as well as patrons of the rink!! Open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays!!

Dreamland Roller Rink, Childs Building, 3052 West 21st St at the Boardwalk

This business closed at the end of the 2009 season and is seeking a new location.

Posted in Events | Tagged Cafe, Coney Island, Dianna Carlin, Dreamland, Dreamland Roller Rink, Lola Staar, Roller Skating | 2 Comments »

Astroland Closed But Your Kid Can Still Ride the USS Astroland This Summer!

May 21, 2009 by Tricia

USS Astroland, Herschell Boat Ride at Deno's Kiddie Park in Coney Island. Photo by me-myself-i/Tricia Vita via flickr

photo via me-myself-i, flickr

Astroland closed in September 2008, but your kid can still ride the USS Astroland in 2009, and 2010, and far into the future. Wish I could ride too–but grownups aren’t allowed. This classic Allan Herschell kiddie boat ride is in Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, which according to a new sign is “open this year, & next, & next, & next, & next…” Deno’s owns the Wonder Wheel and the land beneath it and has a lease on the kiddie park property through 2020. Last October, the City entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the 1-acre kiddie park parcel for $11 million from the Ward family after Thor Equities dropped out of the deal. The Coney Island Rumor Mill is sayin’ the closing is imminent. Will city officials break a bottle of Brooklyn egg cream against the hull of one of the kiddie boats to celebrate the land acquisition? Of course, the rides belong to Deno’s and are not part of the deal.

Each little boat is named after a different Coney Island park, all defunct now except for Deno’s, whose namesake is the ocean blue USS Deno’s Wonder Wheel. When the rides were repainted a few years ago, former arcade owner and history buff Stan Fox had the idea it would be a neat way to pay tribute to Coney’s amusement heritage. The other boats are named after Boyton’s Sea Lion Park (1895-1902), Luna Park (1903-1946), Dreamland (1904-1911) and Steeplechase (1897-1964).

Although Astroland closed in 2008, Coney Island has 50 54 amusement rides up and running in 2009!

Deno's Wonder Wheel Park's new banner proudly proclaims "We ARE Coney Island!" Photo by Pablo57 via flickr

photo via pablo57, flickr

Coney Island Is Alive and Kicking in 2009 Photo of the Day: New Boardwalk

May 19, 2009 by Tricia

New Boardwalk. Photo by Pablo57 via flickr group Coney Island Is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009!

photo via pablo57, flickr

ATZ’s Photo of the Day is from the Coney Island History Project’s flickr group pool Coney Island Is Alive and Kicking and Welcomes Visitors in 2009! Launched in January, the group’s purpose is “to showcase the best of the best images of attractions that will *definitely* be here to welcome visitors in 2009.” The group was started by the Coney Island History Project, a not-for-profit organization that aims to increase awareness of Coney Island’s legendary and colorful past and to encourage appreciation of the Coney Island neighborhood of today.

Today’s photo shows the new section of the Boardwalk in front of Ruby’s and Cha Cha’s. The photographer “Pablo57” is a Coney Island resident who describes himself as a street photographer in the footsteps of Garry Winogrand. He’s an alum of Kevin Downs Summer Photography Workshop at Coney Island USA and plans to take the workshop again this season.