Amusing the Zillion

NY Aquarium’s Coney Island Mural Partially Removed From Wall

May 1, 2014 by Tricia

Detail of Mural at New York Aquarium After Removal. March 21, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

Back in March, the New York Aquarium’s popular mural on the Coney Island Boardwalk at West 8th Street was partially taken down due to the poor condition of the wall. Two-thirds of the approximately 211-foot-long mural was removed. We were waiting to see what would happen at the site before writing about it, but no work has been observed since then.

The frequently photographed mural depicts such Coney Island landmarks as the Parachute Jump, Cyclone and Wonder Wheel along with tidbits of historical info and quotes such as George C Tilyou’s famous line “If Paris is France, then Coney Island, between June and September, is the world.” Details that were removed include Dreamland’s Iron Tower, a capsule from Astroland’s Skyride, and scenes of undersea life. The artwork was painted in 2006.

New York Aquarium: Reconstruction of Crumbling Wall Aquarium Required Removal of Mural

Several readers have emailed to ask if the mural will be repainted after repairs to the wall. “The mural is being taken down for safety reasons,” WCS spokesperson Barbara Russo replied to a query from ATZ. “I’ll give you more updates as I have them.” Word from the Aquarium staff is no decision has yet been made.

Detail of Mural at New York Aquarium After Removal. March 21, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

According to the Mural Locator website, the seaside mural was a pro bono project taken on by artist Thanh X Tran and VSA Partners.

Working on a very tight deadline, a four-person team completed the illustration using Adobe Illustrator and stock photos as tracing references. In partnership with Colossal Media—one of the last sign painting companies in New York—we transferred the complicated design onto the wall’s surface. Over one hundred volunteers painted the mural (approximately 15 x 211 feet) in the span of a week, to the delight of Coney Island’s locals.

The Aquarium’s Coney Island Mural was a Popular Spot for Musicians. February 22, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

Photo Album: Thunderbolt Coaster, Boardwalk Games Under Construction

April 28, 2014 by Tricia

First Tower of Luna Park’s New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster on the Coney Island Skyline. April 23, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita

While Coney Island’s amusement parks are already open for fun in the sun on Saturdays and Sundays, these photos provide a glimpse of some of the new construction underway this month. Zamperla’s Thunderbolt roller coaster, which is set to debut on Memorial Day weekend, is rising on the skyline. In the above photo the first tower can be seen alongside the Parachute Jump, SkyCoaster, PTB Bar’s lighthouse and the Boardwalk’s ornamental lamp posts. Isn’t it a beautiful sight?

Here’s a rendering of how the steel coaster will look when completed. The $10 million dollar ride is Coney Island’s first custom-built coaster since the Cyclone debuted in 1927 and is named in honor of the demolished 1925 Thunderbolt.

Luna Park’s New Thunderbolt Roller Coaster Under Construction, Coney Island. April 5, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita

Luna Park has also built new booths for water race, basketball and balloon games on the Boardwalk next to Scream Zone’s SkyCoaster. The stands will house the first games on the Boardwalk, which historically had arcades and games galore, since Shoot the Freak lost its lease in 2010.

New game booths under construction on the Boardwalk. April 5, 2014. Photo © Tricia Vita

On Friday, ATZ posted photos of two new mom & pop businesses under construction on Surf Avenue and also set to open in May. Lunatic Ice Cream will occupy the former Island Grocery and Luna Park Cafe is across the street from the Cyclone. Next to Stillwell Terminal, a new building is going up to house a Johnny Rockets franchise, but the “Coming Soon” sign may be overly optimistic considering the slow progress of construction at the site. Coming in 2014?

Coney Island Cats up for Adoption by Brooklyn Rescue Umbrella

April 27, 2014 by Tricia

April 27: Brooklyn Rescue Umbrella Adoption Event at Boggie Doggie in Brooklyn

Instead of standing on line for more than two hours to get into a pop-up cat cafe, you can wake up to a cat purring beside your pillow or curled up in your bathroom sink. The cute cat in the above photo is one of several cats available for adoption by Brooklyn Rescue Umbrella on April 27 from 12 noon till 5pm at Boggie Doggie, 76th St and Fifth Avenue, in Brooklyn.

The Coney Island cats include Spice, who was born under the Coney Island Boardwalk last year and rescued as a kitten. BRU founder Josie Marrero describes her as “smart, easygoing and beautiful! (fiv+ so best as an only cat. VERY healthy!) Watch her in motion and you’ll get your own Red Carpet for her.”

Another Coney cat up for adoption was rescued just a few days ago. One of the caretakers of the Coney Island Boardwalk cat colonies found a friendly cat abandoned at Carey Gardens Houses on Surf Avenue. After taking the cat to the vet, Josie learned she is a spayed and micro-chipped female named Clover. “About a year old? Lap cat. Purrs even around dogs. Orange and white tabby. Amazingly cooperative!”

Spice was born under the coney Island Boardwalk and rescued as a kitten. Photo by Brooklyn Rescue Umbrella

If you can’t keep a cat in your apartment, consider spending your spare time volunteering with one of New York City’s cat rescue groups. All need help caring for and fostering cats and kittens.

Brooklyn Rescue Umbrella recently launched the Coney Island Boardwalk Cats Project to help the stray and feral cats on the Boardwalk. ATZ has joined the effort and hopes that our readers will too. We will start doing TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) in the next couple of weeks and volunteers are needed to assist. Friendly strays and kittens will need foster homes. Follow CIBC on Facebook or twitter for updates or email ConeyIslandBoardwalkCats[at]gmail[dotcom) for info.

UPDATE April 28, 2014:

Mona, the cat curled up in the sink, was adopted on Sunday. Carey Gardens Clover found a foster home. Spice and several other cats are still waiting for their forever homes.