anniversary | Amusing the Zillion

Posts Tagged ‘anniversary’

Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest to Celebrate 25th Anniversary

Posted in Events, tagged 25th anniversary, anniversary, Astella Development, Brooklyn Community Services, Coney Island, sand sculpting, sand sculpting contest on July 22, 2015| Leave a Comment »

William Sandman Petrosino with his Sculptures at Sand Sculpting Contest, Coney Island. August 17, 2013. Photo © Tricia Vita

Wow! This year is the 25th anniversary of Coney Island’s Sand Sculpting Contest. The free event will be held on Saturday, August 15, from 11am. If you’re planning to join the competition, we recommend registering now. Spots for some of the categories are already closed but you can still register as a group here. The event is open to amateurs and semi-professional sand sculpting artists of all ages and offers cash prizes as well as bragging rights. The Sand Sculpting Contest was founded in 1990 by Judi Orlando of Astella Development and is now run in partnership with Brooklyn Community Services.

Happy First Anniversary to Tom’s Coney Island!

Posted in Food, Food & Drink, tagged anniversary, Boardwalk, Coney Island, Tom's Coney Island, Tom's Restaurant on September 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

First Brunch at Tom’s Coney Island. September 23, 2012. Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary

“We are going to have a small gathering at the store this afternoon at 4pm to celebrate our 1 year anniversary,” says Jimmy Kokotas, owner of Tom’s Coney Island. One year ago today, September 23rd, the Boardwalk outpost of the popular Prospect Heights restaurant opened for business after many months of construction. Coney Island resident and ATZ contributing photographer Bruce Handy was one of their first customers and sent us the above photo of his first brunch.

Tom’s on the Coney Island Boardwalk. November 17, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita via flickr

“I had two eggs over easy, home fries, whole wheat toast and coffee, all good,” said Bruce, whose photos of Tom’s first Sunday brunch he posted on his Coney Island Photo Diary. Are they serving pancakes yet? “Not sure, guy next to me had waffles,” he said. Since then, many eggs over easy, pancakes, sandwiches and wraps have been served at the Boardwalk establishment, which is open year round. “We will be staying open through the winter from 8-5, 7 days a week,” Jimmy Kokotas tells ATZ. “We are currently open 8-7 till daylight savings begins.”

Spinach and feta cheese omelet, Tom’s Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita

What a year it’s been! A little over a month after Tom’s opened, Superstorm Sandy struck and flooding from Coney Island Creek devastated the neighborhood. The Boardwalk businesses miraculously escaped damage and Tom’s was of the few restaurants open in Coney Island. In the days after the storm, Tom’s became a hub of activity, serving as a command center for volunteers and a host for breakfast meetings about storm relief for local business owners and organizations.

Happy 1st Anniversary and many thanks to Jimmy Kokotas and family and Tom’s staff!

Tom’s Coney Island, 1229 Boardwalk (at Stillwell Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11224. Phone 718-942-4200

Post-Sandy meeting of neighborhood business owners at Tom’s Coney Island. November 5, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita

Go Up, It’s Great! Coney Island’s & Deno’s Wonder Wheel

Posted in Amusement ride, tagged "Birthday Party", anniversary, Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company, Wonder Wheel on September 4, 2010| 1 Comment »

Go up...it's Great. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Today in Coney Island, the Wonder Wheel’s 90th Anniversary will be celebrated with suitable fanfare: live music by the Hungry March Band, the Banjo Rascals, and Curtis Eller, and a variety show featuring some of Coney’s most colorful performers. The free show on the Boardwalk is from 4 – 8 pm. Everyone who rides Deno’s Wonder Wheel on Saturday will receive a free Wonder Wheel 90th Anniversary collectible button. Here’s the place to buy your tickets…

The landmarked Wonder Wheel has a ticket booth that’s a Coney Island treasure. It’s a rare survivor of the early days of carnivals and amusement parks, when each ride had its own ticket booth and many rides were independently owned. Like the Wheel, the ticket booth was built in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company. Originally called “Dip the Dips,” the new ride was described as a combination of the scenic railway, Ferris Wheel and Chute-the-Chutes.

Today when you ride the Wonder Wheel, your biggest decision will be Stationary or Swinging? The gliding and dipping cars, which are called the Swinging Cars, are a thrill not to be missed!