Coney Island | Amusing the Zillion

Posts Tagged ‘Coney Island’

Photo Album: Magic Gyro & Coney Island Gourmet Food

Posted in Food, Food & Drink, tagged Coney Island, falafel, gyro, Magic Gyro, Stillwell Terminal, vegetarian on August 22, 2012| 1 Comment »

Magic Gyro at Coney Island Gourmet Food. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Since Coney Island Gourmet Food opened in Stillwell Terminal in November, its Turkish-American owners have kept it stocked with a variety of imported chocolate bars, cookies and bulk nuts, as well as freshly baked bread, teas and grocery items. It struck us as a convenient place to stop by on the way home from work rather than on the way to the beach. A “Magic Gyro” sign on the Stillwell Avenue facade and a corner kitchen were a promise of home-made take-out food to come. The kitchen finally opened for business a few weeks ago and ATZ was delighted to find some vegetarian options, which are scarce in Coney Island’s amusement area.

Magic Gyro at Coney Island Gourmet Food. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

In addition to chicken and veal sandwiches and entrees served with rice and salad, the menu offers falafel, hummus, babganoush, haydari (yogurt flavored with garlic, herbs and olive oil) and stuffed vine leaves. The food is very reasonably priced. A salad with pita bread is $2.99-$4.99, red lentil balls are 2 for $1.00, and spinach pie is $2.99. Last season, Coney Cones on the Boardwalk had panini but has taken it off their menu to focus on sweets and we miss it. We were happy to find the item available here for $3.49.

Magic Gyro at Coney Island Gourmet Food. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Did we mention that Coney Island Gourmet has the coldest air-conditioning in all of Coney Island? When we stopped by on one of those killer days in August, the cashier was wearing a polar fleece jacket. The cold drinks in the cooler are dazzling to look at and ice cold.

Cold drinks at Coney Island Gourmet Food. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

For dessert, try something different: Zefir, a traditional Russian marshmallow-like treat. Manager Umut Ozalp tells ATZ that the shop also has outposts at Brighton Beach, Kings Highway and 86th Street.

Coney Island Gourmet Foods, 2943 Stillwell Avenue (inside Stillwell Terminal), Brooklyn. 718-373-8400.

UPDATE April 5, 2013

Magic Gyro is closed. They have yet to rebuild and re-open after flood damage from Superstorm Sandy in October.

Zefir at Coney Island Gourmet Food. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Art of the Day: Out of Disorder (Coney Island) by Takahiro Iwasaki

Posted in art, tagged C24 Gallery, Coney Island, International Studio & Curatorial Program, sculpture, Takahiro Iwasaki, Wonder Wheel on August 21, 2012| 1 Comment »

Out of Disorder (ConeyIsland) 2012 by Takahiro Iwasaki. Courtesy of C24Gallery

The 180-metric ton Wonder Wheel inspired this ethereal ten-inch tall sculpture by Hiroshima-based artist Takahiro Iwasaki. Along with neighboring Coney Island landmarks the Parachute Jump and Cyclone, the piece is on view at C24 Gallery in Chelsea through August 24. Titled “Out of Disorder (Coney Island) 2012,” the miniature models are made of fibers pulled from the beach towels on which they are perched!

“Takahiro Iwasaki builds exquisite, intricate, almost impossibly tiny structures, associated with industrial society and faith traditions on micro landscapes (of towels and other domestic fabrics) that seem one breath away from destruction,” according to the gallery’s release for the group show “Becoming: Worlds in Flux.” Curator Melissa Keys and all of the artists were 2012 residents at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in Brooklyn.

“Becoming: Worlds in Flux” through August 24, 2012 at C24 Gallery, 514 West 24th Street, New York, NY, 646-416-6300

BK Festival Vendors Back in Business, Coney Zipline Isn’t

Posted in amusement park, Amusement ride, tagged BK Festival, Coney Island, Stillwell Avenue, vendors, zipline on August 19, 2012| Leave a Comment »

BK Festival Vendors and Zipline, Stillwell Avenue West, Coney Island. August 18, 2012. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

On Saturday, the BK Festival vendors were happy to be back in business selling sunglasses, hats, dresses and what have you after a two-week hiatus caused by the construction of the Coney Island Zipline. The Stillwell Avenue lot where their tents are pitched was no longer a construction site because the zipline is built, though it did not open for the weekend.

Why not? A zipline crew member told ATZ one of the required permits had not been applied for and blamed the festival management. One of the vendors said the zipline would never open because Mayor Bloomberg had his own and didn’t want any competition! Was he referring to the free zipline at the City’s Summer Streets, which ended on August 18th? Does that mean another vendor’s prediction that Coney’s zipline would open next weekend is true? We probably should have asked Ana, the BK Festival’s resident psychic.

If you’re rarin’ to go ziplining in Coney Island, watch magicalthemepark’s video below of the ride being tested several days ago and wish you were there.

UPDATE September 12, 2012

Wow, will the long delayed Coney Island Zipline open this weekend?!?! Right now people are zipping across in test runs #BetterLateThanNever
— Amusing the Zillion (@AmusingZillion) September 12, 2012