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Ruby’s Parties On, Rubys Host To Celebrate Birthday at Bratva

Posted in Events, Food & Drink, tagged Bratva Bar, Coney Island, Ruby's Bar, Rubys Host on November 19, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Ruby's Rally, Party & Last Call. November 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

The venerable Ruby’s Bar & Grill, which was evicted by new kid on the Boardwalk Luna Park, is partying on! Word comes from Rubys Host that Ruby’s will be open one mo’ time on Saturday, November 20, though they were supposed to “vacate the premises” by today. Cheers to the headline on Grub Street: “Ruby’s Digs Nails Into Boardwalk, Opens Past Move-Out Date.”

Beer will be served from 11 till 7 pm for final last call X 3. Robert “Bluesman” Ross, who wowed us at previous shows at Cha Cha’s and Coney Island USA, will be singing the blues on the Boardwalk in front of Ruby’s from 1 till 4 pm. Drink up, because all proceeds go toward the Save Ruby’s Fund. The legal wrangling will begin in court on Monday, when a judge will be asked to sign an Order to Show Cause to prevent the eviction of Ruby’s and 7 other Boardwalk Mom & Pops. The proceedings are expected to drag on for some time. Other businesses fighting the eviction are Cha Cha’s, Paul’s Daughter, Grill House, Gyro Corner, Shoot the Freak, Beer Island and Coney Island Souvenir Shop.

Ruby's Rally, Party & Last Call. November 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

On Sunday at 3pm, Rubys Host will celebrate her birthday at Bratva, the new Russian bar on the north side of Surf Avenue. “I moved my B-day party to Bratva on Sunday after the Bears swim – u should come by – 3 pm – live music etc,” says the invite. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Paul Sanchez of Coney Island band Neptune Jam is playing till 7 pm.

Bratva Bar is an upscale sports bar and restaurant across the street from Coney Island USA and down the block from the new Luna Park. Does Luna’s management, which plans to replace Ruby’s with an upscale year-round sports bar, realize the neighborhood already has a new upscale year-round sports bar? The north side has long been considered the wrong side of Surf for seasonal amusements since it gets very little foot traffic. But year-round bars and restaurants such as Footprints Cafe seem to do fine. Bratva opened this summer: “We’re a casual lounge owned for and by good old friends and welcome you to join us for beer, cocktails and a wide range of American pub and Russian-style snacks and meals. We’re major motorcycle enthusiasts, but our bar is not a a biker clubhouse. It is a place to meet new friends and have a good time.”

Ruby's Rally, Party & Last Call. November 6, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

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Good News from Coney Island! Eldorado “Bump Your Ass Off” Bumper Cars To Reopen

Posted in Amusement ride, News, tagged Bump Your Ass Off, Bumper Cars, Coney Island, Eldorado, Kevin C Downs Photography, Scott Fitlin, Surf Avenue on November 18, 2010| 3 Comments »

We’re happy to be able to report a piece of good news from good ol’ Coney Island, which is reeling from a series of deaths, demolitions, and evictions. The good news is Eldorado Auto Skooters, Coney’s famed disco palace of bumper cars, will reopen in 2011. It’ll be “Bump, Bump, Bump your Ass Off” at 1216 Surf Avenue in memory of the Eldorado’s heart and soul, Scott Fitlin, who died in October.

ATZ received a personal note from Sheila and Sandy Fitlin, the owners of the Eldorado Bumper Cars, to thank us for ATZ’s eulogy to their son. We can’t tell you how happy we were to read the words: “Stop by to see us at the Eldorado this summer.” The Coney Island Rumor Mill had been speculating whether or not the Eldorado would reopen. Some were worried that the building, which is owned by the Fitlin family, would be sold.

We were amazed and moved by the response to “Rest in Peace: Scott Fitlin, Coney’s Eldorado Man” (ATZ, October 13, 2010). Our eulogy was read by thousands of people from all over the world! As Sandy Fitlin writes, “Tricia, Scott had friends he probably didn’t know cared for him so much.” We think Scott would have been surprised by the many remembrances and condolences posted on ATZ and the audio discussion forums Audio Heritage and Wave Music, among others. Scott’s friends will want to stop by the Eldorado this summer to hear the legendary sound system and “Turn that Wheel!”

Eldorado Marquee at Night. September 5, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Eldorado Marquee at Night, Surf Avenue in Coney Island. September 5, 2009. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Thor Resumes Demolition of Doomed Bank of Coney Island

Posted in Demolition, Photography, Real Estate, tagged Bank of Coney Island, Coney Island, Department of Buildings, Thor Equities on November 17, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Bank of Coney Island Demolition. November 17, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Here are a few photos of the demolition-in-progress taken yesterday in Coney Island. As ATZ tweeted on Monday: “Alas funeral services for Bank of Coney back on track. In lieu of flowers send donations to National Trust @PresNation” and “Today in #ConeyIsland saw Thor’s crew resume work at doomed bank bldg. City rescinded Stop Work Order, required fencing put up #bknews”

Bank of Coney Island Demolition viewed from Jones Walk. November 17, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

The DOB web page for the building, which has a lag of about 48 hours is now updated. It says “STOP WORK ORDER FULLY RESCINDED. FENCE ERECTED RESCIND APPROVED” The reason for the Stop Work Order, issued on November 10th, was “FTSGP&P NO CONSTR FENCE PROVIDED FOR CREATING SAFETY ZONE DE BRIS FALLING IN ADJ PROPERTY, STOP ALL WORK COMPLY WITH VIOL”

Though the City’s “Full Stop Work Order” remained in effect for only a few days, it gave what’s left of this historic building a respite from the bulldozer. And it was immensely satisfying to be able to write a headline that began “DOB Stops Thor Demo of Coney Island…. “ while the Stop Work Order was in effect. The City has of course failed to stop Thor Equities from first blighting and now demolishing historic buildings in Coney Island.

For more info on the building, see “Photo of the Day: The Bank of Coney Island, Now & Then” (ATZ, October 14, 2010) and “A Rare Peek Inside Endangered Old Bank of Coney Island” (ATZ, October 9, 2009).