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Posts Tagged ‘Coney Island’

First Pieces of Zamperla Flying Coaster Arrive at Coney Island’s Future Scream Zone

Posted in Amusement ride, Redevelopment, tagged American Eagle, amusement park, Coney Island, flying coaster, Luna Park, Scream Zone, Volare, Zamperla on November 11, 2010| 3 Comments »

Just Arrived: Supports for Zamperla's Volare Flying Coaster in Coney Island. November 7, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Over the weekend, the supports for Zamperla’s Flying Coaster (aka Volare) arrived in Coney Island and were unloaded on the lot behind Beer Island. The supports were the first pieces of equipment to arrive at the future Scream Zone, which will be built on City-owned parcels on Stillwell Avenue. As ATZ reported last month, the Flying Coaster from Denver’s Elitch Gardens was bought back by Zamperla with the intention of refurbishing it and installing it in Coney Island in 2011.

The Flying Coaster along with a Steeplechase-themed Moto Coaster, Sling Shot and Turbo Force will be set up on the east side of Stillwell behind the Boardwalk buildings occupied by Nathan’s, Cha Cha’s and Ruby’s. The entrance to Scream Zone is expected to be where Shoot the Freak is now.

Just Arrived: Supports for Zamperla's Volare Flying Coaster in Coney Island. November 7, 2010. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

In September, ATZ attended a panel discussion in which Zamperla USA’s CEO Valerio Ferrari unveiled a rendering of the flying coaster “American Eagle” aka the Volare in a presentation about new rides slated for Coney Island’s Scream Zone. On Zamperla’s website, the coaster is called Volare, which means “to fly” in Italian. You can watch a YouTube video of the coaster in action here.

Zamperla's American Eagle Coaster aka The Volare will be the second coaster in Coney Island's Scream Zone. Photo © Jim McDonnell via smugmug

The Elitch Gardens Flying Coaster was a prototype that made its debut in May 2002 and has been SBNO (standing but not operating) since 2008. The Coney Island Rumor Mill had been speculating for months that the Elitch Gardens coaster would come to Coney. Zamperla flying coasters can also be found at Rye Playland (“Super Flight”), Canada’s Wonderland (“Time Warp”), Vienna’s Wiener Prater, Genting Theme Park in Malaysia and Kaeson Youth Park in North Korea, among others.

Party, Rally, Pay Your Respects to Coney Island Boardwalk 9

Posted in Real Estate, Redevelopment, tagged Boardwalk, Central Amusement International, Coney Island, Eviction of Small Businesses, NYCEDC, Paul's Daughter, Ruby's on November 6, 2010| 1 Comment »

Coney Island Needs Your Help: The Official Poster from Friends of Ruby’s Bar & Grill

This weekend, patrons and friends of the nine booted out Boardwalk businesses will converge in Coney Island to party, rally and pay their respects. Ruby’s Bar will be open for “Last Call…for now” on Saturday from 12 noon till at least 6 pm. Friends of the beloved bar organized a rally and petition drive. You can sign the online petition here. We expect to see lots of protest signs and as many dear friends on this heartbreaking occasion as on New Year’s Day.

The businesses who lost their leases aka “The Coney Island Boardwalk 9” are Ruby’s, Cha Cha’s, Paul’s Daughter, Grill House, Gyro Corner, Shoot the Freak, Beer Island, Pio Pio Riko and Coney Island Souvenir Shop. Paul’s Daughter, who was interviewed yesterday by New York Magazine’s Grub Street, will also be open on Saturday for a farewell party. On Sunday, Coney Island band Neptune Jam will be playing in front of the Grill House. We wouldn’t be at all surprised if Cha Cha’s and Shoot the Freak are open, too. We’ll let you know! UPDATE 10:30 pm… Ruby’s was still rocking when we left around 8 pm! But Saturday was “Last Call” for now. Cha Cha’s and Shoot the Freak remained closed, but Gyro Corner was open. Both Paul’s Daughter and Grill House will be open on Sunday.

Paul's Daughter, Coney Island Boardwalk. Last day of season, Oct 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

As we said on the eve of Coney Island’s official last day of the season, which was October 31: If you have a sentimental favorite on the Boardwalk, come out and show them some love. And don’t forget to take souvenir photos. This weekend could be your very last chance.

If you can’t make it and want to make your voice heard, we recommend calling 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC) and leaving a comment for the Mayor or sending an email via the City’s website. The property is City-owned, yet the City has been silent since the news broke. Plans for a revamped Boardwalk were probably part of the original proposal for the new Luna Park and certainly had input from the City’s Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). It’s pretty clear the City wanted these old Boardwalk businesses gone from the new Coney Island or we’d have heard about a plan to relocate them instead of silence.

The only politician who has commented on the situation is Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who told Grub Street: “As a Brooklynite, I have great respect for all boardwalk businesses that have kept the faith during hard times, therefore I’m calling on the City to see if we can help them stay in the area if not on the boardwalk.” You can encourage Marty to broker a deal by emailing askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov or phoning 718-802-3700.

Grill House, Coney Island Boardwalk. Last day of season, Oct 31, 2010. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

Coney Island to Brighton Beach: Veterans Day Charity Open Water Swim

Posted in Events, tagged Brighton Beach, CIBBOWS, Coney Island, Open Water Swimming, swim race, Veterans Day on November 5, 2010| 1 Comment »

Ruby’s Bar and Grill has long been a gathering place for Coney Island’s swimmers. Saturday, which could be Ruby’s last day, is no exception. “We’ll be there after our race,” tweeted Jesse Lansner of the Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). Tomorrow’s 11 am race is the group’s first-ever Veterans Day 5K, 1 Mile and 2 Mile Charity Swim.

Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). October 24, 2010. Photo © Princess Polar Bear Capri/Capri Djatiasmoro via flickr

The event is a fundraiser for two organizations that serve veterans: Service Women’s Action Network and the Wounded Warrior Project. Registration to swim closed a few days ago, but info about pledging your support for Lanser and the other swimmers is available on CIBBOWS races page. More than 50 people have registered for the race. You may donate online or pay by check on race day before the swim.

Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). October 16, 2010. Photo © Princess Polar Bear Capri/Capri Djatiasmoro via flickr

ATZ emailed Lansner to ask where the race starts and the best place for spectators to see the swimmers…

The swim starts at the Aquarium at 11:00 am. All swimmers will head towards the pier, aiming for the cross section near the end of the pier, so they will be approximately 150-200 yards offshore. The 1-mile swimmers will return to the Aquarium and exit the water. The 2-mile swimmers will continue to approximately Brighton 2nd Street, then turn around and return to the Aquarium. The 5K swimmers will also turn around at Brighton 2nd Street, then swim back to the pier again, and then return to the Aquarium and exit the water.

The best viewing options are between the Aquarium and the pier (or even on the pier), since that is the area that the swimmers will spend the most time in. Also, if you are by the Aquarium, you can see the swimmers enter and exit the water, and watch them shiver and dance around to keep warm.

CIBBOWS is a non-profit community resource for open water swimmers of all levels. The group sponsors Grimaldo’s Mile Race in June, the Aquarium 5K and 1 Mile in August, and group swims every weekend from April to November. For more information visit CIBBOWS website and the blog Salty Tales.