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Posts Tagged ‘Coney Island’

Coney Island Tourism Initiative Gets $225K from Gov. Cuomo

Posted in amusement park, Coney Island Redevelopment, tagged Alliance for Coney Island, Coney Island, economic development, Governor Cuomo, New York City, REDC, Regional Economic Development Councils, RFP, The One and Only Coney, tourism on December 12, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Alliance for Coney Island’s Poster for the 2013 Friday Night Fireworks. Photo via Facebook.com/coneyislandfun

Coney Island tourism was one of the winners in the third year of Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Councils competition. An award of $225,000 to the Alliance for Coney Island for improvements to the tourism initiative “The One and Only Coney” was among 824 statewide projects receiving a share of $715.9 million in New York State economic development funding.

“The campaign aims to draw tourists by marketing and expanding seasonal events and programs that will reintroduce Coney Island as America’s Playground, furthering the appeal of Coney Island as a tourism destination,” according to a release from the Governor’s Press Office. New York City received $57.4 million, including funding for a tech incubator in Queens and program expansion and improved accessibility at New York Botanical Gardens.

Johanna Zaki, Alliance for Coney Island’s Director of Operations at a presentation on the 2013 season at Tom’s Coney Island. November 15, 2013. Photo © Tricia Vita

Founded in 2012, the Alliance for Coney Island is a successor to the Coney Island Development Corporation. The non-profit’s mission is “continuing the transformation of Coney Island into a year-round, world-class recreational oceanfront destination while improving the quality of life of the entire Coney Island community.”

Current opportunities on the organization’s website include RFPs for a creative agency/graphic designer firm as well as for fireworks shows and outdoor movie screening vendor services for the annual Flicks on the Beach program for 2014. The Alliance is also seeking sponsors for programming.

Free events such as Coney Island’s Friday night fireworks are currently supported by funding from the Alliance’s founding members. In the past, Schaefer Beer sponsored free Tuesday night fireworks from 1949 till they pulled out in 1968, writes Charles Denson in Coney Island: Lost and Found. The Village Voice sponsored the much-missed Siren Music Festival, a free indie rock concert from 2001-2010.

This promotional short “Coney Is…” showcases the Parachute Jump’s new lights, restored B&B Carousell and future improvements at the New York Aquarium. “The One and Only Coney” is Back, it says.

Photo Album: First Snow of the Season in Coney Island by Bruce Handy

Posted in Photo Album, Photography, tagged amusement park, B&B Carousell, Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, first snow. Bruce Handy, Luna Park, Scream Zone, snow, Wonder Wheel on December 9, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Coney First Snow: Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park. December 8, 2013. Photo Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

In past years, ATZ has posted Bruce Handy’s first snow of the season photos in December and January and once in October during the weather event known as Snowtober. On Sunday night, the Coney Island photographer went for his first snow of the season stroll on the Boardwalk and Pier. We selected images of the amusement parks and rides enveloped in the quietness of a snowfall. It couldn’t be more of a contrast to the boisterous days of summer. You can see the complete set in the photographer’s Coney Island Photo Diary.

Coney’s First Snow: Wonder Wheel Sign. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Wonder Wheel. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Cyclone Roller Coaster. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Coney’s First Snow: Luna Park’s Pinwheels. December 8, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy/Coney Island Photo Diary via flickr

Photo of the Day: Oriole Baths, Willie’s Pizza 10 Cents

Posted in Auction, Photo of the Day, tagged 1950, bathhouse, Coney Island, George Daniell, Oriole Baths, pizza on December 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »

In 1950, the Coney Island Boardwalk was still lined with bathhouses featuring steam rooms and “sun parlors” and you could get a slice of pizza for 10 cents. The painted signs had big, bold typography designed to catch your eye and draw you in.

This photo of Coney Island’s Oriole Baths (formerly at W 16th Street) and Willie’s Pizza taken in 1950 by George Daniell will be on the auction block at today’s sale at Heritage Auctions in New York. The gelatin silver print signed by the photographer is editioned 9/20 in pencil, and was printed in 1998 in association with Sarah Morthland Gallery and Vincent Cianni. The pre-sale estimate is $800-$1,200.

Best known for his celebrity portraits of movie stars, artists and writers, George Daniell (1911-2002) also photographed shore scenes, including New York’s Hudson River, Fire Island and Coney Island.