Coney Island | Amusing the Zillion

Posts Tagged ‘Coney Island’

First Sign of Spring in Coney: Cars Go up on Wonder Wheel

Posted in Amusement ride, Photography, tagged Brooklyn, Bruce Handy, Coney Island, Deno's Wonder Wheel, signs of spring, Wonder Wheel on March 19, 2013| 3 Comments »

The Wonder Wheel Cars Were Put Back on the Wheel on Saturday. March 17, 2013. Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary

After being rolled out of winter storage last week, the Wonder Wheel’s cars were put back up on the wheel on Saturday. The annual ritual is the first sign of spring in Coney Island. Being there to see the 24 cars go up, the Swinging ones first and then the Stationary, is like seeing crocuses bloom before your eyes. The date the cars go up is subject to the vagaries of wind, weather and work schedules. This year, we managed to miss seeing it once again! Luckily, Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy was on the Boardwalk when the brackets went up around noon, followed by the red and blue cars. You can see a slide show of his set here. The Wonder Wheel and the rest of Coney Island’s rides go for their first official spin of the season on Palm Sunday, which is just five days away.

Stationary White Cars Ready to Go Up on the Wonder Wheel, March 13, 2013. Photo via Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park flickr

Art of the Day: Street Art by RAE in Coney Island

Posted in art, tagged Brooklyn, Coney Island, RAE, street art, urban folk art on March 18, 2013| 3 Comments »

Street Art by RAE in Coney Island, March 16, 2013

Brooklyn street artist RAE created this wonderfully quirky sculpture the other day in Coney Island. The figure made from a chair and pieces of a police barrier strikes a debonair pose in his shiny metal top hat and painted cane. We hope he sticks around. In January, RJ Rushmore of street art blog Vandalog named RAE one of the “10 Street Artists to Watch in 2013” in an article for Complex:

Rae practices good placement, which is one of the most important considerations for exciting street art. He installed a sculpture at a New York City Subway station entrance that looked like a piece of public art and a mural in Chicago that took into account the surrounding trees. I can’t wait to see what he tries next.

ATZ has been following RAE’s work via twitter ever since one of his works popped up on a Coney street corner opposite the Cyclone. Good placement!

Street Art by RAE in Coney Island, March 16, 2013

Coney Island 2013: New Ghouls Mingle with Old in Rebuilt Spook-A-Rama

Posted in Amusement ride, Photo Album, Photography, tagged Coney Island, dark ride, Deno's Wonder Wheel Park, Scarefactory, Spook-A-Rama, Superstorm Sandy on March 13, 2013| 2 Comments »

Spook-A-Rama Under Reconstruction. Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, Coney Island. February 22, 2012

This veteran imp from Spook-A-Rama survived Sandy and is peeking out at the scary new creatures from Scarefactory, a design and fabrication studio which specializes in haunted attractions. As ATZ reported in November, Coney Island’s oldest dark ride, which dates back to the 1950s and is part of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, was severely damaged due to flooding during Superstorm Sandy. Park owners Dennis and Steve Vourderis vowed to rebuild. Construction is well underway and the ride, which is adjacent to the Wonder Wheel, is expected to open on March 24th, Coney Island’s Opening Day.

These photos from late February offer a sneak peek at a few of the new ghouls. You’ll also be happy to see some of the old-timers were rescued. These flood-damaged props original to Spook-A-Rama and other historic dark rides are being restored and will be put on static display. Some will get new electronics. The exterior artwork and restored Pretzel cars and tracks will remain.