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Posts Tagged ‘Photography’

21st Century Bars: Coney Island’s Freak Bar Featured in New Book

Posted in Books, Food & Drink, historic preservation, tagged 21st Century Bars, book review, Childs Restaurant, Coney Island USA, Freak Bar, Philip Tusa, Photography, Surf Avenue on May 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Coney Island USA New Freak Bar & Museum Gift Shop designed by Philip Tusa, Architect and photographed by Paul Warchol; Freak Bar View. Photo via Philip Tusa Architect’s flickr

We’re not surprised to find Coney Island USA’s Freak Bar among the more than 60 architecturally interesting new bars profiled in a coffee table art book. Editor Andrew Hall describes 21st Century Bars, published this month by Images Publishing, as a globe-trotting “journey to some of this century’s most interesting bars.”

Designed by architect Philip Tusa and completed in October 2008, the Freak Bar has been a shining oasis on Surf Avenue amid the desecration of swaths of Coney Island by real estate speculation. What a pleasure it has been to meet our freaky friends at the bar on Mermaid Day and New Year’s Day!

Of the 1917 Childs Restaurant Building, which is owned by Coney Island USA and currently under consideration for New York City landmark designation, Tusa has this to say in the book…

Of historical note, hidden underneath aged plywood signs were the beautiful arches that were part of the historic facade; these are now revealed and incorporated in all their splendor. Decoratively, the ‘Coney-esque’ style has been successfully employed. Historically, Coney Island USA has sought to evoke an atmosphere that signifies the nostalgia that Coney is to all people worldwide, whether they remember it personally or have just heard of it.

Cheers to Coney Island and Coney Island USA!

The Freak Bar, Coney Island USA, 1208 Surf Avenue, Coney Island, 718-372-5159

Coney Island USA says: “Currently the Freak Bar hours are Thursdays and Fridays 8pm to ?? (1am-ish) for Burlesque At The Beach. Saturdays and Sundays 12pm to ?? (10 pm or later depending on customer flow.) The hours will change after Memorial Day, and we will be open seven days a week. The earliest we will open any given day is Noon, and the closing time will depend on the typical factors of a Coney Island day.”

21st Century Bars, edited by Andrew Hall, Published by Images Publishing, 2010. Hardcover, $50

Coney Island USA New Freak Bar & Museum Gift Shop designed by Philip Tusa, Architect and photographed by Paul Warchol; Exterior View looking toward the Coney Island Wonder Wheel amusement ride. Photo via Philip Tusa Architect’s flickr

Photo of the Day: Snow Mermaid on Coney Island Beach

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Bruce Handy, Coney Island, Photography, Rabbit Island, Snow mermaid, snowy beach on February 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Snow Mermaid on Coney Island Beach. Photo © Bruce Handy/Pablo 57 via flickr

Coney Island resident and contributing photographer Bruce Handy/pablo 57 went for a walk on the snowy beach and came back with photos of a coney-eared, that is a rabbit-eared, snowman. It’s very clever since Coney Island was originally named Konijn Eiland, or Rabbit Island, by the Dutch.

“It’s a snow mermaid, started out male and then someone put bunny ears on him, now female. Hermaphrodite snow mermaid,” says the photographer. “Looka, looka, looka step right up, only in Coney Island.” S/he is ready for her/his closeup here.

February is being called the snowiest month in the City’s history since 1869. “Snow was about 8 inches on the beach. Watched the sun light up the sky as it set over the water,” says Bruce. “Won’t be long, maybe a few weeks, before the sun moves back north and the sun will set over land.”

Photo of the Day: Coney Island in Greenwich Village

Posted in Photo of the Day, tagged Astroland, Astroland Rocket, Coney Island, Cyclone, Greenwich Village, Photography, Shop Window on January 30, 2010| 2 Comments »

Window to Coney Island. Photo © Tricia Vita/me-myself-i via flickr

ATZ spotted these classic images of the Astroland Rocket atop Gregory & Paul’s roof and the Cyclone roller coaster in a shop window on Sixth Avenue at 12th in Greenwich Village. As we framed our shot, a couple walked by and the man sang out “Astroland!” We sang back: “Coney Island opens for the season on March 28th!” The gallery owner says he sells five or six of the canvas prints per month. The original photos are by Erin Clark.