The Isle of Coneys

I’ve always been happy living on Long Island, but it goes beyond that mere suburban charm. There aren’t too many places to live where you can be so close to so much. I’m 5 minutes from closest port with Ferry service, 20-30 minutes from the ocean, and about an hour from the city.

In the summer, there are plenty of things to do locally, but ever so often I get in the mood for a change of pace. Coney Island is certainly the place for that.

When I was a kid, I used to see commericals on TV for Astroland and Coney Island. I would beg my parents to go and they always said the same thing “Its too dangerous, people get stabbed there” etc. My grandmother would tell stories of how she and her friends would ditch school and take the train to Coney Island for a nickel but how things were different now. I came to find out that most of Coney Islands attractions were closed in the 50’s due to gang violence, and a drop in business due to movie theatres with a/c, and the development of Long Island state parks.

I just couldn’t process how a place that looked like so much fun on TV could be dangerous but nevertheless I wrote it off as a place I’d never want to go. I suppose that’s why I didn’t make it there until my 20’s.

I find the clash of atmospheres so interesting. Here’s this amusement park, in the southern most part of Brooklyn, surrounded by subsidized apartments for low income residents. The rides are far from spectacular, the boardwalk is rickety, and the major attractions include shoot the freak. Still the place is hopping with people, mostly black and hispanic locals and european tourists looking for a NY experience.

This was def one of the WORST haunted houses I’ve been in. The best part was on the way out, a howling scream generated from an 8″ peavy guitar amp. Hysterical.

There is some great food to be found around this place, one of my favorites is a small taco stand on Bowery & Stillwell ave.

I don’t know what makes this spicy pork taco so good. But I eat a lot of mexican and there is NOTHING like this.

The cyclone was built in 1927 and still holds up as awesome coaster.

and of course the original…

Developers have been trying to close Coney Island for years and it looks like they’ve won. I would hate to see the shore look like every other coastline in Miami, South Carolina, and (sadly) some parts of southern Califonia; beaches lined with insipid, pretentious luxury apartments. But its all about the cashish these days and my guess is we’ll be seeing buildings that appear to made from glass legos popping up everywhere. Until that happens, get yourself down there and have a hot dog, ride the cyclone, do something before this place becomes just a memory.

In the meantime

I’ve got some stuff cooking right now, but I need some space for photos here.

I’m usually not a fan of the post-church jam, but sometimes it rocks.

This performance features Tom, Tim Crabbe, and myself playing “vertigo”. I am of course against child labor, unless it will benefit the child in some way. This is clearly one of those times.

Whats best way to put photos on your blog. Buy more space? Flickr?