BK Southie » Wonder Wheel

Will you look this great at 90?

Posted by Nick at 12:29 pm Coney Island, Events

Sep 022010

The wonder wheel was built in 1920 and is 150 feet high with a diameter of 140 feet and can have up to 144 riders. To celebrate the birthday: On Friday September 3rd, Fireworks & Karaoke from 7pm – 11pm. Saturday September 4th, 4pm – 8 pm, live performances, prizes, entertainment on the Boardwalk, live music with performances by Coney Island Talent Show winners; renowned performers; clowns, face painters, stilt walkers and more! More information available at www.wonderwheel.com Hopefully Earl will stay away.

This Weekend In Awesomeness, Part 2: The Coney Island Preseason Begins (Updated)

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:24 am Coney Island

Mar 252010

I saw somewhat of a mini-dispute on the Coney Island message boards this week. No – not when freak show operator John Strong race-baited one of the commenters – that was just stupid beyond excuse. I’m talking about Coney Island’s opening day – do you think it’s Memorial Day weekend, when the new Luna Park opens? When the beach opens? Or is it this Sunday, March 28, when the existing rides open up, led by the flagships, the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone?

I’m an NFL fan – I like to think of the period starting this Sunday as the preseason. Just because I can’t go on the beach doesn’t mean I can’t have fun on the rides.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park (which includes adult and children’s rides) will open up at 11am, and the Cyclone will open at noon – first 100 in line for the roller coaster ride free! Both are open all of next week, and then are open on weekends until mid-May. The Coney Island History Project (on Surf Avenue, underneath the Cyclone) will be hosting a free open house from noon to 3pm so you can view their collection of artifacts and maps, to say nothing of chatting up Coney Island: Lost And Found author Charles Denson and former Major Meats owner Jimmy Prince (glad I got one of his Murder Burgers before he retired).

Updated [3/26]: My sleep schedule has been crazy this week, and I’ve been blogging at even odder hours than usual. My first pass at this was kinda sloppy – I have added a lot more detail to the “Stuff That’s Open” section, to say nothing of fixing the days that the Cyclone will be open next week. And I added some links so you can click through for more detail.

This Weekend In Awesomeness, Part 3 will appear on Friday!

Around South Blogistan – Mar. 22, 2010

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:00 am Blogwrap

Mar 222010

Hi! I’m back from vacation!

The Bay Ridge Avenue Key Food is open! Woo hoo! With freakin’ valet parking! (And apparently a bag check.) (Bay Ridge Journal, Bay Ridge Talk)
From the “If You Don’t Have Renter’s Insurance, Buy Some Now” file: A stalled construction site in Sheepshead Bay was knocked down by last weekend’s storm and fell into a neighboring house – which will now have to be demolished. By the way, what exactly will it take for the Bloomberg Administration to own up to oversight of the DOB? I would have thought that people getting killed and buildings getting demolished by collapsing cranes would have done the trick… doesn’t seem to have even been a blip on Mayor Oligarch’s radar. (Sheepshead Bites)
The Apple Dumpling Gang strikes again, this time at a Sovereign Bank in Gravesend. (NY Daily News)
Not only will John Strong’s version of the freak show be coming back to Coney Island – it will be coming back with a three-year lease. (Amusing The Zillion)
I never went to the Chip Shop in Bay Ridge while it was open. Does that make me a bad person? I was told over the weekend that their food was overrated anyway. Well, whatevs! Apparently the new-ish Welsh pub Long Bow is supposed to be all that and much more. (Brooklyn Paper, via Left In Bay Ridge)
In a multi-year lease of another kind, the Brighton Beach Post Office will be staying open for at least five more years. (Sheepshead Bites)
Around 40 rides at Coney Island are awakening from their slumber this coming weekend for Palm Sunday. Last night from the Q-train, I could see one of the kiddie rides in the Wonder Wheel park being tested out. And the boardwalk food stand Paul’s Daughter was seen earlier getting their cash registers ready. (Amusing The Zillion)

(Photo credit: Brian Hedden)

2010: The Year We Made Coney Awesome Again

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:00 am Coney Island

Feb 172010

Saturday, May 29 – circle it on your calendars, write a note in your day planner, create a new all day event in your BlackBerry. It’s the start of Memorial Day Weekend 2010, which is shaping up to be Coney Island’s biggest opening day since Fred Trump demoed Steeplechase.

Yesterday, the Mayor’s office officially announced that the Italian ride manufacturer Zamperla – or more accurately, its park-operating affiliate, Central Amusements International – will bring 19 new rides to “Luna Park at Coney Island” this summer, with four more “Scream Zone” rides in 2011. The first 19 will include the international debut of the Air Race, and the Final Four will include two custom rollercoasters and a human slingshot.

Zamperla and CAI are known for giving their rides at Central Park’s Victorian Gardens a Victorian look. Judging by the renderings released yesterday, it looks like they plan to hold true to the original Luna Park.

Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun reported back to CIUSA’s message board that Zamperla will also “rehab and reopen the AstroTower,” and the Coney Island History Project’s Tricia reveals that the Wonder Wheel is being fitted with solar panels to power a recreation of the 1920s lighting scheme on the swinging cars.

Unless you’re Gene Kelly, please kindly refrain from any rain dances between now and then.

Some More Awesomeness From Coney Island Beach

Posted by Brian Hedden at 7:00 am Coney Island, Seen In Photos

Sep 032009

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A few random photos from two separate days at the beach. Full photoset below the fold.

Coney Island Nighttime Pictures

Posted by Brian Hedden at 8:32 am Coney Island, Seen In Photos

Aug 232009

Assorted pictures from my Thursday evening excursion.

More Coney Island Thursday Night Awesomeness – Lots More

Posted by Brian Hedden at 6:00 am Coney Island, Seen In Photos

Aug 102009

Bad blogger… I know, I know, verrrrry bad blogger. Oops. Sorry…

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These pictures are from two Thursdays ago – I had a three-day weekend in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the night before the trip, I took my little guy for a ride on the Wonder Wheel.

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The beach was beautiful that night. Really, a perfect summer evening to be at the beach.

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There was a Cyclones game at Brooklyn Union Gas Stadium – it looked like a full house from my vantagepoint. According to the Brooklyn Paper, the BUG played host to a doubleheader against the hated Yankees of Staten Island, which the teams split.

It’s a lousy picture. I know. Stupid cameraphone.

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The long-dormant Shore Theater looks pretty in the setting sun.

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Afterwards, we hung out on the boardwalk. It was busier than I might have guessed for a Thursday night, but like I said – it was the perfect evening for it.

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