Coney Island

One of New York City's oldest traditions may also be its coldest. The 119th annual New Year's Day polar bear plunge returns to Coney Island on January 1 for the first time since New Year's Day 2020. Hosted by the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, the oldest winter bathing club in the United States, the event draws thousands of New Yorkers brave enough to jump in the Atlantic Ocean during the winter.
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Events & Things To Do

NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

Photo via Shinya Suzuki’s Flickr

November 29, 2021

NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

The New York City Parks Department announced this month $114.5 million in funding will be used to kick off the reconstruction of Coney Island's landmarked Riegelmann Boardwalk in the first such overhaul since the wooden walkway was built in the 1920s. But not everyone is on board with the reconstruction, which involves replacing the length of the hardwood boardwalk with recycled plastic decking as part of a sustainability plan. Some residents feel the synthetic material is a poor choice for the waterfront icon.
Find out more about the proposed new boardwalk

Uncategorized

Lottery opens for 138 mixed-income units a block from the Coney Island boardwalk, from $558/month

Photo of Coney Island by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

October 21, 2021

Lottery opens for 138 mixed-income units a block from the Coney Island boardwalk, from $558/month

Here's a chance to live a block from Coney Island's beloved beach and boardwalk of at a discount. A housing lottery launched this week for 138 affordable apartments at a new complex on Surf Avenue and West 20th Street in the Brooklyn neighborhood. Dubbed Raven Hall, the development has on-site laundry, a community center, a fitness center, and a rooftop terrace with ocean views. New Yorkers earning 40, 50, 60, and 100 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $558/month studios to $2,229/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

The best 2021 Halloween happenings and spooky spectacles in NYC

Photo of 2015 Village Halloween Parade by Peter Burka on Flickr

October 18, 2021

The best 2021 Halloween happenings and spooky spectacles in NYC

New York City really shows its creative side for Halloween, and after a year of laying low, everyone's ready for some trick-or-treat action. The epic Village Halloween Parade is back on, parks and pumpkin patches are putting their fall bounty on display, and our favorite gathering, shopping, and dining spots are stocking up on candy and planning fun events. For the best ideas, browse our list of Halloween haunts and happenings from family-friendly to wicked and wild.
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Events & Things To Do

Coney Island’s newest roller coaster the Phoenix will open July 4 weekend

Photo by Jim McDonnell courtesy of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

June 29, 2021

Coney Island’s newest roller coaster the Phoenix will open July 4 weekend

In 1920, in the aftermath of a global pandemic, Coney Island's iconic Wonder Wheel opened. Now, over 100 years later, the Brooklyn amusement park is welcoming another new ride following a difficult year for New Yorkers. The Phoenix roller coaster will officially open at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park on July 1, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend.
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Uncategorized

Coney Island’s celebrated Mermaid Parade to be held in person this September

Mermaid Parade 2018; Photo Credit: © Norman Blake

June 17, 2021

Coney Island’s celebrated Mermaid Parade to be held in person this September

Following a virtual celebration in 2020 due to the pandemic, Coney Island's Mermaid Parade is back for an in-person event this year. Coney Island USA announced this week that the 39th annual parade will take place on September 12, ending, instead of kicking off, New York City's summer season.
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Events & Things To Do

Apply for 400 affordable apartments just off Coney Island’s boardwalk, from $367/month

Rendering courtesy of Handel Architects

June 16, 2021

Apply for 400 affordable apartments just off Coney Island’s boardwalk, from $367/month

As part of the Coney Island Phase I development, an affordable housing lottery launched today for 400 units, available to those earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, and 130 percent of the area median income. Located at 2926 West 19th Street, the new development is across the street from the Brooklyn Cyclones at MCU Park and just steps away from the Coney Island Stillwell Avenue Q train station and the historic Coney Island boardwalk and beach. Available apartments range from $367/month studios to $2,250/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel opens April 9 with advance reservations

Photo by Marcell Viragh on Unsplash

April 1, 2021

Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel opens April 9 with advance reservations

After never being able to reopen last year, Coney Island's Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park will open for the 2021 season on Friday, April 9, the date on which the state said outdoor amusement parks and rides can reopen at 33 percent capacity. For now, the Wonder Wheel will only be open on weekends from 11am to 6pm with advance reservations (there will also be a limited number of standby tickets).
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Events & Things To Do

Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

Photo by sebastien cordat on Unsplash

February 17, 2021

Coney Island amusements can finally reopen in April

Looking ahead to warmer months, Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said outdoor amusement parks, indoor family entertainment centers, and overnight summer camps in New York will be allowed to reopen. If the state's coronavirus positivity rate continues to trend downward, indoor entertainment centers can reopen starting March 26 at 25 percent capacity, outdoor amusement parks and rides on April 9 at 33 percent capacity, and eventually, overnight summer camps in June.
More here

Policy

Proposed Coney Island complex has 461 units and outdoor pool with ocean views

Renderings courtesy of LCOR

December 8, 2020

Proposed Coney Island complex has 461 units and outdoor pool with ocean views

Real estate developer LCOR last week filed plans with the city to bring a 461-unit residential project to Coney Island. Located about a block from the beach and boardwalk at 1515 Surf Avenue, the proposed 16-story development will rise on the parking lot of Gargiulo's Restaurant, a 100-year-old neighborhood staple. Gargiulo's owner Louis Russo agreed to a 99-year ground lease for the lot late last year.
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Lottery opens for 34 units at new Coney Island rental one block from the beach, from $1,700/month

Photo of Coney Island by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

September 29, 2020

Lottery opens for 34 units at new Coney Island rental one block from the beach, from $1,700/month

The city is now accepting applications for 34 middle-income apartments in a new 20-story rental in Coney Island located just one block away from the beach. The Sea Breeze Tower, located at 271 Breeze Avenue, contains 115 units and sits across the street from the Asser Levy Park, with the beach and landmarked Riegelmann Boardwalk just a five-minute walk away. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $1,700/month studios to $2,950/month three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Coney Island’s colorful Mermaid Parade will take place virtually this weekend

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

August 26, 2020

Coney Island’s colorful Mermaid Parade will take place virtually this weekend

Coney Island's beloved Mermaid Parade returns this weekend with a twist. The annual event will be live-streamed online Saturday, August 29 as a "Tail-a-Thon," a parody of a telethon that will raise real money for charity. Marchers, dancers, and musical groups will be performing live from remote locations and available to view online, starting at 1:30 p.m.
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Events & Things To Do

Photo by sebastien cordat on Unsplash

August 21, 2020

Why can’t Coney Island’s rides reopen?

On Monday, bowling alleys were allowed to reopen, and as of this Monday, gyms and fitness studios, as well as museums and indoor cultural institutions can also reopen at a reduced capacity. So why are Coney Island's amusements still closed? As reported by NY1, Coney Island's amusement operators have joined the New England Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (NEAAPA) to advocate for a reopening before the end of the summer.
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Policy

Feltman’s via Boston Public Library

July 2, 2020

Before Nathan’s there was Feltman’s: The history of the Coney Island hot dog

The name Nathan's has become synonymous with Coney Island, whether it be for the annual hot dog-eating contest or the childhood nostalgia of the boardwalk. It's also become arguably the biggest name in the hot dog world in general. But, believe it or not, Nathan's was not the first place to serve up franks in the seaside neighborhood. That distinction goes to Feltman's, which was begun in 1867 as a pushcart by German immigrant Charles Feltman, considered the inventor of the hot dog on a bun.
Find out how the Coney Island hot dog got its start

History

Nathan’s Famous will hold 2020 hot dog eating contest without fans

Photo by Chun-Hung Eric Cheng on Flickr

June 16, 2020

Nathan’s Famous will hold 2020 hot dog eating contest without fans

While most of New York City's annual summer activities and celebrations have been canceled or postponed this year because of the coronavirus, one event will still take place. Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest will forge ahead in Coney Island on July 4, but with no fans, fewer eaters, and social distancing measures in place.
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From sea hospitals to sanatoriums: How NYC has contained contagious diseases over the last century

Sea Breeze Hospital in Coney Island via Library of Congress

March 5, 2020

From sea hospitals to sanatoriums: How NYC has contained contagious diseases over the last century

By Cait Etherington

At a press conference on Monday about the recent coronavirus cases confirmed in New York City and State, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio emphasized that this is not New York's "first rodeo" when it comes to pandemics. They pointed to the recent Ebola scare, as well as the 1968 Hong Kong flu and the 2009 Swine Flu, which closed 200 schools across the state. But even long before that, New York has had a gold standard for handling outbreaks of contagious diseases. From managing the flu pandemic of 1918 to the tuberculosis surge at the turn of the 19th century, the city’s public health officials have been containing outbreaks for well over a century. Ahead, we look at some of the ways this done, from quarantines to sea hospitals.
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History

Group of Coney Island boardwalk businesses could see up to 400 percent increase in rent

Photo by Shinya Suzuki on Flickr

January 15, 2020

Group of Coney Island boardwalk businesses could see up to 400 percent increase in rent

Owners of six small businesses in Coney Island, Lola Star Boutique, Nathan's Famous, Ruby's Bar & Grill, Paul's Daughter, Tom's Restaurant, and the Coney Island Beach Shop, are currently negotiating new 10-year lease agreements with amusement park operator Zamperla. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the boardwalk businesses are facing rent increases of between 50 and 400 percent each. "We care about Coney Island and its future, and we are dedicated to making it as strong a community as possible," Alessandro Zamperla, the president of the company, told the Times. "This is why we've been working with our tenants to ensure their success and preserve the character of Coney Island." Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration has not come forward with a plan to mediate; according to the newspaper, the rent increases do not violate the agreement between Zamperla and the city.
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Real Estate Trends

Plans filed for large apartment building on parking lot of classic Coney Island restaurant Gargiulo’s

View of 1517 Surf Avenue; Photo courtesy of Ace Aerial

January 9, 2020

Plans filed for large apartment building on parking lot of classic Coney Island restaurant Gargiulo’s

The owner of a 100-year-old Italian restaurant in Coney Island has agreed to lease the establishment's neighboring parking lot to a luxury real estate developer. Gargiulo's Restaurant owner Louis Russo filed a 99-year ground lease for the lot at 1517 Surf Avenue, located about one block from the boardwalk, with developer LCOR, as first reported by the Brooklyn Paper. According to the developer, plans will likely involve a mixed-income residential development and ground-floor retail.
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New Developments

Image via Wikimedia cc.

September 16, 2019

Express service on the F train beings today

As of today, the MTA has added four express trains to the F line during morning and evening rush hours. Two F trains will run express between the Church Avenue and Jay Street-MetroTech stations, stopping only at Seventh Avenue, during the morning and evening rush hours. Additionally, two Manhattan-bound trains will run express from Church Avenue between 7 and 7:30 a.m. and two Coney Island-bound trains will run the express route between 5 and 5:40 p.m. Previously, as the Daily News reports, the F train's route was the longest in the whole subway system without an express option.
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Transit

Coney Island’s Luna Park looks to the public to name new attractions

The new log flume ride. Photo Credit: NYCEDC

August 14, 2019

Coney Island’s Luna Park looks to the public to name new attractions

Luna Park, home of the Coney Island Cyclone and Steeplechase, will welcome three new attractions–a ropes course, a log flume ride and a roller coaster–next year. The iconic seaside amusement park has turned to the public to name the new additions, which are set to open in 2020, AM New York reports.
Taking names, this way

Events & Things To Do

Nostalgia trains to roll into Coney Island this weekend

Photos via the New York Transit Museum

July 18, 2019

Nostalgia trains to roll into Coney Island this weekend

By Nicole Mondrus

This weekend, both history buffs and New Yorkers looking to hit the beach can ride on one of the NY Transit Museum’s vintage subway cars. Part of the museum’s “Nostalgia Rides,” on Saturday, passengers can board 1910s BMT B-Type Standards and 1930s IND R1-9 cars and ride them from the 96th Street/2nd Avenue station in Manhattan all the way to Coney Island.
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Operators of Coney Island’s Luna Park will lead retail transformation of the Stillwell Avenue Terminal Complex

Image via Wiki Commons

July 10, 2019

Operators of Coney Island’s Luna Park will lead retail transformation of the Stillwell Avenue Terminal Complex

By Alexandra Alexa

Since taking over operations of Luna Park in 2010, Central Amuseument International (CAI) has had a big hand in the transformation of the neighborhood, and that will continue to increase. Following a Request for Proposals (RFP) last June, the MTA has just announced that CAI Foods—a subsidiary of CAI—will lead a retail conversion of Coney Island’s iconic Stillwell Avenue Terminal Complex. CAI will take over nine of the 11 retail units in the Complex, turning the largest into “Rcade,” an arcade with a restaurant, bar, and coffee shop that will be open year-round. The remaining units will be subleased on a seasonal basis.
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Transit

Celebrate the official start of summer at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade this weekend

Image via Flickr

June 21, 2019

Celebrate the official start of summer at the Coney Island Mermaid Parade this weekend

By Alexandra Alexa

The 37th annual Mermaid Parade kicks off in Coney Island this Saturday, signaling the official start of the summer season. Celebrated as the largest "art parade" in the country, the festive lineup features marching bands, drill teams, floats, antique cars and some 1,500 participants dressed in handmade costumes of mermaids, sea creatures, and mythical figures. This year, Coney Island natives Arlo Guthrie & Nora Guthrie—who both grew up on Mermaid Avenue—will lead the way as Queen Mermaid and King Neptune. Per tradition, they'll be wheeled through in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair dating back to 1923.
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Events & Things To Do

The best things to do this Memorial Day weekend in NYC

Image: United States Marine Corps Official Page via photopin cc

May 21, 2019

The best things to do this Memorial Day weekend in NYC

The weather has finally gotten the memo, the city's beaches, parks, and urban islands are open for the season and you’ve got a day off. There’s no need to get complicated; just head for the nearest beach with a picnic for two, attend an outdoor concert, find a BBQ bash or a rooftop rave–or celebrate the day with a parade. What you do with the long weekend is up to you, of course, but you'll find some ideas below to get you started.
a bounty of events, this way

Events & Things To Do

April 9, 2019

PHOTOS: See Coney Island’s historic Wonder Wheel get ready for the season

By James and Karla Murray

Honoring a 60-year tradition of opening on Palm Sunday, Coney Island Amusement Park will be back in business this Sunday, April 14th. One of the many activities will be the annual blessing of the rides at Deno’s Wonder Wheel. The 150-foot-tall, 100-year-old structure is one of the most iconic pieces remaining at Coney Island. But there's a lot that goes into this seasonal opening than even the most well-versed New Yorker may not know. Each winter, the 200-ton ride is repainted, and all of its 24 cars are removed. But come spring, second-generation co-owner Steve Vourderis goes through the process of precisely reinstalling and aligning the cars. We were lucky enough to visit Steve and his brother Dennis on a recent frigid Sunday to watch the magic happen.
Go behind-the-scenes at the Wonder Wheel

Insider Tours

Celebrate Coney Island’s opening day with a walking tour of its newly landmarked boardwalk

Photo by Jim McDonnell

March 28, 2019

Celebrate Coney Island’s opening day with a walking tour of its newly landmarked boardwalk