[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool] This dark and not-very-happy scene comes from Surf Avenue in Coney Island courtesy of Rubys Host.

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Huge news today from Coney Island. The city has purchased an acre of Wonder Wheel Park for $11 million that Thor Equities was said last year to be “in contract” to buy for the same price. The news came from the New York City Economic Development Corporation that it had a deal with Ward Realty […]

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[Photo courtesy of Adrian Kinloch/Brit in Brooklyn] Once again our friend and contributor Adrian Kinloch graces us with an evocative photograph. This one comes from Coney Island and is truly a magnificent pic combining nature, man and machine.

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If Halloween is approaching, it means many things and one of them is the return of Creepshow at the Freakshow via Coney Island USA. This year’s edition is called Phantom of the Presidential Wax Museum. Per the email from CIUSA: PHANTOM OF THE PRESIDENTIAL WAX MUSEUM is an interactive show (allow 45 minutes for the […]

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Here’s an interesting and nicely done account of Coney Island as related by a writer from the Times-Union in Jacksonville, Florida. We came across thanks to Rapid T. Rabitt on the Coney Island Message Board: Coney Island’s appeal is largely in the eye – and nose – of the beholder. You can smell the fried […]

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We have no problem saying that we know nothing about this, but here it is: “Are there going to be any celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson discovering Coney Island? Next year is supposed to be Coney Island’s Quadricentennial ( if you do not count the Indians, or the 30 year interval between […]

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[Photo courtesy Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool] Here’s a shot of a wedding that took place under dark skies on the beach in Coney Island. It comes from one of our favorite GL Photo Pool contributors Rubys Host who, we might add, was extraordinarily supportive and encouraging during the time GL was down. We thank RH […]

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[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool] This pic was taken on the Coney Boardwalk on a compellingly gloomy day. It’s quite the counterpoint to a lot of summer photos.

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The Municipal Art Society is sponsoring an absolutely fascinating discussion of Coney Island tonight with some key players in the drama. It’s called Coney Island at the Crossroads. Featured speakers include Kent Barwick, president, Municipal Art Society; Purnima Kapur, director, NYC Department of City Planning, Brooklyn Office; Lynn Kelly, president, Coney Island Development Corporation; Carol […]

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[Photo courtesy of Deborah Matlack/Matlack Photography] This is the mural on Stillwell Avenue that many might recognize if they exit the Stillwell Avenue Station on Coney Island from the side. It is quite large and quite colorful. It comes from GL Contributor Deborah Matlack.

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[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host] It’s good to see that people are still enjoying themselves in Coney Island, even though the official summer season is over.

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There’s been so much depressing news out of Coney Island over the last week, that it’s nice to post something about an event taking there. The Great Irish Fair of New York is happening from September 20-21, 2008 at KeySpan Park. Here’s a bit of info: Join us on Saturday September 20th and Sunday September […]

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We’ve been running vids of the Save Coney Island documentary that’s going to premiere at the Coney Island Film Festival as its been released. Here’s the latest installment with thanks to Kinetic Carnival for making us aware it had been posted to the YouTube.

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With all the bad and indifferent news about Coney Island, here’s one to induce a bit of a chuckle. There’s a new play called Cyclone and the Pig-Faced Lady that will be having its world premiere soon as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival. It’s playing, starting September 23, at the TBG Theater. […]

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Neil DeMause of the Village Voice offers an insightful look at the final days of Astroland and some thoughts about the future: “What comes next, no one knows. Thor has promised to bring in more amusements next summer, but its track record after a similar promise this year was less than stellar: a few battered […]

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It is beginning to look like the city is getting involved in trying to keep Astroland open. Yesterday, an unnamed city official was quoted in the Daily News as saying that the city would like to see the amusement park’s lease extended. Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Bloomberg seems to have expressed the same sentiment. “It would […]

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A vid of the Astroland gates closed for the last time on Sunday night.

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Less than 24 hours after the gate slammed down at Astroland with a chorus of “get back” at 11:29PM on Sunday, there is word that an unnamed city official (perhaps someone with the Coney Island Development Corporation?) is floating a plan to keep Astroland alive next year and to find space for it once redevelopment […]

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[Photo courtesy of Rubys Host/GL Flickr Pool] Yes, those who look at our In the Pool Photo Series know that we’ve had a lot of Coney sunsets recently, but they’re so gorgeous that we can never have too many. This one comes from the eye and camera of Rubys Host, who has provided us with […]

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[Photo courtesy of Adrian Kinloch/Brit in Brooklyn] Astroland died late last night, with an odd scene that lacked any remarks or final statements, but that included weirdness, shouts of “Get back from the gate” and some unexplained police activity. Brit in Brooklyn blogger and superb GL Contributor Adrian Kinloch stayed until the bitter end and […]

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Here are some scenes from Astroland’s last day, yesterday.

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The most astounding thing about the sad scene at Astroland yesterday, was the fact that there were no signs saying “Save Astroland” and not a single sheet of paper saying “Goodbye.” Tens of thousands of people descended on Coney’s iconic little amusement park on a gorgeous September Sunday to say goodbye. It is being closed […]

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[Photo courtesy of woodendesigner/GL Flickr Pool] Perhaps one can call it Coney Island Light. In any case, whatever the label, here’s another gorgeous Coney sunset. This one is from the boardwalk on Friday night.

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In about fifteen minutes, at noon today, Astroland’s gates will slide open for perhaps the last time ever. (There is word of a rally as well.) There will no doubt be many reporters in attendance to record the sad event and it will be well documented in both photos and videos. But is it really […]

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