Coney Island (and Brighton Beach) tour
See New York City's historic playground, cradle of amusement history, and summer beach scene. Just down the boardwalk is "Russian"-inflected contrast.
 The (most-copied) Cyclone rollercoaster, Coney Island, Brooklyn
Also available: two webinars (virtual tours, link here) on the history of Coney Island.
In summertime, as the saying went, "Coney Island was the world." In the 19th century, it was the playground of the wealthy, the home of the first indoor prize fight, and the place where the hot dog and the roller coaster were invented. Not long after the turn of the century, Coney housed the world's most spectacular amusement parks, harbingers of modernity in a rapidly industrializing world: Dreamland, Luna Park, Steeplechase. To visit the beach, you had to rent a locker at a bathhouse and use the associated strip of sand. When the subway arrived in 1920, delivering millions of people a season, the "nickel empire" democratized: the boardwalk was built, the beach opened to all, and some of the most famous attractions--a few still extant--were built. The Wonder Wheel, an unusual Ferris Wheel with interior cars that slide as the wheel rotates, was built then. It still operates, part of a smaller though still vigorous amusement district, a terrific place to visit on a warm summer day. So too does the Cyclone roller-coaster still run, while the Parachute Jump remains as graceful structure, not ride. Coney Island declined after World War II, thanks to (among other things) suburbanization and shortsighted planning, as housing projects were concentrated/isolated in space formerly occupied by summer bungalows (a few of which remain, weatherized), but its gritty heart remains. Reviving Coney In fact, Coney has revived in part, thanks to the new stadium for the Brooklyn Cyclones and the dogged work of those in the amusement industry (and the nostalgia industry). Check out these entertaining introductions for the annual Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest. Recently, a rezoning promised enormous changes, while some humble but historic buildings have already been demolished. Our walk through Coney will be a trip among ghosts--empty spaces will evoke lost empires or, perhaps, a roller coaster famously seen in a Woody Allen movie. Still, much remains, from the original Nathan's to skee-ball to the Parachute Jump (Brooklyn's "Eiffel Tower," not functioning but nicely restored), to the still thrilling Cyclone, the world's most iconic rollercoaster. The Wonder Wheel still rotates. There's a restored carousel. There are two new rollercoasters. In 2016 came a new outdoor music venue and in 2017 a lovingly restored restaurant complex. The beach is great. Superstorm Sandy left severe blows, still visible if we leave the boardwalk area, and we should, since blocks away from the beach provide a more full sense of the neighborhood. On summer days, thanks to the ocean breeze, Coney's cooler than the rest of the city. And it has what I believe to be the city's best pizza--hopefully to reopen soon. An extension to Brighton Beach We can end with a walk through the adjacent neighborhood of Brighton Beach to the east, the center (but hardly the exclusive province) of Brooklyn's large "Russian" (more precisely "former Soviet," given the presence of Ukrainians, Georgians, Uzbeks, etc.) community. There are numerous sit-down and takeout food options in Brighton, as well as shopping opportunities, such as a Russian bookstore. A section of Brighton Beach includes some impressive art deco apartment houses. It's fascinating that the Coney Island and Brighton Beach neighborhoods essentially share the same beach and boardwalk but have a very different built environment. We also can focus a much more extensive visit in Brighton Beach, not merely the main shopping district but the back streets, which show the variety of the community, including Pakistani, Mexican, and Turkish businesses, as well as the revival of some synagogues, mainly the work of the Chabad movement of the Lubavitcher Hasidic sect. (Others double as tutoring centers!) Please note that "Russian" Brooklyn has extended well beyond Brighton Beach, including nearby neighborhoods like Sheepshead Bay, Gravesend, and Bensonhurst, and even up to Midwood and Kensington. |
Distance from Midtown Manhattan: 55-60 minutes by subway
Cost: see fees here Basic tour length: 2-2.5 hours (see fees) Starting place: Typically near Coney Island subway terminus (Q/F/D/N) Ending place: Brighton Beach Q/B train Highlights: Amusement history, beach, boardwalk, Russian flavor, food Option before/during/after tour: Nathan's hot dogs and other Coney food. Option during tour: go on a ride! Best time to visit: Note that the Coney Island season--when most attractions are open daily, and crowds are largest--lasts from Memorial Day through Labor Day, plus additional weekends in September. If we visit at other times, we can appreciate the landscape, but will miss the full Coney. Please note: rides in Coney generally open at 11 am or noon, depending on the day of the week and whether it's "high season" or not. See Coney live from afar: Coney Island Earth Cam! Why I like leading this tour: Coney's an iconic place, so I always love going there. Yes, some of Coney Island's charms--the sun, the beach, the rides--can be experienced without a guide. And, on weekends, you can visit the Coney Island Museum or Coney Island History Project. But I can add more context/history (with old photos), and walk well beyond the amusement district in Coney, and extend to the neighborhood of Brighton Beach. |