But first there was Forgotten business to take care of...
A look at the old Coney terminal is available at:
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| Lasciviousness. Prurience. Lewdness. Stuff you won't find in Forgotten NY. Except for once a year when the FNY camera turns its all-seeing lens on the wackos of the Coney Island Mermaid Parade.
But first there was Forgotten business to take care of... |
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| The Stillwell Avenue Terminal, which had lay fallow for many years and had sunk into complete ruin (albeit preserving several archaisms in the process) is being rebuilt top to bottom, with a modern canopy, new platforms and a new arcade facing Surf Avenue, and from the looks of things, will be paying homage to Coney Island's legacy with photos of sideshow freaks, 5¢ hot dogs (heh) and good old fashioned family entertainment.
A look at the old Coney terminal is available at: |
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The Bishoff and Brienstein Carousel (or Carousell, as they spell it) has been on Surf Avenue since 1932 and is, along with the Prospect Park Carousel, one of two Brooklyn carousels still using wooden horses. It's one of Coney's attractions, along with Nathan's, that's open all year and its familiar pipe organ can be heard in the dead of winter on weekends. From its artwork, which shows WWI-era airplanes, I'd say it dates back to the 1918-1922 period, but that's a guess. And yes, you can grab for a brass ring as you go around. | ||||
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Nathan's has installed a giant countdown board plugging its annual 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. A mustard yellow colored belt is awarded to the champion. At one time your webmaster aspired to the title, but I went on an all-carb diet. Besides, you know a skinny Asian guy will win anyway.
And now, on with the countdown. |
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| As the parade got started, we spotted a girl with a terrific view at the Shore Hotel, the rather mysterious hostel at Surf Avenue and Henderson Walk. Appropriate for the Mermaid Parade, she was in her underwear. | |||||
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| Lots of bands this year including Banana Fish Zero. | |||||
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| It's their big fat geek wedding. I'm being harsh. This couple, Lex and Victor, was wed during the parade, apparently. Congratulations... |
Big Mama and friends. | ||||||
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| Is the chick on the right on her cell phone? Man. | I didn't think mermaids could jump like that. | ||||||
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| Yes, he is here. | The Mermaid Parade is great for the kiddies. Photo: Eric Weaver | ||||||
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| You can use fishnets to catch fish and you can use them like this. | |||||||
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| Is that a flask she's got there? | |||||||||
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| Girl and her volcano. | |||||||||
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| Hungry March Band | |||||||||
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| Miss Rheingold was Queen of the Parade last year, but this year she settles for a ride in a convertible. | Mermaids constantly have to fend off octopuses (-pi). | ||||||||
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| Electronica-meister Moby and The Lunachicks' Theo Kogan were King and Queen this year. Moby, appropriately, is a descendant of Herman Melville. | |||||||||
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| When there's a lot of mostly nude women around, there's also a lot of photographers around. | |||||||||
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| One of the funnier sights was this pooch running around on top of a pickup truck, barking his head off. Photo: Eric Weaver | Only in Coney Island will you see two big guys and a mermaid pushing a 50 year old fire engine down Surf Avenue. Photo: Eric Weaver | ||||||||
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| The pharaohs are protesting the proposed Bruce Ratner Nets Stadium complex, which would displace some downtown Brooklyn residents. | The Sea Monkeys advertised in the funnies are actually immature brine shrimp. | ||||||||
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| Two more shrimp. | |||||||||
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| His top's down, hers is almost off...just another Mermaid Day. | Someone's gotta cleanup Surf Avenue after the parade. | ||||||||
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| If these guys (gals?) didn't win the costume contest, it might be fixed. | |||||||||
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| No Mermaid Day is complete without a visit to Nathan's Famous or Totonno's Pizza, here since 1924. | Forgotten cohorts Mike Walker, Eric Weaver and Nigey Lennon | ||||||||
| MERMAID PARADES: 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003
HOME| LAMPS | SUBWAYS & TRAINS | ADS | TROLLEYS | SIGNS | COBBLESTONES | STREET SCENES | YOU'D NEVER BELIEVE YOU'RE IN NYC | LINKS | ALLEYS | NECROLOGY | CEMETERIES | FORGOTTENBLOG | SEARCH ©2004 Midnight Fish |
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