GipsyLady

I just haven never been there and wanted to visit a new place in NY on my next trip. Having seen the wonderful movie "Brooklyn" I am tempted to visit there Although I don't care for rides it would be neat to see the Board walk mabye? If I only have a few days in NY do you think it's worth a visit? And how do I get there? Do I walk over Brooklyn Bridge and have to take a ferry from there and how long does it take? Your thoughts on Coney Island please?

Fra_Diavolo

You can get there by subway, but it is a long ride, and when you reach the end, disappointing. It is really a place that has had its day. However, a hot dog and a beer at the original Nathan's somewhat make up for it.

PaulRabe

I visited Coney Island for its "historical" value, and was not disappointed. It was interesting to walk on the board walk, sample a few cheap eats (Nathans is a must), and observe a place that was tawdry in its "day" and is just tired now. It's like visiting ruins or a ghost town BEFORE the place is abandoned.

doug_stallings

I don't think of Coney Island as being about the rides at all. The NY Aquarium is also there, not to mention the original Nathan's, which both operate year-round (unlike the amusement rides that do not). The boardwalk is nice, but it's still a fairly downscale place. And it takes almost an hour to get there by subway from most of Manhattan.

Fra_Diavolo

PaulRabe brings up a good point: CI does have historical interest. My last visit, after a hiatus of about thirty years, was inspired by Patti Smith's memoir, Just Kids, which features a photo taken of her and Robert Mapplethorpe on the Boardwalk. I also found some personal history. The Parachute Jump Ride hasn't functioned for many years, but I remember my mother recalled her rides on it, decades before. The tower still stands. She also talked about the Steeplechase Ride, but the original disappeared many years ago. In fact, she would not have seen the very first one, which burned in the early 1900's. Here's a video of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRiwXzgCaVQ

jayne1973

Coney Island, to me, was one of those iconic places that I just had to see for myself. We went during a five-day trip to NYC, and it took up most of one afternoon to make the subway/train trip to and from and look around, eat at Nathan's, walk on the beach, etc. We also rode a couple of the more historic rides, which was fun. I say if it interests you, go!

P.S.-- that Steeplechase ride looks crazy!!!

ekscrunchy

I find it fascinating to take the subway to Coney Island, perhaps stop for a frank at Nathan's, and then walk to the boardwalk and walk east to Brighton Beach, where there are large Russian and Georgian communities, with lots of interesting food shops and restaurants....have lunch perhaps at Cafe Glechik, and then return to Manhattan or downtown Brooklyn by train from Brighton.

The walk is about a half hour or so, lovely in good weather. You can continue on to Sheepshead Bay, an upscale waterfront nrighborood with some fish restaurants and a huge Russian market..

ellenem

I rode the Steeplechase ride when I was a kid of about five or six years old, circa early 1960s. Two people could share a horse -- I rode in front of Mom and my sister (age 8 or 9) rode with Dad. It really was crazy — basically a carousel horse with a saddle for two. I think there might have been a little belt to tie you on, such as you find on some carousels, but otherwise it was "hold on tight."

Steeplechase Park by then was a shadow of its former glory, just a building with amusements and rides inside -- kiddie rides, wacky mirrors and slides, and the Steeplechase ride. For the actual Steeplechase ride, you mounted the horse inside the building on the second level. The ride was supposed to emulate a race, so all the horses were released at the same time. When released, the horses immediately left the building and followed rails in the outside, all the way around the building and back to the beginning. (you get a sense of this in that video.) The rails were like rolling hills, from the starting level pitching down to the ground and up again a few times -- a low-key roller coaster only you are not secured in a car but hanging onto a horse for dear life. From inside the building, you could see the riders flying past the windows. The ride was thrilling but quick.

When I think about it now, it is unbelievable that such a ride was considered safe for children -- or anyone.

In front of Steeplechase Park was the Parachute Jump. I was too small to ride it, so my sister rode with Dad. Just thinking about it, this was also a bit crazy.

Each parachute had a chair for 2 people. The chair was spindly, like those chairs they use on the flying chairs ride. The only safety features: Take off your shoes and eyeglasses before boarding so they don't drop off you from 250 feet up and hurt someone on the ground. When ready, they would crank your chair up to the top, and then release it and you would float down. 12 different chairs could be hauled up and dropped, at different times as needed.

On that same day we rode the Wonder Wheel and I turned down the Cyclone, though my sister went. I recall there seemed to be innumerable carousels, and I rode one that was all giant roosters. Even at that age, the idea of riding a rooster seemed interesting and unusual.

We returned to Coney Island a few more times as a family, but Steeplechase Park was gone soon after our first visit.

Inakauaidavidababy

Well I must say Coney Island has been on the we should do and still haven't done yet list for years. PaulRabe and FraDi and many others have inspired me. I loved Patty Smith's memoir. Sounds like you need to take a moment to smell the fried dough and salt air and look between the cracks, and listen to the wind. You had me at Ghost town on it's last legs. I'm sure on full moons you can hear the antique carousel.

Fra_Diavolo

ellenem -- Great memories!

nytraveler

When will you be in NY? Coney Island is not open off season and for quite a bit of the year only on weekends. (I remember going to Coney Island once as a small child and it was very tired and depressing even then)

And sadly, the aquarium lost most of it's exhibits in Superstorm Sandy - they were washed out to sea. It is rebuilding but not what it was and quite disappointing. (The beluga whales were the best exhibit and naturally they are gone.)

ekscrunchy

The OO is not interested in rides. Coney Island is a neighborhood and does not "close." I've been on a nice day off-season and thought it great fun to do the walk as I described.

Ackislander

This is the kind of post that makes it worthwhile to slog through all the petty stuff that sometimes appears here.

Thanks to ekscrunchy for the Russian (and Georgian -- who knew?) information, about which I was curious, and everyone else for their thoughts and memories.

GipsyLady

Wow! Thank you for al your informative and helpful advice on this one! After reading all your replies I am definitely paying CI a visit! And I am saving all your recommendations to take with me too. Thanks again!

SambaChula

I was visiting Brighton Beach when I first had the pleasure of walking the boardwalk. It's a very different seaside experience for some of us just used to sand, a very pleasant stroll on a nice sunny day. I was also amazed and amused to see the house from the Woody Allen film.
http://www.voicesofeastanglia.com/20...r-coaster.html

ekscrunchy

Here is more info on Cafe Glechik, the Ukranian restaurant I mentioned above, with two locations in the area. You must try the vareniki (cabbage is great!) and the soups.

http://glechik.com/our-menu/

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/10/di...unde.html?_r=0


HIGHLY recommended Georgian cafe; you must try the cheese bread KHACHAPURI..just get it to take out and eat along the boardwalk if you do not want to sit down there..not to be missed.

http://www.ajaruli.com/about


http://gothamist.com/2014/04/29/khachapuri.php



Russian stores, worth a look; also take note of the women selling home-made pastries along Brighton Beach Blvd.

http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_de...ighton_Bea.htm

POMAH

ok.
A)Coney Island is a neighborhood, not a rides park, which is called Luna Park.
B)You cant take travel advise from movies.
C)From Manhattan take the F train; or B/D/N/Q if you want to see the Brooklyn Bridge, and walk around Brighton Beach as well.
C)Walk to the end of the rebuilt pier.
D)Grimaldi's and Tottono's pizzerias, and Checkers, Wahlburgers, Nathan's, Applebee's, Tatyana's are worth checking out
.
Here is the subway map:
http://web.mta.info/nyct/maps/subwaymap.pdf

Take B1 to Manhattan Beach, the smallest beach in the states.
And then walk to Emmons ave. to eat,

POMAH

"SambaChula on Mar 18, 16 at 4:55pm
I was also amazed and amused to see the house from the Woody Allen film."

It was demolished, along with The Thunderbolt, some 15 years ago!

Go into Beyti and get a combo of Gyro+shish, and eat it on the boardwalk.

JADSJBD

We have visited CI several times, and enjoyed it each time. We always go to Nathan's for a dog and a beer, and we always see the Freak Show. It is a throw back to the shows at our old state fairs, but are no longer seen anywhere else. It just brings back all those memories. We took our grown daughter and her friend to see it (since this is all new to them), and they loved it. The boardwalk is wonderful, and if you are there for the Mermaid Parade (June 18th, this year), it is an experience unto itself. I find the subway ride over from Manhattan to be a great rest from all the walking around the city, and a lot of it is above ground, so you see other neighborhoods as well.. I also love going to Brighton Beach for coffee, walking around and a bite to eat. Well worth the trip, in my opinion.

IMDonehere

I went to high school in Coney Island and my cousin is very active with the Mermaid Parade and CI Freak show. Both sets of grandparents lived in Brighton Beach. And I went to school with Nathan's granddaughter, a very nice person. It as a special place for many NY'ers especially Brooklynites.

On a hot July 4th, there could be 1 million at CI.

I agree with Esc, get a frank and fries at Nathans's and then continue up the Boardwalk to Brighton for a taste of the Russian community.

Whatever you do not eat at the new chain restaurants, they are appalling and an insult to the neighborhood.

If you go during the week, stop in the bank on the corner of Coney Island Ave (CIA) and Brighton Beach AVe. and look at the murals high on the walls from the WPA. They were harmed during Sandy, but still worth a view.

If you go during the weekend be sure to stop at the handball courts where Surf Ave turns into Ocean Parkway. Many national champions came from those courts and you will see money changing hands.

On the corner of Ocean Parkway and the Belt Parkway is the CI Hospitals, one of the worst hospitals in the City but Arlo Guthrie was born there when Woody and Majorie lived in the area and Majorie had a dance studio.

Coney means rabbit and it was once an island.

Also look on the map for Trump Village where Fred Trump was known for his racist ways and young Donald did his father's bidding and not very well.