Sunday, March 21, 2010

Coney Island, Baby!

The last few days have brought some amazingly warm weather to New York City. After 3 days of missing out on the weather due to being stuck inside working, Mike and I decided to make the most of Saturday's warm sunny day. And what better way to do that than to hit the beach! :)

So we skipped the usual Saturday-morning lie-in, stopped at the local pâtisserie for breakfast croissants and coffee, and jumped on the subway.
Inside the Coney Island subway station

you can even see the rides from the station! :)

An hour and a half later, and we were presented with the bright sunny beaches of Coney Island! :)
We were a week early for the rides and games (but we knew that before we got there) - they were just starting to put the cars on the Wonder Wheel, and many of the other rides were being tested and cleaned up.
Instead, Mike and I took a long walk down to one end of the boardwalk...
then back to the middle, down to the other end, and back to the middle again.

After that 5 mile walk, we decided to take advantage of the many "restaurants" that line the centre section of the boardwalk...
mmmm! yummy corndogs! :)
a number of people were flying kites on the beach - these squid kites were great, but I think the swimmer is the best! :)
Have you seen the film Two Weeks Notice? The so-called "Coney Island Community Centre" still sits right next to the boardwalk. Of course its really an old restaurant, which was more recently used as a rollerskating rink.

As you head back toward the subway, you go past Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs.
Nathan's Hot Dogs has been on Coney Island since 1916 - and if the line was anything to go by, this place is as popular now as it was in 1916! :)

After a long day in the sun, we decided we'd better head back towards town. We'd remembered to bring the sunscreen - unlike many of the other very pink people lining the boardwalk! - but those few places (mostly on our feet) that we'd forgotten were starting to make themselves known. So we hopped the train back to Brooklyn, and capped of a great day with a couple of really yummy margaritas! :)
I highly recommend a trip out to Coney Island - and maybe if you go when the rides are open, you'll have as much fun as these people!

2 comments:

Tricia said...

Hi Glenda, Enjoyed your story and lovely pix of Coney's first day of spring! I work in Coney Island and can't believe it all starts up again in just 6 days. See you on the Boardwalk...

Anonymous said...

Coney Island brings back memories when my friend worked on Coney Island for the Carny people, and I stayed with her for about a week. That was in 1965. Not even the Twin towers existed in that year.
Love from Mom