Coney Art Walls Returns

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1 Coney Art Walls Returns New York, May 16, 2018 Thor Equities has announced its summer 2018 program for Coney Art Walls, the outdoor museum of street art curated by Joseph Sitt and Jeffrey Deitch. Located at 3050 Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island, the public art wall project will debut on Friday, May 25th, and remain open from 12pm to 8pm daily through September. We are excited to launch our fourth consecutive year of Coney Art Walls, which has helped revitalize Coney Island by welcoming tens of thousands of visitors a year to view our amazing murals as well as eat, drink and be entertained, said Joseph Sitt, CEO of Thor Equities. Coney Art Walls features works from renowned artists including Crash, Daze, Lee Quinones, Ron English and Miss Van, as well as Aiko, Alexis Diaz, Buff Monster, Chris Stain, D*Face, Eine, el Seed, Ganzeer, Haze, How & Nosm, Icy & Sot, IRAK, Jim Drain, John Ahearn, Kashink, Lady Pink, The London Police, Mark Bode, Mister Cartoon, Nina Chanel Abney, Nychos, Pose, RETNA, Shantell Martin, Sheryo & The Yok, Tats Cru, Skewville, and Tristan Eaton. Throughout the summer, Coney Art Walls will host Magic Carousel Sundays in collaboration with Live On Air Events. The space will be transformed each Sunday into a lush, open-air oasis, featuring renowned DJs from across the globe, a massive turf lawn, bars, tables and daybeds. Events include: Renowned DJ/Producer Timmy Trumpet and Breathe Carolina perform on May 27th Producer/DJ duo Vinai brings a wave of big room house on June 3rd Lil Jon presents his electric DJ set on June 10th

2 Sandra Collins and Robbie Rivera spin on June 17th Award-winning DJ and producer Quintino performs on Sunday, July 1st Bordered by Bowery Street, West 15th Street and Stillwell Avenue near the Coney Island boardwalk and beach, Coney Art Walls is adjacent to the original Nathan s restaurant and across from Wahlburgers, IT SUGAR, and the Nets Shop by Adidas. Located in the heart of the Coney Island Amusement District, the site is also close to Deno s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Luna Park, the Cyclone, New York Aquarium, the Ford Amphitheater and MCU Park, home of the Brooklyn Cyclones. Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? Vote here! Is a hot dog a sandwich? In the past some people have referred to hot dogs as Frankfurter Sandwiches. Let s look at the history of the sandwich. The sandwich is attributed to John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich. Back in the 18th century the British statesman ordered that he have meat tucked between two pieces of bread. Just like that the sandwich was born! Now what if the meat is placed inside one piece of bread? The history of the hot dog is a bit more complex. Sausages have existed for centuries. Even mentioned on Homer s Epic Poem The Odyssey. However the hot dog is a very American concept born in Coney Island, NY. After the Civil War Coney Island was quickly becoming

3 America s premiere resort town. The year was A German born baker was selling pies from a cart along the sand dunes of Coney Island. He had a desire to sell more of a lunch meal to the Coney Island crowds. So he used elongated breakfast buns from his South Brooklyn bakery, sliced them open to snuggle Frankfurt sausages from his homeland inside. His name is Charles Feltman, in 1867 he invented the hot dog. It was an Irishman named Donovan who, at his Howard ave. shop converted Feltman s pie cart to the world s first hot dog cart. However, was Feltman s invention considered a sandwich? Feltman went on to build what was billed as the largest restaurant in the world in Coney Island. Also a second restaurant on 5th st. in Park Slope, Feltman s Tivoli which fell victim to fire in By that time Feltman s invention had reached Chicago in the form of a Vienna Sausage. Chicagoans began to create sandwich-like toppings on their hot dogs. Pickles, peppers, like a salad. But a sandwich? Feltman s invention helped ballpark concessionaire Harry Stevens fill the hungry bellies of baseball fans in Probably the first time Feltman s Red Hots were referred to as hot dogs. However, not quite a sandwich. Around 1914 Greek Immigrants in Michigan began selling hot dogs in restaurants called Coney Island s, name after the famed New York resort and birthplace of the hot dog. They began pouring chili, onions and cheese on top of the franks. Does this finally make it a sandwich? The following year Nathan Handwerker was a bun slicer at Feltman s Restaurant in Coney Island which was selling 40,000 sandwiches or hot dogs per day from 9 grilling stations. In 1916 he opened his own stand selling Feltman s hot dogs for 10c. Handwerker found a Brooklyn manufacturer called Swift and Co. which had showcased their modern hot dog making machinery

4 at numerous World s Fairs. Swift s machinery could crank out mucho hot dogs at low cost. Not the same quality as Feltman s; however, Swifts produced very tasty, garlicky franks that sat very well with the working class Coney Island crowd. Handwerker could afford to sell Swifts in great quantity for a nickel. After a few years Handwerker switched to the ubiquitous Hygrade hot dogs, the top brand at the time. Was it called a sandwich? No, Handwerker called them Frankfurters. Now the New Jersey style of hot dogs starts it s story at Rutt s Hut in Not the healthiest hot dog but a deep fried Thumann s is quite tasty. Along with Texas Wieners. Rutt s Hut was rated #1 in the country by the Daily Meal along some NYC favorites Katz Deli #3, Grays Papaya #8 both made by Sabrett and the debut of Feltman s of Coney Island #7 can a deep fried hot dogs at Rutt s be considered a sandwich? What do you think? Charles Feltman s original hot dogs have returned this past year to St. Mark s Place in the East Village as well as the restaurant s original loaction (Luna Park), the hot dog s birthplace in Coney Island. Like Katz Deli there is a national online store FeltmansofConeyIsland.com. But nowhere is it referred to as a sandwich. So let the people decide! Vote for whether you think a hot dog is considered a sandwich. On January 1st 2018 we ll make the deciding announcement at Coney Island, Brooklyn. The birthplace of the hot dog! So vote now and stay tuned!

5 Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? Hell no! A hot dog is a hot dog (59%, 121 Votes) Yes, a hot dog is a sandwich. (41%, 85 Votes) Total Voters: 206 Loading... Free Feltman s Hot Dogs for Cyclones Birthday! The Cyclone Rollercoaster is turning 90 on Monday, June 26, the festivities start the day before with a block party featuring live music and the Harlem Globetrotters. A press conference will be taking place on Monday, June 26th 11:30 am at the Cyclone Rollercoaster followed by a Feltman s hot dog giveaway! To celebrate 90 years of the Cyclone Feltman s of Coney Island will be giving out 90 free hot dogs following the press conference. Feltman s restaurant and the Cyclone shared the same corner as neighbors for decades. Here are some facts about both: Feltman s Charles Feltman invented the hot dog at Coney Island, NY in This is the 150th anniversary of the hot dog. Feltman s Restaurant ( ) located at the current Luna Park property was once the largest restaurant in the world.

6 Nathan Handwerker was a bun slicer at Fellow Feltman s employees and future Durante and Eddie Cantor gave Handwerker Nathan s Famous down the block in his former employer selling 5c hot dogs to Feltman s in movie stars Jimmy a $300 loan to open Handwerker undercut Feltman s 10c. Feltman s has returned to it s original Coney Island location after 63 years. There is a second location at 80 St. Mark s Place in the East Village. The Feltman s hot dog is all beef all natural with no nitrates added and the secret Feltman s Old World Frankfurt spice blend. Feltman s of Coney Island has been named the absolute best hot dog in NYC by many publications including New York Magazine and Gothamist. The NY Post rated Feltman s the best hot dog in Coney Island over rival Nathan s Famous. Cyclone Rollercoaster Opened 1927 Type Wooden Twister Location Surf Avenue & West End Street

7 Builder & Designer Vernon Keenan / Baker Height 85 feet Length 2640 feet (ride length 1 min 50 sec) This roller coaster masterpiece cost Jack and Irving Rosenthal $100,000 to build, but it returned their investment within weeks after it debuted on June 26, It was a fast twister coaster set in a figure 8 design. The world s first rollercoaster was built on the current footprint of the Cyclone by L.A. Thompson in Thompson s original patent read for Switchback Railway Rolling Coaster. Aviator Charles Lindbergh said riding the Cyclone was more thrilling than flying the Atlantic. A mute man was was able to speak after riding the Cyclone. His first words were I feel sick. Enjoy a happy birthday ride on the Cyclone on Monday June 26 followed free Feltman s hot dogs at the Luna Park location. Deborah Harry Chris Stein to lead Mermaid Parade Coney Island USA s 35th Annual Mermaid Parade will begin at 1 pm on Saturday, June 17, The parade starts at the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, and proceeds east on Surf Avenue to West 10th Street, where it turns south to the Boardwalk, and then north back to Steeplechase Plaza, where it concludes. The Mermaid Parade is a unique and artistic celebration of

8 ancient mythology and the honky-tonk seaside ritual that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the amusement district. The parade features marching bands, drill teams, floats, antique cars and some 1,500 participants dressed in hand-made costume of mermaids, sea creatures, amusement rides and Neptunes. It is the largest art parade in the nation and the largest event of the year in Coney Island. Deborah Harry and Chris Stein of Blondie, will serve as Queen Mermaid and King Neptune, the highest position of honor in the parade. According to tradition, Queen Mermaid and King Neptune will be wheeled through the parade in an antique wicker Boardwalk Rolling Chair that dates back to We are in Rock & Roll heaven to announce Hall of Famers from BLONDIE: Deborah Harry as Queen Mermaid & Chris Stein as King Neptune said Coney Island USA founder Dick Zigun, who is known as the Mayor of Coney Island and founder of The Mermaid Parade s parent organization, Coney Island USA. Our BLONDIE King Neptune and Queen Mermaid represent authentic NYC arts from East Village CBGB punk, to current cutting edge Coney Island. Immediately after the parade, at approximately 4 pm, Dick Zigun leads the King and Queen procession through the MCU Parking Lot, to the beach for the opening of the Ocean, for the summer swimming season. Fans of the Mermaid Parade can lend support, with a new text fundraising campaign by texting mermaid to 71777, or going to Parade Registration and additional information for the Parade are available at:

9 Scorsese Movie starring DeNiro Pacino to film at Coney Island Film production of the story of hitman Frank The Irishman Sheeran is underway with shots being scheduled to take place this summer in Coney Island s famed amusement district. The film based Charles Brandt s nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses will be directed by Martin Scorsese and star Robert De Niro as Sheeran. Al Pacino in (believe it or not) his first Scorsese picture will play mobster Jimmy Hoffa. The film will also star Scorsese regulars Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel. Dates are still being worked out for the scenes that will be taking place at Coney Island this summer.

10 Amusement district to expand at Coney Island A joint RFP was posted yesterday by the City s Economic Development Corporation and the Parks Department requesting proposals to add amusements to 5 lots within the amusement district. According to the proposal Stillwell ave. W. 16th, W.15th and W. 12th streets will be ending at the not yet completed Wonder Wheel Way. The above mentioned streets from Wonder Wheel Way to the Boardwalk (around 300 feet) will be converted to open space with amusement rides, games and concessions. Dreamland Plaza on W. 12th near the boardwalk will not be affected. This RFP will fulfill the rezoning plan by the Bloomberg

11 administration back Yesterday Coney Island USA artistic director Dick Zigun tweeted it is good & will complete the city s stimulus for the city owned portion of Coney Island amusements. GET IT DONE! According to Commercial Observer: Local Councilman Mark Treyger called the RFP a victory that benefits all. He added: Expanding the already exciting array of activities in the iconic Coney Island amusement district means more employment opportunities for local residents and more reasons for New Yorkers to continue making the People s Playground one of our city s premier recreational destinations. An amusement operator should be chosen by the end of March. The revamped amusement district should be completed by Summer Radio Daze Feltman s Hot Dogs start the year at Steeplechase Beergarden Steeplechase Beergarden will be serving breakfast at 11am on New Year s Day. The classically revamped former Peggy O Neill s updated their menu and changed to a more nostalgic Coney Island theme this year. Steeplechase will be hosting our veterans from Team RWB who will be joining the Polar Bear Plunge at 1pm. At 2pm local favorite band Radio Daze will be

12 performing on the Steeplechase stage. The original Coney Island hot dog Feltman s will be served at Steeplechase Beergarden throughout the day. Checkout our iphone documentary from last year s event. Want to be a part of New Year s Eve documentary at Coney Island? Jon Cunningham aka Corn Mo has had some brushes with greatness since he arrived in NYC from Texas well over a decade ago. The rock n roll accordion player with Heavy Metal pipes has played on the Jimmy Kimmel Show and has toured with the late great David Bowie. Recently he decided to take a back seat and get behind the lense documenting NYC LED light costumed rocker Blazes preparing for his spectacular music light show New Year s Eve at Coney Island. Corn Mo planned to film what it s like for the performer to have his costume prepped and the stage set. According to Corn Mo As a performer I know what the stress is like preparing for a huge show; however, Blazes is such a unique performer with his secret superhero persona, secret identity kept a secret as well as managing his suit covered in LED lights, I wanted to capture what that s like on film. The documentary is being financed by a face everyone in Brooklyn recognizes, retired FDNY/artist/ poet Joe Hunt aka the Brooklyn Yeti.

13 The Brooklyn Yeti leads Blazes administrative staff and security team and is the only person alive who truly knows the Blazes secret identity. You are not going to see the Blazes at all in this documentary says Yeti. This film is about what it s like preparing the Blazes for battle, for taking the stage, what it s like to prepare for a Blazes concert. According to Yeti The Blazes may not even be one person. He/she maybe a series of performers wearing the same costume. Who is Blazes? That s for the audience to find out. The project doesn t stop there. They want to document the entire night including performers from the Coney Island Sideshow as well as interviews with New Year s Eve audience members and revelers in Coney Island. They are planning on adding smart phone footage of the event taken by audience members. If you have footage that you would like to be considered for the documentary joethebrooklynyeti@gmail.com So have those iphones ready Coney Island! Nathans Famous Executive Chairman was key advisor for Trump Campaign Nathan s Famous executive chairman Howard Lorber who owns the majority 22% stock in the world renowned hot dog company has been a key economic advisor for Trump 16. Lorber who leads the Vector Group which manufactures

14 cigarettes is also the chairman of real estate giant Douglas Elliman, has been friends with the President-elect since the 1980 s often playing golf with Trump at The Donald s Florida course. Earlier this year Trump picked his friend Lorber to be a key economic advisor for his successful Presidential campaign. In addition Lorber donated $100,000 to the Trump campaign. Small change for Lorber who has been with Nathan s Famous since 1987 and was paid (cha ching!)$25 million by the company in the past year alone. Nathan s Famous had their most profitable year ($80 million revenue/$8 million profit) in 2015, handsomely paying out their investors. The businesses founder Nathan Handwerker started as a meager bun slicer at Feltman s of Coney Island. Feltman s Coney Island restaurant was opened by hot dog inventor Charles Feltman in 1871 and has since returned with a highly regarded outpost named Feltman s Kitchen at 80 St. Mark s Place, in Manhattan s East Village. Meanwhile Nathan s Famous continues it s world domination with Howard Lorber at the helm, who may quite possibly become a member of President-elect Trump s White House staff. It s a wrap! Incredible photo gallery of Woody Allen s new Coney Island film. Earlier in the week the Coney Island Blog reported on the filming of Woody Allen s new project on the Coney Island

15 boardwalk. Now that filming has concluded we want to share with you some of the best pictures of the actors and director at work. Photos of Kate Winslet, Juno Temple, Woody Allen and the star of Ruby s Mike Sarrel set in 1950 s Coney Island. All Photos Copyright Norman Blake All Rights Reserved.

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