Things are looking up for Coney Island—tourists are coming back, jobs are opening, and heck, reality TV is just around the corner! But the Brooklyn Paper tells us otherwise: their take on the whole situation is "Coney job growth is strong—but not for carnies." Intrigued by the prospect of freaks losing their jobs, we dug a little deeper. more ›

Who has the bigger freaks, the West Village or Coney Island? Well if you've got a MetroCard you can judge for yourself around Halloween, as Coney Island will be hosting a parade down Surf Avenue to challenge the Manhattan festivities. Borough President Marty Markowitz said, “This is all a prelude to Coney Island becoming a year-round destination," and joked he would "dress up as a politician." Instant rimshot! more ›

Welcome back to the old neighborhood, Luna Park. Just a day after its grand opening Saturday, the atavistic amusement park was witness to a stabbing just steps from the entrance, on the Boardwalk near West 10th Street. Police say Joshua Perez, 17, was stabbed in the torso during a dispute with another teen named Christopher Acosta. A Luna Park security guard tells the Post, "I saw [him] stagger in off the boardwalk and fall down, and a crowd grew around him. Mothers were holding their kids back, and they all looked shocked and concerned." more ›

After the politicians had their fun, the new Luna Park officially opened to the public on yesterday, and so far has been getting fantastic reviews. One visitor told the Daily News, "My dad and grandfather used to tell me about Luna Park and the old rides. I think this is just as good, just as beautiful." Just 12 of the 19 rides were up and running, and the park opened an hour later than planned, but they made up for it by making all the rides free for an hour and charging a reduced $15 for a four-hour unlimited pass. more ›

After racing against the clock for the past couple months, workers finished assembling the new Luna Park on Coney Island just in time for Memorial Day weekend. This morning Mayor Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and other functionaries gathered at the amusement park to celebrate the opening. They rode one of the park's 19 new rides for an amusing photo op (note how Bloomberg is the only one holding on). Then it was on to the recently-reopened Totonno's, which Markowitz not inaccurately called a "pizza mecca." (And note how Bloomberg's wearing an apron, but not Marty.) more ›

We're told that Luna Park, the new Coney Island amusement park on the former Astroland site that's now owned by the city, will be opening this weekend as planned. Workers have been laboring around the clock to finish the park, which features 19 new rides, including a spinning roller coaster called The Tickler, a "Wild River" ride inspired by the original Luna Park ride Shoot the Chutes, a ride called Surf's Up which buffets riders with simulated winds, and Air Race, which will have riders "doing corkscrews in jets." Here are some photos taken on Tuesday, and it looks like they're really cutting it close on this one. more ›

Hey kids, check out this bangin' new video of what's in store at the new Luna Park, set to open Memorial Day weekend on 6.9 acres of land the city wrested from developer Joe Sitt for $95.6 million. Workers are toiling in three shifts around the clock to finish this sucker, and the thought of an amusement park being built in a hurry only adds to the thrill! The rides have already been tested in Vicenza, Italy, and are starting to arrive in pieces at the site, where crews will assemble them. Here's what the finished park is expected to look like: more ›

The forthcoming "Luna Park at Coney Island" will supposedly miraculously open in time for Memorial Day Weekend with 19 new rides, including one, Air Race, that will make its worldwide debut! And according to Mayor Bloomberg's office, by summer 2011, the "Scream Zone at Coney Island" will provide additional attractions, including two custom roller coasters, a human slingshot ride, and go-karts. All in all, the city and its partners Central Amusement International (CAI) and renowned ride designer Zamperla, will install 23 new rides by 2011. more ›

The Italian amusement company reportedly tapped to turn the city's controversial Coney Island redevelopment plan into a reality will name its plot "Luna Park" after the legendary Coney Island amusement park. "The park will be called, Luna Park, like the first, the only, the inimitable one, the one created by Frederic Thompson and Elmer 'Skip' Dundy," Alberto Zamperla — President and CEO of Zamperla — apparently told the Italian newspaper Il Giornale di Vicenza. If that's the case, Zamperla will have some pretty big shoes to fill. more ›

No one knows for sure what’s to become of the future Union Square pavilion, but a strong contender for the space – formerly occupied by the shabby Luna Park – is a new restaurant helmed by Danny Meyer, who opened the Union Square Café in ’85 and whose Shake Shack in Madison Square Park is an object of obsession. more ›

On this very day 105 years ago Thomas Edison electrocuted an elephant meant to give rides and carry heavy items on Coney Island...all in the name of science! His science. He came to Coney to prove George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla's alternating current (AC) was dangerous, whereas his competing direct current was completely safe. In fact, Edison was the one who convinced New York to use the dangerous and deadly AC for their electric chair.

Edison had established direct current at the standard for electricity distribution and was living large off the patent royalties, royalties he was in no mood to lose when George Westinghouse and Nicola Tesla showed up with alternating current. more ›

The early Thursday morning fight in Union Square was apparently set off by a diss. The Post reports that the victims were all affiliated with gangs and the "violence appeared to have stemmed from a show of 'disrespect.'" more ›

According to Carousel News, "The New York City Economic Development Corporation (“NYCEDC”) is seeking a consultant or consultant team for restoration and reconstruction of the historic B&B Carousell." more ›

Jill Cunniff keeps a blog (a "MamaLog") about being a mom and a musician in New York, but you probably know her best as the lead singer and bass player of early-90s band Luscious Jackson. The band broke up in 2000, but Jill is still creating and performing music - all while being a mom, a wife, and doing her part to clean up New York's beaches. more ›

Winter is usually a quiet time for New York graffiti-- but Deuce Seven has been warming up the scene for the last month. Pieces have appeared all over LES, Williamsburg, and even up on Williamsburg Bridge. No clue where the artist is from-- although the earliest pictures on Flickr seem to indicate a Midwest extraction-- possibly Minneapolis? more ›

On Monday, police were investigating a hit-and-run death on the West Side Highway. A man was hit by a southbound vehicle at West 12th Street at 3:45AM, and the police were trying to find out who was driving - and who the victim even was, as police didn't find any identification on the body. And now it looks like the victim was Brooklyn resident Josh Crouch. The Post reports that friends say he was headed to visit his girlfriend upstate (his packed bags were in his East Williamsburg apartment). Crouch had been "working as an emcee with the band Mindspray and also had a job at the restaurant Luna Park in Union Square." more ›

If you're a Coney Island history buff, you'll love this map of old Coney Island, complete with postcard images taken at various locations (click the red dots). We wish all the old amusement parks were still open: especially Dreamland, Luna Park, and Steeplechase. [Related: FNY on Coney Island, more FNY Coney Island, Coney Island's official website, some Coney Island pictures, and Coney Island at night.] more ›

Groups of citizens and politicians are gearing up to fight Union Square's planned restaurant on the north end. Protesters claim that the city should increase the amount of play space, instead of putting in Luna Park, which is part of the city's $14 million plan to restore the park. NY1 reports state Senator Thomas Duane as saying, "What is one thing we don't need in this neighborhood? Another incredibly expensive restaurant." Or does the Parks Department sense that the neighborhood will be willing to fork over dough for incredibly expensive cocktails on hot summer nights that can help fund other initiatives? The Parks Department says the restaurant won't be open all year, but officials are still reworking plans. The Villager's article harkens back to the park's protest past: Apparently the north end is where the first Labor Day demonstration took place in 1882. more ›

Learn more about Union Square from the Union Square Partnership, and Gothamist Food had an image of what the Greenmarket is like. And there are other greenmarkets all around the city; here's where they are (Gothamist Food on the Borough Hall one).
more ›

Hurricaine Isabel forced the Harvest in the Square Event to be rescheduled tonight. In its eighth year, Harvest in the Square brings Union Square area chefs to offer tastings of food prepared from Union Square Greenmarket Farmers Market, accompanied by Long Island and other New York Wines. Tickets are $90 in person (cash only), $75 in advance, and will benefit the Union Square Local Development Corporation, which is currently looking to enhance the North Plaza of Union Square Park. more ›

The Department of Mental Health and Hygeine has fined 524 NYC restaurants for violating the new no-smoking laws between May 1 and August 29. The Post reports that 40 of those restaurants are three time violators, which means they could be shut down. Some establishments (like movie theaters) are being ticketed for not having proper signage. Which may be why, as the Daily News says, why Blue Hill was fined as it doesn't seem like a place one would have smoked in pre-smoking ban in our book. The Health Department points out the fact that only a small fraction of the city's restaurants were fined shows many restaurants are complying.
more ›