Tag: coney-island

Step right up: “Natural Born!” book brings Coney Island sideshow to life

ShortyHandStand

Jun. 18, 2025 By Olivia Seaman Step into Coney Island on a summer day and you’ll hear it — screams from the Cyclone, music blasting from boardwalk speakers. Walk down Surf Avenue and you’ll see a different kind of spectacle: Sideshows by the Seashore. Inside, you’ll see performers twirling fire or hammering nails into…

For some, the Parkview Diner is Coney Island’s ‘home away from home’

parkview diner sign

Jun. 17, 2025 By Olivia Seaman For many in Coney Island, the Parkview Diner isn’t just a place to grab pancakes or a burger — it’s home.  The 24-hour diner has become an institution, serving good food and community to generations of Brooklynites. And according to co-owner Adam Fathelbab, that legacy runs deeper than…

Mermaids and glitter abound as the Coney Island Mermaid Parade returns on June 21

coney island mermaid parade

Jun. 17, 2025 By Kirstyn Brendlen The creatures of the Atlantic Ocean will shimmy up the beach and onto the boardwalk on June 21 as the 43rd annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade returns to mark the unofficial start of summer in Brooklyn. Around 5,000 participants are hard at work sewing together their homemade costumes…

Frankly unbeatable: Joey Chestnut to return to Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

joey chestnut at nathan's hot dog eating contest

Jun. 16, 2025 By Olivia Seaman The countdown to one of Brooklyn’s most iconic summer events is on — and its star eater is back. The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest is set to return to Coney Island next month, promising the fanfare and fierce competition locals have come…

Sun and surf return as Brooklyn’s beaches open for swimming on May 24

coney island beach

May. 20, 2025 By Kirstyn Brendlen Summer has arrived in New York City — unofficially, at least — and Brooklyn’s beaches will open for swimming on Saturday, May 24. Lifeguards will take their stands at Coney Island beach, Brighton Beach, and Manhattan Beach at 10 a.m. that day, and the beaches will be open…

Runners contend with brutal heat and humidity at 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon

runners at brooklyn half marathon

May. 19, 2025 By Kirstyn Brendlen More than 28,000 people participated in the 44th annual Brooklyn Half Marathon on May 17, a race beset by grueling conditions that claimed one runners’ life.  When the first wave started the race in Prospect Park at 7 a.m., the temperature was already 66 degrees Fahrenheit with 90%…

Coney Island History Project kicks off summer season with two new exhibits exploring urban change and streetscapes

Coney Island History Project

May. 19, 2025 By Gabriele Holtermann The Coney Island History Project is ringing in the summer season with two new art exhibits opening May 24, Memorial Day weekend. The project combines street photography, cyanotypes, native plants and poetry, exploring the lesser-known natural and urban sides of Coney Island. It’s part of the new Wonder…

The 2025 RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon: Your guide to road closures, runners, and more

brooklyn half marathon finish line

May. 15, 2025 By Kirstyn Brendlen More than 28,000 people will race from Prospect Park to Coney Island during the New York Road Runners’ RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon on Saturday, May 17, passing through some of the borough’s most iconic landmarks on the way. The race started in 1981 as a fairly modest affair.…

Across Brooklyn, crime dipped slightly in April, though downward trend slowed

crime police officer brooklyn

Apr. 30, 2025 By Kirstyn Brendlen Reports of major felonies across Brooklyn were down 3% in April, compared to the same period last year — but while crime has been down every month this year, the decrease is shrinking as warmer weather approaches. In January, violent crime in Kings County was down 27% year-over-year.…