Whenever I hear Lou Reed sing the praises of Coney Island, my thoughts go back to that pleasantly warm and sunny day at the end of last year‘s bathing season, when I visited this magic, nostalgic, all-American seaside town on the southern tip of Brooklyn, New York.
It takes less then an hour with the subway to get from hipster Manhattan to this lovely, a bit run down shanty place, that the first Dutch settlers called Konijneiland, due to the numerous rabbits (= konijnen) that they saw hopping around there.
With great joy I walk through the nearly deserted streets where dubious sideshows attract the eye of the curious visitor, presenting „the smallest man in the world“ and „the woman with the snakeskin“. I stroll along legendary places like the famous Surf Hotel and Nathan‘s, where the hotdog was „invented“, up to the Cyclone, America‘s most legendary rolercoaster, that is completely made of wood. A few steps away, the Wonder Wheel has made it‘s last round for this year, just like the moonrocket of Astroland, that I can see through the closed gates. Nobody knows if they will ever open again, since the fast New York real estate guys have their eyes on the area. As far as they are concerned, it should be stuffed with ugly hotelbuildings as soon as possible. They don‘t care for the old times.
But still it is not that far yet and for now the 262 feet high Parachute Jump still adorns the beach of Coney Island. It was built for the World Exhibition of 1939 and unquestionably recalls times long gone in the minds of many Brooklynites, that drove out with thousands on a Sunday in the fities and sixties to enjoy the cool Atlantic breeze.
I get a bit sentimental and melancholic, walking on the wooden seapromenade while the sun slowly goes down. I can almost hear the music and people laughing on the fairground; I can almost see the flickering lights of the attractions while the sweet smell of spun sugar tickles my nose. As dusk is falling I take a sip of my ice cold, homemade lemonade and wish I would never have to leave. Such a perfect day.
Coney Island Promenade © Balanda 2007
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