THE BEANS & CONEY ISLAND: THE MAGNIFICENT CYCLONE

The Grandma in Coney Island some decades ago

Today, The Grandma has chosen the activity of the family and she has decided to go to Coney Island because the weather is better and she wants to visit with her family all the fairs, attractions and the beautiful beach in winter. 

When the Grandma was young and she lived in New York City, she loved visiting Coney Island and its attractions. Now, she wants to share her memories and experiences with her new family. By the way, ironies of the destiny, the main attraction of Coney Island is the Cyclone, a roller coaster built in 1927. After suffering the effects of a real cyclone in New York City, The Grandma has thought that is a good idea enjoying with another kind of cyclone.

More information: Coney Island History

Coney Island is a peninsular residential neighbourhood, beach, and leisure/entertainment destination of Long Island on the Coney Island Channel, which is part of the Lower Bay in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. 

The Grandma opposite to the Cyclone in 1940

The site was formerly an outer barrier island but became partially connected to the rest of Long Island by land fill. The residential portion of the peninsula is a community of 60,000 people in its western part, with Sea Gate to its west, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach to its east, the Lower Bay to the south, and Gravesend to the north.

Coney Island is well known as the site of amusement parks and a seaside resort. The attractions reached a historical peak during the first half of the 20th century, declining in popularity after World War II and following years of neglect. 

In recent years, the area has seen the opening of MCU Park stadium which has become home to the Brooklyn Cyclones minor league baseball team, as well as the New York Cosmos professional soccer club. In addition, Coney Island has opened a new amusement park among several adjacent ones.

More information: Brooklyn Cyclones

Currently, Coney Island has two amusement parks, Luna Park and Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, as well as several rides that are not incorporated into either theme park. Coney Island also has several other visitor attractions and hosts renowned events as well. Coney Island's amusement area is one of a few in the United States that is not mostly owned by any one entity.

The Beans in Coney Island at sunset

The sand beach at the west end of Coney Island at Sea Gate is private, only accessible to residents. There is a broad public sand beach that starts at Sea Gate at West 37th Street, through the central Coney Island area and Brighton Beach, to the beginning of the community of Manhattan Beach, a distance of approximately 4.0 km. 

The beach is continuous and is served for its entire length by the broad Riegelmann Boardwalk. A number of amusements are directly accessible from the land-side of the boardwalk, as is the aquarium and a variety of food shops and arcades. There is a 400m long public beach further down in the community of Manhattan Beach.

More information: New York Cosmos

The public beaches are groomed on a regular basis by the city. Because sand no longer naturally deposits on the beach, it is replenished in regular beach nourishment projects using dredged sand. The south facing beach is without significant obstructions and is in sunlight all day.

The Beans enjoying Coney Island at night

The public beaches are open to all without restriction, and there is no charge for use. 

The beach area is divided into bays, areas of beach delineated by rock groynes, which moderate erosion and the force of ocean waves.

Nearby, the New York Aquarium, which opened in 1957 on the former site of the Dreamland amusement park, is another attraction on Coney Island.

More information: New York Aquarium

Coney Island is and always will be the people's playground. 

It's a place where people of all backgrounds come to have a good time. 

Harold Feinstein