CONEY ISLAND

Coney Island is as New York as pizza, expensive broker's fees or developing needless sports arenas in residential neighborhoods. Unlike the latter however, Coney Island is a great place to go on a hot, beautiful labor-day weekend.

Me and several of my friends went early to catch a minor league baseball game (Brooklyn Cyclones 5, Staten Island Yankees 0). After the game we hung around old Astroland and I took photos as 4 of the 6 of us went for one final twirl on the legendary Cyclone roller coaster. For 6 dollars you can ride on the wooden dinosaur and then stay on for another ride for just a buck.

They are closing down the ride after the season. Next year they are knocking down most of Astroland and the buildings lining the oldest boardwalk in the country. I don't exactly know what the area is gonna look like when the development is finished, but i can guarantee it will not be nearly as fun or as affordable. Most of the Coney Island boardwalk amusement is free...that is, it doesn't cost anything to sit on the rail and people watch, or lay on the beach and catch some sun and watch a sunset, or enjoy seeing all the tourists throw their money away on carnival games like "Shoot The Freak."

We didn't go in the water (I wouldn't recommend it) and we didn't eat at Nathan's. We did see some fun baseball, drank a few fruity drinks on the pier and caught a few street acts along the way. Good day...good day indeed.