A Day At Coney Island in March 2013

Devastating storm Sandy hit Coney Island particularly hard. That was many months ago and the damage is still visible as many establishments are still boarded up. Yet, there's life as I discovered a few days ago.  

Coney Island has changed over the decades, but more rapidly in the last 10 years as more modern-looking buildings, new businesses move in replacing the very old and crusty one. 

I never lived near CI so I don't know what's better. For most of us, CI is a destination a few times a year. Yes, it's nice to see the very old and "traditional" but I don't know what experience the people who live there have. To put it another way, I do find it interesting when, say, visiting remote village somewhere where its inhabitants basically have a daily life unchanged for hundreds of years. I never assume they should play the part or remain as such for the tourists. It should be their choice.

As for Coney Island, there has been an ongoing debate in the last decade as to how to proceed with revitalizing the area. For many decades CI didn't change much.  [Here's a link to CI pictures through the ages]

 

The CI museum and place of odd attractions (it's the blue building with the face on it) has been one of the few old edifices still operational. It's worth the small price of admission to see artifacts and an occasional freak show.

CI is in Brooklyn, which is one of the 5 boroughs that comprise New York City. Yes, NYC isn't just Manhattan, but Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

Brighton Beach

About a mile east, it's the Brighton Beach community, where a strong population of Russians, and I suspect many others from the old Soviet Union, have settled. Most of the language heard on the boardwalk and in the adjacent streets is not English. The area under the elevated train looks very similar to other neighborhoods in Queens (that I'm familiar with) like Jackson Heights and Astoria where there is a strong ethnic flavor.

A portion of the boardwalk in Coney Island, looking West.

On a good summer day, especially during holidays and weekends the boardwalk is mobbed by people. It's many miles long and connects CI and BB.

Brooklyn is the westernmost part of Long Island [see map]. I can't say I know this borough well, even though I spent many years of my youth in Queens and the rest of the "island." I intent to revisit some of my old haunts this summer, and venture all the way to the "forks", the easternmost part of LI. It's a different country over there, though it's very familiar to me. Staten Island is the most ..remote borough and the oddity in NYC as it leans Republican.

Luna Park opened for the season a few days ago. Very thin attendance though.

Next to the new Luna Park there are a few old establishments for cheap entertainment

The beach, which is still free and open year round. I expected much more beach erosion. Sandy Hood looms in the distance.

 

Foggy Afternoon by the Hudson River

The river was absolutely placid at low tide. A couple hours earlier the fog was so dense that I couldn't see across and not much was visible to take pictures. As I was driving home late in the day, the fog had enveloped everything. Very thick. The cars' headlights piercing the veil only a few yards.

In the distance, the Bear Mountain bridge barely visible

Fishing pier in Peekskill

From an overview on 9A

Croton Point park south

Croton Point north

......
And, these from Harriman Park, NY, during sunset.

Awaiting for the World to End, Dec ? 2012...

Update 12/31/12

OK, here are a few more pictures I took recently after the snowstorm. Once again, the world didn't end, I guess. Why people believe this nonsense is beyond me. OK, give it time, it'll happen naturally, maybe in a billion years when the sun will begin to behave differently, or that humans will destroy their environment, but this is science as compared to astrology, superstition, and all sorts of other crap humans come up with.

Beacon, NY

Winter Garden, World Trade Center

Bryant park, 5/6 Aves

Times Square

Bear Mt bridge

 Bear Mt & Hudson river

*****

The arc and the holiday tree in Washington Square park.

The weather hasn't been all that bad, so walking around the city is enjoyable, though one must avoid the usual bottlenecks, like Rock Centre, Times Square, etc. I don't think I'll be taking that many pictures of the holiday-decorated city as I've taken tons in the prior years. 

Haven't done much either this season, not yet anyway. I'm looking forward to the break coming up.

I thought this collection of shops in the East Village was interesting. Part of the NYC experience is the variety (and often far out) shops, the different & distinct neighborhoods, and of course the people. Oh, yeah, the food too!

As some people are awaiting the end of the world in a few hours, I'm sort of preparing too, by drinking this:

Actually, I got home just a short while ago, tired and having "homework" up to my chin. It's the end of the semester and it's a very busy time. I'm also trying to finish as much as possible by Sunday, so I don't have to work during Festivus or during the first light of the winter solstice!

Glorious Autumn 2012

Yeah, good colors this autumn in the northeast, with several weeks of stunning natural beauty! Plus a reasonably good weather as a bonus, especially on the weekends when most people can get out to leaf peep!

The Hudson north of Bear Mountain bridge

I've done several road trips around the glorious Hudson valley and even parts of the Delaware river by Port Jervis and Pennsylvania. Work has been heavy for me with 12-hour work days often the norm. Various commitments and, of course, the elections are demanding the bulk of my time. Yet, taking personal time off is (should be) a priority. Haven't taken as many pictures as I'd have liked though. Here are a few:

Countryside

Croton dam

 

A Rare and Free Shakespeare's Globe Theate in Pleasantville, NY

Occasionally some of the best things are free, as this was the case with the troupe from the famous Shakespeare's Globe Theatre that is performing Hamlet in the US. Over the weekend--including today, Sunday, as I'm writing this--these fine actors are on Pace University's campus.

Performing Shakespearian theater al fresco!

The stage was erected on the lawn, in the open, with no amplified voices, and no artificial lighting. Thus, the weather is part of the show. I watched the play on Friday, much under very dark clouds and occasional drizzle. But, this is how much of theater was experienced in Shakespeare's time, indeed in the ancient world too.

By the way, if you ever happen to go to Greece and the Peloponnese, visit the ancient theater in Epidauros whose acoustics are amazing. It hasn't been modified in terms of seating or major renovations so when you sit all the way up you can still hear people's voices "on the stage", that is, down in the center of this amphitheater. 


Hamlet has a dark theme but it's a classic, of course. The Globe Theater actors are all great. I've seen quite a bit of theater on/off Broadway and their performance is professional and engaging. It may a few minutes to grasp some of the old language expressions but it's easy to follow the dialogue and the plot.

Pace university brought the Globe Theater to Pleasantville, in Westchester for thee free performances. I guess the catch is, bring-your-own-blankets/chairs, and take a chance with the weather. The actors perform in all weather, they said, though probably they meant light rain and wind, not a nor'easter.

In the following week, they'll take their stage and apply their trade indoors, in Pace's downtown campus, at the known Schimmel Center for the Arts  with tickets priced at $35-55. But, it'll be indoors with comfy seating. For me, it was a real treat to experience it outdoors. Bravo to Pace for bring us this.

Found Gold in Cape Cod

There's gold if you know where to look for it; it's true in Cape Cod and many other wonderful places. It's also having the right attitude towards life and those around us. Obviously, experiencing moments of awe are best with the right company, don't you agree?

Rock Harbor "beach" at low tide, which every time I've there is around sunset (summer).

RH is not technically a beach (hence it's a no-fee place). During the day there's sufficient water (depending on the tides) for swimming but as you can see from these two pictures you can walk for a mile out during low tide.

This area, inside the cape is far away enough from the mainland (MA) that sunsets over water are possible on the eastern coast. Also, there is a long stretch of many miles called "the flats" because there isn't much depth. On this general location there's the First Encounter beach--which is where the Mayflower Pilgrims encountered the natives in 1620. Most people don't know that the Mayflower hit Cape Cod first and anchored in Provincetown for 50 days before moving to the mainland and establishing the colony at Plymouth.

Changed the camera settings a bit, from "program" to "scenes/sunset" to get a slightly different pictures, but both are golden in my book.

Rock Harbor at high tide, around 11 am when the boats can finally leave the pier and go fishing.

South of the pictured old Coast Guard station

I took this picture above after hiking for a couple miles under a very hot sun to Indian Rock. This rock was used by the natives to sharpen tools and polish stuff. Those grooves and shiny surfaces are evident of that. This modern human used it to dry his soaking t-shirt--which was accomplished in a couple minutes given the high heat.  [Disclaimer: this rock is exposed to the elements and laying a wet cotton shirt on it didn't damage it, so please no complaints, thank you.]

Chatham beach, at the eastern part of the cape, looking at the Atlantic ocean

Chatham is at the easternmost Cape Cod; seems more upscale with expensive country clubs and estates. But, the best deal is at the Fish Market Pier where I had the best fish & chips ever--a big chunk of very fresh cod cooked to perfection! Twin lobster (steamed free) for $9/lb!

Nice seafood can be found in Wellfleet too whose oysters are world-famous. Nice little town with galleries and stuff.

A Day Trip to the Gunks and New Paltz

It felt on top of the world

The Mohonk gatehouse.

On the top of the Awosting Falls. Usually there's lots more water.

Tree roots from a local artist's collection.

The explanation of the origins and early use of tree roots (click on pix for larger size)

Unauthorized swimming in Lake Minnewaska

The Four Knots Fest 2012: An Underwhelming Experience that Shouldn't Even Be Associated with the Siren Music Fests

I've attended the Siren music fests since 2008 in Coney Island. Great experience they were all. Then the Village Voice that put them together moved the fest to South Street seaport last year and renamed it Four Knots. Many of us were disappointed by this decision and I didn't go as many of my friends didn't either. They took a successful event from CI and moved it to one of the worst locations in NYC.

If you could go into a zen mode shutting out the distractions, the music was good and the scenery (sans the tourist crowds) was nice. But, still this ain't no Siren music fest.

This past Saturday we decided to check it out against our initial resistance. We were right. This is a horrible location, not conducive to an alternative rock scene. It definitely does not feel right in any way shape or form. The crowds were mostly rushed tourists and shoppers, and people who usually go to the seaport to experience an overpriced outing of banality in NYC. So, yeah, if most people present at an event are not there specifically for it, while the area is specifically designed to grab tourist dollars, then there's a problem.

The VIP crowd on the Peking

Don't get me wrong, the bands were just as good as the ones I've seen before in CI, but they just didn't sound the same amid the noise of the FDR Drive and the cacophony of the tourist throngs. The second state seemed like an afterthought, crammed on the side between a restaurant and the Peking ship, right smack in the pathway of the crowds waiting to board the sightseeing boats. Tsk.

To top it off this disaster, Pier 17 had a fire [link to video] and the pier was closed though the fest went on after a long delay. 

That went on for 4 hours, closing most of the pier for the day.

The vendors were fewer and generally not interesting. I got a couple t-shirts though.

The Four Knots fest was named for the speed of the water current in the area. I don't know how fast the currents moved that day but the long lines of touring groups following their leader's flag had about that speed. Unless these hordes clashed with the crowds from the water taxis, and the sightseeing ships getting on-off the boats.... Never mind that we were there to experience a music fest not be knocked around like flotsam in the New York harbor.

4th of July 2012 Fireworks from the Skyway & Mid-Hudson Bridge

Through local activism and good leadership an old rail bridge was restored into walkaway that connects the towns of Poughkeepsie and Highland in Dutchess county, NY.  [NYS Parks link]


You can click on the images below to make them bigger...(at least it works in my IE & Firefox browsers).

The Mid-Hudson bridge around 9pm, looking south.

Standing on the walkaway (an old refurbished rail bridge which is higher than the pictured Mid-Hudson bridge) watching the fireworks on July 4th, 2012. There was a question whether people would be allowed on this because of the moving lightning storm in the area.

Lots of fireworks, on the Hudson river and on the banks near Poughkeepsie, NY.

There was a big lightning storm to the south that was going on throughout the late evening.

This is a great experience for those who want to walk at 212 feet (70 meters) high over the Hudson river. It's about 1.6 miles long but you don't have to do the whole thing. I've done it a few times and it's great. I found the best is to leave the car on the Highland side and walk towards Poughkeepsie, and then back.

At dusk in June near Highland, NY

Depending on the time of day and season, the views are different and of course fantastic.