Treks & The City - Episode #4

Out There Having Fun In The Warm Coney Island Sun

As a staunch Cali boy, Your Humble Observer equates summer with sun, 3-digit temperatures, swimming pools, lake trips, and khorovadz (BBQ). Now, while I'm sure all that is possible in this concrete jungle, I've experienced none of that as of yet. Let's face it between birthing babies, studying for Step, and mending the broken-hearted*, there hasn't exactly been much time for summertime activities. So what a breath of fresh air it was to take the short drive to Brooklyn's historic Coney Island for a day of boardwalks, beach, amusement park rides, and, of course, hot dogs and lemonade.

For those who don't know about Coney Island, here's a quick and dirty Wikipedia explanation:

"Coney Island is a peninsula, formerly an island, in southernmost Brooklyn with a beach on the Atlantic Ocean. The area was a major resort and site of amusement parks...Today, the amusement area contains various rides, games such as skeeball, ball tossing, and a sideshow...

Three of the rides at Coney Island are protected as designated NYC landmarks and recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

-Wonder Wheel, opened in 1920. This steel Ferris wheel has both stationary cars and rocking cars that slide along a track. It holds 144 riders, stands 150 feet (46 m) tall, and weighs over 2,000 tons. At night the Wonder Wheel's steel frame is outlined and illuminated by neon tubes.

-The Cyclone roller coaster, built in 1927, is one of the nation's oldest wooden coasters still in operation. A favorite of some coaster aficionados, the Cyclone includes an 85-foot (26 m), 60 degree drop.

-The Parachute Jump was the first ride of its kind. Patrons were hoisted 190 feet (58 m) in the air before being allowed to drop using guy-wired parachutes. Although the ride has been closed since 1968, it remains a Coney Island landmark and is sometimes referred to as "Brooklyn's Eiffel Tower."

With my trusty companion S.A. (see Living for the Today) at my side, the day began with a quick lunch at Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs where I enjoyed a corn-dog and a lemonade. The hot dog stand is the site of the annual 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest.

After a quick stop at the "Shoot The Freak" stand (please don't make me explain this, it pains me just to think that it exists) and a bit of walking around the amusement park area, we took a quick tour of the New York Aquarium (and may I just say...God Bless Monterey, CA).

The day was rounded out with some serious walking up and down the boarwalk, and a 200 oz vanilla ice cream cone. It was great to finally get out into the sun, enjoy the weather, and see what Jerry Seinfeld was talking about (see "The Subway").

*More on my Cardiology rotation later