It seems like a hallucination. Maybe it is. A shipping container had been pulled into Luna Park in Coney Island. The doors were opened and workers threw a mountain of large plush dogs, wrapped in plastic bags, onto the pavement. Ellie calls them stuffies (she has her own mountain of them) and wanted one so badly. Won’t fit in the suitcases, kid.
One of Ellie’s favorite rides at Coney Island, which she went on over and over. This photo can only offer a hint at the high speed loops and curls to come after this spiral ascent. She thought it was great fun, in part because she is 64 years younger than me.
On Tuesday, we took granddaughter Ellie to Coney Island, on the Atlantic shore of Brooklyn. (There is no island in sight.) It is home to a string of amusement areas that have been around since the early 20th Century. I loved our rare family visits when I was a kid. Ellie went on the wildest rides over and over, things that would twist my stomach and spine.
Coney Island is also home to another American institution, Nathan’s hot dogs. On the Fourth of July, our Independence Day, Nathan’s has a hot dog eating contest. How many sausages and buns can you cram down your throat in 10 minutes? It’s on national TV and is a bizarre spectacle. The men’s winner put away 54, which was nowhere near the record. See https://tinyurl.com/587rxebs
After leaving Brighton Beach, the group walked a mile down the oceanfront boardwalk to Coney Island. My back and I took the subway. The area is lined with amusement rides and arcades and, of course, Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs. (Ever watch the Fourth of July hot dog eating contest?) None of the attractions were open, probably waiting for our Memorial Day weekend later this month. I used to love to go there when I was a kid. This refreshment stand didn't have a lot of business yet but the attendant was a great subject.
