Coney Island

Sea Gate is an isolated private community on the edge of Coney Island in Brooklyn. Boasting a private beach club, it is separated from the rest of the island by a big fence that is manned by private guards. Coney Island is best known for its beach and a boardwalk lined with pleasant, although shabby, food stands, games and rides. In recent years, developers, with support from the city, have worked to revitalize this once deteriorating area with renovations, restorations, and new constructions. There is a new amusement park and the aquarium, which was really worn down when I was there last, is finally being renovated. People still go to KeySpan Park to root for the Cyclones. Families hang out at Kaiser Park. In Sea Gate, most of the housing is in the form of detached Tudor houses with two or three storeys. The population in Sea Gate is mostly Russian and Orthodox Jew, while the rest of the island is predominantly African American. In the rest of Coney Island, there are public housing projects, low cost housing developments, small private homes, and large co-op and condo buildings. In Coney Island, the housing, for the most part, is incredibly cheap. Prices have gone up over the past few years, particularly with the revitalization efforts, but they are still far more affordable than most comparable New York City towns. As far as the school district, P.S. 100 and Mark Twain middle school are supposed to be great, but the rest of the schools aren't too good.

I honestly don't know anyone who lives on Coney Island, though apparently there are quite a few residents in the neighborhood (not an actual island, by the way). Coney Island has seen some massive changes in the past few years, and fun here has morphed into a more family-friendly state-of-the-art kind of carnival thing - but it's still the best place in the city to get a hot dog by most accounts.

Even if many of the old school Coney Island tourist attractions have closed shop, it's still a grand nostalgic sort of place - and a must-see for anyone who has never been to the city. It's quite possibly one of the coolest spots in Brooklyn (though, admittedly not my personal fave).

You may not want to live there, but few landmarks represent the slower pace of life in an older New York quite like Coney Island. It is the New York City of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Tamanany Hall, ice cream cones and unions. It is a New York that is particularly dear to the hearts of second and third-generation New Yorkers; Coney Island is the sort of place one can easily envisage his grandfather or grandmother visiting. This has its drawbacks, though. Coney Island is somewhat run down. The news of its death, however, have been greatly exaggerated; while the famous Astroland Park has shut down, several are still around - roller coasters, cotton candy, and all. There's something a bit dismal about Coney Island - it's a shadow of its former self - but when the sense of nostalgia can be channeled into a sense of quirky blast-from-the-pasts, it's certainly worth a trip with the kiddies or alone. Try the famous Wonder Wheel for gorgeous heights and seaside vistas. Or the Cyclone Roller Coaster, if you're brave enough. With bumper cars, haunted houses, and arcades, there's bound to be something for even the most crotchety of amusement park goers.

With beautiful views of the water and a culture steeped in a fantastic tradition, ever-changing Coney Island is a wonderful place all year round.

Coney Island, a peninsula near Long Island, is home to a diverse cross-section of residents. Built as a resort for the Manhattan residents of all classes and those who couldn’t afford a Hamptons getaway, Coney Island, namely at the turn of the nineteenth century, was viewed as a wonderful oasis for city dwellers and locals alike. With amusement parks, movie theaters, shopping on the boardwalk, great restaurants, and a family feeling, Coney Island remained a staple in New York City consciousness for decades, considered the prime location for recreation in the city.

As time progressed, safety decreased, and rides began to deteriorate, Coney Island became a less-desirable location for residents of New York and for visitors. The neighborhood’s residential composition remained the same and still today is home to a mainly African-American, Hispanic, and Italian population. Real Estate on the island varies through its four neighborhoods and depending on the unit, as many people live in town homes, beach side towers, or multiple family apartment homes. Owning an apartment would cost no less than $500,000 on Coney Island, though renting and subletting is significantly cheaper with prices as low as $600 per month on some studio units.

Entertainment on Coney Island is still centered around the water front, with rides still open today. The two and half miles stretch of beach which has entertained generations of people between West 37th Street to the beginning of the Manhattan Beach, one will find rides, outdoor entertainment, and family fun. Coney Island is home to several sights, and is fun for all ages.

Coney Island is deeply apart of the traditions important to all city dwellers: the sense of community. Coney Island is a family-oriented neighborhood with several schools, parks, and community organizations based in youth engagement. This neighborhood is a wonderful place to live, but also a wonderful place to visit.

Sightseeing:
New York Aquarium - 602 Surf Ave.
Astroland Amusement Park - 1000 Surf Ave.
Totonno's Pizzeria Napolitano - 1524 Neptune Ave.

Dining:
Cha Cha’s Club Atlantis - 1229 Riegelmann Boardwalk
Ruby's Old Tyme Bar and Grill - 1213 Riegelmann Boardwalk