As uncertain as things seem to be about whatever the
future holds for Coney Island as an amusement area
neighborhood especially with the current financial
crisis - at least one thing seems to remain unchanged in
the area: the annual Mermaid Parade, which takes place
this Saturday as it has been for almost three decades..
For the few who have never attended, the parade
(which celebrates its 28th anniversary this year), this
festival of hand-made costumes and well, very little
clothing - marks the true beginning of summer- on a
recent edition, a group of women used an intergalactic
theme in plastic outfits that must have been scorching
under 80-degree weather), assorted sea creatures and
random political commentary.
I love the people, I love being in the parade, waving
to the kids, taking photo's with tourists, dancing at
Ruby's at the end of the day, says freelance illustrator
Molly Crabapple. Everyone is feeling fabulous, showing
off their fins. People are there to have a good time and
they do. It's a very positive day. The worst thing for
me is the weird tan lines I end up with from my costume!
The Annual Mermaid Parade will be followed by the
Mermaid Ball, which this year takes place in two
separate sessions at The Dreamland Roller Rink, which is
located at the Childs Building - 3052 West 21st St at
the boardwalk
The ball begins as the parade wraps according to
information on the parade's website,
Weather allowing, it will surely bring large crowds
in an event that is usually very crowded here are some
tips for first-time participants:
1.Access to the parade is simple enough, but mass
transit is advisable on this case, since it is one of
the busiest days on Coney Island, and parking might be a
daunting task. Subway trains servicing the area are the
N,Q,F and D trains. The B64 bus is also a relatively
fast option, taking an average of 30 minutes from Bay
Ridge to Coney.
2.While delis will be selling alcoholic beverages, it
is also advisable to remind that open containers are
still illegal on parade grounds, even if brown-bagged or
poured into paper cups. The police usually looks the
other way as long as revelers behave, but summonses have
been given out. To stay out of potential trouble, you
can patronize Nathan's Famous hot dog stand or other
vendors in the area.
3. Timing is crucial for the best enjoyment. I
recommend they get there early to secure a good viewing
spot, bring their camera, sun-block and water, says
Pontani. I think it's great for a first- timer to watch
the parade and participate the following year.
4. If you can afford it, be a judge (for a donation
of $ 100 to Coney Island USA)and sit in the reviewing
stands, says local emcee Fred Kahl, AKA The Great
Fredini. You get a birds-eye view of the whole
parade and get all the great bribes for participants
wanting to win a prize. Molly Crabapple also suggests
participating as a judge, but she says that it's the
most fun to perform.
5. Bathrooms can be a problem. There are public
restroom facilities at Nathan's and on the boardwalk.
You can also use the facilities at Astroland and Deno's
for a fee of 25 cents. As America's largest Art parade,
there's so many wonderful sights to see and its all
created by independent artists for everyone to enjoy,
says Kahl. The only bad thing I can think of is the line
for the bathroom
A lot of things [in Coney] have changed over the
years and with such changes going on, I imagine we are
going to be looking at a lot more, says Pontani. The
parade itself has changed a in the past decade alone, in
terms of participants, the route, the crowds. I only
hope it continues to grow, gain popularity and fans. I
believe it will remain one of the staple events that
people love and associate with Coney Island.
reprinted from The Brooklyn Paper
