May 9th, 2017 started off as a nice sunny day. I asked a friend if she’d like to walk to the boardwalk so we decided to meet at 4:30. We ended up meeting at 4:50 on Ave Y and Ocean Parkway. I noticed it got much chillier and the sun went in. We crossed the street and walked straight down Ocean Parkway until we hit the boardwalk. As we approached the train station underpass, I noticed the carved landscape of the beach and boardwalk squared off by mosaic tiles. I looked closer to admire the portrayal of people tanning and making sandcastles. A mermaid lays on the sand reminiscent of the mermaid parade. At the top where the boardwalk is chiseled, inscribed are the words “Side Show” as in the Coney Island circus sideshow, as well as what appears to be a lemonade stand and musician.
Cars zoomed by and as the light turned green we proceeded through the underpass. I noticed not many people were sitting on the Ocean Parkway benches as opposed to warmer days. I assumed there would not be many visitors at the boardwalk today. We reached the boardwalk, walking passed the “Welcome to Coney Island Beach” sign, and up the sand covered ramp. I felt the grainy sand move from underneath my sneakers. The wind on the boardwalk was even stronger than off. We mostly saw dog walkers and an occasional runner. As we continued down the boardwalk to the central area of Coney Island beach life, we noticed a photoshoot taking place for surf suits. Four men in surf suits walked off the beach toward a surfboard followed by two men with lighting umbrellas and a camera. All was well, until a fly flew into my mouth, something I had not anticipated tasting! I vigorously swished Poland spring water and thought of a nice hotdog instead.
We proceeded down the boardwalk and reached “Paul’s Daughter” which was closed, just as most of Coney Island’s shops. In contrast to our previous visits, it seemed as if the only place opened was Nathan’s. There wasn’t much music to be heard other than what seemed like the distant music from the Cyclones stadium. I remembered that Coney Island’s tourism is heavily dependent on the weather and was disappointed to not have been able to get the full experience of Coney Island’s entertainment off season. Strangely enough there was someone in the ticket booth of the closed Luna Park!
This final visit allowed me to notice things like boardwalk street signs such as “Polar Bear Club Walk” in honor of the brave polar bear plungers. Walking to the boardwalk made me aware of the environment leading up to and surrounding the boardwalk including Ocean Parkway, the underpass, and boardwalk signs. As we turned around and passed the aquarium with its jingling display (of silver pieces blowing in the wind which reminded me of a school of silver fish swimming) we heard the sound of people playing handball. Blowing away in the freezing wind, we ran to the end of the boardwalk and headed back home.
