Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
718/372-8606
) is an old-school, family-run operation that serves up top pies (no slices). The fresh mozzarella
and crisp crusts haven't lost a step through 85 years of operation. Small plain pies are $16.50, larges $19.50.
They're closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
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The Legendary Cyclone
The
Cyclone Roller Coaster
(
718/372-0275;
www.astroland. com) is the granddaddy of Coney Island amuse-
ments. Accelerating heart rates since 1927, it's the oldest and most-imitated roller coaster in the world. It's also
a quota-starved insurance underwriter's nightmare, with engineering limited to a pulling chain and gravity, but
still managing to get those rickety cars up to 60 mph. The supporting rails and wooden boards look mighty un-
trustworthy, but of course that's the thrill (and in truth, the safety record here is excellent). Rides are $8 a pop ($5
for a re-ride) for 1 minute and 50 seconds of action, so it's not exactly dirt cheap, though it's definitely memor-
able.
The Coney Island Skyline
Parachute jumps were developed as military-training devices, but leave it to America to convert them to fun. Coney Is-
land's parachute jump started out as a ride at the 1939 World's Fair in Queens before packing up for Brooklyn, where it
served thrill-seekers until 1964. The skeletal form that remains has an unexpected elegance. A recent design contest was
the first step in installing an architecturally ambitious new base, complete with a restaurant and visitor center. The jump
has been designated a historic landmark and it's the pride of the local skyline, so much so that it's sometimes called the
Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn.
The Eiffel Tower of Paris was the motivator for George Washington Gale Ferris, an engineer who took up the challenge
for America to respond to the Frenchies' innovations in steel. The famous wheels still bear his name and Coney Island's
version, the 1920s
WonderWheel
(
718/372-2592;
www.wonderwheel.com
)
, is one of the world's tallest at 150 feet.
From the ground it looks like a gentle spin, but as the cars slide on lateral rails they create a somewhat stomach-churning
effect. For panoramic views of the city and sea it's worth it (and if you opt for a white car you'll be spared the swinging).
The $6 cost to ride, however, is a matter of individual budgetary discretion.
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Souvenirs
