"Serious Whimsy: Group Show Opening Sunday at Littlefield in Gowanus.

"The artists in this show are driven --these objects are the inevitable manifestation of their unique, often obsessive drives. "

I would also like to add that I am in this show and I invite you all to come to the opening!

This show is curated by Cat Weaver of the Art Machine blog. Artists in the show include: Gail Rothschild, Justin Gignac, Kit Warren, Mark DiBattista, Stephanie Homa and Sztuka Fabryka.

When: Sunday, December 5th from 6 to 9pm.
Where: Littlefield Art & Performance Space - 622 DeGraw Street, between 3rd & 4th Avenues.
A Free Event
Click here for more information.

Sad Irony on Thanksgiving Eve

This blew my mind today when I passed by the Montauk Club.

They did NOT vacate yet! Ruby's Open This Saturday

Coney Island Lover/Tour Guide Captain Bob wants you to help SAVE RUBY'S!.

I do not know the details as to whether, Ruby's Bar and Grill got an extension on their eviction orders or not but I would just like to get the word out that Ruby's will be open tomorrow- Saturday, November 20th from 11am on. is supposed to be sunny tomorrow, go and show your love and support for a business that should remain.

Continue to call your elected officials and spread the word about this petition.

List of Elected Officials and Involved parties.

Marty Markowitz ("Mr. I love Brooklyn" STILL has not said anything publicly)
askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
718-802-3700

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr
drecchia@council.nyc.gov
718-373-9673

Zamperla amusements
zamperla@zamperlausa.com
973-334-8133 ext 201

Coney Island Development Corporation
212-312-4233
info@thecidc.org

Christine Quinn
212-564-7757
cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us

Third Street

Farewell To Paul's Daughter? Hope Not.

I attended the party for what may be but hopefully not the last weekend Coney Island icon snack bar Paul's Daughter this past Saturday afternoon. As a thank you EVERYTHING was on the house. Hot dogs, french fries, cotton candy, lemonade, beer - all gratis as a thank you to customers from the Paul's Daughter family.
Oh man these signs are so beautiful..what will happen to them?


A F.I.B commenter on a previous post about the party and described the scene, it pretty much sums up the feeling;" It was such a beautiful day at Coney today, and the party at Paul's Daughter was so gracious. The food was free, and very delicious - such generosity of spirit. I hope they don't have to leave Coney - that a miracle happens."
Ruby's was also open again this weekend and I heard a rumor that food was going to be free at another business that has been evicted, The Gyro Corner, today (Sunday).

Show your support for the small family businesses of Coney Island who have stuck it out through the years, please sign this petition.

Snyder Avenue

The Diplomat Lanes on Snyder Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues has been closed for a few years but the signage remains.

"Paul's Daughter" Party * Saturday * Coney Island Boardwalk * Show Your Support* Free Eats

Paul's Daughter (formerly Gregory & Paul's)is the snack bar that has been in front of the former Astroland (now Luna Park) for 41 years with the iconic happy hamburger man on the roof, the beautiful hand painted signs and serves up classic Coney Island food, you know, the kind that the new UPSCALE restaurants will mimic and charge double for.

They are having a party this Saturday afternoon at 12:30 pm and they saying the food will be "on the house".

Show your support and pay your respects. It may be one of the last times you will see it in all it's glory.

Photo from Paul's Daughter family's collection on their Facebook page

And also a reminder- SIGN THIS PETITION!

Last Call (perhaps) at Ruby's Bar & Grill.

Michael Sarrel, bartender, co-owner




You can say that again sister...

This past Saturday was perhaps the last day of business at Ruby's Bar & Grill. I got there in the mid afternoon and missed the heartfelt speeches made by Coney Island historian, Charles Denson and bar founder Ruby's daughter, Melody Sarell, which you can watch here.

Myself, I felt angry and sad that this place may very will be taken away from Coney Island along with Paul's Daughter (there over 40 years), Gyro Corner, Shoot the Freak, Cha-Cha's, Beer Island and the Grill House. It didn't seem real, the Ruby's family were gracious to the very end and worked as if it was any other day. I had a few words with Ruby's son-in-law, co-owner and bartender, Michael Sarrel before I left and I asked him how he felt, he said he felt "happy and sad" and I said I felt angry and why did he feel happy? He said that he was happy with how they were going out- if this was the end-with a nice crowd with the right people and he thanked me for coming before continuing to pack away the outdoor furniture for perhaps the very last time. A class act.

Still I am mad. I am mad that the people who have stuck out through the bad times in Coney Island and SHOULD BE LANDMARKED are being asked to leave. Authenticity is being sacrificed for most likely a re-creation. Will the new places have old photographs of Coney Island and hand painted signs? I would put money on it that they will. But they won't be THE REAL THING. They will be simulations in corporate chain restaurants. UP SCALE is the word Italian developer and evictor Zamperla,is loving to use, when describing what they "envision for Coney Island".

As Ruby's daughter Melody said in her speech, Ruby's is still not going down without making some noise. Please sign the petition if you haven't and pass it on to anyone you may know. Ruby's and all the evicted businesses are important parts of the flavor of Coney Island and we can't just let C.I become another mall without a fight.

Sign the petition here.

More photos of Ruby's can be seen here.

The REAL Coney Island.

Paul's Daughter, originally uploaded by lisanneMcT.

This is a photo of real people enjoying Coney Island. BUt noooooooooooo a European company says that this is not what Coney is about. THIS does not fit into "their vision" of Coney Island.

Excuse me but THIS is why people love Coney Island. Hand Painted signs, family run businesses, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, knishes, french fries and beer.

I am still so upset about the recent eviction notices to all the businesses on the boardwalk.

Tomorrow may very well be (although I am hoping otherwise) the last day that Ruby's Bar and Grill is open.

GO and show your support if you can tomorrow and if you haven't already SIGN THIS PETITION!

Zombie Librarians Converge at City Hall

Wondering how the Zombie Librarian walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall on Halloween to protest possible budget cuts went? I figured since I received comments in a recent blog post about the state of the libraries like the following, some of you might be interested.

F.I.B reader Ben Franklin said,
"Props to the Brooklyn Collection for making do as they can but BPL is already being treated shamefully-- I won't even get into the highly variable state of the branches-- but everyone should be ashamed, and furious, the situation has gotten so bad."

These photos and review of the day are from the group Save NYC Libraries .
" Over 50 zombies converged at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn to moan about new cuts to library budgets in NYC. “More Libraries, More Brains!” they grumbled, shambling across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall in support of maintaining library funding at it’s current level for the remainder of the fiscal year. The local zombie community has been under threat of a severe brain shortage following recent cuts to library services, and they fear starvation if new cuts are allowed to go through.

Midyear budget adjustments are projected to cut a further 5.4% from local library budgets, resulting in continuing cuts in service hours on weekends, materials budgets, and more layoffs.

If even the undead community supports library services, we must be doing something right. let’s prevail upon our elected officials to make sure that libraries remain fully funded so we can continue to provide the essential services and community that New Yorkers have come to rely on."

Go to their website for more information on the budget cuts and more photos of the zombie march.

Help Save Ruby's Bar & Grill

I still have not heard much news on any changes in the evictions happening on the Coney Island Boardwalk. Many people are wondering what they can do to help. The only thing I know of so far is this petition put together by friends and patrons of Ruby's Bar and Grill. Please sign it here.

*This message just came in via a comment from Ruby's Host, a name I recogonize from the Coney Island Message Board about a rally happening this Saturday out at Ruby's on the boardwalk. Message is as follows:

"RALLY TO SAVE RUBYS and TELL ZAMPERLA, MARKOWITZ, CIDC, RECCHIA & BLOOMBERG HOW WE FEEL ON NOV. 6th ANYTIME AFTER 1 pm - RUBYS WILL BE OPEN - COME ON OUT!"

See you there!

Also please contact the following elected officials and businesses and tell them why these evictions are wrong.

Rubys has been told they have 15 days to get out. If you want to see them stay they need your help please CALL or send letters to:

Central Amusement International

49 Fanny Road
Booton, NJ 07005
ATTN: Valerio Ferrari & to Mayor Bloomberg

Marty Markowitz
askmarty@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
718-802-3700

Domenic M. Recchia, Jr
drecchia@council.nyc.gov
718-373-9673

Zamperla amusements
zamperla@zamperlausa.com
973-334-8133 ext 201

Coney Island Development Corporation
212-312-4233
info@thecidc.org

Christine Quinn
212-564-7757
cquinn@council.nyc.ny.us

You can also continue to check in to Coney Island watchdog blog Amusing the Zillion as I am sure Tricia Vita will hopefully have more information as the week goes on as well as The Coney Island Message Board.

This message just came in via a comment from Ruby's Host, a name I recogonize from the Coney Island Message Board about a rally happening this Saturday out at Ruby's on the boardwalk. Message is as follows:

"RALLY TO SAVE RUBYS and TELL ZAMPERLA, MARKOWITZ, CIDC, RECCHIA & BLOOMBERG HOW WE FEEL ON NOV. 6th ANYTIME AFTER 1 pm - RUBYS WILL BE OPEN - COME ON OUT!"

Cherished Mom & Pop Businesses Booted from the Coney Island Boardwalk

This business with it's beautiful signs needs to stay!
Today nine out of 11 businesses on the Coney Island boardwalk received letters from Italian amusement company, Zamperla/CEI, which leases the property from the city. These tenants have lost their leases and have only until Nov. 15 to vacate the property. Businesses that received these letters are all part of the heart and character of Coney particularly Ruby's and Gyro Corner. These businesses are all family run and are being asked to leave in 15 days after years of business. The only ones allowed to stay are Nathan's and Lola Starr boutique.

First it was Freddy's now it's Ruby's!

This is just so wrong. These businesses are what make Coney Island, CONEY ISLAND! What? Are they going to open a bar that is *like* Ruby's, with vintage looking photos of Coney Island along the walls, while Ruby's, which has been on the boardwalk for 76 years, has the REAL THING? Can we please be SPARED an "upscale" Coney Island? The reason I LOVE Coney Island is that it is NOT upscale and also because of its' unique energy that generates from the combination of being a place for ALL New Yorkers (not just the rich) and the presence of the family owned businesses on the boardwalk. This just kills me because I know whatever businesses that they end up putting in there are probably going to just replicate what they are replacing while taking away the authentic patina built up through the years.

I am not one to be nationalistic but this time I am making an exception. How can the city allow a European owned company to execute "their vision" of what they think Coney Island should represent?!

The Atlantic Yards project also extinquished cherished family run businesses and also happens to have foreign investors (from Russia). Excuse me but do I see a pattern here? Is the future of New York going to be outsourced?

Read more at Amusing the Zillion and The Daily News.