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Tags: Fourth of July Travel / Competitive Eating / Hot Dogs / Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest / Ringling Brothers / Circus / Coney Island / → All Tags
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Throws Pachyderms in the Mix This Year
BBQs and fireworks are great, but for us the most thrilling part of the Fourth of July has always been the gluttonous spectacle that is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island.
If you’ve ever watched grown men down 60 hot dogs in 10 minutes at this annual New York freakshow and thought “I wish this could be weirder,” this year you’re in luck. The 2009 contest will be preceded on July 3 by a hot dog bun eating contest, in which three professional eaters will take on three semi-professional eaters: elephants from the Ringling Brothers Circus.
Tags: Coney Island / Roller Coasters / Theme Parks / Amusement Parks / Videos / → All Tags
Theme Parks Travel: Astroland (Probably) Closes Its Doors
The rumors have been flying since last season, but this year it seems that the stories are true. Astroland, the theme park of New York City, closed down over the weekend. The New York Times reports that the park owners just couldn't get things worked out with the group that was funding the park this year.
The Albert family, owner of the park, sold the land to Thor Equities in 2006 for about $30 million, so this has all really just been a matter of time.
Tags: End of Summer Travel / Coney Island / Roller Skating / Bollywood / → All Tags
End of Summer Travel: Coney Island's Dreamland Roller Rink
Thousands of New Yorkers and visitors have flooded Coney Island this summer to get one last fix of the freakish festival, before many of the old-school attractions are knocked down to make way for newer, shinier rides next year. (Or maybe not, they can't seem to make up their minds about this thing.)
But one new Coney Island venue is already here, and we can say that this newcomer is definitely in the cheesy, lo-fi tradition that made Coney Island famous.
Tags: Newyorkology / New York City / Coney Island / → All Tags
This Week in New York
Here's this week's NewYorkology update from Amy Langfield:
Sure, it snowed in New York on Wednesday, yet still it's time for Opening Day at Coney Island. The once-fancy playground, now creepy seaside funhouse in transition, will kick off the season with the First Annual Coney Island USA Band Organ Rally, a mini-hot dog eating contest. The Cyclone roller coaster takes off for its first ride of the season at noon on Palm Sunday.
Perfectly timed for the occasion, Brooklyn Industries, known for making limited edition hipsterwear, has launched a Coney Island T-shirt design line this week.
Of course later this summer, the beach will be packed , as Nathan's will host the annual gorge fest on the Fourth of July. For the first time this year, Coney Island will host a pro beach volleyball tournament as well, in the dog days of August.
More travel headlines from New York this week:
A hotel package with an in-flight Carnegie Deli meal
Brookhaven heavy ion collider tour set for August
The view from historic Olana in Hudson River Valley
New Shea stadium to evoke Ebbets Field
[Image via sogaralnick/Flickr]
