Coney Island

Yesterday my BFF and I took a little trip (via subway) to Coney Island, Brooklyn.  Our first stop was Nathan's Famous Hot Dog stand (natch).  However, I was DEVASTATED to learn that they no longer have the Chow Mein Sandwich...

The Chow Mein Sandwich (above) probably went on the Nathan's menu during the Americanized "Chinese Food" craze of the 30's and 40's when dishes like Chop Suey and Chow Mein (which are totally not Chinese at all) first became popular.

I always ordered the Chow Mein Sandwich because the Coney Island Nathan's was the only place in NYC you could get one (it didn't taste that great - but it was unique).  The person behind the counter said they took it off the menu a few months ago (after probably 70 years!).  I was so upset that I wouldn't even eat a Nathan's hot dog - I had a burger instead.

Dessert was my old stand-by - a banana soft-serve cone at Denny's on Surf Avenue.  LOVES the pink cash register...

The overcast skies kept the huge crowds away from the boardwalk. That's the landmarked but defunct Parachute Jump in the background - AKA "The Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn".

Sideshows by the Seashore - and old-school Freak Show...

The Beach was also not crowded, and unfortunately the weather kept the Papis pretty well covered. Damn...

I took this picture from the Steeplechase Pier.  The tall buildings in the background are the Coney Island Housing Projects - some of the roughest Projects in the city.  But with FANTASTIC views...

The overcast skies didn't bother me one bit - it kept the temperature down, and we weren't planning on hanging on the beach anyway.  All in all, the BFF and I had a nice day.