A two-week project by British artist Luke Jerram places 60 pianos in public venues across the five boroughs. When we heard that one of these magical devices sat somewhere on the Riegelman Boardwalk in Coney Island, we knew we had to pay it a visit. If you’ve been to any of the events where Sheepshead Bites had a table, then you’ve probably met our self-appointed mascot, Jobana. She plunked down and started playing Enya’s “No Holly For Miss Quinn” before segueing into “Moonlight Sonata.” A crowd formed behind her, making it her first public audience in her life. Meanwhile, I got to take this pretty photo.
Facebook readers got a sneak peak at these photos I took during a bike ride to Coney Island.
View more photos of Coney Island
Courtesy of vampirebird via Flickr
We noted yesterday that, as part of the city’s rehabilitation plans, the Coney Island boardwalk will be rebuilt… soon. Well, we didn’t realize how soon. Giddy to play with its new toy, New York City Parks and Recreation Department quickly awarded the $13.7 million, two-year construction contract to T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., through its affiliate Triton Structural Concrete.
According to the San Diego, CA,-based company’s press release:
Work will begin immediately to demolish portions of the existing damaged wooden boardwalk; precast concrete slab units will be installed as the foundation of the 2.7-mile boardwalk to strengthen and stabilize it. The boardwalk’s existing hardwood timbers will be replaced by a combination of colored and textured pre-cast concrete slabs, custom exposed aggregate and sustainably harvested hardwood wood decking. The project duration is two years, however, Triton anticipates completing early in approximately fall 2010, dependent upon the weather and summer tourism.
First, we have to wonder whether this $13.7 million project could’ve waited until after we got ourselves out of the current financial boondoggle. Next, we ask why would you go with a company based outside of New York? Granted, sending taxpayer money off to California is a bit like charity these days, but we can put that to good use here at home.
If you haven’t yet heard of Grand Theft Auto IV, it’s one of the hottest video games out right now, and features all those things gamers love – high-quality graphics, explosions, violent mayhem, sex, and on and on – all based in New York City. But some good can come of America’s most graphic game. A member of the Coney Island USA message board posted a hilarious – and poignant – video of his efforts to destroy a Coney Island (Firefly Island in the game) gazebo, comparing it to the reality of those shoddy structures.
It’s slow to start, but hang in there to the end… it’s worth it.
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[via Kinetic Carnival][where: 11235][where: coney island]
