Hot Day For A Hot Dog: My 90 Degree Day At Coney Island

Posted by Andrew Hickey on Aug 6, 2009 in Travel |

Wow what a hot day in Brooklyn! Seriously the humidity was unbearable and the sun was just scorching hot. As I walked off the chilly F train and out of the Still Avenue Coney Island train station, I was wondering to myself, “why exactly did I choose today of all days to come out here for lunch.”

But once I saw that lovely landmark that goes by the name of Nathan’s across the street with its red neon lights (some working and some not) and long lines of hungry locals and tourists, all of the uncomfortable feelings that come along with strolling around on a sticky and sunny August afternoon in New York just went away. Okay well not really, but those damn hot dogs sure did smell great.

The weatherman on my local news said it was 88 degrees outside with 61% humidity. Well it sure didn’t feel like high 80s today. With the sun beating down on my fragile Irish skin and the heat from the nearby grills adding to the already thick air, I was not sure if I was going to make it. But then I heard the voice of an angel, or maybe it was the man at the counter, exclaim one simple yet beautiful word…”NEXT!”

All the waiting, all the sweating, and all the favors I now owed my wife (who I dragged along on this icky day when she was enjoying our AC filled living room) were well worth it. I ordered 2 Nathan dogs, cheese fries, and a medium lemonade. Eight minutes and seven seconds later I was one happy, sweaty, Brooklynite with a belly full of cheesy and hot doggy goodness.

We then schlepped around the Coney Island area and checked out the historic Cyclone roller coaster, KeySpan park, the boardwalk, and the many…many Thor Equities billboards advertising available space for lease. Oh you didn’t know? Well this historic piece of land is going to be “reinvented” by some billionaires in the near future. Many people are all for it, and an equal amount are completely against the idea.

Check out my article from last week on how I feel about this touchy subject. Below is a short video and a few pictures that I took while wandering around Coney Island.

Nathan's Famous! One of the first sights you will see upon exiting the Stillwell Avenue train station in Coney Island.

Waiting in line at Nathan's Famous. The menu is filled with such goodies as hot dogs, cheese fries, clams, shrimp, burgers, beer and even frog legs!

I always get the same meal when I visit. That is two hot dogs (with mustard), cheese fries, and an ice cold lemonade. So worth the trip out to Coney Island.

The world famous wooden Cyclone coaster. This thrill ride opened up on June 26, 1927 and was declared a New York landmark in 1988 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Shot of the Coney Island museum with the ferris wheel in the background.

Originally opened in 1919, this train station was called the New West End Terminal. The "West End" name was taken out and it was later called the Stillwell Avenue or Coney Island station. In 2001 the station was reconstructed and reopened in May 2004. The project was completed a year later.

If you are coming to Coney Island via train, then this is your station. Originally opened in 1919, this train station was first called the New West End Terminal. The "West End" name was later taken out of the title and it was called the Stillwell Avenue or Coney Island station. In 2001, the station was reconstructed and reopened in May 2004. The project was fully completed one year later.