Check it Out: Little Rus' Went on Tour

Ok so we know you all brushed us off last weekend on the walking tour of Coney Island that was given by the Municipal Arts Society, since their were mostly old Coney Island groupies from the 1950s there (just kidding -- in case any of those people are/were readers). On a serious note though, Joe Svehlak led the tour and provided a wealth of information about the rise, plateau, and subsequent fall of Coney Island's role in American culture (along with many whimsical personal stories that were quite entertaining). We were able to take quite a few interesting photos and have uploaded them onto our Flickr page (see our Flickr link on the right side of the page).

From the start of the tour it was clear that the new development plans were a major topic as many of our fellow tourists were asking questions about what would stay versus what will be torn down. But as we were led around the historic neighborhood it became quite apparent to us that Coney Island is in drastic need of a face lift. The buildings are run down, the streets are littered with trash, and there are numerous empty plots of land that are itching to be snatched up once the City officially announces a re-development plan.

That said, a major theme of Mr. Svehlak's tour was that re-development would be good for the area, however placing higher-end and mass culture retailers in the neighborhood would destroy the abrasiveness that Coney Island is known for. This is quite true, although it seems that enough interest has formed and several organizations have come together to help preserve that aspect of the area. The key question left lingering is not a matter of "if", but more likely a matter of "when/how" will Coney Island be redeveloped and the follow-up to that is what type of places can be created to help preserve the originality of the landmark neighborhood.

On the lighter side, we were shocked to find out that Coney Island used to be the "Hollywood" of the East Coast with somewhere near one-million people visiting on a given summer day. One snippet of quirky information that we especially liked was that the area used to have a hotel in the shape of a REAL elephant! Anyhow: you missed a great tour, but we found these documentaries that might suffice: Coney Island short (discovered thanks to our friends at Gowanus Lounge).
Preview of NYU Documentary (Film's site).

Check it Out: St. Petersburg Trade & Publishing House

In need of some old Soviet style propaganda to keep you motivated and in check? We know the perfect place: Saint Petersburg Trade & Publishing House on Brighton Avenue. This place has movies, books, CDs, and even cassette tapes (all in Russian)! Obviously, our favorite










little gift idea is the old Soviet propaganda posters like those above. Even more exciting we found a flyer at the store for Barynya which is an entertainment company where you can book anything from belly dancers to traditional Russian style orchestras. So next time you want to impress people with your worldly tastes, call these guys and get some performers to do the Kalinka at your event (see the video).

Another must have we found at St. Pete's was a wide selection of banya hats, which I wasn't quite sure what you needed one for until I checked their website. The product description states "Do not attend sauna when you are hungry or if you just had a meal. Do not wet your hair, wear a hat. Dry and covered hair will be protected from dehydration and overheating. When entering the sauna, sit at the bottom – give your body and your system some time to adapt to the heat. After some time inside the sauna, rinse with cold water, and then go back inside for 10 more minutes. Repeat two or three times. To protect yourself from overheating and burns, wear protective wool hats." Good to know....good-to-know.











We know what our family is getting for gifts this year!

Check it Out: This Sunday (8/10/2008)

Ok, we may be starting to sound like a broken record, but this is history in the making: This Sunday at 10AM sharp the Municipal Art Society of New York is leading a walking tour of Coney Island to witness a neighborhood "on the brink of transformation" (as the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported today). The tour will be led by Joe Svehlak (the man with the rowdy handle bars above). According to the MAS site Mr. Svehlak will be discussing a history of the neighborhood and will provide insight on the proposed development that has sparked controversy in Southern Brooklyn.

The tour will start at Stillwell Avenue and Surf Avenue, just outside the Stillwell stop on the subway (see hopstop map) and costs $15 (payable in cash at the start of the tour), or $12 for members. For those who are willing to venture out this way, you will likely be in company with the Little Rus' team as we will be in attendance. Email us in advance if you have any questions at: info@littlerus.com and bring your cameras because the view may not last.

Check it Out: Coney Island

With the forecast looking grim for the upcoming holiday weekend (that is if you are sticking around the city), we suggest heading out to Coney Island to watch two really skinny dudes chow countless hotdogs as fast as possible! That's right, the world famous Nathan's Hotdog eating contest goes down on Coney Island every Fourth of July. This year it looks like some serious rivalry between the reigning champ Joey "Jaws" Chestnut and the Japanese sensation Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi (yes, these guys have their own websites -- but who doesn't these days?). Apparently, "Tsunami" holds the world record for hotdog eating as he downed 66 dogs in 12 minutes. However, he was defeated by "Jaws" last year at the Nathan's event. If that doesn't get you all fired up, then perhaps you can take your chances with the weather at Brighton Beach.

If the weather turns for the worse, you can always check out the New York Aquarium, and it just so happens that Fridays after 3pm are the "pay what you wish" day. They don't close until 6pm so that gives you plenty of time to check out the sea anemones and the sharks.














Just an FYI (see the last post on the re-zoning of Coney Island), this very well could be the last year to catch a glimpse of the historic amusement park before it is transformed into a tourist attraction so it may be worth the trip if you are around the city. Anyhow, enjoy the Fourth and just remember not to hold the bottle rockets in your hand.

Check it Out: Brighton Beach

I know, I know, every year some anxious blogger or journalists calls on New Yorkers to head to Brighton for the experience and 97% of us just ignore it. Well, given the new economic climate, we should all be in "tighten our belt" mode, and thus rather than spending your paycheck on a weekend in the Hamptons, pack your iPod and a few cold ones and jump on the B or Q train (www.hopstop.com) to Brighton Beach for the day. Although it may not be the ideal getaway for posh New Yorkers, those of you on the more adventurous side will enjoy the experience and you might just learn a thing or two. There is plenty to do on the beach including the usual people watching, swimming, and tanning, but there will also always be a game of beach volleyball in play (be careful, its pretty serious out here...just don't touch the net).

To avoid the hectic beach traffic walk down the boardwalk to to Brighton 15, that is, away from Coney Island. Usually this part of the beach is less busy and cleaner than the spots located just off the subway stops. Or, you can get off the Q train at Ocean Parkway and head straight to the beach from there. Just in case you find yourself wondering the famous grids of Brooklyn with no beach in sight, don't be afraid to ask "gdye pliazh?" (where is the beach in Russian).

Before heading back home, we suggest replenishing yourself with one of the homemade tandoori samsas for $2.50 at Adolat Cafe on Brighton 4th Street between Brighton Beach Ave and the boardwalk. Samsa is a traditional Uzbek appetizer, and is essentially a homemade hotpocket with lamb, onions, and some secret spices. Nevertheless, for the price you cannot find a better deal.



See you out there!