Join the fun at Deno's Wonder Wheel Park on opening day, 2013!

http://www.wonderwheel.com/

They won't let something as meager as Hurricane Sandy keep 'em down.

Boldly stated on the park's website:  "Thank you to all the volunteers who have helped Coney Island recover from Super Storm Sandy.  Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the storm. 

Rides on Deno's Wonder Wheel are FREE on Opening Day 2013 - All are welcome March 24, 2013 - Please join us! 

Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season! - the Vourderis Family"

It's so very heartening to visit their website and learn how things are shaping up and know that the travails of 2012 haven't dampened their optimism for 2013.

My Vintage Amusement Park Gifts are Ready for the Holidays!

http://www.zazzle.com/amusementparkfun

Folks, there's still time to purchase some amazing items from my Zazzle store in time for your holiday gift giving.  Imagine your best friend sporting a t-shirt with an image of the lucky elephant ride from Del Grosso's Park.  Or a special trinket box sporting the eerie visage of "grandma fortune teller" from Santa Cruz Boardwalk?  Or, bet yet, a 2013 calendar featuring vintage amusement park photos I took while traveling about for my book!

Come on.  You KNOW you want a throw pillow emblazoned with this guy's face (the front of a ticket booth from Salem Willows which date back to the late 19th century!)

And, of course, there's my book.  I recently met with some folks who were so moved and inspired by it, that they've made some big changes in their lives - or are planning to do so for the new year.  This from a book about vintage amusement parks?  Yes, indeed.  And I'm honored to have been instrumental in these changes.

If you're interested in a book, please contact me via email and I'll ship out an autographed copy in time to hide it under your Christmas tree!

Coney Island's arcade games and rides in the "vintage amusement park ER"

Please read this fascinating article on how the folks from Deno's Wonder Wheel Park are working hard to salvage the rides and games that were ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323501404578165283531252180.html

Of particular interest to me is how dear the Grandma's Predictions fortuneteller is to the park; they consider it a good luck charm.  Here's a photo I took while Ben and I visited Coney:

The article relates that Grandma's been around since the 1920s.  She apparently made it through the flooding, although she's being taken care of at the "ER"; apparently the Zoltar machine in the background didn't fair as well.

Again, please give to the Red Cross and help the folks affected by Sandy. And consider donating to Coney Island USA, to help keep the history and spirit of this priceless place alive for future generations: http://shop.coneyisland.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?display=home