Saturday afternoon. We stand by Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island’s main station. Most people living on Coney Island, located in southernmost Brooklyn with its famous beach on the Atlantic Ocean, are Hispanic or African-American. The area was once a major resort and home to amusements parks as the Steeplechase Park, the heart of Coney between 1897 and 1964. Its founder George Tilyou once said: “If Paris is France, Coney Island, between June and September, is the world.”
Above the beach is the Riegelmann boardwalk, named from Borough President Riegelmann and reputed to be the world’s longest. In the middle of a crowd I spot a teenage girl. She sings with a clear, powerful voice resembling of Beyonce and receives plenty of whistles after her performance. On Coney Island, the mixture of people from different backgrounds and of various personalities contribute to the special atmosphere.
Before you leave New York City, do pay a visit to Coney Island. The D-line from Bronx in north passes through Manhattan and over the East River on Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn. A ride with the subway from Midtown Manhattan takes about an hour.
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You misquoted Tilyou. He said, “If Paris is France, Coney Island, between June and September, is the world.” For reference, see Edo McCullough’s “Good Old Coney Island.” It was originally published in 1957, but was rereleased as a paperback in 2002.
Thank you for letting me know. I have changed it from French to France now.