Catching Up With Coney!

July 5 is P.T. Barnum's birthday and I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate it then by spending a couple of hours with Dick Zigun, Coney Island's unofficial unelected mayor, who just so happens to be from Barnum's pet city of Bridgeport! Dick recently separated from the organization he founded, Coney Island USA as we reported here, but he now has an excellent job doing some bookings and promotions at Luna Park. 

As it happens, Luna Park is expanding yet again, adding several new rides, including yet another roller coaster, a festive new gateway entrance, and a flume to replace the one that Coney lost when Astroland folded in 2010. Dick showed me some of the work in progress:

 

July 5 happens to be the day after the big annual hot dog contest sponsored by Nathan's. Before heading home, I took the opportunity to sample one of the leftover franks that Joey Chestnut hadn't already consumed: