Run by Dick Zigun, the mayor of Coney Island, this is the last place in the world you can experience a true 10-in-1 sideshow. Experience a fire breather, a sword swallower, a snake charmer, a mustached man who puts a nail in his nose..Ok, I’m going to admit something here. I can hammer a nail into my nose. Well, at this point, probably not hammer, but after some practice and coercion, stick a nail in my nose. I haven’t done it in so long that I probably would need a little practice to get used to the feeling again, but for a little while, a long time ago, I could do it with ease. ( Do Not Attempt This At Home- seriously). Now you know.
Coney Island USA / Coney Island USA Myspace
The side show is more than just a place to see some tattooed people do some wild things. The people watching in general is fantastic- rockabilly dresses and 50′s style hair curls, punk boys with their ripped tees and leather jackets, velvet blazers and top hats. It’s insane how much inspiration you can get coming to this place, all while drinking a Coney Island Lager at the freak bar and mingling with the performers.
This weekend, April 2 and April 3rd, the Sideshow (as well as Coney Island in general) opens for the season. It might just be one of the best times to come out to Coney Island; warm weather, boardwalk funnel cakes, fire breathers, bars and the cyclone. A girl couldn’t ask for more.
