I have been coming to Coney Island since 1970 and I have to say that it is still has a grittiness to it even while other parts of Brooklyn have been under hyper gentrification. There may be lots of building going on around the amusement area but still there is a feeling of edginess to it around each corner and as you leave Surf Avenue to walk the side streets.

Arriving in Coney Island in the morning for the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

I had to leave the house early to take the bus and then the subway to Coney Island. The internet said that the Women’s Contest started at 10:30am and I wanted to get in the viewing area before that. Thank God, the City was quiet and both the bus and subway were right there when I needed them. Talk about timing.

I lucked out for the hot dog eating contest. I thought it was going to be cloudy all day and it ended up being a very sunny and pleasant morning when I got there. The crowds had not been that big when I arrived so I got a good spot near the stage that was perfect for taking pictures. The only problem was the women’s contest did not start until 11:00am. The entertainment was very good and kept the crowd engaged.

The band kept everyone pumped before the contest began:

I got close to the stage and being tall I was still able to get great pictures and view the contest up close. Trust me when I say that people take this contest very seriously and there is a lot of pomp and circumstance to all of this. Last year’s female winner, Miki Sudo, the woman from Japan and the 2021 winner all looked very determined to win this year. These woman had looks on their faces (and I mean all of them as I was close enough to all of them when they announced their names) that they were there to win!

Nathan’s was the place to be on the 4th of July

The MC for Nathan’s, George Shea, has been doing this for a long time and I could tell took this contest just as seriously as the contestants. He was just as engaged with the crowd as he was with the contestants and made sure between the entertainers as well as the contestants had a good time.

The MC for the afternoon George Shea

The MC had started out by saying that Joey Chestnut would not be coming this year because of endorsement he made with an all natural vegetarian hot dog and he did not want a conflict. I read later that you as a contestant must pledge their support to Nathan’s Hot Dogs, which I believe is true. It also opened the contest to a new winner which made the Men’s Division so much more exciting.

After the speeches, announcements and entertainment were over, it was time to eat and they started the Women’s Division first. Most of these women were pretty thin and well-built in their category and most were competitive eaters. Some had won numerous contests that I could never win let alone contemplate ever participating in. What it could do to your health would worry me but that did not take the fun out of the contest.

We started the contest with the National Anthem and these two annoying hot dog mascots who were always in the way of our shots.

Then the Bugaboos came out to perform and work he crowds before the women made their entrance

Video on their performance:

Then the women came out and their names were announced like prize fighters coming into battle. Some of these women were serious eating champions of things like Mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake. I was impressed as I could never do that.

The women’s Division before the start of the contest

There was a lot of anticipation between the returning champion, Miki Sudo, the Japanese competitor and the 2021 champion. This was serious competition. The top three competitors were going to go at it.

Then they were off when the count down hit one

Video on the start of the competition:

And they ate

And they ate

And they ate

The Ladies finishing up the competition

Reining Champion, Miki Sudo, ate a record 51 hot dogs to keep the Women’s Division title

Winner Miki Sudo giving the crowd a welcoming speech on their support

The women showing great sportsmanship at the end of the contest holding their trophies and the pink belts

Then it was time for the Lemonade Chugging Contest. There was one guy who was the raining champion and he was about 400 pounds. I do not know how anyone could beat him.

The men and women of the Lemonade Chugging contest

Video on the Contest:

Then they were off and running. After it was over one poor guy got so sick they had to delay the men’s competition just to clean up. So they brought back the entertainment and we were delayed by twenty minutes. Once they were cleaned up and reset, they brought out the Men’s competitors like the ladies. Who won what eating contests in the past and the ranks they fell in the world competitions were announced as they entered the stage area.

I have never heard of most of these competitions but these guys won dumpling, mac and cheese, hot peppers and chicken wings like pros. They were also announced like prize fighters and again almost all these guys were in excellent shape.

The Men’s Division getting started

Then the countdown

Then they were off and devouring

And they ate

And they ate

The video of the finish of the contest:

It was almost a photo finish how it went back and forth in this contest but only one winner prevailed and that was Patrick Bertoletti with 58 hot dogs. The other guys put up the battle but he just steamrolled ahead of the competition.

The winner Patrick Bertoletti holding the flag

The proud winner after the interview holding the ‘Mustard Belt’

After the competition was over, Nathan’s was mobbed with people ready to eat their own hot dogs and I did not feel like dealing with that crowd, so I waited until the crowds died down. I went to walk around the amusement park area and see what was going on there. The place was mobbed with people after the contest and people still arriving to Coney Island by subway.

The crowds on the Midway by Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

People still walked around with their foam Nathan’s hats on around Coney Island

I waited on lunch and took a tour around the amusement area which was mobbed after the contest. Deno’s had lines I had not seen before and families waited patiently to get on the Wonder Wheel and into the Haunted Mansion.

This was just a small glimpse of the growing lines at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park at 3059 West 12th Street

https://www.denoswonderwheel.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d565041-Reviews-Deno_s_Wonder_Wheel_Amusement_Park-Brooklyn_New_York.html

What amazed me was the amount of tourists versus the locals that I saw and heard in the crowds. It is nice to see the tourists rediscover Coney Island again. Even walking along the Midway with the new Luna Park in the distance, it still has that rough feel about it. I sometimes wish they would do more with Surf Avenue as it really does look unattractive. Nothing like the pictures from 1910 when the amusement area was at its peak in Coney Island innovation.

I then made my way to Luna Park, which was a little quieter than Deno’s. I keep thinking is because Deno’s has more adult rides where Luna Park is more geared to kids and families. The space they have in both parks limits both the types of rides they offer and how far they can expand.

We discovered that when my graduate school paper in Customer Relations from NYU on Luna Park discussed these challenges and those of the ‘Harvest Fest’ Halloween event and the first ‘Frost Fest’ during Christmas time. Our group visited the park to experience what Luna Park had to offer:

The Paper:

The PowerPoint on the project:

Walking around Luna Park the rides were not full in the early afternoon

Walking around Luna Park in the early afternoon

A view of both Deno’s and Luna Park from the Midway at Luna Park

https://lunaparknyc.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d1796964-Reviews-Luna_Park_in_Coney_Island-Brooklyn_New_York.html

After taking a walk through both parks and dodging the crowds, I took a walk on the Boardwalk and headed to the aquarium before lunch. I love the characters on the Boardwalk. People were doing everything from barbecuing and selling food to singing, playing disco and salsa music and dancing to showing off their giant snakes (ugh). Everyone was having such a good time on the 4th of July and it showed.

There is nothing like the Coney Island boardwalk

The beach was busy but not as packed as I thought it would be on the 4th of July. I remember seeing pictures of the beach in the 40’s after WWII and there was no place to move. There are some old movies of what Coney Island was like in the 1940’s and 50’s where you could not move on the beach. Even at the turn of the last century with work rules changing, ocean bathing became a new nation phenomenon even in 1904 (how bathing suits have changed!):

Dancing the “Cake Walk” on the beaches of Coney Island

The sign welcoming you to Coney Island Beach

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coney-island-beach-and-boardwalk

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d106173-Reviews-Coney_Island-Brooklyn_New_York.html

Not as busy as I would have thought but the day had not started yet

I headed over to the New York Aquarium for the afternoon. I wanted to see the seal show and walk around the shark tanks again. The aquarium like the rest of the boardwalk was really busy but this was filled with families escaping the heat of the beach and the boardwalk with airconditioned buildings and nautical displays.

The New York Aquarium at 602 Surf Avenue has gotten much better since Hurricane Sandy. The aquarium has upgraded itself since the flood

https://nyaquarium.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d107414-Reviews-New_York_Aquarium-Brooklyn_New_York.html

The New York Aquarium is one of the reasons why I joined the Wildlife Conservatory again. I love the seal shows and walking around the ‘Spineless’ exhibition and watching the jellyfish move around. This aquarium is so different in feel than the Jenkinson Aquarium on my recent visit to Point Pleasant. Just a different set up and way to approach the animals. The first part of the aquarium you enter is the coral reef displays.

The coral reef exhibition at the aquarium shows what a healthy reef should look like in the ocean

The fish passing by in the reef

I got there as the seal show was starting. The seals in the show were both born at the aquarium so they only know life in captivity. Sometimes I think they do have a bit of a New York attitude.

The Seal Show at the New York Aquarium

The show was mobbed with people watching the seals do all sorts of tricks but I could see very disciplined animals just having fun with the crowd. It also gives them a bigger tank to move around in.

The seals that live at the aquarium were born here and are native New Yorkers

The seal and his trainer welcoming the crowd

The seals perform like pros and react beautifully with their human trainers. There seems to be a real bond here

This is one of the best parts of the aquarium to experience on a nice day. The breezes are fantastic, the seals are so talented and the staff take such good care of not just mammals but the performance area, making it comfortable for everyone. You have to see the show at least once.

Then it was time to visit the Shark Tank exhibition which is the newest part of the aquarium and the most impressive display of wildlife.

The Shark exhibition

I love walking through the Shark halls as you feel like you are in an underwater adventure. The first time I had experienced this was when I was on Sentosa Island in Singapore at their aquarium and that feeling of exploring the deep by walking through it. You can see the sharks swimming on top of you. I am glad they created the same sort of tanks that you can walk through to experience the deep from the bottom looking up.

Experiencing life under water

The thrill of seeing a shark on top of you at a safe distance is a great experience. There is underwater magic going on here.

The underwater magic of the sea

When I arrived at the main tank, that is when I could see the sharks and stingrays up close along with all the colorful fish.

Seeing one of the baby sharks up close

The sharks interacting with the other fish in the tank

The school of sharks in front of us

I walked around the aquarium looking at the penguins home, the coral reef tanks and the ‘Spineless’ tanks with all the unusual jellyfish swimming around.

The jellyfish are so elegant swimming around

They are the most beautiful creature up close but don’t get near those tentacles in real life.

The penguins were milling around themselves in their home as they waited for their feeding. They standed direct and the group of them looked like they knew what time it was for them.

The Penguin home at the aquarium

What I thought was interesting and caught my attention was the nautical artwork the was displayed all over the grounds. The works created by ‘Washed Ashore’, were made of plastic products found in the ocean. It really does show the consciousness we should show to our bodies of water and what we throw into them.

The Angus the Longhorn Fish sculpture sign

The Angus the Longhorn Fish sculpture

Choppers the Tiger Shark sign

The Choppers the Tiger Shark sculpture

The Nora the Salmon sculpture sign

The Nora the Salmon sculpture

These were some of the many sculptures that were dotted around the aquarium. I thought they brought light to how much plastic there is currently in the ocean. I took one tour around the aquarium and then it was back to Nathan’s for a late lunch. I thought at this point the lines would be slowing down. It was still busy even by 3:00pm.

Surf Avenue in the mid afternoon and things are changing fast here

The lines never stopped at Nathan’s at Surf Avenue. The contest ended at 1:00pm but lines on both sides of the restaurant were out the door and when I got in line there were literally thirty people behind me. They were fully staffed and that line went quickly. I was ordered and eating my lunch within ten minutes. The staff worked really hard that day and they got all the customers through the lines very quickly.

The lines at Nathan’s at 1310 Surf Avenue in Coney Island on the 4th of July seemed endless

https://nathansfranks.sfdbrands.com/en-us/about/

My TripAdvisor review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60827-d458011-Reviews-Nathan_s_Famous-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

I love going to Nathan’s. I have been eating here since my first trip here with my cousins in 1974. I still remember what I ordered then, a slice of pizza and a Coke. Since then it has been a hot dog, a medium fries and a Coke.

My Nathan’s meal when visiting Coney Island

I love the crispness of the garlicky hot dog and the crispness of the fries. The fries here are legendary and I remember them winning awards in the 1970’s.

The best lunch on the 4th of July

No wonder people eat these hot dogs by the dozen

The fries are amazing

Williams Candy next door has been a Coney Island institution for years and their windows are filled with all sorts of candy apples and marshmallow treats on a stick.

The crowds kept coming at Nathan’s

What I like about Williams Candy is the assortment and the smells of cotton candy, popcorn and ice cream when you walk in the door.

William Candy at 1318 Surf Avenue

https://www.candytreats.com/

My TripAdvisor review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d3160521-Reviews-William_s_Candy_Shop-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/stats/post/748/littleshoponmainstreet.wordpress.com

The windows filled with treats at Williams Candy

I was eyeing the candy coated marshmallows but when I realized that the other marshmallows were dipped in the candy coating and then rolled in the sprinkles, I chose the red, white and blue one.

The Marshmallow on a stick at Williams Candy

I can’t tell you how good this is when you bite into it. Between all the sprinkles packed on top and the crunchy candy coating was sugar heaven.

You can’t miss this sugary treat. What a great patriotic dessert!

I now had to work all this off so I went to tour the boardwalk and decided to walk down to Seagate at the end of it. It was an interesting walk. Everything was going on that afternoon. Families were out barbecuing, disco dancing, line dancing and dancing to salsa music. There was a lot of energy on that Boardwalk.

The Boardwalk was jammed that day

With all the talk on the revival of Coney Island, I passed the old parachute jump and it still looks it is going to need a lot of work in the future.

The parachute jump

The funny thing about Coney Island is that it is an island of contrasts. On one hand there is a lot of building going on in the central part of the island with luxury housing being built around the baseball field (where Steeplechase Park once existed) and then you have some of the most dangerous public housing in the City just two blocks west of that. Then at the very end is Seagate, a gated community that seems to keep to itself on the other side of the fence.

I walked to the end of the Boardwalk and back watching families barbecue, dance and having a good time. By the time I got back to the amusement section of the island both the aquarium and the museum were both closed, Nathan’s was still packed and this section of the Boardwalk got busier as people were leaving the beach and wanting to get dinner.

All that walking was making me hungry again as it was getting closer to dinner time. Both Gargiulo’s Italian Restaurant and Totonno’s Pizzeria were both closed for the day and the rest of the restaurants on the Boardwalk were either packed or everything was deep fried and I did not want that after my meal at Nathan’s for lunch so I decided to head back to Manhattan.

I did not know if there would be fireworks on the beach that evening but with the clouds rolling in and the threat of rain, I did not want to get caught in it. The subways were mobbed and the bulk of the people were illegally walking through the emergency doors. I swear nothing changes. No one was watching what people were doing.

When I got back to Manhattan, I did not want to run around looking for a place for a quick dinner. I remembered that there were a few Chinese restaurants by the Port Authority and I stopped at Awesum Dim Sum at 612 Eighth Avenue for quick dinner before I left for home. The restaurant was surprisingly busy for food you don’t equate with the 4th of July.

Awesum Dim Sum at 612 Eighth Avenue

https://awesumdimsum.us/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d25269421-Reviews-Awesum_Dim_Sum-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

I love the selection of Dim Sum at the restaurant and ordered a small dinner for myself before I left the City. I had to have the Bacon Wrapped Fried Shrimp, which I was craving, the Scallion Pancakes and the Cream filled buns for dessert. Everything was cooked to order, fresh and was excellent (see TripAdvisor review).

Dinner that night at Awesum Dim Sum, Bacon Wrapped Fried Shrimp, Scallion Pancakes and the Cream Filled Buns

It was a nice change from barbecue foods and since I already had a hot dog for lunch, I thought this would make a great dinner. It was just enough and made the perfect meal. Then I was on my way home. Their Fried Shrimp with Bacon is excellent. The shrimp mixture has a nice sweetness to with the contrasts of the smokiness of the bacon.

The Fried Shrimp with Bacon

The Scallion Pancakes were crisp and had a nice taste especially with the dipping sauce.

The Scallion Pancakes

The Cream Buns were the perfect way to end the meal. They were crisp and sweet on the outside because of the rice dough and rich and creamy on the inside. I thought it was a nice change and a great way to end the day.

The Cream Filled Buns

It really was a nice 4th of July and I really enjoyed my day in Coney Island. I have to admit that the neighborhood is rough when you leave the beach area but like the rest of the City, you just need to watch were you walk and stick to the Boardwalk area, you should be fine. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is something everyone should experience once.

Happy 4th of July!

Places to Visit in Coney Island:

Coney Island Boardwalk

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/coney-island-beach-and-boardwalk

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d106173-Reviews-Coney_Island-Brooklyn_New_York.html

New York Aquarium

602 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11224

(718) 265-3474

http://www.nyaquarium.com

https://nyaquarium.com/

Open: Sunday & Saturday 10:00am-5:30pm/Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm

Fee: Adults $25.00/Children $20.00/Seniors $27.00 (see their website for more details on pricing and times)

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d107414-Reviews-New_York_Aquarium-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/3619

The Coney Island Museum

1208 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY  11224

(718) 372-5159

Open:

Summer: (June-Labor Day Weekend) Monday- Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm/ Sunday 2:00pm-6:00pm

Fall/Winter/Spring: (September-May) Monday-Saturday 12:00pm-6:00pm/Sunday 2:00pm-6:00pm

Admission: $5.00 Adults/Members Free/Residents, Seniors & Children under 12 $3.00

http://www.coneyisland.com

https://www.coneyisland.com/event/coney-island-museum

TripAdvisor Review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d555621-Reviews-The_Coney_Island_Museum-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/1978

Luna Park

1000 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11224

(718) 373-5862

https://lunaparknyc.com/

Open: Sunday 11:00am-11:00pm/Monday 11:00am-10:00pm/Tuesday 10:30am-11:00pm/Wednesday 11:00am-12:00am/Thursday 10:00am-12:00am/Friday 11:00am-12:00am/Saturday 11:00am-12:00am (seasonal)

Check website for prices

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d1796964-Reviews-Luna_Park_in_Coney_Island-Brooklyn_New_York.html

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park

3059 West 12th Street

Brooklyn, NY 11224

(718) 372-2592

https://www.denoswonderwheel.com/

Open: Sunday 12:00pm-11:00pm/Monday-Wednesday 12:00am-10:00pm/Thursday 12:00pm-11:00pm (Seasonal)

Check website for prices

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d565041-Reviews-Deno_s_Wonder_Wheel_Amusement_Park-Brooklyn_New_York.html

Places to Eat:

Nathan’s Coney Island

1310 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11224

https://nathansfranks.sfdbrands.com/en-us/about/

Open: Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:00pm/Friday and Saturday 10:00am-12:00am

My TripAdvisor review:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60827-d458011-Reviews-Nathan_s_Famous-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

Williams Candy

1318 Surf Avenue

Brooklyn, NY  11224

(718) 372-0302

Open: Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:00pm/Friday and Saturday 10:00am-12:00am

https://candytreats.com/

https://www.facebook.com/peteclams/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d3160521-Reviews-William_s_Candy_Shop-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/littleshoponmainstreet.wordpress.com/748

Awesum Dim Sum

612 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY 10018

(212) 520-8099

https://awesumdimsum.us/

Open: Sunday 9:30am-8:30pm/Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:30pm/Saturday 9:30am-8:30pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d25269421-Reviews-Awesum_Dim_Sum-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/1898

Returned on July 4th, 2025:

I had to plan my trip back to Coney Island like D-Day to see the contest again. I had been on the Island recently for the Mermaid Parade and could not believe how fast the 4th of July weekend arrived.

I was so tired from being in the City the day before trying to finish walking Chelsea, going to one of my fellow volunteers Memorial Services at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen and then a Jazz Night at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. That on top of posting grades for class, I was pooped from all the running around.

I got off to a late start that morning still tired from running around Brooklyn the night before. By the time I caught the bus at 8:00am and got into the City just before 9:00am, I knew I was behind schedule.

I had planned on having breakfast on 23rd Street at a place I liked but there was not enough time. So I stopped at Villa Pizza inside the Port Authority for a breakfast Stromboli.

Villa Pizza inside the Port Authority

The breakfast items at a pizzeria

Breakfast items at the pizzeria

The selection of Breakfast Stromboli’s

For a chain pizzeria inside a bus terminal, breakfast here was not bad. I had always seen the Breakfast Strombolis in the case and wondered what they tasted like.

My breakfast the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Stromboli with a freshly squeezed orange juice

The Bacon, Egg and Cheese Stromboli

The selection of both breakfast and lunch dishes at Villa Pizza inside

After breakfast was finished I took the Q back down to Coney Island. The subway was packed with people heading to the shore. People got off at all the beach spots and when I got into Stilwell Avenue, Nathan’s was already packed with people trying to get to the stage area. I ended up standing outside the press stage with an ‘Exit’ sign blocking my views of the screen (that’s why there is an exit sign in all of my pictures and videos).

Arriving at Nathan’s as the band was performing

Nathan’s has been in this spot since the 1920’s

The band that had entertained last year

The brass band playing before the contest

The band really got the audience fired up and with some local dance groups performing and then the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ performed, it was time for the contest to begin.

First was the Ladies competition

Miki Suto was defending her crown

She won her record 11th belt

After a series of entertainment, the Men’s Eating Contest started. The crowd went wild when they announced Joey Chestnut’s name. The place went wild.

The crowd was ten times what it was when I got there

The excitement built before the contest

The crowd was all for Joey Chestnut

Then the man of the hour got on stage

The excitement building before the contest

The crowd going crazy during the contest

The crowd was going crazy during the competition

The contest that I could from behind the bleachers

The man of the hour Joey Chestnut won the contest with 70.5 hot dogs. Last year’s winner came in second with 53. Both the Men’s and Women’s winners did not come close to their records. It was not like last year but it still was an exciting contest.

The celebration after the contest was over for the 4th of July

After the contest was over and the winners took their pictures, I wondered around Coney Island and explored the Boardwalk and amusement areas.

There is such an energy in Coney Island on the 4th of July

Walking through Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park

Walking through Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park

The famous Wonder Wheel

The Spook A Rama, my first ride on Coney Island as a kid

The Boardwalk on the 4th of July afternoon

Looking down the Boardwalk from the Aquarium

The beach by the Aquarium

I decided to go to the NY Aquarium before lunch. Every restaurant was a line so I figured to come here first.

I made I in time to see the Sea Lion Show

The Sea Lion Show

The second group of sea lions

The end of the sea lion show

After the Sea Lion Show, I toured the Shark Tanks and walked around the exhibition.

The Shark exhibition

The Shark exhibition

The underwater tanks

After a nice walk around the Aquarium, I was getting hungry and decided on a late lunch at Nathan’s. I figured that the lines would be down at this point and when I got there, it was only a ten minute wait to order.

Arriving back at Nathan’s Famous for lunch

My favorite lunch at Nathan’s, a plain hot dog, medium fries and a Coke

The taste has not changed in fifty years

Yum!

Lunch at Nathan’s is always an experience. You have to share the tables outside when it is busy and you never know who you will be sitting next to for lunch. Some woman parked herself at the table and asked if she could eat with me. I guess I looked safe.

After lunch, I took one last tour around the Boardwalk and Surf Avenue and realized I want to put my feet in the water.

Off went the shoes as I walked along the beach

Even though the beach was crowded with families, it was not the crowds that I saw in old pictures when thousands of people would pack the shore on a summer weekend or holiday. Still to walk these iconic beaches on the 4th of July is quite the experience.

The Coney Island beach on July 4th

I made my way back to the subway and walked along Surf Avenue. It is amazing to see the changes to this area in the last 100 years.

Passing Nathan’s again across from the subway

The sign for the hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s

The Mermaid Parade sign from two weeks ago

It really is a fun experience and you have to add the Hot Dog Eating contest to the bucket of things to experience when you are in New York City.

Happy 4th of July, 2025!

Returning to Coney Island for the Contest in 2026:

I returned to the contest in 2026 and got up early to get to Coney Island so that I could get into the audience area by the stage. I got to Surf Avenue by 8:15am and got into line. I lucked out and got in the audience area right near the stage so I was able to get wonderful pictures of the contest.

The line at the start of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Looking down the line at 8:30am

If you want to get into the audience ‘pit’ area to see the contest, you have to be in line by 8:00am. Otherwise, you will be watching the contest from the street from the back.

The start of the festivities

Nathan’s in Coney Island

The Nathan’s mascot

Before the contest began, there were a series of musicians and singers entertain the crowd. The entertainment that morning was some of the most engaging and entertaining.

Sing Harlem

Hot Dog Hal

Nicole Diaz singing the National Anthem

The Hard Hats Band

The military flyover in Coney Island

The Bunnetts performing

The hot dogs arrive

Joey Chestnut gets emotional from the crowd

Miki Suto greets the crowd before the contest

Before the contest began, there was a series of entertainers and engagement with the crowd

The start of the Woman’s Competion

Miki Sudo and Michelle Lesco battle it out in the Women’s Division

Miki Sudo won the Pink Belt with hot dogs

The Women’s Division are always good sports

Then the Men’s Competition started with the announcement of the MC of the contestants. The crowd was going wild. I could see that the heat was beginning to affect the crowd. By the time the Men’s competition started, it was almost 98 degrees.

The MC introducing the Men’s contestants

The start of the Men’s Contest

The Men’s contest started with the introduction of the contestants and the rivalry between Joey Chestnut and Patrick Bertoletti.

Joey Chestnut and Patrick Bertoletti ready to start the battle

The start of the Men’s competition

The finish of the Men’s Competition

Joey Chestnut wins again!

The contest was over and the end of the competition

After the contest was over, I walked around the Boardwalk and looked at families enjoying their 4th of July holiday. The weather was so hot that I noticed that the beaches were not as busy as they should have been on a holiday weekend.

After my late lunch, I worked it off with a long walk on the beach

I also took a long walk on the Boardwalk, weaving through crowds of people who were enjoying their afternoon. As the afternoon wore on, it got so hot that many people were leaving the boardwalk.

You could not walk on the Boardwalk for very long at 1:30pm in the afternoon with the heat hovering at 98 degrees, so I headed over to the New York Aquarium and toured the Shark display, which was nicely air conditioned and just so relaxing. By the time I got to the main display, I saw everyone else doing what I wanted to do, sit on the floor and enjoy the air conditioning and charge my phone.

I have been to the NY Aquarium many times since it reopened after Hurricane Sandy and there have been many positive improvements in both the facility and the service. The new Ocean Wonders: Shark! exhibition which has opened up giving an interesting look at the underwater world of the many different types of sharks that dominate the deep.

The Shark Exhibit

The Shark exhibition

The sharks and string rays

It is not just a display but also a commentary on the conditions of the deep and the treatment of sharks around the world. There contributions as bottom dwellers cleans our oceans and benefits other fish. It was shocking what the treatment is of these animals in Asia when strip these animals of their fins for soup. I like how professionally the aquarium shows this in their displays and videos and doesn’t preach but offer solutions to the problem.

The entrance to the new shark tanks.

That and walking through the tanks themselves in the darkened rooms with music makes for a fascinating and almost ominous trip into the ocean behind the walls with the sharks and other mammals and fish swim past you. There is also a small tunnel that you can climb under to watch the fish swim on top of you and past you.

The tropical fish exhibition

In the Conservation Hall, you will learn all about the fish that dominate and keep our reefs vibrant and what happens when pollution takes over and kills them. Again the aquarium displays this in a positive way, shows how the animals keep the reefs healthy. I point out that there are a lot of colorful fish on display and it is fun to watch the small children yell out to them.

The coral reef exhibition

The Coral Reef Exhibition

The fish in the Coral tanks

The Hudson Canyon Edge exhibit

https://nyaquarium.com/things-to-do/events/hudson-canyon

People looking at the tanks

The stingrays in the tanks

The wild life in the canyon

As I was walking around the aquarium, most of the animals were brought inside because of the heat. Even the Seal Show was cancelled because of the heat both for the humans to sit in the show and the animals to perform.

The Penguin tank

The penguin tanks

After I left the aquarium, I noticed that things were quieting down on both the Boardwalk and the beach. By the late afternoon, the temperature was hovering around 96 degrees.

The boardwalk outside the aquarium

The beach outside the aquarium in the late after on the 4th of July

After I left Coney Island, it was off to Chinatown for a snack and to watch the fireworks.

My blog on the Macy’s Fireworks displays: