Coney Island, old and new memories...

This week Park takes a break from the music ... or the music takes a break from Park and the duo heads out to Coney Island, land of the legendary Nathan's hot dog. Naturally, Nathan's is the first thing hit upon arrival. The dogs are cooked perfectly (attention Jersey Square Mall, study the training video or talk to your friends on the cell phones while they are cooking so that they are cooked thoroughly!) And the fries are fresh and ever so tasty.

Then it's time for a little healthy competition. First up, the Kentucky Derby. Roll your ball into a one, two or three-point slot and your horse moves across the top board accordingly. Boy, ark must have put in some time practicing with the balls or something, 'cause I got my butt whipped twice. Woe is me... But it was perhaps meant to be, 'cause ark's prize is a stuffed Husky.

For a couple of minutes anyway, cause now it's shoot the watergun into a balloon until it pops time. I assume the No. 4 spot, put on my best Devils' Hall of Famer Scott Stevens' face and open a can of whoopass on ark. My prize: A cross-eyed Devil with a diaper.

So how to break this tie? Well we try the balloon darts thing, and as Mark gets sidetracked by a phone call, I take home the lime green snake. But then it's unbroken again, cause we're at another one that combines the watergun with the ball-rolling and ark scores a Target dog. Enough competition, we're hungry! Well first we stop for a veeeeeeery long sketch done by a voicetronic "Leonardo Rembrandt." See here...



And now we're on the boardwalk. It's a beautiful day... not too hot (for ark), not too cold (for me), perfect Park temperatures. Blue skies, light breeze. We're out on the pier watching the waves... Walk down the shore, avoiding broken shells ... and broken glass. The water is cool at first touch and then perfectly comfortable.

Up we go to the New York Aquarium, a place I went to many times with my GREAT late great Aunt Ruthy. It's donation day, so tons of families with shrieking kids and shrieking moms are in there, but we do see many cool fishies and an otter and a walrus. Not one particular fish that is yellow at the top and blue at the bottom and burrows into the surface, but maybe he "retired" since it was many many moons ago since I last saw him.

Then it's back up on the boardwalk for a final stroll and some melt-in-your-mouth cotton candy.

The decision is made to go to Lombardi's for dinner. According to Zagat, "best pizza on the planet." And I'll have to admit it's very very good, but didn't do the tangy tastebud tantalizing dance that John's Brick Oven has. I will afford it this much, since I prefer my John's as a plain cheese pizza, Lombardi's can own the title of "best pepperoni pizza," cause the 'roni is quite tasty and has a nice lasting flavor to it. Park shakes on the deal. And we'll see you next week from Yankee Stadium!