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Come Out to Pla-a-ay!

July 25, 2009 by WendyB

The movie The Warriors was a major inspiration for my designing friend Christian Francis Roth’s “Gangs of New York” Spring ’09 collection. In the movie, all the New York City gangs declare a truce and meet to discuss forming a super-gang to take over the city. When the gang leader who called the summit is assassinated, the Warriors are blamed for it and have to fight their way through hostile territory all the way from the Bronx to their Coney Island home. It would be gross exaggeration to say that the following clip from the movie contains the most annoying audio ever recorded, but if there’s ever a vote on that sort of thing, this will be my write-in candidate.

Luckily, I didn’t have to fight anyone on my way to Coney Island and back yesterday.

Cha-Cha's has entertainment for the "hole" family.

Cha Cha's has entertainment for the "hole" family.

As close to the water as Christian wanted to get.

As close to the water as Christian wanted to get.

You can't go to Coney Island without having a Nathan's hot dog.

You can't go to Coney Island without having a Nathan's hot dog.

I love fireworks.

I love fireworks.

Proving that I took the subway home.

Proving that I took the subway home.

When I got back to Manhattan, I fought my way through a crowded bar to hear my gorgeous friend Jen sing. Yep, not only does Jen dance and stalk celebrities — she sings too. Congratulations, Jen! You were great. Can’t wait for the next performance.

UPDATED TO ADD: I had no idea that folk singer Arlo Guthrie was born in Coney Island till I just read it in the New York Times. If you want to hear Arlo pla-a-ay, he’s giving a free concert in Battery Park on Thursday, June 30.

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Filed Under: christian francis roth, gorgeous friends, movies, music, pictures of me, things to do in nyc Tagged With: coney island, the warriors

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. K-Line says

    July 25, 2009 at 3:05 pm

    Nathan’s hot dogs are the best on the planet. Oh, I wish we could get those here.

  2. KD says

    July 25, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    I cannot believe that I haven’t been to Coney Island in years and I live in NYC. Disgraceful.

  3. enc says

    July 25, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    What a fun day! 😀

  4. Lenya Jones says

    July 25, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    There is nothing better than a Nathan’s hotdog – well a Papaya King hotdog, but you know what I mean. I really miss that. And I heard the they are renovating Coney Island, I hope so, I have such fond memories of it. It would be a shame for it to fall into ruin.

  5. tanya says

    July 25, 2009 at 7:28 pm

    ooh….craving….a hot dog. YUM 🙂

  6. Vicki ARcher says

    July 25, 2009 at 9:48 pm

    I would love to try one of those hot dogs…right now, xv.

  7. Imogen Lamport says

    July 25, 2009 at 10:53 pm

    I loved Alice’s Restaurant when I was a teenager – looks like you had a good day.

  8. Dani says

    July 25, 2009 at 11:11 pm

    i’ve never been to coney island! i must go.

    you look beautiful!

    http://www.rocknrollgypsy.com

  9. Lexie says

    July 26, 2009 at 12:14 am

    i regret not visiting coney island when i went to NYC last summer!

    also your hair looks super cute in that last picture!

  10. Ashley says

    July 26, 2009 at 12:49 am

    Coney Island looks like so much fun! *Sigh* I want to live in NYC so badly!

  11. WendyB says

    July 26, 2009 at 1:14 am

    Thanks, Lexie. The humidity destroyed my carefully straightened hair…that’s basically my natural look!

  12. Brie says

    July 26, 2009 at 2:23 am

    The Warriors! Many a night was spent watching this with my brother back in the 90s when it seemed to always be playing on cable.

    Best Warriros reference i ever encountered? While walking through the tunnel under the race track in Del Mar, California after seeing The Violent Femmes play there…someone started yelling “Warriors! Come out and Playyyyy!” to hear it echo and it brougth smiles ot quite a few faces in the crowd.

    Cool the movie inspires people even to this day…years after it’s release.

    Someday…I will see Coney Island.

  13. April Marie Claire- GIRL Japan says

    July 26, 2009 at 3:48 am

    You have no idea how much I miss the boardwalk..

  14. Sharon Rose says

    July 26, 2009 at 5:03 am

    Hi there-sounds like you’ve had a fabulous day out, I haven’t had a hot dog in ages!!

  15. Everybody Says Don't says

    July 26, 2009 at 5:06 am

    The hotdogs looked great, Yum! And I agree your hair looks very nice “au natural” xxx

  16. jayne says

    July 26, 2009 at 11:12 am

    that movie sounds awesome and would make for really cool and unique fashion inspiration!

    I’ve never had a coney island hotdog, that should be next NYC visit goal hehe

    what is with all of these free concerts in NYC? my east village friend was planning on attending a free concert in the park featuring two bands I had paid money to see back in MN haha

  17. Leigh says

    July 26, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    That sounds like so much fun!! and I agree with Ashley how I want to move there.. I will be heading there again next month at least 🙂

  18. savvymode says

    July 26, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    oh how fun. i love fireworks too!

  19. Alicia says

    July 26, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    I need to go to Coney Island next time I’m in NY. I trust you’ll escort me so as to keep the crazies and carnies away…

  20. Gerri Ward says

    July 27, 2009 at 2:06 am

    Yum,yum,yummy! That Nathan’s dog is making me hungry and OMG! You are the only person I have ever seen eat a hot dog and still look GORGEOUS !!!
    P.S. Glad you had Fun !!!

  21. Sister Wolf says

    July 27, 2009 at 2:12 am

    Has anyone told you lately how great your cleavage is?

  22. miss sophie says

    July 27, 2009 at 10:12 am

    coney island is a photographer’s dream. everyone needs to go at least once in the summer! 🙂

  23. WendyB says

    July 27, 2009 at 10:32 am

    Sister Wolf, weirdly enough, that very night, some dude told me I had “awesome tits.” (No, it was not Christian!) At 21, I would have been disgusted by that. At 41, I nearly ran a victory lap around the room.

  24. dapper kid says

    July 27, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Oh my, how wonderfully fun, Coney Island sounds so amazing!! And I absolutely love The Warriors, if only for the gang costumes. I loved that baseball playing gang. Hope you had a beautiful weekend 🙂

  25. Sheila says

    July 27, 2009 at 10:47 am

    I love “The Warriors” (we own the soundtrack – used to have it on record!) and have always wanted to visit Coney Island. Did you know that “coney” means rabbit? There were so many rabbits on the island, they gave it that name, back in the day when coney was a regular word. Which is to say, far back in the day!

  26. Couture Carrie says

    July 27, 2009 at 11:11 am

    Oh, how fun, WB!
    I need a Nathan’s dog now!!

    I just adore Coney Island and Arlo G – “Alice’s Restaurant” is the best song but I only hear it around Thanksgiving…

    xoxox,
    CC

  27. dreamsequins says

    July 27, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I love that my anti-spam word was “GAY PAREE.” LOL.

    As for Coney Island, I only recently visited (after living in the city for over ten years!!) and LOVED it. Such a delightful treat!

  28. La Belette Rouge says

    July 27, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    Ha-ha!! I had a Nathan’s hot dog yesterday too. So did Lily. It is a small hot dog world after all.

  29. fashionista says

    July 27, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    It looks like so much fun!

  30. Eric says

    July 27, 2009 at 2:12 pm

    Well I’ve never been to Coney Island but I can see it’s nice now. Next time in NY…

  31. coco says

    July 27, 2009 at 2:14 pm

    I love that you need evidence to show you took the subway.

  32. WendyB says

    July 27, 2009 at 2:27 pm

    Coco, trust me, no one would believe that without proof!

  33. Diane says

    July 27, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    I’ve never been to Coney island… i must go. now.

  34. Miss Janey says

    July 27, 2009 at 4:41 pm

    Is Miss Wendy now inspired to create the Warrior Bottle Ring?

  35. Kristin says

    July 27, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    Much to the hubs disgust I adore hot dogs, especially those gleaned from street vendors. Someday I must make the trip to the mecca that is Coney Island. Ah ha

  36. The Stylist says

    July 28, 2009 at 1:15 pm

    I love Coney Island!!!

  37. Sher says

    July 28, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    I have never been to Coney Island! I haven’t lived! Just need to remedy that ;D

  38. Nubiasnonsense says

    July 28, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    Omg I live in queens and have still been to lazy to work my way over to Coney Island this year lol maybe next week =) Nice blog

  39. Lynette says

    July 29, 2009 at 12:56 am

    Gee, WendyB, one more Cha on that sign and I’d think you were photographing my favorite tasty and inexpensive Mexican food eatery here in Portland. The guys ate supper there after coming back from hiking above 8000 feet and spending last night around 5600 feet, on Mt. Hood.

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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