Last month I was able to tick a box off my bucket list as I spent a day in Coney Island New York. Coney Island is part of Brooklyn, which as the years have passed recently I’ve totally fallen for. If it makes me a bit of a hipster I care not, I’ll take a wander in Brooklyn any day over Manhattan. Even though my travels have taken me to Brooklyn a few times over the past couple of years, Coney Island has alluded me. Until this summer. I had found my perfect Coney Island travel buddy ( who is also a wonderful pola photog, artist, all around best bud)  and bonus! she likes my kids. Of course my kids came with me, and they freaking loved it.

I knew I had to go to Coney Island after I read Just Kids by Patti Smith. I think it’s safe to say that I wanted to go there before that, but I read that book and I REALLY wanted go. If you’ve never read that book, I highly recommend. It’s a memoir/love story set in New York in the 70’s.

I will say that I have a magnetic like attraction to things that are old, run down, odd, spooky, haunted.  Throw in a boardwalk, a little Moulin Rouge like flare, A whole lotta people from literally all over the globe, and that’s Coney Island. With Hot Dogs. It’s just awesome.

I loved hearing all the languages being spoken. I loved the energy. I loved how no one seemed to care about the heat.

It really is a photographer’s dream. And this is the place to bring film . Not that you can’t bring your digital. But there is a visual  language spoken here that only film can decipher. It’s just so good.

Coney Island was a dream for me, I’m so grateful that I had the chance to go.  Maybe I’ve inspired a trip for you too?  When you leave Coney Island and Brooklyn and get ready to cross the bridge, there is this sign that says  Leaving Brooklyn : Fuhgeddaboudit. I won’t be forgetting about it any time soon.

Here’s to more summery adventures!!

Audrey Amaro