Best street culture: Coney Island

Brighton Beach has board games and babes (below).

In this densely populated and pedestrian-dominated city, it’s no surprise that street culture—the diversity, dynamism and interaction of locals—was one of our most hotly contested categories. But cynical city dwellers may raise an eyebrow when they hear that the winner is (drumroll) the mile-long Riegelman Boardwalk between Coney Island and Brighton Beach.

“That particular stretch encompasses both ethnic New York and honky-tonk New York,” says Steve Zeitlin, director of City Lore, a nonprofit organization that documents the city’s cultural heritage. “It is an extraordinarily vibrant piece of street life that no New Yorker would want to miss.” Zeitlin reckons it’s the juxtaposition of carnival spirit and Russian-immigrant mores that pushes Coney into the winner’s circle. And although it’s off the grid, the boardwalk is utterly NYC—you can taste everything from Nathan’s Famous hot dogs to the finest caviar, and hear everything from the whoops of partyers to the distant rumble of the elevated subway cars. Then there’s the people-watching: joggers, kids, tattooed scenesters and old-school Noo Yawkers alongside women in ball gowns and heels. You could argue that the iconic boardwalk attracts too many tourists to be truly representative of our street culture; but, hello?!? In 2008, the same could be said for pretty much anywhere in the five boroughs.

But indeed, this category was a hard-fought battle. Lindsey Lusher, director of the NYC Streets Renaissance Campaign, nominated Jackson Heights, Queens, for the title. She says the denizens of that teeming neighborhood truly embrace sidewalk life, and points to the community’s Play Streets program, which closes off part of 78th Street on Sundays, allowing residents to enjoy the block traffic-free. And with its blend of cultures—South Asian and South American, gay and straight, longtimers and gentrifiers— Jackson Heights is a daily lesson in diversity. (That’s why it won our diversity category.)

Harlem was right up there too. Its classic New York sidewalk scene sees local kids playing stoopball while neighbors hang out exchanging information (and, of course, gossip), and building a strong community on the steps outside their apartment buildings.

One thing our experts did agree on was that each of these ’hoods offers great street culture in its own right. As Brooklyn artist Xaviera Simmons notes, “New York is really outrageous when you really get into the neighborhoods.” We couldn’t agree more.

The subway came to Coney Island in 1920. The boardwalk was built in 1923.

RUNNERS-UP

Jackson Heights, Queens
“Amongst baffled Manhattanite foodies and restaurateurs haggling over the going price of a ten-gallon tub of ghee, Bengali hip-hop, reggaetón and Bollywood remixes provide a soundtrack for New York City’s best street life—Jackson Heights.—Lindsey Lusher, director of the NYC Streets Renaissance Campaign

Mullaly Park, Bronx
“Right now I am in love with Mullaly Park, the skate-BMX bike park near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx! It’s really fun to spend time there and watch the action on the ramps; the skaters, bikers and staff make it a great place to go.”—Xaviera Simmons, street artist

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