On Saturday I went down to Coney Island to have a final drink at Ruby's before it closed. Ruby's is a Coney Island institution that's been around for over 50 years. Their lease, along with many of the other local boardwalk businesses, has not been renewed for next year. What's going to take their place? According to president of Central Amusement International, the company that the City contracted to operate the new amusements and boardwalk buinsesses, a "world-class mix of entertainment, dining and nightlife". Which is usually a euphemism for...chain resturants. Ugh.

You can keep up to date on the continuing saga in the excellent Coney Island blog Amusing the Zillion: http://www.amusingthezillion.com.