Coney Aquarium Gets Sparkling Makeover
The Wall Street Journal’s got a rendering of the new New York Aquarium, slated to open in Coney Island in 2015. The $150 million reno will cover the new facade, a huge glass shark tank, and access from the Coney Island Boardwalk. According to the article, the facade will be made of “sparkling aluminum squares”…
The Wall Street Journal’s got a rendering of the new New York Aquarium, slated to open in Coney Island in 2015. The $150 million reno will cover the new facade, a huge glass shark tank, and access from the Coney Island Boardwalk. According to the article, the facade will be made of “sparkling aluminum squares” and will include a spiral ramp leading to a roof deck overlooking the ocean. The shark tank will hold 500,000 gallons and 40 sharks. So far the city’s given the aquarium $49 million; the rest must be raised through donors. Says Steve Sanderson, the President of the Wildlife Conservation Society, “We think of the aquarium as the anchor to the revitalization of Coney Island.”
NY Aquarium’s New Look Swims Into View [WSJ]
Blayze, AMNH has “suggested” admission prices. You can go in for a quarter if you want. (But yes, the special exhibits are extra.)
I like the facade… it’s all wavy. Seems appropriate.
And I know someone else said this, but FORTY SHARKS!? Awesome.
I’ve been a member for a while, and it’s great. Nothing better then dipping in there in the winter when you have the place to yourself to hang out with the Walruses.. I wish they would use some of that funding to bring back the Beluga Whales! Used to love those things, but they were in the saddest tank in the back, and eventually shipped down to the Atlanta aquarium.
Rob, the peacocks are near the entrance at the bronx zoo. they have a pretty nice spread for them to stroll around, spread their feathers, etc
“anyone else find that a tad unfair?” – no, this is America in 2010, where a kid should be a kid, and enjoy things like museums and aquariums, without bankrupting the parents, or being expected to worry about paying for it him/herself. If a family of two adults and two children were to all pay full price, it would cost $52, plus food and transportation. That’s a lot of money for most people. The kids who most need to get out of their houses and away from their televisions, to experience nature, history, art, culture, whatever, are those who can’t afford to pay full price. I think it’s quite fair.
“senior citizens get all crazy movie discounts too. why?”
If you make it to senior citizen, you deserve a discount. If those discounts are not there when you get there, you’ll be howling about how unfair THAT is. Besides which, so what? Why must you always begrudge someone, somewhere, getting something you can’t get? Life is too short. Enjoy what you have, and work for what you want, and stop whining.
Rob –
The Central Park Zoo is small but its a quality exhibit IMO. Doesn’t take a lot of time, and the on site cafe is decent. Its a great half day kind of thing (whereas the trek to the Bronx and the sheer size mandates a full day investment).
The Butterfly Exhibit is a bi-annual event at AMNH. It’s on right now, think it runs through February. You really should go, its fantastic.
Fair or not fair, lower (or free) kids pricing is a fact at pretty much every museum, zoo, aquarium, theme park, and similar place in the country.
For personal reasons, I like the reduced prices since I have a 9 year old.
BTW, anyone over 44 inches tall is supposed to pay full fare on the subway – I always pay for my son, but I know I am probably in the minority.
My wife and son are both huge zoo fans – we have some sort of family premium membership.
The Bronx zoo is probably one of the top 5 in the country (even though they do not have giant pandas – not sure about peacocks). The one potential complaint I can see people having is that that there are a lot of extra admission areas – that’s one of the reasons we got the premium membership.
The Central Park zoo and Prospect Park zoos are both small but very well done, with a mix of indoor and outdoor areas. As you would expect, the exhibits are much more elaborate and crowded in Central Park than Prospect Park.
We have not made it to the Queens Zoo at Flushing Meadows yet, but I understand it is the most modest in the system.
My mistake on the ticket info. Not a bad deal (especially considering the ripoff at the AMNH, which doesn’t even include all the fun ‘special’ exhibits)
love it. the kid can enjoy the subway ride PLUS the sharks