Coney Island – New York City’s answer to a beach, home of the infamous ’shoot the freak’ attraction, the backdrop to the classic cult film The Warriors, and for one day a year, the gathering place of hundreds of mermaids and other bizarre creatures. Founded in 1983, the annual Mermaid Parade is the largest art parade in the U.S., originally spawned as a homage to Coney Island’s Mardi Gras that endured from 1903 to 1954.

This year, hundreds of registrants got their best freak on, lathering themselves most popularly in paint, glitter and minimal clothing to try and one-up the next mermaid standing beside them. They took a leisurely saunter/skip/cartwheel along Surf Avenue and onto the Coney Island boardwalk, this year being presided over by King Neptune Lou Reed and Queen Mermaid Laurie Anderson.

The streets were rammed with thousands of curious bystanders (we spotted one who was casually walking along with a python draped over his shoulders – no big deal, obviously), but funnily enough, the people watching outside of the parade were just as good as looking at those who were in it. Our favorite was the salt-of-the-earth/sea old man wearing a cut off tank top and stubby shorts, his long beard wisping outwards, and his bedraggled white hair tucked underneath a golden and bejewelled crown.

This year’s parade took on a slightly political slant (“F*%k You BP, Save The Mermaids” read one sign), but despite the serious undertones, there was little to no tension in the air. Everyone was just there to enjoy the salty air, the lack of pretension (and clothes) and to witness the mermaids walking amongst us.






Tags: , , , , , , , ,