Coney Island or bust

Coney Island is playing host to a couple of cool events this weekend. The 2006 Coney Island Film Festival kicks off this Friday with a screening of AMERICAN CARNY: True Tales of the Circus, followed by an opening night party with appearances from several of our favorite Freak Show performers. All films will be shown at either Sideshows by the Seashore (home of the Coney Island Freak Show) or the Coney Island Museum (conveniently located upstairs). For a full schedule, check out the CIFF website at http://coneyislandfilmfestival.com/.

Film festivals and side show freaks not your cup of tea? Don't sweat it. As part of the 4th Annual OpenHouseNewYork weekend, October 7-8, the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment is hosting an Old Theatres of Coney Island walking tour on Saturday, 10/7, at 11:30am. The tour is free (yeah!) and will begin in front of the Shore Theatre at Stillwell and Surf Avenues. For more information about this tour or other BCUE or OHNY events, check out their websites at www.bcue.org and www.OHNY.org, respectively.