Hello, sailor! Aleshka Marquez, 30, of Marine Park displays her “Sailor Jerry” tatoo at the 27th annual Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival on Sept. 18.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
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Forgetting which trains run to Coney Island is impossible when they’re tattooed on your calf.
Tattoo artists covered Coney’s faithful with permanent symbols of the People’s Playground on Sept. 18, at the 27th annual Coney Island Tattoo and Motorcycle Festival on W. 12th Street and Stillwell Avenue.
Tats included scenes of the Q train and favorite amusement rides.
Of course, Dick Zigun — the heavily tattooed unofficial mayor of Coney Island who organized the event — got in on the fun, adding a new tattoo of the iconic Cyclone to his collection of intricate ink stains.
“I’m working on covering all four limbs,” said Zigun, who only has one leg left.
The colorful street fest also featured a competition among dozens of vintage bikes — including Marine Park resident Jimmy Grillo’s 1948 Harley Davidson Pan Head, which took home the “Judge’s Choice Award.”
The event was a far cry from years past, when it was staged in semi-secrecy on the Boardwalk in the days before tattooing was legalized in New York City in 1997. The festival was eventually moved to W. 10th Street, where it was sponsored by the former Astroland amusement park, before switching to its present location at Sideshows by the Seashore.
The annual tattoo and biker festival drew dozens of people to Coney Island. Mitchell Konevsky got a tattoo of the Coney Island Wonder Wheel, courtesy of tattoo artist Mike Deering. The event takes place each year on W. 12th Street and Stillwell Avenue.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
Bikers showed off their rides on W. 12th Street.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
Jimmy Grillo of Marine Park arrived at the festival on his 1948 Harley Davidson Pan Head, for which he won the “Judge’s Choice Award.”
Photo by Steve Solomonson
What would a Coney Island festival be without an awe-inspiring sideshow? Baron Von Geiger, the self-proclaimed World’s Strangest Strongman, pulled a pick-up truck by his ears.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
And we have a winner, ladies and gentlemen! Von Geiger celebrates after pulling off his miraculous feat.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
Joey Kane displays his Coney Island tattoo.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
Meanwhile, Gina Rizzi, 27, opted for a “Nightmare before Christmas” tattoo.
Photo by Steve Solomonson
