Hurricane Sandy was so hard on Coney Island that many are still recovering six months later, including Coney Island USA, which puts on the Mermaid Parade. The Freak Bar and Coney Island Circus Sideshow — the sources of Coney Island USA’s income — are still closed for repairs, and the director of the organization, Dick Zigun, says they need $100,000 before they can promise a parade for this summer. The Kickstarter campaign to save the 30-year-old tradition made $22,166 in its first day, so it seems likely that they’ll reach their goal. This is good news for fans of elaborate, glittery marine-themed costumes, which is pretty much everybody.
