Each year, thousands of spectators flock to Surf Avenue, Coney Island’s main drag, to watch King Neptune and Queen Mermaid lead a procession of beglittered seminude marchers in costumes through the neighborhood. Three thousand marchers and half a million spectators attended to see the celebration of culture and art, which featured floats, marching band and mermaids. The Mermaid Parade specifically was founded in 1983 with 3 goals: it brings mythology to life for local residents who live on streets named Mermaid and Neptune ; it creates self-esteem in a district that is often disregarded as “entertainment”; and it lets artistic New Yorkers find self-expression in public.

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East Side Access is a public-works project being undertaken by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City. Deep underground, rail tunnels are extending from Sunnyside, Queens, to a new Long Island Rail Road terminal being excavated beneath Grand Central Terminal. Construction began in 2007, with an estimated cost of $6.3 billion and completion date of 2013. Since then, the cost estimate has been raised to $8.4 billion, and the completion date moved back to 2019.

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The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue (between 33rd and 34th Streets) in New York City. The Empire State Building was built by builders Starrett Bros. & Eken in 1931 and it was completed in one year and 45 days. The building itself cost $24,718,000 to build. The total cost for the Empire State Building was $40,948,900. The height of the building, including the lightning rod, is 1,454 feet (443.18 m). The measurement from the ground to the 102nd floor observatory is 1,224 feet (373.08 m) and from the ground to the 86th floor observatory is 1,050 feet (320.04 m).

Ticket Prices for 86th FLOOR OBSERVATORY
Adult (13-61) ……. $20.21
Child (6-12) ……… $14.70
Senior (62+) …….. $18.37

Ticket Prices for 86th and 102nd FLOOR COMBINATION
Adult (13-61) ……. $37.00
Child (6-12) ……… $31.00
Senior (62+) …….. $35.00

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