Coney Island USA
1208 Surf Ave. between Stillwell Ave. & West 12th St.
Saturday, March 28, $100-$150, 7:00 – 12 midnight
www.coneyisland.com
Arts fundraisers can be pretty stuffy affairs, so leave it to Coney Island USA to do things just a little bit differently. On March 28, their gala spring fundraiser — taking place for the first time ever in its home base on Surf Ave. — will feature daring burlesque, sideshow performers, a Mystery in a Box, and more. The Coney Island Horror Story theme is a riff on this past season of American Horror Story, which was set at a freak show, and AHS star Mat Fraser will take part in the festivities, along with his wife, Julie Atlas Muz, and a fab cast of characters that also includes Deity Von Cuchi, Velvet Crayon, Jennifer Miller, Clara Coquette, Ginger Twist, La Maia, Puss n Boots, Sincerely Yours, Sizzle Dizzle, Tiny D, Zoe Ziegfeld, Adam Realman, Wae Messed, Betsy Propane, Divina GranSparkle, Sabrena Sunshine, Agent Topchik, Betty Bloomerz, Ray Valenz, Princess Pat, Alejandro DuBois, Sean Coleman and the Quasars, and Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones. In addition, the Great Fredini will be on hand, making his Scan-a-Rama 3D portrait, and there will be a silent auction. All of the proceeds go into Coney Island USA’s unique programming, consisting of such favorites as the Mermaid Parade, the Coney Island Film Festival, the Coney Island Museum, Burlesque at the Beach, and the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. (VIP tickets entitle you to early admission, a meet-and-greet with some of the performers, a gift bag, and unlimited beer, wine, and food.)