The Thunderbolt in 1995.

Called “the People’s Playground,” Coney Island is perhaps the most popular piece of New York City’s entertainment puzzle, Times Square and the Bowery having been thoroughly scrubbed of any excitement the past few decades. Chic and refined it’s not—at least not yet—but in terms of crowds, ice cream cones, corn dogs and cheap(ish) amusements, this corner of the city is the one calling.

The season may be over, but the enthusiams persists.

Today, the city's Economic Development Corporation announced an RFP seeking the development and operation of new amusement rides, game booths and other entertainment attractions at a vacant site at the heart of the Coney’s amusement hub.

The site, located along West 15th Street between the boardwalk and Surf Avenue, formerly home to the famed Thunderbolt roller coaster, is approximately 45 feet wide by 860 feet long; it is nestled neatly between newly expanded Scream Zone—now featuring a go-cart track and the Boardwalk Flight sky-coaster alongside its four rides for the thrill-seekers among us—and the soon to be Steeplechase Plaza, a 2.2-acre space that will house the restored B&B Carousel, Coney Island’s last remaining historic carousel.

Seth W. Pinsky, President of NYCEDC, commented, “The activation of the West 15th Street site will further expand the amusement core, and build on the ongoing revitalization taking place in Coney Island.” It will also continue the revitalization that the opening of Scream Zone and Luna Park has prompted over the past three years.

“America’s Favorite Playground,” as Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz called it, is a major attraction; the summer of 2011, was one of its most successful seasons to date, with over 640,000 visitors taking over 2 million rides.

“The launch of this site will further propel Coney Island as New York’s premier tourist destination,” said Domenic M. Recchia Jr., councilman for Coney Island and City Council finance chair. Ms. Markowitz concurred: “Its redevelopment will mean even more places to see and more things to do at Coney Island.”

The Coney Island Revitalization Plan will both preserve and nurture this affluent amusement area; it will open up retail opportunities for its neighborhood, with nearly 5,000 new units of housing, and it will generate more than 25,000 construction jobs and 6,000 permanent ones. The plan is expected to generate more than $14 billion in economic activity for New York City over 30 years.

The cards are on the table; we just have to wait for Oct. 23 to see them.

Social Life,

Ms. Mayhem, who seemed to be the focus of the evening rather than the new issue, wore her signature goth couture. An edgy exterior, yes, but her pale porcelain skin and doe eyes suggested a softer side; let’s not forget that this rocker originally trained in musical theater and opera. Her debut single, “Save Me,” will be released on iTunes on Oct. 2; it was blasting from the surround-sound system, the lyrics were projected in the video onto a wall.

Just a short stroll from the tourists gawking at the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, the hideaway in the heart of the Theater District attracted a different crowd. Fluorescent purple lighting shone on an assortment of socialites; old suits, young hipsters, designers and musicians, it was an eclectic mix of the city’s creatives. The atmosphere, like the attendees, was laid back yet glamorous, grungy yet opulent—with just a hint of punk.

The fusion of luxury magazine and grunge princess may have been unexpected—a bit like seeing Johnny Rotten at the Maidstone Club—but nobody was complaining.

Although the content of Social Life is directed at the high net-worth-individual who summers on the East End of Long Island, publisher Justin Mitchell said that he liked to play with the cover story.  “We like to mix things up a little,” he said. Mr. Mitchell rattled off a list of the magazine’s music-themed summer covers, “with an icon such as L.A. Reid on one and the Jonas Brothers, a younger demographic, on the next.”

Mixing things up all by himself was Mr. Hudson. The prolific producer was dressed to impress, from beret atop head to red patent Doc Martens on feet, and in between bright red pants, red-and-blue pin-stripe blazer, red-hearted tie and burgundy glasses—he was a walking work of art. His multicolored beard, too, was a marvel. “They used to call me weird beard,” said Mr. Hudson, recalling the three years he spent as a judge on British version of The X Factor.

Mr. Hudson praised Mayhem’s work ethic: “It’s different to that of anyone I’ve ever worked with before.” Impressive, considering that “anyone” includes the likes of Cher, Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne and Aerosmith—for whom he produced the Grammy Award winning hit “Livin’ on the Edge.” Mr. Hudson went on, “In rock and roll, a work ethic like hers usually doesn’t exist … usually these rockers are in bed until 2 p.m.”

Mayhem has been on a roll this summer at a slew of North Fork social events. It was at the Southampton Hospital benefit that designer Wesley Nault first spotted her. “She stood out to me in the crowd," Mr. Nault said. "I had to find out who she was.” Luckily for him, Mayhem’s “spiked gloves” and “great personal style” reappeared at the Couture Council luncheon honoring Oscar de la Renta and a number of shows during Fashion Week. Mr. Nault describes his own collection as “high end but with an edge to it.” The same could be said of Mayhem.

Mr. Hudson wants Mayhem to stand out from the crowd, he doesn’t want her to follow it. He suspects, though, that the crowd will follow her. “Who knows, maybe we’ll all be sporting spiked gloves next year," he said. "Although I hope not—those things will take your eye out.”