Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Rink

I went with a group to this space. I was intrigued when I saw that it was «open-​air,» then was less intrigued when I realized that it was even hotter inside than out. The person at the front was friendly and helpful (hence, the 1 star). We went to get skates and the person behind the counter was rude. I had to change skates 3 times because the skates are «unisex» (read: men’s) and the sizes don’t fit women (plus, one of my skates had a broken lace and they had no extra laces). I asked twice for the large fan to be turned on to get some air movement (as the sweat dripped down my face) and it was never turned on.
Then all of a sudden someone named, «Lola» comes at me, tells me she is the owner and that she knows nothing about this group I’m with (who I thought would be paying my entrance fee since I had paid the group a fee). She was quite rude and abrasive. I called over the group leader and we all figured out that the fee I paid to the group did not cover the entrance fee. I would have been willing to pay the entrance fee despite the horrible skates and the horrible plastic squares fitted together to make a tiny, uneven skating floor (just to be with the group) but by then I was completely turned off by Lola’s rudeness. I told her I was leaving and I did.
I wish I could recommend this place because it’s quirky and it seems that the owner’s heart is in the right place. (I am a Coney Island fan.) However, I cannot imagine being the owner of a business and treating customers the way she treated me.

Had an amazing time here after the Mermaid Parade. At first it looked like I wouldn’t be able to skate, as my fish tail was severely limiting my range of motion, but wait! They sell shorts in the gift shop!
The rink is indeed a little small, but my boyfriend and I had a blast skating around. The music was great, mostly 80s with some other dancey stuff mixed in. Rollerskating to ABC’s «The Look of Love» while semi-​dressed as a mermaid is pretty much a lifelong dream of mine, so I was happy. Also, it may be because it wasn’t super-​crowded, but they definitely had skates that fit my boyfriend’s size-​10 feet just fine, and there were plenty of other dudes skating.
All in all a great time. I can’t wait to go back!

dreamland’s party was fun. no drinks– no big whoop. seriously, if you can’t have some good clean fun for a few hours, well, i just don’t know what to say to you then.
i’m not sure i would go every weekend– but a blast for birthday parties or other special events.
i was there the same night as jene o. (commenter below) and my friends and i managed to get skates even though were weren’t with the big ol’ «gay boy party». seriously jene? shame on you.
all and all– fun place, great people and serious exercise for those of you not used to skating around in circles dancing for hours!

great idea poorly executed.
This is a great venue for people to hold parties… in fact, that is why I was there. But I had just had surgery and could not skate. $ 10 to sit there? OH wait, if you have not dressed up $ 12. Screw that. Especially when most of our party had to just sit because they had nothing larger than a men’s 8. NOTHING LARGER. Really?
they should charge more for skates and less to sit.
Oh wait, but there was a gay boy party going on and imagine that… they all seemed to get skates. (please do not get me wrong, I LOVE my gay boys, it was the venue I did not love).
And for those lucky enough to skate… I was told since the rink is so short all you do is turn which quickly becomes tiring on the old ankles.
Great, great space right on the boardwalk but one I will not re-​visit.

I’ve decided to give one star purely because I think there is potential. I haven’t been on skates since I was a kid and was excited to give it a whirl for the Ziggy Stardust skate party.
The exterior of the building is cool and I love that it’s open so you can watch the action from the boardwalk. Good thing, because when we got there we realized the screen meant for showing the Ziggy Stardust film was barely visible… and while we were supposed to hear the DJ spin «worldly skate anthems from Bowie», all we heard was C+C Music Factory and bad club music. I asked the woman at the door why they weren’t playing Bowie as advertised and was told that the purpose of their theme nights was more for people to dress up and there weren’t that many Bowie songs to play. Doesn’t David Bowie have a gigantic music catalog? What about all the other great glam bands? Skipping out on the $ 20 entrance and skate rental fee was a no-​brainer.

I was there last night for the first time, I havent been on roller skates since I was 12.
Its a little shabby, its not like the rollers rinks I went as a kid, the actual skating rink is nothing more than a bunch of linolium tiles put together.
But its only $ 20 (10 for admission and 5 for the skates) and they make you sign a waiver for some odd reason.
But its not bad for a couple of hours, I attempted to skate without falling.

hey — this place is cool — it’s right on the boardwalk and very 80s in its theme. that being said — the rink is super small! but i think that’s because they’re new and are waiting to expand depending on popularity.
the music was mainly 80s with a bit of top 40 mixed in — and they sold snacks like chocolate bars and chips on the side.
super cute and fun way to spend a night — although to be honest, i may not come back at least for a while. coney island at night is kinda shady — cop cars were hanging out on the boardwalk right in front of the rink… plus the subway ride home to manhattan takes forever.
still though — cute place. fun to reminisce there.

Last saturday night I met some friends on Surf Ave. We paid $ 10 for entrance, plus $ 5 for skate rental, plus and extra $ 2 because it was a special event. We rented our skates, though they did not have all of our sizes and strapped in.
I had envisioned skating glamorously around the rink with a fat pink cocktail but I shortly learned that no booze is served on the compound. This soon was all too clear. By the time we stepped onto the portable plastic roller rink (arguably not the best surface for novice skaters) it was apparent that some of us would not be skating very far. Keep in mind that Lauren, Heather and I were each in particularly flashy costumes, thus amplifying any minor tumble or major spill — so it was not unreasonable to bow out gracefully before anyone ended up in the hospital.
A few of us gave it out best effort for a little while. I even got an unsolicited lesson from a local pro. We left after an hour and a half having enjoyed the experience but sobered to the reality that none of us are the Apolo Anton Ohno of the Linoleum that we thought we were.
I do recommend giving the Dreamland Rink a whirl. The rink open earlier this spring when Coney Island fixture Lola Staar (née Dianne Carlin) won a make-​your-​dream-​come-​true contest with Glamour magazine. She has since been working with the city and the owner of the Childs to keep the rink open during the summer months. Staar is a part of the Coney Island movement of artists (burlesque dancers included) and activists fighting the area’s redevelopment. This is a true example of a pocket of the old guard New York City tradition of political and creative organizing that is thriving today — its no surprise that this community only exists now on the very tip of Brooklyn. Plus, the Childs Building is a beautiful relic of Coney Island’s better days. — this review is an excerpt from

Dreamland, oh wow, what a great name. I loved this underworld. Here is a future I am looking forward to.
The boardwalk entrance is easily magnificent. It is exactly the type of euphoric, grandiose feeling that a Coney Island attraction should be. I can’t tell if this was an abandoned castle or elementary school (it was a restaurant). Whatever it was, this area of CI hasn’t been tamed for decades. Hey, who needs the amusement park space? there’s great real estate west, just follow Lola.
It might be an indication of things to come that man sized roller skates were hard to come by. My 11s had to fit into a pair of 9s. I did so by taking out the boot. It was the only way. I am paying for it this week with my skinned ankles.
We rode around the floor for nearly two hours. I could do it forever. I love it more than when I was a kid. The white floor makes the entire atmosphere so fun and bright. All the girls wearing pink and reds on their dresses and in their hair really stand out from the floor and everything around you. Really, a magical place. I could swear to you it was snowing.
Everyone was so happy to be there. I couldn’t tell who worked there and who just loved to skate and talk to people. This is definitely the newest must-​go-​to attraction in Coney Island. Look for it to be Hottest on Unilocal very soon.
Now, I shouldn’t be saying this, I’m careful to reveal my secrets, but this is an outstanding place to meet people. A bar is a joke compared to the opportunities here. I am not saying anything else. PM me or something. The details should not be public.
It’s not for all kids. More accurately, it’s not for all parents. This a lollipop dreamland with burlesque dancers flailing next to the DJ booth above the rink. I’d bring my kids there, but they’d be awesome. Parents, if you want your kids to be awesome, take them here.
Thank Glamour magazine and Tommy Hilfiger — it all came about because of a «Make Your Dreams Come True» contest. What a wonderful world!