Changes Coming Up for Two New York Icons

Two iconic New York experiences are drawing to a close soon: NewYorkology is reporting that the crown, museum and pedestal of the Statue of Liberty will close on November 1 for renovations, and only a handful of tickets remain on sale for admission before the closure.

The statue, which will celebrate its 125th birthday on October 28 this year, is expected to reopen to the public in September 2012. (Pictured right: Nancy Reagan in the statue's crown in 1986.)

Tickets can be booked only through Statue Cruises, the only ferry company licensed to take visitors to Liberty and Ellis Island. Currently, crown tickets are only available for a handful of dates in October. (Take heart: Returned tickets sometimes become available. If your clients really want to tour the crown, keep checking.)

There are no plans to reopen access to the statue’s torch, which has been closed to the public since 1916.

Meanwhile, out on fabulously retro Coney Island, The New York Times is reporting that seven longstanding businesses will be shut down. (Don't worry—Nathan’s Famous hot dogs will remain.) As snarky website Gothamist points out, the classic businesses will be replaced with sports bars and upscale establishments where guests can enjoy a traditional boardwalk cappuccino.