Coney Island beach and amusement park in Brooklyn, New York, on a peninsula, formerly an island, at the southwestern end of Long Island. Here, it is the setting for Alfred’s final descent.
Cadillac an expensive, top-of-the line automobile made by General Motors. Here, it is symbolic of the most luxurious or highest quality vehicle, a status symbol for Major among his peers in Harlem.
Hudson River a river rising in the Adirondack Mountains in eastern New York State and running generally south to its mouth at New York City, forming part of the New York-New Jersey boundary toward the end of its run.
boardwalk a walk, often made of wood and elevated, placed along a beach or seafront.
Ferris wheel (after George W. G. Ferris [1859–96], U.S. engineer who constructed the first one for the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893) a large, upright wheel revolving on a fixed axle and having seats hanging between two parallel rims, used as an amusement-park ride.
foxes [Slang] persons, especially women, who are attractive, especially sexually attractive.
Brooklyn a borough of New York city, on western Long Island.
smart meat [Slang] a negative nickname used by Alfred to refer to Mr. Donatelli.
