Friday, March 23, 2018

Roosevelt Island Makes Appearance In Marvel Avengers Infinity War Trailer - Spider-Man Swings By Again But No Need To Save Tram Riders This Time

Sharp eyed residents noticed Roosevelt Island made an appearance in the trailer for the new Marvel Avengers Infinity War movie.

Here's the trailer.



Spider-Man is well known on Roosevelt Island for saving the lives of Tram Passengers from the Green Goblin a few years back.
Were you on the Tram saved by Spider-Man?



Spider-Man comes back to Roosevelt Island every once in a while


as he did last summer.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend, R Train Service For Roosevelt Island This Weekend Too - MTA Genius Award Proposes Increasing Number Of Subway Cars Per Train

According to the MTA, there will be Roosevelt Island F Train service


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

And:
TRACK MAINTENANCE R Trains skip 5 Av/59 St, Lexington Av/59 St and Queens Plaza in both directions

Weekend , Saturday and Sunday, Mar 24 - 25

R trains run in both directions between 57 St-7 Av and 21 St-Queensbridge , making stops at Lexington Av/63 St and Roosevelt Island, resuming normal service at 36 St, Queens.
Also, the MTA announced Genius awards for new subway ideas. Here's one to increase the number of cars on a train.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance Presents Revolutionary War Musical 1776 This Weekend - Featuring Gender Bending Casting Of Women Playing Roles Of Our Founding Fathers, Get Your Tickets

The Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance (MST&DA)is presents the musical 1776 at the Howe Theater in the RI Cultural Center (548 Main Street) Friday, March 23 - Sunday 25.


The MST& DA presentation of the revolutionary war musical depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence features a gender bending cast of 12 women playing roles as the Founding Fathers


 including Kimbirdlee Fadner (MST &DA Assistant Executive Director) as John Adams


shown above with  Eric Cohen as Ben Franklin.

Jacqueline Lucid, Director of MTS&DA 1776 production says:
A show that traditionally casts only two women. Our cast of 23, features 12 women playing pivotal roles of our founding fathers. An important show for our times. An important reminder of all that we have. And all we need to protect and fight for.
Take a sneak peak of MST&DA's 1776:



Performances are:
  • Friday - March 23 8pm
  • Saturday - March 24 2pm
  • Saturday - March 24 8pm
  • Sunday - March 25 7pm
and Tickets:
  • General Admission $20
  • Seniors/Students $15
Click here for more info and to buy tickets for the MST&DA performance of 1776.

Here's how you get to MST&DA at 548 Main Street.





The 1776 film version is one of my favorite movies.

Watch Sit Down John from the 1776 movie



and buy a ticket for the MST&DA production of 1776.

UPDATE 3/23 - Roosevelt Island photographer Irina Hage shares pictures from MST&DA 1776 and reports:
If you are on the Island this weekend you have to see 1776! You will not regret it!


A very entertaining history lesson with a stunning cast.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Roosevelt Island Main Street Store Update - Lisa Management Replaces Cushman As Retail Broker, Onda Mexican Restaurant & Cafe Eleanor Panini Bar Seeking Building Permits, Starting Work Soon?

Roosevelt Island Main Street stores have a new retail leasing broker.  Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related has named Lisa Management to try and lease up the long time vacant Roosevelt Island Main Street store spaces.


Prior to Lisa Management,  Cushman Wakefield Retail had been the Main Street retail broker since 2015 and before Cushman, Winick Realty starting in 2012.

According to a Hudson Related press release:
Hudson Related Retail LLC has hired Lisa Management to become the new broker for storefront space along Roosevelt Island’s Main Street retail corridor—also known as the Shops on Main. Lisa Management’s efforts will be geared toward attracting diverse, high-quality tenants to add new retail options for Roosevelt Island residents and visitors.

“We are thrilled to have Lisa Management come on board as broker to lease our remaining spaces and continue the activation of Main Street’s retail corridor,” said Alexandra Kaplan, Project Manager at The Hudson Companies, an affiliate of Hudson Related Retail LLC.

“We will be taking a fresh look at leasing the remaining spaces focusing on attracting neighborhood amenities to serve the diverse population of Roosevelt Island,” said Jorge L. Jorge of Lisa Management.

Lisa Management will take on marketing and leasing for the remaining spaces along Main Street. These include 2,000 SF at 521 Main St., 2,229 SF at 563 Main St., 2,172 SF at 544 Main St. and 505 SF at 568 Main Street. As property managers of the Shops on Main since 2002, Lisa Management will be building on their extensive knowledge of Roosevelt Island retail in this expanded role.

Since 2016, there have been several new lease signings at the Shops on Main. These include Onda, a Mexican restaurant; Music & Play Station, a children’s music school; and BubbleCool, a bubble tea shop. The Shops on Main also feature a salon, dry cleaner, wine shop, diner and Chinese Restaurant, all of which add to the variety of retail along the corridor.
Hudson Related's Alexandra Kaplan reports that the Cafe/Panini bar to be located in Rivercross at 503 Main Street will be called:
Café Eleanor... .
and:
...will be pulling permits soon and starting work.
Future Home of Cafe Eleanor

Ms Kaplan adds that the Onda Mexican restaurant to be located in Roosevelt Landings at 548 Main Street is ;
... working on obtaining their permit as well.
Onda Mexican restaurant lease signing was announced in December 2016 and, at the time, was scheduled to open in the summer of 2017.

The newly named Cafe Eleanor Cafe/Panini Bar lease was announced in July 2016 and scheduled to open in Summer 2017 as well.

Stay Indoors On Roosevelt Island And Follow Along On A Beautiful Walk Thru Central Park During Today's Nor'Easter Snowstorm - A Winter Wonderland On Second Day Of Spring

If today's spring Nor'Easter snowstorm is keeping you indoors today on Roosevelt Island


or at work, follow along and enjoy this Periscope Walk thru beautiful Central Park with NYC Parks Department.
UPDATE 12:30 PM

You can enjoy the snow on Roosevelt Island too.
UPDATE 6 PM:

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Spring Arrives Today But Big Snowstorm Coming To Roosevelt Island Tomorrow - Please Remove Cars From Main Street, Free Parking At Motorgate Garage & Youth Center Closed Says RIOC

Spring officially arrives today

but winter weather has not given up.
Roosevelt Island, get ready for more snow.


According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for our area on Wednesday, March 21st, 2018, due to snow, forecasted temperatures, and/or wind chills.

Total snow accumulation is expected to be between 6-12 inches. Residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel. Please drive slowly, use major streets or highways, and keep the name and number of at least one local towing service in your vehicle. Pedestrians should avoid slippery surfaces, dress in layers, and maintain a heightened awareness of cars, especially when crossing intersections

Please be advised that, due to the Snow Emergency, there is “NO PARKING, NO STOPPING OR NO STANDING” on Main St. or the East and West Roadways from, Tuesday, March 20th, 2018 at 8:00PM THRU Thursday, March 22nd, 2018 at 8:00PM, in order for snow removal to take place.

As an alternative, free parking will be available at the Motorgate Garage starting at 8PM, Tues, March 21st, 2018. Please note that free parking is only for residents of the island. Proof of residency and vehicle registration must be presented upon entering. Vehicle must be registered to a Roosevelt Island resident. Vehicles accommodated for snow emergency must be moved by 8PM on Thurs, March 22nd, 2018 when Main Street reopens for parking. After that time, standard Motorgate parking fees will apply. Please contact the Motorgate Garage at (212) 832-4585 or visit the Motorgate offices on the fourth floor if you have any additional questions.

Trucks will be plowing and salting the roadways throughout the day and night in order to avert dangerous travel conditions. RIOC will be working to keep all areas clean for the duration of the storm. Expect delays in Red Bus and Tram service. Thank you for your cooperation while necessary preparations for the storm and subsequent snow removal are taking place.

To report any icy or other hazardous areas, please call the Public Safety Department at 212-832-4545 as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
RIOC adds;
Due to the expected inclement weather, the Youth Center will be closed on Wednesday, March 21st.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Stay safe and warm!
UPDATE 9:30 PM:
UPDATE 3/22 - RIOC reports:
Due to severe, inclement weather the Sportspark, Cultural Center & Good Shepherd will be closing at 2pm today. These facilities will open on Thursday, March 22nd at 2pm. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sad News, Dick Lutz, Newspaperman Of Roosevelt Island Passed Away Last Sunday - Publisher & Editor Of Main Street WIRE 1996- 2016

Dick Lutz, the longtime Publisher and Editor of Roosevelt Island's Main Street WIRE newspaper died last Sunday. According to the Main Street WIRE:

Dick Lutz, editor/publisher of The WIRE from 1996-2016, died Sunday, March 18, from a massive heart attack at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Florida....
Main Street WIRE founder and owner Dr. Jack Resnick remembers Dick Lutz:
I can never say enough about how important Dick was to me. He resuscitated a dormant newspaper, professionalized and raised it to a new level of journalistic excellence. Fate is cruel to have taken him away just as he was starting a new life with his high school sweetheart. I will never forget him.
In 2011, WNYC profiled Dick Lutz, The Newspaperman of Roosevelt Island.



Condolences to his friends, family, neighbors and Main Street WIRE colleagues.

Monday, March 19, 2018

East River Sailboat Hits Roosevelt Island Bridge This Evening And Gets Stuck - No Injuries Reported

A sailboat on the East River hit the Roosevelt Island Bridge this evening about 8 PM.


The Sailboat Mast hit the bottom the Roosevelt Island Bridge roadway causing traffic disruptions for about 30 minutes.

No injuries were reported. The NYPD Harbor Patrol, FDNY and Coast Guard were on the scene.



According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Due to NYPD AND FDNY activity in the water and on the 36th AVE Bridge, traffic leaving the island was temporarily delayed.

Traffic resumed to normal conditions at this time.
UPDATE 9 PM: