Thursday, March 28, 2024

Hilton Hotel Coming To Roosevelt Island With $210 Million Purchase Of Graduate Hotel Brand

According to a March 14, 2024 Hilton press release:

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) today announced an agreement with Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (“AJ Capital”) to acquire the fan-favorite Graduate Hotels® brand, adding a significant growth opportunity for the global hospitality leader in the fast-growing lifestyle hotel market. 

Hilton will pay $210 million to acquire all rights to the Graduate brand worldwide, enter into franchise agreements for all existing and signed pipeline Graduate Hotels, and become responsible for the brand’s future development and growth. AJ Capital will remain the owner of the more than 35 operating and pipeline Graduate properties, each of which will be operated under long-term Hilton franchise agreements.

 The transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter, subject to customary closing conditions including review and approval pursuant to Hart-Scott-Rodino, will be immediately accretive to Hilton. The company expects the fee contribution for the first full year of ownership to be approximately $16 million....   

Click here for the full press release. 

I asked a representative from the Roosevelt Island Graduate Hotel: 

How will this affect the Roosevelt Island Graduate Hotel? Any changes?

Any statement to the Roosevelt Island community?

Will update when more info becomes available.

What, if any, changes will Hilton Hotel bring to the Roosevelt Island Graduate Hotel

Panorama Room rooftop cocktail bar

or Anything At All lobby restaurant?

We shall see.

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Island Farmers Market Returns To Good Shepherd Plaza This Saturday March 30 - Featuring A Wide Variety Of Locally Grown, Healthy And Tasty Fresh Fruits, Vegetables & Much More, See You Saturday At The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market returns to it's Spring/Summer Fall Home at Good Shepherd Plaza this Saturday March 30.

from it's Motorgate Plaza Winter home.

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market is a beloved member of our community - a place to purchase locally grown, healthy and deliciously tasting fresh fruits, vegetables and much more. It's also a gathering spot to meet with our neighbors and learn about the latest neighborhood news and gossip.

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market at Good Shepherd Plaza is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather and bad. 

Support your Local Farmers, Eat Healthy! 

See you Saturday at Good Shepherd Plaza for the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Watch Fascinating Video Of RIHS Lecture About Redevelopment Of Roosevelt Island From Blackwell's & Welfare Island To Visionary Phillip Johnson/John Burgee 1969 Master Plan To Present Day Deviations

Last Tuesday, March 19, the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) hosted a presentation by Hunter College Urban Policy and Planning graduate student Dylan Brown. He is currently working on a research project with RIHS President Judy Berdy exploring the history of Roosevelt Island's development  from its beginning as Blackwell's Island to Welfare Island to the 1969 Roosevelt Island Master Plan by architects Phillip Johnson/John Burgee and continuing to the present day. Approximately 30 residents attended his very interesting and informative lecture at the Roosevelt Island NYPL branch.

RIHS President Judy Berdy introduced Dylan and reported he:

... has been working with us the last few weeks going through our treasure chest and it is a treasure chest. We have things from the from the 60s the welfare Island days the early development days...

According to Mr Brown:

... Last semester I started a research project on Roosevelt Island and that is how I met Judy. That research project has still not finished ... because it is so detailed and in depth. I really felt like I could not wrap myself around how much history has happened on Rosevelt Island ... to focus on just one aspect is almost impossible. What I'm going to try to do to you guys today is explain a very long history about probably one of the most interesting places in New York City...

My research prompt for this was: How did Roosevelt Island deviate from its master plan in 1969 and why?

... I'm a nerd. I like urban planning. I knew about Rosevelt Island beforehand and I read the Master Plan. I thought it was fascinating but I never really dove into it until this project. I noticed that there was a lot of things that either happened or didn't happen or were altered so basically the presentation we're going to go through will be in four sections. 

The first section is going to be history. We're going to be looking at the history of Roosevelt Island pre-development and post-development.

Then we're going to be looking at the Island That Nobody Knows. That's the 1969 plan devised for the Island.

Then we're going to be looking at building Northtown which is where you're sitting in right now... 

... Finally we're going to look at the deviations and how, what you experienced of Roosevelt Island from the 1969 plan that was laid out.

Here's video of Dylan Brown's Redeveloping Roosevelt Island lecture,

his slide presentation

and the Phillip Johnson/John Burgee Roosevelt Island Master Plan.

RIHS President Judy Berdy adds:

Over the last 40 years we have collected all sorts of island artifacts Luckily we have storage unit in the Octagon as well as our office. We have hundreds of photos and paper documents that can be used for research. Here a some of our unique collection...

And:

TREASURES REDISCOVERED 

This is an original poster that publicized the exhibit “Welfare Island: An Interim Report” which was presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for two weeks October 6 through October 19, 1970 

Did you know that there was a scale model of the future island exhibited at the Met in 1970? This is just one historical item that is stored in our office/archive in the Octagon 

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO FUND OUR ARCHIVAL WORK TO MAKE OUR COLLECTIONS MORE AVAILABLE AND EASY TO USE. PLEASE USE OUR DONATION LINK BELOW TO MAKE A DONATION FOR OUR ARCHIVES AND AN EXHIBIT OF OUR COLLECTION IN UPCOMING MONTHS. ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTABLE AND WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

Sponsored Post - Roosevelt Island Home Town Hairstylists At Fusion Salon Wish You A Happy Easter

Roosevelt Island hairstylists at hometown Fusion Salon wish you a Happy Easter
Our mission has always been to provide exceptional hair care services for men, women and children in a safe, modern, relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. We provide the finest selection of professional hair care products – We are a Certified Concept Salon featuring expert Hair Care, Cuts, Styles, Highlights, Color and Keratin Treatment. Our experienced stylists are dedicated, well trained professionals who provide our clients with a phenomenal salon experience that will allow you to always look your best.

At Fusion Salon We have created a warm and friendly family atmosphere where our aim is to always exceed your expectations and to ensure a safe and superb experience time and time again.  

At Fusion Salon we are always happy to discuss your hair care needs or styling questions. Ask your stylist which products or treatments are most appropriate for your type of hair. We appreciate how important your hair is and how it affects the way you feel.

Please review our services, pricing and special packages.

Fusion Salon hours are:

  • Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 7pm
  • Sunday 10am – 7pm
  • Monday – Closed
Please stop by our shop at 523 Main Street, call 212-688-0055 or email us.

We look forward to working with you on your individual hair needs.

Happy Easter Roosevelt Island!

Monday, March 25, 2024

Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation Celebrates Purim With Worship Service, Holiday Fun Performing Maestra Esther Heimer Purimschpiel Play & Delicious Home Made Hamantaschen Fruit Pastry

Janet Falk reports on the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) Purim celebration last Saturday evening. According to Ms. Falk:

Maestra Esther Heimer: A Purim Celebration on Roosevelt Island

Purim, a joyous and comedic holiday celebration filled with fun and parody based on the Biblical story of Esther, was celebrated by the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) on Saturday evening, March 23, with about 50 people participating in a full evening of activities for all ages.

Following a pizza dinner, Amber Levanon Seligson led the evening worship service. 

Then, Rabbi Laurie Gold, dressed as a pirate, led the reading of the megillah, or traditional scroll, which recounts the story of the holiday, marking the survival of the Jewish people at a time of a threatened massacre. Ably assisted by Gad Levanon, Michal Melamed and Dvir Koenigstein, her reading was interrupted by children and adults wielding groggers to blot out the recitation of the name of the man, Haman, who purportedly attempted to destroy the Jews.

Interspersed among the sections telling the Purim story was a Purimschpiel, or play based on this narrative. Written by Mickey Rindler and Janet Falk, Maestra Esther Heimer combined the narratives of three summer blockbuster movies: Barbie, Maestro and Oppenheimer.

The audience was invited to join in a song to a very familiar melody, here called Sweet Esther Stein, as Queen Esther gathered her courage to petition the King and secure the safety of the Jews. The cast featured Emily Kalb, Michal Melamed, Scott Piro, Mickey Rindler and Charlie Schwartz, plus teen members of the congregation, Tamar & Lucia,

The Purimschpiel's broad humor, plus references to past & current Roosevelt Island affairs, drew much laughter, groans and many cheers from the audience. This was the latest and most successful Purimsphiel from our great Team of Rindler & Falk, who have been writing them for many years.

The evening concluded with delicious home-made Hamantaschen, a traditional fruit pastry treat, baked by the Levanon-Seligson family. 

Mishloach Manot holiday gifts were prepared and donated by RIJC friends and neighbors.

The RIJC is the oldest, longest-serving, welcoming Jewish organization on the Island. For more information about the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation, please visit our website or email Nina Lublin, RIJC President, at ninalublin1@gmail.com.

Sponsored Post - Check Out The Roosevelt Island Café At Cornell Tech March 25 Weekly Menu For Breakfast, Lunch, Salad Bar, Coffee, Smoothies, Wifi For Your Laptop & Much More - How Are We Doing? Send Your Feedback By Email Too

Check out the March 25 weekly menu at the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Café.


We want to hear from you. Feel free to email us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we are doing. Any feedback can be emailed to thecafe-fbservices@tech.cornell.edu

The Cornell Tech Café is a great spot on Roosevelt Island   

for breakfast, Daily Hot Lunch Meals,  

Specialty & Grab and Go Sandwiches, Make Your Own Salads, Flatbread and Neapolitan Pizza, Salads, Soup, Coffee, Smoothies,


 beer, wine,

Sushi Thursday

and more.

Bring your laptop if you wish. The Cafe has very good wi-fi connection  


The Cafe is open Monday thru Friday 8am to 7 pm. Saturday and Sundays 11am to 5pm.

More info at the Cornell Tech Café website and Instagram Page.

See you soon at the Cornell Tech Café.

Friday, March 22, 2024

Chabad Of Roosevelt Island Invite You To Celebrate Purim At King Meets Queen, You Are Summoned To Our Castle, Come Adorned As Your Favorite Chess Piece, Purim Character Or Fusion Of Both

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you celebrate Purim at King Meets Queen:

According to the Chabad Of Roosevelt Island:

A Royal Purim Chess Party

Sunday March 24 At The Castle Rooftop (425 Main Street).

You are summoned to our Castle for a Purim Celebration that Promises to be a Knight to Remember. Come adorned as your favorite Chess Piece, Purim Character or a Fusion of Both.

Feast on a spread fit for Royalty with Hamantaschen that will have you Pawn-Ding for more.

RSVP to Nechama@jewish.org

Here's the story of Purim from Mayim Bialik

and in song from the Maccabeats.

Roosevelt Island's Mediterranean Eatery has some Hamantaschen for you too.

Happy Purim.

Sponsored Post - Time To File Your Taxes, Says Roosevelt Island Based Accountable Financial Management Corporation President Seymour Williams - We'll Get The Job Done

Seymour Williams, CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) is a trusted advisor to individuals and business owners who seek to maximize their financial position. For over 30 years he has been a fully licensed expert in the financial fields of investments, insurance, real estate, mortgages and taxation. He is the President of Accountable Financial Management Corp, a minority owned business which has operated here on Main Street for more than 20 years. 

We get the job done.

Mr. Williams’ professional experience is extensive and he has consulted with several major international banks and with programs sponsored by both the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Mr Williams is a Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Enrolled Agent (EA). and also the treasurer of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association.

Mr Williams holds a BBA degree from Bernard M. Baruch College and an MBA in Finance from Long Island University, where he served on the faculty as a Professor of Finance and Management. He has lived on Roosevelt Island for 35+ years raising his family and serving as a respected member of the community.

CONTACT:
501 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044
Website: www.afmcmoney.com Email: accfin1@aol.com
Phone: 212-644-8231
Fax: 212-644-0292