Friday, August 16, 2013

No Roosevelt Island F Train Service To Manhattan This Weekend And Late Nights Monday To Friday August 19 -23


Here we go again. According to the MTA:
F Coney Island-bound trains run via the E from Roosevelt Av to 5 Av/53 St

Weekend, 11:15 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Aug 16 - 19

Trains resume regular service at 47-50 Sts.

No Coney Island-bound service at 21 St-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St and 57 St.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) adds
The MTA has advised that there will be no Manhattan bound F trains this weekend, August 16th- 19th from 11:15 PM Friday to 5 AM Monday.

Weeknight Disruption
In addition, there will be no Mahnattan bound F trains next week, August 19th- 23rd from 11:45 PM Monday to 5 AM Friday.

For service to Manhattan, take the Queens - bound F train to Roosevelt Ave and transfer to a Manhattan bound F train.

The Tram will operate on a rush hour schedule (every 7.5 minutes) during the F train service disruptions.

For up to the minute F train service updates, visit www.mta.info or call 511. To sign up for real time alerts on planned service changes, visit MYMTAALERTS.com.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Fire, Huge Flames and Black Smoke On Queensboro Bridge Right Above Roosevelt Island Earlier This Morning

Image from Heart Ashley

There was a fire on the Queensboro Bridge right above Roosevelt Island this morning. According to WABC 7News:
A smokey truck fire halted traffic on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Friday morning.

The vehicle is burning on the outbound lower level of the 59th Street Bridge. The first 911 call came in just after 11 a.m.

Black plumes of smoke were seen rising over the bridge....
Roosevelt Island resident Mary Kay Gisel reports:
... when walking my dog. I was near the Octagon, however the flames were so big that I thought it was coming from the Citi building or a building on the island. Lots of black smoke....
Resident Bernadette adds:
It was a truck fire. I saw it with my binoculars from the Octagon.
Others recounted hearing a loud bang then looking up and seeing the fire on the Queensboro Bridge

Image From Eva Bosbach


Image From Danielle Samon

According to Pix 11's Greg Mocker:
... FDNY Deputy Chief Roger Sakowich says three occupants in the truck noticed smoke coming from the cab and got out just before the diesel tanks exploded around 11 a.m.

A driver who was in a Queens-bound lane when the truck fire erupted described an “explosion” sound on the span just before plumes of smoke engulfed the scene.

“The bridge was shaking and we just ran out of the car,” said one witness, who did not want to be identified....
CBS New York adds:
...The 40-foot tractor trailer burst into flames on the outbound lower level of the bridge around 11 a.m. The fire was put out around 11:40 a.m. No injuries were reported....
Huge traffic delays on the Bridge but no service interruption on the Roosevelt Island Tram reported.

UPDATE 8:50 PM - Wilvin Falcon shares these pictures of today's Queensboro Bridge fire as seen from Roosevelt Island



and so does



Olya Turcihin.

Roosevelt Island Youth Program Soccer Season Begins September 3 For Kids 6 to 13 Years Old, - Registration Now Available And Coaches Needed Too

If you are a Roosevelt Island Soccer player between the ages of 6 and 13, the parent of one, or just enjoy soccer, this is for you.

The Roosevelt Island Youth Program (RIYP) 2013 Soccer Season will begin on September 3


with registration open now.

RIYP Soccer coaches are needed too.


Some scenes from RIYP 2012 Soccer Season


You Tube Video of RIYP Soccer

and a final recap of the exciting 2012 RIYP Soccer Season.

You can fill out the RIYP Soccer registration form here.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Low Flying Helicopters Swooping Over Roosevelt Island, East River And Long Island City Last Couple Of Days

Image From You Tube

Have you noticed low flying helicopters over Roosevelt Island, the East River and Long Island City recently? A Roosevelt Island resident shares this video from last night



and speculates:
What appears to be a search and rescue or an anti-terrorism drill has been going on for the second day in a row. This film was taken from the eastern coast of Roosevelt Island at around 10:30pm on Monday, August 13th 2013.
On Sunday afternoon, I noticed two helicopters flying together circling back and forth over Roosevelt Island and Long Island City just skimming the Riverwalk building rooftops.

Follow Signage And Drive Slowly With Extreme Caution At Roosevelt Island Motorgate Garage During Current Renovation Advises RIOC


According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC)
As a reminder, several levels of the Motorgate Parking Facility are currently undergoing renovation. Drivers are instructed to follow the directional signage to navigate through the garage. Motorists are also urged to use a slow rate of speed and extreme caution when driving through the facility.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Monday, August 12, 2013

No Roosevelt Island F Train Service To Manhattan Late Nights Monday To Friday August 12 -16


According to the MTA:
F Coney Island-bound trains run via the E from Roosevelt Av to 5 Av/53 St Late Nights, 11:45 PM to 5 AM, Mon to Fri, Aug 12 - 16

Trains resume regular service at 47-50 Sts.

No Coney Island-bound F service at 21 St-Queensbridge, Roosevelt Island, Lexington Av/63 St and 57 St.

Great Before And After Pictures Of Roosevelt Island's Southpoint/FDR Four Freedoms Park - Food Trucks Now Welcome At FDR Park

Paul Sahner's NYC Grid has some great pictures of Southpoint Park before the FDR Four Freedoms Park (FDR Park) was built and opened last October.. Remember Southpoint Park like this:





Here's what the FDR Park looks like now.

Image from Archpaper via PAUL WARCHOL / COURTESY FDR FOUR FREEDOMS PARK

More great before and after pictures of Southpoint Park and FDR Park from NYC Grid. Take a look.

Reported previously that the FDR Park Conservancy rules would not allow food and beverages other than water to be brought into the FDR Park. Apparently there have been some modifications to that policy since at least one food truck has been welcomed in the FDR Park.
There will be no visiting the FDR Park for food trucks or other reasons during the next three days. According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):
Please be advised that Four Freedoms Park will be closed from Monday, August 12th to Wednesday, August 14th due to scheduled maintenance. The park will re-open to the public on Thursday, August 15th at 9 AM.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group
FDR Four Freedoms Park Conservancy President Sally Minard adds:
The Park will be closed Monday and Wednesday next week. We are always closed Tuesday.

The scheduled work is to replace the road surface in the entry to the Park.

The surface installed just before the park opened to the public last fall was supposed to be a hard packed surface, ADA compliant for wheel chairs and scooters, and suitable for emergency vehicles as required.

The surface never performed as expected. It is slippery and breaks apart when wet. That is why we have maintained temporary gravel paths across the surface to provide safe passage into the memorial for visitors in all weather conditions.

The existing surface will be taken up and removed from the island. Asphalt will be laid. Crushed granite will be rolled into the surface when the asphalt is still wet to give the appearance of gravel. This surface is again ADA compliant and more attractive than asphalt alone, which was the other alternative considered.

I think visitors will be pleased with the aesthetics and the performance of the new surface. Most of the work takes place within the Park site. RIOC has issued a permit for the section of the work that is outside the Park site. As the area is continuous, the same surface will be applied throughout and in the same time frame. This small section, not the site, is within the transition area the Conservancy took responsibility for finishing and maintaining over two years ago. We are assured the project can be completed within the three days allotted.
UPDATE 8/13 -Yesterday, I asked FDR Park Conservancy President Sally Minard:
Has there been any change in FDR Park rules regarding visitors bringing in beverages and food other than water?

I understand that Food Trucks are now allowed into the Park. Can visitors bring their own food as well?
Ms. Minard replied:
No food truck is in the park. A food station is installed; will be open for business Friday-Sunday in August, between 11am and 4pm.

All food and drink is to be consumed within the defined food service area within the Park site but outside the built memorial. The rules against food and drink other than water inside the memorial are unchanged. Visitors can bring their own food and drink to be consumed within the designated food service area.

No one is required to purchase from the food station.
According to the FDR Park web site:
Today we welcomed our first food truck, Katchkie Truck from Great Performances and Katchkie Farm! We also welcomed our first food truck customers who were visiting the Park from Israel!


Featuring a menu inspired by the organic produce at Katchkie Farm, the Katchkie Truck offers fresh farm fare to FDR Four Freedoms Park visitors. The truck’s menu is designed thoughtfully and healthfully with seasonality in mind....

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Friday Night Roosevelt Island Ice Cream Concert With Emily Mure, Saturday Afternoon Concert With Central Park Guitar Man At the Lake With People On The Hill - Good Times

Roosevelt Island resident and singer/songwriter Emily Mure performed Friday night at our local Ice Cream shop, Coach Scot's Main Street Sweets.


I stopped by and caught a couple of songs. Take a listen. She's very good.



More on Emily from previous posts and her web site.

On Saturday afternoon, while walking through Central Park I came across one of my all time favorite performers and venue - the Central Park Guitar Man, David Ippolito and the People On The Hill at the Lake.


Here's Jack & Diane from the Central Park Guitar Man.



Absolutely nothing beats spending a Saturday afternoon with the Central Park Guitar Man at the Lake with the People On The Hill.

More on the Central Park Guitar Man from his web site.

Evoking Edward Hopper's Blackwell's Island Painting, An Exhibition At Octagon Gallery Presented By Roosevelt Island Historical Society - Opening Reception 5 - 8 PM August 12

According to the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS):

Following the May 23rd sale of Edward Hopper's Blackwell Island (1928) at auction by Christie's, The Roosevelt Island Historical Society presents a full-size reproduction of the painting (35 x 60 inches), together with related historical images from contemporary photographs and sketches, in an exhibition Evoking Edward Hopper’s Blackwell’s Island at The Octagon Gallery, which is housed in a building depicted in the painting.

The exhibition will feature a full-sized canvas replica of Blackwell’s Island, alongside photographs of the actual historical images that Edward Hopper depicted in the work.

"Visitors will easily connect the buildings, scenery and people in the landscape with the images captured by contemporaries in photographs and sketches that are today part of the collection of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society," said Judith Berdy, president of the Society.

Blackwell’s Island sold for $19.2 million and was previously exhibited by several prominent galleries, including the Carnegie Institute, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The Opening Reception will be held on Monday, August 12, 2013, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm in The Octagon Gallery at 888 Main Street, on Roosevelt Island.

Evoking Edward Hopper’s Blackwell’s Island is free and open to the public daily, during normal Gallery hours from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm daily, through September 7, 2013.

More on the Edward Hopper Blackwell's Island painting from previous post.