Saturday, May 16, 2015

Mausam Curry N Bites Indian Food Truck Serving Roosevelt Island Lunch & Dinner This Weekend From 12- 9 PM On Main Street Near The Subway Station - Weekdays 5 - 8 PM Too

As reported earlier this week, Mausam Curry N Bites Indian Food Truck will be serving dinner on Roosevelt Island weekdays from 5-8 PM on Main Street near the F Train Subway Station


 across from the Starbucks.

The Indian Food Truck will also be serving Roosevelt Island this weekend 12 -9 PM at the same location.
Give Curry N Bites Indian Food Truck menu a taste, Take a meal home or eat outside.

Food options are good for Roosevelt Island.

UPDATE 6:30 PM - Line waiting for Curry N Bites food truck


this evening.

Friday, May 15, 2015

Celebrate Life Of Roosevelt Island Resident Patrick Stewart At Good Shepherd Chapel Memorial Service 2 PM Saturday May 16


Mr. Stewart's obituary.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend - That's 1 In A Row, Will There Be Two?

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


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

We had 10 consecutive weekends of Roosevelt Island F Train service to and from Manhattan before the last 3 weekends which had no service from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island.

Let's hope for more weekends of good F Train service.

New York Public Library Architect Presents Plan For New Roosevelt Island Branch To RIOC Board Real Estate Committee - It Looks Good But Probably Won't Open Until Early 2018

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee and interested members of the community heard a presentation yesterday, May 14, from representatives of the New York Public Library (NYPL) about plans for the new Roosevelt Island branch library (full audio web cast of meeting here).

NYPL's architect Christian Uhl presented a plan to place the entrance to the library on the Northwest corner of 504 Main Street site


instead of on the south side of the building


slightly off Main Street.



Also discussed were the timing, funding and interior design of the new Roosevelt Island branch library. According to Mathew Blood, Project Manager at the NYC Department of Design and Construction, the best case scenario for completion of the library is late 2017, early 2018. Mr. Blood added that the project is fully funded. Mr. Uhl described the interior of the library including 650 square foot reading room.



Looping technology for the hearing impaired will be available in the reading room.

Mr Uhl and NYPL's Senior Project Manager David Holowka noted how they tried to respect the original design of the building which both RIOC Director Margie Smith and Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy said they appreciated.



Here's the full presentation.



More information on plans for the new Roosevelt Island NYPL branch available at this post on the November 2014 NYPL Roosevelt Island Community Conversation.

Bike New York Roosevelt Island Art Ride Sunday May 17 - Bicycles Provided If Needed For Guided Tour Around Roosevelt Island To View Interesting Sculpture And Paintings

Bike New York's Roosevelt Island Community Outreach Manager Caitlin Goodspeed reports:

This Sunday is a Roosevelt Island Art Ride that we are doing with Gallery RIVAA and the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. This guided tour will take participants around Roosevelt Island, stopping at interesting paintings and sculptures. We will meet at the colorful storage container under the Helix Ramp (next to Gristedes) at 12:45pm. People may borrow our bikes and helmets. To register, people must email me at cgoodspeed@bike.nyc

Also,

Our 2nd Annual Spring :Kickoff Party will take place on Saturday, May 30, 2105 from 11am - 4pm at the Capobianco basketball court. This year's activities will include a Learn to Ride - Kids class, Daisy Mays BBQ, a FREE bike raffle, a bike decorating contest, and more! It's going to be a lot of fun.

Big Alice Nano Brewery Open In Long Island City Close To Roosevelt Island Bridge - Give It A Taste, Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout May Still Be Available

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reports a nano-brewery open very close to Roosevelt Island in Long Island City - Big Alice Brewing.

Big Alice Brewing is not near the Tram but just a few blocks from the Roosevelt Island Bridge on Vernon B'lvd and 43 road.


According to Big Alice Brewing:
Big Alice Brewing is a nano-brewery which means each batch is very small, about 1/3 of a barrel. This size gives us the flexibility to be creative and experiment with different styles and within each style.

The result is an ever evolving line of unique and interesting beers.

ALLIS or ALICE

Big Allis is a giant electric power generator in Long Island City originally commissioned by ConEd and built by the Allis-Chalmers Corporation in 1965. At that time, it was the world's first MILLION-KILOWATT unit...big enough to serve 3,000,000 people. It is located on 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard. Its main fuel is natural gas.

Big Alice Brewing is a very small nano-brewery in Long Island City originally commissioned by home-brewers in 2013. At that time, it was the city's second smallest brewery…small enough to brew 10 gallon batches. It is located on 43rd Road and Vernon Boulevard. Its main fuel is also natural gas.

NOW OPEN

WEDNESDAY 5-9pm

THURSDAY 5-9pm

FRIDAY 5-10pm

SATURDAY 12-10pm

SUNDAY 12-8pm

Shhh...Peanut Butter Chocolate Milk Stout is now available in our taproom. Don't tell anyone. #thinkNYdrinkNY #drinklocal #LIC
Posted by Big Alice Brewing on Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Yum.

Here's more on our Roosevelt Island Long Island City neighbor, Big Alice Nano Brewery.





Give it a try.

UPDATE 5/20 - The Roosevelt Island Guzzler has been trying out Big Alice Brewing and reports:
I've been haunting Big Alice for a while..

Image From Island Guzzler

Kyle and John at the bar

Image From Island Guzzler

serving up some refreshingly

Image From Island Guzzler

unique brew.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Celebrates Winning $500 Thousand For Green Roof Project In NYC Participatory Budget Vote At Schoolyard Last Night

As reported April 30, the Roosevelt Island PS/IS 217 Green Roof project was the top vote getter in NYC Council District 5 Participatory Budget election and will receive $5 Hundred thousand towards the total $1.5 million project cost.

 Image Of Green Roof Celebration From PS/IS 217 PTA

Last night, the PS/IS 217 students, parents, teachers and friends held a party in the schoolyard to thank their Roosevelt Island supporters and celebrate. According to the PS/IS 217 PTA:
On behalf of PS/IS 217 and 217PTA we wish to thank you for your amazing support of the Green Roof project.  We are still pinching ourselves with joy that our island won the top votes and secured $500,000 toward the project.  Thank you!...

Sincerely, PTA Co-Presidents, Olga Shchuchinov & Natalia Starkova
PS/IS 217 Principal Mandana Beckman thanked the Roosevelt Island community for its support



of the Green Roof project


and then came the Cake Celebration.


Among those thanked by Principal Beckman (pictured below at left) were Roosevelt Island residents (from left to right) Christina Delfico of iDig2Learn, Sharon Berman, Olga Shchuchinov of the PTA and Aiesha Eleusizov of the Girl Scouts.


Here's what the Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts think about the Green Roof.



More pictures of the celebration at PS/IS 217 PTA web site.

Roosevelt Island Starbucks WiFi Internet Access Returned Yesterday, Finally Fixed After Broken For Weeks - When Will Building Facade Work Be Done So Restaurant Outdoor Patio Seating Available?


Wi-Fi internet access returned to the Roosevelt Island Starbucks yesterday


after being out of service


for more than a month causing some Roosevelt Island Mocha, Latte, Frappucino drinkers to tweet their unhappiness.
Hopefully, the Southtown Riverwalk buildings Local Law 11 facade work

Image Of Riverwalk 455 Main Street Facade Work

will finish soon so that the Starbucks patio outdoor seating


will soon return.

Outdoor seating at the Rivewalk Bar, Pizzeria and Fuji East, but not Starbucks, was available for a time under the facade work sidewalk shed


but seems to have stopped over the last few days.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Hipster Musicians Performing At Roosevelt Island F Train Station Today - They're Pretty Good

Subway street musicians performed today at the Roosevelt Island F Train station today. According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:


They sound pretty good. Hope they come back.

Roosevelt Island NY Public Library Plans, Update On Main Street Retail Master Lease, Outdoor Seating Request, Cultural Center Permitting And Westview Ground Lease Negotiation On Agenda For RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee May 14 Meeting

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee is meeting Thursday, May 14.

 Area Surrounding 503 Main Street Outdoor Seating Request

According to the Agenda:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a meeting of the Real Estate Development Advisory Committee of the RIOC Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. at the RIOC administrative office, 591 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York.

Agenda:

Presentation of New York Public Library Plans for 504 Main Street.

Update on Master Retail Sublease.

Review of Outdoor Seating Request in Proximity to 503 Main Street.

Discussion of Cultural Center Community Space Permitting and Utilization.

Chair's Motion for an Executive Session for an Update on Westview Ground Lease Negotiations.

Any Other Committee Business That May be Brought Before the Committee
An audio web cast of the Public Session will be available soon thereafter.

The Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Main Street Retail Committee Chair Anna Karinnen provided a retail update to the May 6 meeting of the Common Council.

Ms Kanninen reported that Hudson Related announced Winnick Realty will no longer be the retail broker for Roosevelt Island's Shops on Main Street

 Image Of Winnick Realty Leasing Sign at 503 Main Street

and that Hudson Related is in the process of selecting a new retail broker. Here's the rest of the RIRA Retail Report.



Also, the Executive Session to discuss the RIOC Westview Ground Lease extension


is because the Westview Co-op Non-Eviction Conversion Plan was sent to tenants earlier this month by the building's owner. One Westview tenant tweeted:

On May 1, I asked Westview building owner representative David Hirshhorn:
I understand that the Westview Non-Eviction Coop conversion offering plan has been released this week.

Is that true?...

Any comment from RY Management on matter. Can you provide details about the plan.
Mr. Hirshhorn replied:
Yes, the Red Herring was filed with the Department of Law and copies were provided today to all Westview residents. The Plan is very similar to the Island House plan. We have now asked RIOC to extend the Westview Ground Lease on the same terms that RIOC extended the Island House Ground Lease.
I asked the residents from the Westview Task Force for comment as well but have received no reply yet.

Here's information on the Island House conversion and ground lease extension cited by Mr. Hirshhorn

Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright Hosts May 21 Roosevelt Island Town Hall With Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose Serrano & Council Member Ben Kallos - Come Ask Questions And Share Concerns

Roosevelt Island Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright will be hosting a 7 PM May 21 Roosevelt Island Town Hall with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Jose Serrano and NYC Council Member Ben Kallos.


Ms. Seawright's Chief of Staff, Cali Madia, spoke during the May 6 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Session inviting residents to meet and ask questions of the four Roosevelt Island elected officials. Ms Madia also noted that Assembly Member Seawright conducts Roosevelt Island constituent office hours the first Wednesday of every month from 4-7 PM at either the Seniors Center (546 Main Street) or the Public Library branch (524 Main Street)



Come to the May 21 Roosevelt Island Town Hall to ask questions and share your concerns with our elected officials.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Roosevelt Island Clothing Donations Accepted At St Cabrini Chapel Until New Thrift Shop Opens - NY Archdiocese Close To Signing 504 Main Street Second Floor Lease With Hudson Related For New Chapel And Thrift Store

A Roosevelt Island resident asked this morning:

Some co-residents on Roosevelt Island and myself were trying to find a place to donate clothes on the island. Do you by any chance know of a place that accepts donations on the island? Thank you for any guidance you can provide!
I replied:
With the closing of the Thrift Shop, I am not aware of a place on Roosevelt Island to donate clothes.

I will ask around and get back to you.

A representative of the St Cabrini Chapel suggested:
They can bring it to the Cabrini chapel and we will store it until the Thrift store opens.

9am -1pm and then 4pm to 6pm Monday through Thursday. I am in the office Friday 9am-3:30pm ... people can bring clothing donations to the Cabrini Chapel.
The St. Cabrini Chapel is at 564 Main Street.

The Archdiocese of NY is currently negotiating with Main Street Master Leaseholder Hudson Related for the 7 thousand square feet of space on the second floor of 504 Main Street (first floor will be new Roosevelt Island NYPL branch)

 Image Of 504 Main Street

to be used as a Chapel, Thrift Shop and other uses. Substantial renovations of the premises are necessary. Very reliable sources say that a lease signing is expected very soon.

The Main Street Retail Master Lease is among the items to be discussed at May 16 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee meeting.

UPDATE 5/18 - Pleases bring any donations to St. Cabrini Chapel in bags for storage until new Thrift Store is open. Donations not in bags will not be accepted.

Roosevelt Island Tram Gates Wide Open, Bikes Roll In With Free Entry - Residents Asks Why Bother Paying?

A Roosevelt Island resident shares this photo and reports


Come on in, free entry

Wide open gate at tram...no attendant..three bikes just rolled in. Why do the rest of us buy fare cards?

It was open for at least 2 tram runs. Today around 10.45 am

FDNY Rescues 2 People Stuck In Out Of Service Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station Elevator Sunday Afternoon - No Injuries

The Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevator broke down again last Sunday afternoon. This time, there were two people stuck inside the elevator.

Image From PBS NOVA

A Roosevelt Island resident was on the scene Sunday and reported:
At about 1:15 pm my husband and I approached the tram station from 1st avenue and already saw an FDNY truck standing on 2nd avenue underneath the tram station. When we went to the elevator to get up, there were two NYPD officers standing, one of them told us we couldn't use the elevator because "somebody is stuck inside". So we carried the stroller up the stairs. When we arrived at the top level, the door of the elevator was open and 3-4 firemen were working on it. One of them was even wearing a gas mask (although I don't understand what that was for). When we left with the cabin, the whole thing had not been resolved.

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Jack McManus added yesterday:
The Public Safety Department was advised of the elevator being out of service with no mention of anyone being stuck in the elevator. It appears that Tram officials contacted 911 directly, hence the response by NYPD and FDNY. The Public Safety Department was not included in that loop. After making further inquiries today I was advised that two individuals were stuck in the elevator for approximately 20 minutes. The individuals were safely removed from the elevator by responding FDNY personnel. I'm happy to report that no injuries were reported by either one of the individuals that were stuck in the elevator.
An FDNY Press Spokesperson confirmed yesterday that the FDNY rescued two persons stuck in the Roosevelt Island Manhattan Tram Station elevator for about 30 minutes on Sunday and that they were not injured.

Monday, May 11, 2015

GREAT NEWS, Mausam Curry N Bites Indian Food Truck Serving Roosevelt Island Weekdays 5 To 8 PM - Give It A Try

Roosevelt Island is getting a bit more variety in take out food options with the arrival of a new Food Truck today.

Image Of Mausam Curry N Bites Food Truck At Tram Plaza This Evening

Mausam Curry N Bites tweets:
According to their web page:
Hi Welcome to Mausam Curry N Bites

Mausam Indian Restaurant, Bar & Banquets in Secaucus, New Jersey brings its traditional Indian cuisine served with American style to New York City. Heralded as one of New Jersey’s premier Indian cuisine restaurants, Mausam is preparing a variety of Curries fresh every day and making them available in New York City by way of Curry - N - Bites branded food vendor trucks.

The trucks offer a wide variety of Curry, rice, meat and vegetable combinations along with savory Bites including chaat, samosas and kati rolls. If you are in hurry, try the Curry Rush Menu featuring complete meals including rice, side dish and soda for just $9.

We are easy to find in New York City. Just follow us at MausamNYC using facebook or twitter or visit our website at www.mausamnyc.com.

Mausam means Seasons, A variety of fresh food and spices for all tastes and seasons.

The Indian Food Truck will serve Roosevelt Island Monday - Friday 5- 8 PM.

The Curry N Bites Food Truck was stationed at the Tram today but plans on locating near the subway opposite Starbucks.

Roosevelt Island Food Trucks and Pier NYC From Above During Summer 2012

Welcome Mausam Curry N Bites to Roosevelt Island. Glad to have you here.

As previously reported, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is seeking Food Truck Operators to serve the East River Waterfront Pier area this summer.



Hopefully, more Food Trucks will follow.

UPDATE 6:45 PM- The Indian Food Truck is near


the subway now.

Roosevelt Island Is Good Enough For Citibike Spring Promotional Ad But Not For CitiBike Station

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse is offended that Citibike uses the view from Roosevelt Island for promotional purposes yet refuses to place or plan for a CitiBike docking station on Roosevelt Island.

As previously reported, Roosevelt Island was the NYC neighborhood with the most requests for a Citibike station yet is not in Citibke future expansion plans for Phase 2 (which includes Upper East Side of Community Board 8 but not the Roosevelt Island portion of CB 8)


or


phase 3.

In October 2014, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato addressed issue of bike sharing:
RIOC strongly believes in increasing the amount of bike safety education and amenities available on Roosevelt Island, and we are pleased with the current state of our successful partnership with Bike New York. However, the Island's infrastructure is not currently ready to handle a large increase in cyclist traffic. Before bike sharing can come to the Island, a master plan for the implementation of bike paths and traffic infrastructure that can accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and motorists in our community needs to be designed and implemented. We plan to work with private entities such as Cornell Tech in order to create this plan and look forward to putting an innovative, inclusive strategy in place. ...
Here's May 6 NYC Department of Transportation Citibike  presentation to Community Board 8 showing locations of future Upper East Side bike stations.

More on Roosevelt Island bike sharing at these previous posts.

Roosevelt Island Marriage Proposal Last Saturday And She Said ..... Yes! - Congratulations!

Roosevelt Island's East Waterfront Promenade in Southtown was the site for a marriage proposal last Saturday afternoon. Resident Catherine Sheils shares these photos and reports:

The groom was expecting her to arrive down hill from Main Street.  There was a trail of flowers lined from the road to the bottom of the hill.

Image From Catherine Sheils

Finally they realized she was approaching from the riverside & the crowd flipped round to face her.  It was pretty exciting.

Image From Catherine Sheils

Bless him, he waited 20 minutes for his lady to show. 

Image From Catherine Sheils

She said yes - wonderful!

Image From Catherine Sheils
Congratulations and Best Wishes to the happy couple.