Friday, November 24, 2017

Spider-Man Takes Bathroom Porta Potty Break On Roosevelt Island


More Spider-Man Roosevelt Island adventures here.

You're Invited To Community Town Hall Presentation About Cornell Tech"s Impact On Roosevelt Island Monday November 27

A Community Town Hall Meeting about Cornell Tech's Impact on Roosevelt Island will be held 6;30 - 8:30 pm Monday, November 27 at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street).

You will hear from local elected officials and Cornell Tech representatives. There will be a question and answer period after the presentation.

Good News, Roosevelt Island F Train Service To And From Manhattan This Weekend

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


to and from Manhattan this weekend.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving From Roosevelt Island - Tradition, Family, Food, Football, Parade, History And Alice's Restaurant

Happy Thanksgiving Day wishes to everyone out there in Roosevelt Island land and elsewhere. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Image of Rockefeller Center Turkey from The Onion


Since Thanksgiving is a day all about about Tradition, here is my traditional Thanksgiving Day post started in 2007.
In addition to family, great food, the Macy's Parade, Miracle on 34th Street, March of the Wooden Soldiers and football, listening to Arlo Guthrie's rendition of Alice's Restaurant on WNEW-FM was, for me, a wonderful Thanksgiving tradition.

A former station DJ remembers Thanksgiving and Arlo Guthrie this way on the blog All Mixed Up Radio.
Every year a couple of days before Thanksgiving, it starts. It's slow at first, and then turns into a non-stop avalanche of phone calls. And no matter how many times a station runs promo announcements telling people exactly when it will be played, the calls still come.
"What time are you playing 'Alice's Restaurant?'"...
Yes, in the olden days people used to listen to music on the radio. Imagine that!

Here's a snippet of Alice's Restaurant with Arlo Guthrie and Johnny Cash



and the full song with scenes from the movie.



More nostalgia. Take a look at some of these Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Floats from 1927 thru 1968 via Buzzfeed.

 Image of 1927 Felix the Cat Macy's Thanksgiving Float From Buzzfeed
Image of 1935 The Marx Brothers Macy'sThanksgiving Float from Buzzfeed

 Image of 1940 The Tin Man Macy's Thanksgiving Float From Buzzfeed

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everybody!
Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy shares a Thanksgiving  story from Roosevelt Island's past when it was known as Welfare Island and housed a penitentiary. Also, former blogger Roosevelt Island 360 tells us about the first Roosevelt Island Thanksgiving in 1975.

Happy Thanksgiving Roosevelt Islanders!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Roosevelt Island Retail Update - First NYC Taking Temporary Main Street Space For STEM & Robotics Educational Programming Before Moving Into Permanent Home At Cornell Tech Campus

Roosevelt Island retail update.

A tipster reported yesterday seeing work being done inside one of the long empty Roosevelt Island storefronts at 544 Main Street. The Tipster learned that the new tenant to occupy the space will offer STEM (Science, Technology Engineering & Mathematics), 3D printing and advanced technology educational programming.

I asked Main Street Retail Master Leaseholder Hudson Related about the new tenant.  Hudson Companies representative Alex Kaplan replied:

NYC First will be taking space in Roosevelt Landings temporarily. NYC First runs educational programming related to STEM including robotics classes and competitions for youth. They will be in our space through the spring when they will take a permanent space in the Cornell Tech campus. We think it will be a nice temporary use and compliment the Music & Play Station across the street.

First New York City is:
... a regional office of FIRST®, the 501c3 nonprofit organization created to inspire youth to pursue further studies and careers in science and technology and to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the technologically-driven global economy.

FIRST® programs all share two basic components:
  • engagement of students in the creative, hands-on, minds-on process of technological innovation; and
  • bringing communities together to celebrate the achievements of kids working smart in science and technology.
Participation in FIRST® has a positive impact on the lives of students, increasing college attendance, majors in science and engineering, participation in internships and co-ops, and involvement in community service.




Reported in February 2017, that the Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 Roaring Lions team finished third and reached the semi-finals in NYC First Lego Robotics competition.



Welcome to Roosevelt Island, First New York City.

More information on First New York City available at their web site.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

How Cool Is This? Roosevelt Island Tram Featured In Macy 2017 Holiday Window Display

Take a look at the Roosevelt Island Tram in the 2017 Macy's Holiday Window Display


and the unveiling of this year's wonderful windows. The Roosevelt Island Tram appears at the 53 second mark.


UPDATE 11/24 - A Roosevelt Island resident speaks for many:

Monday, November 20, 2017

Roosevelt Island Tram Station Heat Lamp Very Hot Tonight - Placed Too Close To Temporary Construction Wall Says Resident

The Roosevelt Island Tram Station heat lamps help keep riders warm while waiting to board the cabin.

But one resident reported this evening:

Heat lamps 6 inches from board-wall @tram


Must be 125-175 degrees up there. They built it right under the heat lamps. Clearly dumb idea.

Sue's Tech Kitchen Coming To Roosevelt Island - Dining Meets Entertainment Meets Tech Education Holiday Spectacular For The Whole Family At The Bridge On Cornell Tech Campus

Sue's Tech Kitchen Tour is coming to Roosevelt Island at The Bridge building on the Cornell Tech campus.

According to this press release from Sue's Tech Kitchen:
Randi Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, is bringing her family-friendly, tech-infused, “snack-hacking” concept Sue’s Tech Kitchen (STK) to New York City for BETA testing just in time for the holiday season. The Holiday SpecTECHular will launch on November 25 at New York City’s brand new tech hub, The Bridge at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island. The creator of the award-winning children’s show Dot. brings an interactive, immersive, puzzle-solving spectacle for all ages that encourages a healthy relationship with technology and inspires kids to embrace STEM skills.

Sue’s Tech Kitchen will revolutionize family fun, allowing guests of all ages to engage with cutting-edge technology and each other. Guests of Sue’s Tech Kitchen will experience interactive STEM-inspired holiday attractions, like candy coding, 3D printed treats, liquid nitrogen desserts and silent science discos. Littlstar will power the Sue's Tech Kitchen’s Virtual Reality Corner, featuring Raising a Ruckus, the first episode of a new VR animated series, and a variety of immersive NBA experiences. Sue’s Tech Kitchen will also feature guest appearances, special performances, and STEM lessons from “Sue’s Chefs,” as well as introduce guests to Randi’s favorite techie holiday gifts from Presenting Partners Foodstirs, Tech Will Save Us, Thursday Finest, Piper, Primo Toys and more.

Conceptualized by Zuckerberg and designed by a team of tech experts, engineers, and scientists, Sue’s Tech Kitchen features technologies from all corners of the modern imagination, empowering kids and adults to engage with tomorrow’s technologies. Guests will be immersed in a futuristic technology experience all while enjoying surprise appearances, performances and a STEM-inspired holiday market. Guests will enjoy this BETA experience by getting a taste of what Sue’s Tech Kitchen has in store in the coming months and years as it continues to expand.

“After the success of our “Beta Taste” in Chattanooga earlier this year, we knew we had something very special with Sue’s Tech Kitchen,” says Sue’s Tech Kitchen creator, Randi Zuckerberg. “As a mother myself, I’m always looking for places to bring my children that will be fun and enriching for everyone. I couldn’t wait to bring Sue’s Tech Kitchen to New York City to share it with my own family and all families. New York City is such a magical place during the holiday season that it was the obvious choice for our next stop. We can’t wait to share in all the fun and excitement this winter and bring families together in a creative way. ”


The press release continues: