Friday, March 22, 2019

Enjoy An All Mozart Evening Concert Saturday March 23 Presented By Roosevelt Island Concerts At Good Shepherd Community Center - One Overture, Two Concertos, $20 Suggested Donation, $10 Students & Seniors

Reported earlier this month that the Roosevelt Island classical concert series organizers, R&R Concerts have a new name, Roosevelt Island Concerts,


as they begin their 12th season this Saturday March 23 with an All Mozart Evening concert:

One Overture, Two Piano Concertos

Benjamin Hochman conducts the Roosevelt Island Orchestra and solos in two Mozart piano concertos

​Overture to the Marriage of Figaro
Piano Concerto No. 17, K. 453

Piano Concerto No. 24, K. 491

Good Shepherd Church

543 Main Street, Roosevelt Island

Your generous contribution keeps the series affordable
Suggested donation: $20
Students & seniors: $10
Piano provided by Steinway & Sons


According to Roosevelt Island Concerts
We've changed our name!

The change reflects the series' rising status as one of NYC's leading concert series, now in our 12th season — and driven by your enthusiasm and support.

The concert series that has been presenting extraordinary performances of classical music on Roosevelt Island for more than a decade will now be known as Roosevelt Island Concerts. As one of the few New York series presenting both chamber music and orchestral concerts, its rich repertoire draws audiences from Roosevelt Island and throughout New York City. 

March 23 concert
The first event presented as Roosevelt Island Concerts — on March 23 — will feature an all-Mozart program, with Benjamin Hochman conducting the Roosevelt Island Orchestra and soloing in two piano concertos. First up on the program is the Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. All events in the series take place at Good Shepherd Church, the 1888 acoustically wonderful NYC landmark at the heart of Roosevelt Island.

Check the website for more information about the March 23 concert
Season XII will continue with the Summer Series, organized by Israel Philharmonic Orchestra cellist Iris Jortner and Israeli Opera violinist and violist Ralph Allen. Guest performers will be announced in the late spring. 

Accessible to all New Yorkers
The series has maintained a goal of providing world-class music to all New Yorkers and to everyone in its home community of Roosevelt Island, whose diverse population includes residents of subsidized housing as well as of million-dollar condominiums. Beginning in March, concertgoers will be asked for a donation of a suggested amount, which will help keep the series affordable to all. Complementing the concerts, outreach events at area healthcare and senior facilities bring the joy of beautiful music to those who might not otherwise be able to experience it. 

The series is now in the midst of a major fundraising campaign with the aim of compensating performers at appropriate and competitive levels, expanding the number of creative and tireless individuals who help produce our events, and providing pianists with an instrument of high quality on which to perform. 

Founded as R&R Concerts, the series continues to honor the memory of its namesake Robin & Rosemary Russell, who brought to Roosevelt Island a highly regarded series of concerts and a music school. Building on their spirit, and with the deep support of the community as a vital part of its cultural life, Roosevelt Island Concerts will continue to bring extraordinary classical performances to Roosevelt Island as it expands its geographic and artistic reach. 

The newly redesigned website is at riconcerts.org.
Check out future Roosevelt Island Concert events, learn about the Orchestra and help support the concert series.

Roosevelt Island Transportation This Weekend - F Service To And From Manhattan, E Service Also, Both Tram Cabin Working And Ferry Service Too - Single Tram Cabins Operating For Up To 4 Weeks Starting Monday

Good news. There is Roosevelt Island F Train subway service to and from Manhattan this weekend


and E Train service too.
ELECTRICAL IMPROVEMENTS Mar 22 - 25, 9:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon E Trains run via the F in both directions between 21 St-Queensbridge in Queens and 2 Av in Manhattan, the last stop...
More good news, both Roosevelt Island Tram cabins are working this weekend. But starting Monday, Roosevelt Island Tram Overhaul project resumes for up to 4 weeks with only 1 cabin working.


More on the Roosevelt Island Tram Overhaul project at this prior post.

Here's the Winter Schedule for Roosevelt Island ferry Astoria route service. 

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Here We Go Again - Roosevelt Island Tram Operating Only 1 Cabin For Up To 4 Weeks Starting Monday March 25 For Part 2 Of Tram Overhaul Project, Rope Relocation Finished, Gear Box Overhaul Begins

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised that starting Monday, March 25th, the Tram will be operating with only one cabin in service. This work is expected to last up to four weeks, alternating between the North and South cabins. The Tram entry/exit patterns, elevator service, and MetroCard machine availability will not be affected.

How will my commute be affected? 

During this phase of the required maintenance project, only one Tram will be in operation. Please plan for additional travel time when commuting during this period. 

What are my travel alternatives?

Red Bus Shuttle service will be available to and from the Manhattan Tram Station every weekday from 4 PM to 8:30 PM, beginning from the R.I. Tram Station. 

Red Bus Shuttle pick-up locations:

Manhattan: Southwest corner of 58th St. and 2nd Ave.        
Roosevelt Island: Tram Station Plaza

MTA subway F line (mta.info) and the NYC Ferry service (ferry.nyc) are available to and from Manhattan. Please check websites regularly for service changes and disruptions during this construction period.

Q102 MTA bus service is also an option to connect to Midtown Manhattan-bound trains at Queensboro Plaza. 

Why is this work happening? 

The Roosevelt Island Tram project consisted of two major maintenance updates: rope relocations and gearbox overhauls. The project is now entering into its final phase with the gearbox overhauls, which is expected to last four weeks. This required work is to ensure the safest transportation system possible and to extend its service life into the future.

We thank the community for your patience throughout this project.
RIOC President Susan Rosenthal described the Tram Overhaul Project during her March 7 Community Report to the RIOC Board of Directors.


Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Restaurant Deprived Roosevelt Island Residents Plead For Take Out Delivery Service From Uber Eats & Amazon Fresh Whole Foods - No Luck So Far But That May Soon Change With Help From NYC Council Member Ben Kallos

Restaurant deprived Roosevelt Island residents have taken to social media pleading for take out delivery service from Uber Eats and Amazon Fresh Whole Foods. So far no luck but that may soon change.








Today, I asked NYC Council Member Ben Kallos if he received any response from Uber Eats or Amazon about delivering to Roosevelt Island. Mr Kallos replied:
Thanks to outreach on social media and follow up from the Roosevelt Islander I've reached out to both Uber and Amazon regarding delivery of foods to Roosevelt Island.
A spokesperson for Uber Eats added:
We want to serve the entire city, including Roosevelt Island, and hope to partner with local restaurants to make that a reality.
I followed up asking the Uber Eats Spokesperson:
Is there any estimate as to when Uber Eats will serve Roosevelt Island?

Also, what is the difficulty in delivering to Roosevelt Island?
Will update when response received.

Here's how Uber Eats is supposed to work.



Stay tuned for announcement.

UPDATE 8:30 PM - According to Josh J. Jamieson, Communications Director for Council Member Ben Kallos:
Uber has been responsive to our questions about service expansions. We understand it is their goal to partner with local restaurants to get them to commit to expanding delivery areas. We are still trying to connect with Amazon.
UPDATE - The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse adds:

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Celebrate Purim At The Bake Shop With Chabad Of Roosevelt Island - You Donut Want To Miss This!

The Chabad of Roosevelt Island invite you to Celebrate Purim at The Bake Shop on Thursday, March 21:

Don't Be Flaky And Rise To The Occasion. Join Chabad Of Roosevelt Island For The Annual Purim Celebration. Purim at the Bake Shop. Whisking You A Happy Purim. You Donut Want To Miss This!

Please RSVP here.

Rabbi Zalman and Nechama Duchman add:
Let the joy begin! Purim is a fun and exciting Yom Tov with a lot focused around children, however, Esther and Mordechai, the heroes of the story, personally requested that we celebrate the victory in four specific ways (not multiple choice but all of the below). Therefore....

Tomorrow, Wednesday night (3.20.19), hear the Megillah - read from a scroll in its original text (we will be reading the Megillah at 8:00pm - 425 Main Street #6A)

Thursday (3.21.19), in between sunrise (6:58am) and sunset (7:09pm), make sure to do the following:

1. Mishloach Manot - send two ready-to-eat food items to another Jewish person (this is to enhance camaraderie within the celebration of Purim, not gifts to the poor, it can be something as simple as an apple and orange).

2. Matanot La'evyonim - gifts to the poor - give at least one coin to two different needy people. If you don't know a person that falls into this category, one can give money to an organization that distributes it specifically on Purim and for Purim. If you would like, you can send it to us and we will distribute it appropriately.

3. Partake in a Yom Tov (holiday) meal.

4. Hear the Megillah - a second time.

One can fulfill these four Mitzvot on their own or at Thursday’s Purim @ the Bake Shop.
 According to the Huffington Post:
Purim is a spring holiday that commemorates the Jewish community's narrow escape from collective destruction in the ancient Persian Empire. The word itself, purim, comes from the Persian word for "lots" and is a reference to the fact that the date set for the Jews' annihilation was chosen by casting lots.

There are several major components of the Purim holiday, including public readings of the Book of Esther (k'riat megillah), giving charity to the poor (matanot la'evyonim) and delivering gifts to friends (mishloach manot). But Purim is most obviously characterized by a boisterous feast (se'udah) during which participants dress in costumes and drink to excess....
The Maccabeats celebrate and explain Purim too.



Click here to RSVP for Chabad of Roosevelt Island Purim At The Bake Shop.

How To Safety Dispose Of Your No Longer Needed Or Expired Medicine In An Environmentally Friendly Manner - Drop Off Medicine Disposal Kiosk To Be Installed At Roosevelt Island Duane Reade Pharmacy

According to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA);

When your medicines are no longer needed, they should be disposed of promptly. Consumers and caregivers should remove expired, unwanted, or unused medicines from their home as quickly as possible to help reduce the chance that others accidentally take or intentionally misuse the unneeded medicine, and to help reduce drugs from entering the environment...
The Roosevelt Island Duane Reade (Walgreens is parent company) will soon make it easier for you to dispose of your expired or unused medication at this newly installed, though not yet operational, kiosk next to the Pharmacy counter.


Currently, the closest Duane Reade medication disposal kiosk is located at their 3rd avenue and 57th street store.





The FDA adds these informational links for medicine disposal.
Learn more about:

Monday, March 18, 2019

Roosevelt Island Resident & iDig2Learn Founder Christina Delfico Moderates UN Civil Society Briefing On Local Community Sustainability Practices And Shares 7 Tips To Greening Your World One Industry At A Time

Last February 14, Roosevelt Island resident, iDig2Learn founder and Sustainability Activist Christina Delfico moderated a United Nations Civil Society Unit Briefing titled:

Bridging Sustainable Practices Across Industries: A Focus on Food, Film & Waste - Civil Society Thursday Briefing

Ms Delfico reports:
The response from our February 14th United Nations Civil Society briefing on Sustainable Practices was been so positive, I put together an article, Seven Tips to Greening Your World, One Industry at a Time, for those who missed the conversation. Thanks to the Civil Society Department of Global Communications, it was such an honor to participate in this UN panel which included tips from youth plus different industries such as film, farm, urban design, food, compost and waste. It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase how the simple act of Roosevelt Islanders creating green space led to unstoppable friendships and partnerships capable of restoring natural habitat and tackling even larger issues like waste reduction.

Please watch the briefing and share how you keep our water, land and air clean by tagging #EarthLove and including @iDig2Learn and @UNDGC_CSO in the conversation.
Below is list of panelists and video of the Sustainable Practices presentation:
Welcome remarks: Jeffery Brez, Chief of Civil Society, Advocacy and Special Events Section
Moderator: Christina Delfico, Founder of iDig2Learn, a project of Open Space Institute, Inc.

Speakers:
Akari Tomita, 8th Grade Student, United Nations International School (UNIS), Member of Environmental Club
Duygu Celik, Partnership Advisor, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
Claudine Marrotte, Executive Producer and Director, Park Slope Pictures
Max Lerner, Coordinator, Sustainability Development Project, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
Erycka de Jesus, Master Composter and Co-Founder, Just Soil
Tama Matsuoka Wong, Author, Forager, Entrepreneur, Founder, Meadows and More



Below are:
SEVEN TIPS TO GREENING YOUR WORLD, ONE INDUSTRY AT A TIME
by Ms. Delfico

The Twitterverse has more on the briefing.

The Amazing Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Tech Hoppers Team Win NYC First Lego League Robotics Championship Award - Next Stop, World Championship Tournament

Cornell Tech Director of K-12 Education Diane Levitt tweets yesterday:


Roosevelt Island Girl Scout Troop 3001 Leader Aiesha Eleusizov reports:
We are all still in a state of shock!! We did indeed win the NYC First LEGO League Robotics tournament today! The top two teams in NYC go to the World Championships in Detroit -  It's pretty amazing!! The girls did such an amazing job!!
More on the amazing Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Tech Hoppers from this May 2018 post and video.



Congrats to Roosevelt Island Girl Scouts Tech Hoppers Robotics Team.

Great job and keep coding!!!!!. 

Stay tuned for more info about the Roosevelt Island Tech Hoppers later this week.