Friday, September 3, 2021

Tropical Storm Ida Update - See Video Of Flooded Roosevelt Island F Train Subway Station Thursday Night

Here's the flooded Roosevelt Island F Train subway station during Tropical Storm Ida.

More at this prior post.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 7:56:00 PM 0 comments

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"Dear New York" TV Program This Weekend Features Roosevelt Island Residents And Tango Artists Leonardo & Olga Suarez-Paz Bringing Attention To Raise Funds For Underserved New Yorkers Who Have Been Affected By Covid 19 Pandemic

Leonardo Suarez Paz and Olga Suarez Paz are Roosevelt Island residents and artists. 

Leonardo is the Artistic Director and Olga the Executive Director of the PIAZZOLLA 100 Festival:

... an interdisciplinary performing arts project that showcases a groundbreaking new style, which draws on the common roots of Tango, Jazz and Classical Music, as shaped by the culture of African and European migration to the new world. Celebrating the centennial of Leonardo Suarez Paz’s mentor and family friend, Astor Piazzolla, who was born in Mar de Plata, Argentina in 1921 and grew up in New York City,  the project honors the legacy of this revolutionary composer by demonstrating the genre as a complex, evolving art form, while challenging  artistic and sociocultural constructs.
 
Our mission is to further the genre of Nuevo Tango by elevating its artistic standards through live performances, recordings, publications and education, by demonstrating its evolution as an entire culture through every form of expression - music, dance, interdisciplinary work, visual art, literature and cinema. We celebrate Latin, African and European cultural heritages, the contributions of immigrants  and women to the genre, while relating its history to Buenos Aires and New York City and affording an opportunity for artists across generations, cultures, genres and disciplines to create new work and express through a renewed artistic idiom of cultural unity and inclusion....

According to this September 2 press release from Piazzolla 100:

The John A. Reisenbach Foundation (JAR), will broadcast a new installment of “Dear New York,”

on the four major NY broadcast network affiliates over Labor Day weekend to bring attention to and raise funds for underserved New Yorkers who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Standup comedian, actor, singer, and lifelong New Yorker, Robert Klein narrates the television special which showcases four JAR grantee organizations, including the New York Foundation for the Arts with sponsored artists and directors of the PIAZZOLLA 100 Festival in New York, Leonardo Suarez-Paz & Olga Suarez-Paz. 

 

Other grantees include EMS FDNY Help Fund, Harlem Girls Cheer, and John Jay College.  "Dear New York” can be viewed on Saturday, September 4 at 12:00 pm ET on WNBC and 7:00 pm ET on CBS2, and Sunday, September 5 at 5:30 pm ET on WABC and 6:30 pm ET on FOX

“Artists and immigrants are vital to the culture and the economy of New York City. We are grateful for the support we’ve received and we are giving back by creating free, multidisciplinary arts programming in New York that builds community and supports dozens of artists. My hope is that New York will once again be a mecca for the arts,” explains composer, violinist, vocalist, and choreographer Leonardo Suarez-Paz.

Leonardo & Olg Suarez-Paz, are Roosevelt Island residents who focus their projects on cross-cultural and multidisciplinary collaboration. This fall they will present multiple performances and educational programs on the island in collaboration with FDR 4 Freedoms Park and RIOC. 


For more information on Leonardo Suarez Paz’s PIAZZOLLA 100 event on RI go to: www.piazzolla100.com

According to JAR:

The John A. Reisenbach Dear New York television special is back! New York is coming back!

Watch Dear New York:

WNBC 4: Saturday, September 4 at 12:00pm EST

CBS2: Saturday, September 4 at 7:00pm EST

WABC 7: Sunday, September 5 at 5:30pm EST

FOX5: Sunday, September 5 at 6:30pm EST

Dear New York is a 30 minute televised fundraising and digital campaign airing on Labor Day weekend across local New York City network affiliates. Dear New York will tell the narrative of New York City’s resilience, recovery, and rebirth, as the tide is finally turning, 15+ months into a global pandemic. The once epicenter of COVID-19 is seeing economic recovery; businesses are back, restaurants are operating at full capacity, hotels are booked, tourism is alive, live events are returning, the housing market is off the charts, school buildings will welcome students in the fall. New York is here, New York is here to stay.

Watch Dear New York and hear uplifting stories from New Yorkers -- all grant recipients -- all a part of the JAR family - all working towards a better and safer city.  We have overcome adversity, together; let's celebrate, together, by supporting our fellow New Yorkers.

Click here to donate.

Meet Leonardo Suarez Paz.
and watch this 2020 PIAZZOLLA 100 performance
 

at FDR 4 Freedoms Park.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 7:15:00 PM 0 comments

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Thursday, September 2, 2021

Scenes From The Sanctuary's Glenrothes Single Malt Whiskey/Woodfired Flatbread Dinner Pairing Last Week - You're Invited To Stomp Society's Swing Band And Rose' Silent Disco Party This Roosevelt Island Labor Day Weekend At The Sanctuary

Last Thursday evening August 26, The Sanctuary Cafe and Event Space hosted a Chef Pairing Dinner Featuring Classic Woodfired Flatbreads alongside Glenrothes Single Malt Whiskey. 

Glenrothes representative Tom Mauriello showed a full house of Roosevelt Island residents and visitors how to enjoy and get the most taste from a good glass of whisky.

Here's some more of what happened that evening.

The Sanctuary Co-owner Alphonse Biondi and Glenrothes Tom Mauriello welcomed guests to the dinner and described the paired Flatbread and Whisky offerings for the evening.

Mr Mauriello introduced the Glenrothes brand and detailed how the whisky is made.

The Sanctuary plans more special programs. Upcoming events include:

Tomorrow! Friday 9/3 7:00-10:00pm Free. Kick off your weekend with live music and dancing to New York famous Stomp Society's big band, in partnership with Wyoming Whiskey! Click the image to reserve your ticket, and get in the Roaring 20's mood! 

Also,

An end-of-summer bash! Labor Day Monday Sept 6, 2:00-6:00pm 

We're throwing a Summer Jams rosé + silent disco party, where you can sip the classic summer wine dancing to all the best summer jams spun by our guest DJ. 

What's a silent disco? Everyone gets a lit up set of headphones, where only party-goers can hear the DJ and their hits! Dance the summer day away with friends & family at our gorgeous waterfront! 

Your ticket includes headphones, 2 drinks, and appetizers to get your Labor Day 2021 afternoon going!

Click here for more info about The Sanctuary and Upcoming Events too.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:41:00 PM 0 comments

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Tropical Storm Ida Brings Severe Flooding, Damage And Death To NYC Last Night - Roosevelt Island Very Fortunate, No Flooding But Subway And Tram Service Disruption

This morning, I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Officer Amy Smith and Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown:

Was there any damage from storm and flooding last night on Roosevelt island. Was anybody injured? Any reports to Public Safety? 

What time did the Tram stop operating and when did it resume?

No response from RIOC.

Roosevelt Island was very fortunate in not being impacted by the flooding as were many NYC neighborhoods. 

The Twitterverse reports:

Roosevelt Island F Train service was still out of service early this afternoon

but returned later in the day with limited service.

There were also reports that power went out in Roosevelt Landings 546 Main Street for a while. 

Roosevelt Island was very fortunate last night. 

UPDATE 10:45 PM - A Roosevelt Landings resident clarifies:

There were no power outs in 546. The hallways parallel to Main St were only operating with emergency lights, but the apt had electricity. Elevator was running.
Here's the flooded Roosevelt Island F Train subway station.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 7:59:00 PM 0 comments

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Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Tremendous Turnout Of Employers And Applicants For Roosevelt Island Job Fair Last Friday Says RISA VP Andrea Jackson, Interviews Set Up And Offers Anticipated

Last Friday, August 27, The Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA) hosted a Job Fair at Good Shepherd Plaza featuring 14 businesses including:

RISA Vice President Andrea Jackson organized the Roosevelt Island Job Fair and said there was a tremendous turnout by employers and applicants.

Among the employers attending was Edie Burns, the Food & Beverage Director for Call Mom, the operator of Anything At All restaurant and Panorama Room rooftop cocktail bar in the Graduate Hotel. Ms Burns said she met several local residents who are amazing candidates at the job fair and set up interviews for them
 

Contact RISA's Andrea Jackson for more info.

Also, Roosevelt Island's Foodtown Suprermarket

and Duane Reade
are looking to hire local residents too.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 4:37:00 PM 0 comments

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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Remnants Of Tropical Storm Ida Hitting NYC And Roosevelt Island With Heavy Rain Of 5 To 8 Inches And Up To 30 MPH Wind Gusts Wednesday Morning Into Thursday Says RIOC And NYC Emergency Management

According to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised, as New York City prepares for the remnants of tropical storm Ida, which has been downgraded to a depression, RIOC will be monitoring its progress and providing the community with any pertinent updates regarding transportation services and facility closures on the island.

Kindly note, according to New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), heavy rain and flash floods are projected for our area on Wednesday, September 1st and/or Thursday, September 2nd.

For updates, tips, and resources on storm safety, visit: www1.nyc.gov/site/em/resources/tips-links.page. To find your flood zone go to: maps.nyc.gov/hurricane/#

NYC Emergency Management Department Department adds:
New York City Emergency Management is issuing a travel advisory for Wednesday morning into Thursday morning. According to the National Weather Service, remnants of Tropical Storm Ida will track near the region Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, bringing a period of heavy rain and potential flash flooding to the region, the bulk of which will occur overnight. The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for New York City from 8 a.m. Wednesday, September 1, until Thursday, September 2, at 2 p.m. A total of 5 to 6 inches of rain are expected with locally higher amounts of up to 8 inches possible. Wind gusts up to 30 mph are also expected....
Click here for more info from NYCEM and follow NYCEM twitter feed for latest info.
UPDATE 9/1: UPDATE 9/2 - Did you have any trouble getting home to Roosevelt Island last night? UPDATE 5 PM:

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:46:00 PM 0 comments

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Roosevelt Island Macarons Fairy Valeria Bontrager Makes Creative And Delicious Tasting Deserts, Best In The World Says Local Resident

Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Child, Youth & Education Ad Hoc Committee Chair Adib Mansour reports:

As part of promoting the success of youth and Young Adults on Roosevelt Island, the Children, Youth & Education Committee will interview and publish the stories of their achievements beginning with Roosevelt Island's own Macarons Fairy!

I’ve travelled the world and am always on the lookout for quality sweets (even though I am a diabetic). Macarons are one of my favorites and have tried them in France, Italy, and the USA.. and you know where I found the best Macarons? Right here on Roosevelt Island!

Valeria Bontrager is the Master Chef Baker of Macarons NYC and she has taken the art of Macaron making to a whole new level with her creative flavors, her artisan approach, and her superior ingredients.

Young Valeria and her husband moved to Roosevelt Island during the pandemic after contemplating the move from Long Island with her husband for over a year. Her family is from Ukraine. Her family owns a successful landscaping company, but her passion for baking is influenced by her mother’s passion. Valeria and her mother often baked cakes, eclairs and different desserts, which brought her years of joy.

Recently, Valeria started studying how to make Macarons initially thinking it was an easy process. Soon after she realized the intricacies and careful steps that required her to study online and practice infinite number of macarons until she mastered this distinguished level of perfection.

When I asked her if she is interested in having a bakery or store on the island she said "Working from home allows me to choose very expensive professional ingredients, create a very high quality product and, at the same time, make the price affordable to everyone.” Having a bakery at this point would either raise her prices or reduce the quality of the macarons. “I don’t like either of these options but I am open to working with restaurants of coffee shops on Roosevelt Island”. 

A friend of mine posted pictures of her first order from Valeria’s Macarons_NYC and raved about the quality. I had to try them. I ordered the sampler, took extra insulin, and tasted them all, one delicious bite after the other. I could not chose which one was better because they were all unparalleled, and the combination so clever:

Lavender-Apricot-Passion Fruit, Hazelnut-Salted Caramel, Rose-Lychee-Raspberry, Madagascar Vanilla Ice Scream-Raspberry, Pistachio-Raspberry, Blue Berry Cheesecake, Latte-Norwegian Caramel Cheese, Mango-Passion Fruit, Tonka Beans-Cherry, Snickers, Double Salted Caramel, and Gorgonzola- Strawberry-Walnuts (yes Gorgonzola and what a delight).

Valeria emphasized that "Macarons are the most finicky dessert in making as well as in storing". All her ganache are based on French chocolate and real fruits/nuts. "It’s very important to keep them refrigerated all the time in order to keep the original taste and quality.”

Finally, the presentation is a concert of colors, textures and shapes. It is an experience that satisfies all your senses. Valeria says that her Macarons are made with “premium quality ingredients and a lot, a lot, a LOT of love!”

To order and get more info, check out Valeria Bontrager's Instagram Page.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 5:01:00 PM 0 comments

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Sponsored Post - Peak Atlantic Hurricane Season Is Here, NYC Emergency Management Department Wants You To Know Your Hurricane Zone, Be Ready And Be Prepared - Roosevelt Island Hurricane Zones Have Changed This Year, Check It Out

The NYC Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) reported last June 1:

To mark the beginning of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, the New York City Emergency Management Department today unveiled the City's revised hurricane evacuation zones. New York City Emergency Management also relaunched the Know Your Zone hurricane awareness campaign to encourage New Yorkers to find out whether they live in one of the City's six hurricane evacuation zones, and take steps to be prepared for coastal storms and hurricanes. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

The City's six hurricane evacuation zones have been updated to incorporate new and improved data, as well as information from actual events to allow the City to more accurately define areas most at risk of flooding due to storm surge from a hurricane. Residents who live in these zones may be ordered to evacuate depending on a hurricane's forecast strength, track, and storm surge. If the mayor orders an evacuation of your zone, do so as directed. With these hurricane evacuation zone changes, roughly 1 million New Yorkers now live in a different hurricane evacuation zone than last year....

And:

What are hurricane evacuation zones? 

There are six hurricane evacuation zones, ranked by the risk of storm surge impact, with zone 1 being the most likely to flood. In the event of a hurricane or tropical storm, residents in these zones may be ordered to evacuate.  

I noticed that my zone has changed. Why is that? 

Zones are updated to incorporate new, higher resolution storm surge model output from the National Weather Service. These data, combined with improved topographic data, and information from actual events, allow the City to more accurately define areas most at risk of flooding due to storm surge from a hurricane....

Roosevelt Island residents live in both Zones 2 and 3 depending upon the building in which you live.

As shown in the NYC Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder below, the Roosevelt Island buildings colored in brown are in Zone 2 and those colored in Yellow are in Zone 3. 

The Octagon, Manhattan Park, Westview, Island House, Roosevelt Landings, Cornell Tech, Coler Hospital and Riverwalk 480, 475 and 460 Main Street are in Zone 2.  

Riverwalk 405, 425, 455, 465 and Rivercross buildings are in Zone 3.

Click here to find the Hurricane Evacuation Zone for your Roosevelt Island address.

The Roosevelt Island Hurricane Zones have changed from prior years when only the Octagon and Coler Hospital buildings were in Zone 2.

Here's some scenes of what Roosevelt Island looked like during Hurricane Sandy in October 2012



and report on damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 11:22:00 AM 0 comments

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Sponsored Post - Overwhelmed? Need A Hand? NYC Administration For Children's Services Can Help Connect You To Resources Keeping Children Safe And Families Supported

According to the NYC Administration For Children's Services (NYC ACS):

2021 marks the 25th anniversary of the New York City Administration for Children's Services! While much has changed over the past 25 years, one thing has remained the same: our focus on keeping children safe and families supported. 

In recognizing the 25th anniversary, Commissioner David A. Hansell said, "I have a deep appreciation for and pride in the mission of our agency. I want to extend my sincere gratitude and thanks to the extraordinary staff members who have contributed significantly to the agency's mission over the last 25 years of protecting and promoting the well-being of New York City's children and families. I feel truly blessed to be in this role and could not be prouder of the steps we have taken together." 

Today, ACS is seen as a model for child welfare systems across the country and the agency continues to charter and pursue a course that is strengthening all aspects of child welfare and juvenile justice work.

Click on the photos for more info.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 10:47:00 AM 0 comments

Monday, August 30, 2021

Some Ride Inside The Roosevelt Island Tram Cabin And Others Get Rooftop View - Not Impractical Jokers Captain Fat Belly Riding On Top Of Tram Today

And then there was the time in 2015 when Impractical Jokers Captain Fat Belly Rode on the top of the Roosevelt Island Tram too.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:56:00 PM 0 comments

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Sponsored Post: NYC Department Of Education Help Available To Enroll In NYC Public School - Guidance For Applications, Waitlists, Child Care Eligibility, Accessibility Needs & More

Need a School?

If you're new to New York City DOE public schools or need help with enrollment, you've come to the right place! Year-round, we're here to help with applications, waitlists, and more.

Learn how to enroll for each grade level below.

 Click here for more info.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 1:14:00 PM 0 comments

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Sunday, August 29, 2021

Roosevelt Island Sportspark Pool Closing September 1 For Renovations- When Will It Reopen Asks Swimmer, RIOC Says In Spring 2022

A Roosevelt Island Sportspark Pool Tipster reports today:

I just asked the staff - the pool will close Sept 1st. They gave no idea for how long - So last day of swim for me today on RI probably for the year. But at least they did require the vaccination card or other proof of vaccination. 

As reported last April:

... RIOC Chief Financial Officer John O'Reilly reported to the RIOC Board Directors during the March 16 meeting that the Sportspark renovation work timeline will be done is separate phases starting from the west side of the building beginning with the lobby and then to the east side pool. The Gym will close for the summer and reopen in September. The Sportspark Pool 
will remain open throughout the summer and then close for renovation which is expected to be completed by spring 2022.

Here's the March 16, 2021 RIOC Board discussion of Sportspark

RIOC Board Meeting - March 16, 2021 from Diva Communications on Vimeo. 

renovation timeline.

More on the $11 million Sportspark renovation project here. 

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:27:00 PM 0 comments

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