Saturday, December 23, 2023

Schedule For Roosevelt Island Christmas Religious Services - Mosaic Church Has Christmas Eve Service And St Francis Cabrini Church Has Christmas Eve And Day Mass Including At Midnight

The Roosevelt Island Mosaic Church is holding Christmas Eve Services 

and St Francis X Cabrini Catholic Church is holding Christmas Eve and Day services including a midnight mass.

Mosaic Church Christmas Eve service is at Good Shepherd Chapel, 543 Main Street,

and St Francis Cabrini Church 

is at 504 Main Street.

Merry Christmas everyone from Roosevelt Islander and Great Big Sea.

Friday, December 22, 2023

RIOC Announces Christmas Gift To Roosevelt Island Residents Tonight - Replacing 14 Hours Of Free Community Play Time At McManus Field With Permitted Time

At 5 PM this evening, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) sent out the following email advisory:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

We wanted to make you aware of some important changes we’re making to our permitting process starting January 1st, 2024. These changes are designed to help our team ensure an orderly permitting process and allow us to continue to offer the use of RIOC equipment to the community for events at a very low cost.

Revised Permit Application Timelines  

Beginning January 1st, those seeking to obtain a Standard Event (50 people or less) permit must submit their permit application a minimum of 12 days in advance of the event. Special Event (more than 50 people) permit applications must be submitted 45 days in advance of the scheduled event. These changes will allow our permit team to better manage the overall permit calendar and provide adequate time for permit applicants to submit the necessary paperwork, including insurance requirements, for review.

Table & Chair Rental

RIOC is pleased to offer permit applicants the use of our tables and chairs at a very low, applicant friendly price point. This adjustment will allow us to better maintain and replace any equipment that is lost or damaged during a rental. (See below for more details).

Expanded Permitting Hours for McManus Field

As one of New York City’s most beautiful locales, permits for McManus Field have become highly coveted. RIOC has decided to add an additional 14 hours of permittable time to McManus Field weekly, which will allow more parties to enjoy this popular spot. (Please note that we will continue to keep the majority of McManus Field’s time set as “free to play” for the community. More information, including permittable hours for McManus Field, can be found below.)

Additional details on these changes can be found below. Those interested in submitting a permit application for 2024 can do so here. If you have any more questions, please visit our website or contact the Permits Department: 212-832-4545 exts. 1905 / 1906 / 1919.

Thank you!

-Team RIOC  

Happy Holiday and thank you!

Best regards,

According to the current RIOC website:

RIOC's Christmas Gift to Roosevelt Island residents is alot less time for free community play time at McManus Field.

Sponsored Post - Wengerd Family Farmers Market Wishes A Blessed Christmas Season And A Wonderful 2024 New Year To Roosevelt Island Community - We're Open December 23 & 30 During This Holiday Season

The Wengerd Family,

operators of the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market, wish you a Blessed Christmas season and a wonderful 2024 New Year. 

The Roosevelt Island Farmers Market at Motorgate Plaza under the Helix 

 is open early morning to mid afternoon on Saturdays in good weather and bad 

offering a wide variety of healthy and delicious tasting fruits, vegetables 

and much more.

The Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market is open this Holiday Season on December 23 and December 30.

Eat Fresh, Eat Local and Eat Healthy at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market. 

Please enjoy the Christmas Carols from the Sugar Hill Mennonite Mission Choir 

who performed at the Farmers Market last Saturday.

Thursday, December 21, 2023

FDNY Rescues Worker Injured After18 Foot Fall In Excavation Area At Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Construction Site This Morning- FDNY Chiefs Describe What Happened

About 9:40 this morning multiple Roosevelt Island Tipsters reported:

Tons of emergency vehicles

heading down Main Street towards the Southtown Riverwalk buildings.

According to NYC Firewire:

I spoke to FDNY Chiefs on the scene who report a worker was injured falling approximately 15 to 18 feet into a hole at the Riverwalk building 9 construction site. 

The rescued worker was in stable condition and transported to a hospital.

I asked building developer David Kramer of Hudson Related:

There’s been an incident this morning at construction site. Huge presence by FDNY.

Not sure exactly what happened yet. Appears to be an injured worker. Do you know yet what happened?

Mr Kramer answered:

This is what I understand: The worker was in the excavated area where we’re doing Con Ed work. He fell from a 3’ ladder and unfortunately broke his leg. DOB visited the site and didn’t issue any violations after characterizing the situation as “worker error”.

As previously reported, a worker was injured and rescued by FDNY at the Riverwalk building 9 construction site last August falling one floor from the 25th floor. The NYC Department of Buildings did not find violations at the construction site.

Sponsored Post - One Trick Dog Records Wishes You A Joyful Noise And Happy New Year - Enjoy Some Roosevelt Island Holiday Joyful Noise Of Brazilian Choro from Jazz Musician Ben Rosenblum & Friends

One Trick Dog Records Wishes You A Joyful Noise and Happy New Year.

Roosevelt Island is fortunate to have many talented musicians as residents and a community which appreciates and treasures them. Roosevelt Islander Ben Rosenblum is an award winning jazz pianist and accordionist.

Mr Rosenblum, on the accordion, shares some wonderful Joyful Noise playing Brazilian Choro music.

Enjoy.

According to Mr Rosenblum: 

I’ve been playing choro with these wonderful people for a couple years now every other week, and it was time to put something on video. Here’s our version of Jacob do Bandolim’s Bole-Bole. Featuring the incredible @cesargarabini and @juiceondrums

St Paul Sunday adds:

Choro (pronounced SHOH-roh) is best described in American terms as "the New Orleans jazz of Brazil." It is a complex popular musical form based on improvisation, and like New Orleans jazz, blues, or ragtime, grew from a formalized musical structure and many worldly influences. But to the people of South America, choro is Brazil. It is life.

The word choro in Portuguese literally means "to cry," which seems like an ironic name for music that is often so joyous and celebratory. Actually the term refers to the lilting or "weeping" qualities of the solo instrument, usually a flute or clarinet (Think of the way Benny Goodman could "wail")....

Here's more on the history of Brazilian Choro music. Enjoy.

Learn more about One Trick Dog Records at their website.

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Sponsored Post - Shop Local For Your Holiday Gifts At The Roosevelt Island Historical Society Visitors Center Kiosk - Warm Blankets, Hats, Mugs, Magnets, Books, Cards, Puzzles, Toys & Much More

HOLIDAY GREETINGS FROM THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY (R.I.H.S.)   

SHOP LOCAL FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS


 AT THE RIHS VISITORS CENTER KIOSK

GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS FOR THE FAMILY!!!

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE HOLIDAY MERCHANDISE AND HELP SUPPORT RIHS

Open daily except Tuesdays 12-5 in December

Open Wednesdays to Monday in January 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays To The Roosevelt Island Community From Your Neighbors At Four Freedoms Park Conservancy - Learn More About The FDR 4 Freedoms Park, Watch Time Lapse Video Of Its Construction And Come Visit In Person

Happy Holidays To The Roosevelt Island Community From Your Neighbors At Four Freedoms Park Conservancy.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is the first memorial dedicated to the former President in his home state of New York. Located on the southern tip of Roosevelt Island in New York City, it is the last work of the late Louis I. Kahn, an iconic architect of the 20th century. The Park celebrates the Four Freedoms, as pronounced in President Roosevelt's famous January 6, 1941 State of the Union speech: freedom of speech & expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. 

The PBS Channel 13 Treasures of New York program profiled the FDR Four Freedoms Park in this video.

Take a fantastic virtual tour of the FDR Park on this Express Lego Train.

 

Learn more about the Roosevelt Island FDR Four Freedoms Park.

Watch this time lapse video showing the construction of the FDR Four Freedoms Park

 

and come visit in person.

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Listen To Fascinating Bowery Boys Podcast About Pioneering Female Journalist Nelly Bly Infiltrating 19th Century Blackwells Island Lunatic Asylum - It's Now Roosevelt Island's Octagon Luxury Rental Building

The Bowery Boys podcast takes us inside the investigation of the 19th Century Blackwells Island Lunatic Asylum by pioneering journalist Nelly Bly.

Listen to this fascinating tale of Roosevelt Island history.

The Blackwells Island Lunatic Asylum is now home to the Roosevelt Island Octagon luxury rental building.

Nelly Bly is honored with the Girl Puzzle Monument in Roosevelt Island's Lighthouse Park, which opened in December 2021, a short distance from the former Lunatic Asylum/Octagon building.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From Graduate Roosevelt Island Hotel, Celebrate Christmas And New Year's Eve Dinner With Us - Best Wishes For The New Year

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM GRADUATE ROOSEVELT ISLAND HOTEL,  

COME CELEBRATE WITH US AT OUR ANYTHING AT All RESTAURANT CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER

and New Year's Eve Dinner.

CLICK HERE FOR RESERVATIONS.

Sponsored Post - Happy Holidays From All Of Us At The Roosevelt Island Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance - Best Wishes For A Happy New Year Filled With Singing, Dancing & Merriment

Main Street Theatre & Dance Alliance wishes the Roosevelt Island community joy, peace and love for the holidays, and a happy New Year filled with singing, dancing and merriment. 

Start the new year with MSTDA classes and shows for all!!! 

MST&DA website.

Instagram.

Facebook.

Sponsored Post - Cornell Tech Wishing All Our Neighbors On Roosevelt Island, A Joyous Holiday Season And A Healthy Safe And Prosperous New Year - Café Closed December 22-January 1, Reopens January 2

Warmest Winter Wishes from Cornell Tech 

Wishing All Our Neighbors On Roosevelt Island, A Joyous Holiday Season And A Healthy Safe And Prosperous New Year.

The Café And Parliament Holiday Hours:

December 18-21 Open 8 AM - 4 PM 

December 22 - January 1 Closed

January 2 - January 19 Open 8 AM - 4 PM closed Saturday and Sunday,

January 20 - 21st Opened 11 AM - 5 PM p.m.

Monday, December 18, 2023

Sponsored Post - Westview Co-Op Wishing The Roosevelt Island Community Happy New Year And Cheers To New Beginnings In 2024 - Offers Opportunity To Buy On East River Waterfront With Spectacular Skyline Views Of Manhattan

Westview Wishing The Roosevelt Island Community Happy New Year! 

Cheers To New Beginnings in 2024

Roosevelt Island Morning Commute Has Been A Real Mess Reports Resident - RIOC Announces Only 2 Red Buses In Operation Due To Staffing Shortages And Maintenance Issues, Cancels Octagon Express, Weekend Manhattan Shuttle, Weekday Queens Shuttle And Will Keep 15 Minute Local Service

According to this evening's Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) advisory:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

Due to a shortage of buses, we unfortunately must cancel tomorrow’s Octagon Express Bus service. We apologize for the inconvenience, but with only 2 buses in operation due to maintenance issues, we must focus our resources on local Main Street service for island travelers.

Please note that service on Main Street will remain on its current every 15-minute rush hour schedule:

X:00AM – Local Red Bus leaves Octagon

X:15AM – Local Red Bus leaves Octagon

X:30AM – Local Red Bus leaves Octagon

X:45AM – Local Red Bus leaves Octagon

Thank you for your understanding.

Last week RIOC cancelled the weekend Red Bus Shuttle to Manhattan and the weekday Red Bus Shuttle to Queens.

During the December 13 RIOC Board of Directors meeting, RIOC President Shelton Haynes announced:

A Roosevelt Island resident reported this morning:

The morning commute has been a mess. Red buses are not arriving and the shuttle train is not adhering to its schedule. I actually spoke to the conductor last night, after the shuttle left 2 minutes early, completely messing up my schedule. She was super sweet, said it was her first day on the shuttle, and that no one had stressed to her the importance of adhering to the RI departure schedule.

I usually take the ferry, but this morning due to weather I took the subway. Again, the 8:02 shuttle left at 8 am. I know someone who fell on the wet escalator trying to catch it, and their 7:45 am red bus also didn’t show. This is prime commuting time and really troubling.

How is your Roosevelt Island commuting going?

UPDATE 12/19 - According to RIOC:

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

We will be resuming regular Octagon Express service tomorrow morning at 7am. Thank you for your patience while we worked through some maintenance issues.

-RIOC Transportation

Watch Video Of Very Informative Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Meeting Discussion About MTA's Changes To RI Bus Service, 63rd Street Tunnel Rehab Project And Communications With RIOC

The December 14 , 2023 Community Board 8 Roosevelt Island Committee Zoom meeting, chaired by resident Paul Krikler, 

addressed several very important issues including:

Update on the MTA's 63rd Street Tunnel Rehab project (work will switch over to the Queens bound platform beginning weekend of January 5, there will be no F train service at all that weekend), 

Changes to Roosevelt Island current Q102 bus service proposed by the MTA's Queens Bus Network Redesign final plan (Q102 to Queens/Queensboro Plaza replaced by new Q104 route to Sunnyside via Vernon B'lvd and Broadway in Astoria) and

Seeking improved communications with the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (including hosting a community meeting with Roosevelt Island resident RIOC Board of Directors).

Here's the full discussion. Watch the video to learn more about important issues facing Roosevelt Island and how you can get involved to make improvements.

Contact CB8 if you are interested in more information about the Roosevelt Island committee. The next CB 8 Roosevelt Island Committee meeting will be in January 18, 2024.

Passengers United will be hosting a Zoom discussion about Queens Bus Network Redesign Plan on Wednesday December 20.

Sunday, December 17, 2023

The Perfect Roosevelt Island Holiday Card - Santa's Coming To Town On The Roosevelt Island Tram With Rudolph And 8 More Reindeers

Marty Atkins created the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer card when he moved here with his family in the 1970's.

Every year at about this time I'm asked by Roosevelt Island residents how they can buy the Tram Reindeer Cards. 

Well, you can purchase the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards from Marty's son Marc by messaging him on Instagram or at marc.the.atkins@gmail.com