Roosevelt Island The Sanctuary Event Space Hosting Silent Spooky Halloween Party Saturday November 2 - But Party Last Friday Night Drew Complaints Of Late Night Blasting Music And Traffic Problems, RIOC PSD Says Music Did Not Seem Abnormally Loud

Roosevelt Island's new events space, The Sanctuary, is hosting a Quiet Events Halloween Party on Saturday November 2.

According to Quiet Events:

What could be more thrilling than a Halloween Party in an abandoned CHURCH?! Be one of the first to experience All Hallows Eve at this a newly renovated church turned night club just for our Silent Spooky Party!...

... Your 3 live DJs are spinning all night:
DJ 1 (Green): Soca/Reggae/Afro-Beat
DJ 2 (Red): 80’s, 90’s & 2K Throwbacks
DJ 3 (Blue): Hip Hop/R&B...

... How it works:
With your pair of Quiet Events headphones you can adjust the volume and choose between our three DJ’s with the flick of a switch. Each headset has a color LED that shows which channel you’re listening to. You can dance along with those tuning into the same DJ as you; it’s super social. There’s no loud music to talk over and there’s no ringing in your ears when you leave!...

Tickets range from $15 - $50.

Click here for tickets and more info.

But, last Friday evening, The Sanctuary hosted an event which was not silent, drawing 3 complaints to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department of loud noise and a social media Twitter post.

Hey @Rooseveltisland, any knowledge of the noise laws here? Glad to see this below party being advertised as “quiet” but last night was blasting music till 4am at the Sanctuary. I’m not sure how the Octagon residents weren’t out with pitchforks. Uncool. pic.twitter.com/0UIMqugZO8

— Asha Curran (@RadioFreeAsha) October 26, 2019

We have good windows, no problem at all.

— Anton Slyusar (@AntonSlyusar) October 26, 2019

On Saturday, I asked Sanctuary owner Frank Rafaelle:

What was going on at The Sanctuary last night.

Received complaint of very loud noise blasting music until 4 am last night.

Mr. Rafaelle replied:

There was a private party yesterday. It was very tame, orderly, upscale, and uneventful. We had security at the clients request. The security team was instructed to monitor for loud music but they found no issues. PSD came by on their rounds multiple times and also found no issues. It was a beautiful and stunning event... Nothing happened.

Yesterday, the Roosevelt Island Daily published this video



taken by an Octagon resident and added:

... Between 5:00 and 5:30 a.m. Saturday, a traffic jam of cars, many for hire, clogged the fire lane bordering The Octagon. Partygoers weaved between vehicles on the dimly lit alley while a civilian struggled to direct chaotic traffic...

Yesterday, I asked RIOC about what happened at the Sanctuary on Friday night and:

... Does RIOC have any policy as to how late restaurants, bar and event spaces can stay open? I believe, but not sure, that the former Riverwalkl Bar was told to close by midnight. Does RIOC have any plans to limit late night hours of the Sanctuary?...

A RIOC Spokesperson replied:

Chief Brown has conducted a thorough investigation of the event that took place at The Sanctuary from Friday, October 25th through Saturday, October 26th.

PSD officers became aware of an event when the first noise complaint came in at approximately 11:15 PM. PSD officers patrolled the site until the event ended at 2:00 AM and people began to disburse. An officer also returned to investigate noise complaints at 4:30 AM, but at that time, the only people on site were the workers who were finishing their clean up after the event. A third complaint was registered around 5:15 AM when workers were leaving the premises.

PSD has discussed the incident with The Sanctuary. Chief Brown has a meeting scheduled with the owner/manager tomorrow afternoon to review all local noise and traffic ordinances. The chief will also establish measures which, among other things, will keep traffic and pedestrians restricted to certain areas.

I followed up asking RIOC:

To clarify, did the PSD officers hear loud noise coming from the event?

Did the PSD officers notice any traffic issues?

Were the event organizers asked to lower the noise?

How many complaints did PSD received about the event?

The RIOC Spokesperson answered:

We received three complaints and investigated them all. The manager was aware of the complaints when PSD made contact with him and the music did not seem abnormally loud to the responding officer.

They noticed traffic issues when the event was ending at 2am and addressed them. Some people disobeyed traffic laws throughout the night. The video shows that.

One of they key reasons for tomorrow’s meeting is to inform The Sanctuary about how PSD will be working with the community to address this issue for all future events. Stay tuned.

Will update with more info after today's meeting between RIOC and The Sanctuary owner.

During the October 7, 2019 RIOC Real Estate Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) meeting, owner Frank (Turtle) Rafaelle described some of his plans for The Sanctuary and added:

... We're super happy to be on the Island. Thank you so much. Everyone has been super kind. Many of you have stopped by to ask me what's going on, give words advice,  teach me a bit about the island

I've been in New York 46 years, Queens and Manhattan, but never lived on the Island, never worked on the Island.

 I'm very familiar with the Island but it's very different to be familiar with the island and  then live here or work here or run a  business here and I'm learning and I know there will be some hiccups along the way....

Stay tuned.

Ear Drum Blasting Music Across East River Under Queensboro Bridge Disturbs Roosevelt Island Residents Last Night, Over 100 Complaint Calls To Public Safety - Queensbridge Native Nas & Kanye West Host Listening Party For New Album

About 10 PM last night, Roosevelt Island residents started hearing VERY, VERY, VERY LOUD MUSIC BLASTING through their apartment windows.

 I received this message:

Any idea what the loud music is about?

Over 100 Roosevelt Island residents called the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department to find out what was going on and to complain about the excessive noise.

In response, RIOC sent out this advisory about 11:20 PM

THERE IS A CONCERT IN QUEENSBRIDGE PARK WHICH IS CREATING EXCESSIVE NOISE ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND. NYPD HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT ANY NOISE COMPLAINTS BE DIRECTED TO 311.

It turns out Rapper Nas hosted a listening party and live streaming show for his new Kanye West produced album Nasir under the Queensboro Bridge between Vernon B'lvd and the East River next to the Queensbridge Housing projects where he grew up.

Nas '#Nasir' Listening Event at Queensbridge Park: Live Stream | an #seo trend at #GlobalHipHopDay.📲

For the cool #MusicLov3rz who are following #nas #MusicFriday #smm #KanyeWest #hiphop #digitalmedia #musicproducers #kimkardashian #NewMusicFriday on #NationalFlipFlopDay pic.twitter.com/yisEZyxUay

— Global Hip Hop Tweets (@globalhiphopday) June 15, 2018

Today, RIOC Public Information Officer Alonza Robertson reported:

We received more than 100 calls regarding the Queensbridge Park music last night, which was actually a listening party for rapper Nas’ new album that was produced by Kanye West. Nas grew up in the Queensbridge Housing development. We did not receive any prior notice that this was taking place. We did learn that the organizers had a permit for the event...

... There’s not really much residents can do, besides calling 311.

The Twitterverse reports:

This is what is causing very loud music heard on Roosevelt Island tonight. https://t.co/drRIXK3nCP

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) June 15, 2018

Roosevelt Island Public Safety @RIOCny says Queensbridge concert has permit and nothing PSD can do. Suggests residents call 311.

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) June 15, 2018

Checking out via livestream on YouTube, certain the permit is within decibel limits since its technically not in residential area https://t.co/8aWuR5sJr7

— Jonn Nubian ® (@JonnNubian) June 15, 2018

Technically my building is shaking 😄

— Michael Heilemann (@Heilemann) June 15, 2018

Our windows were shaking to the beat of the bass!

— 90292✈️10044 (@NYTTYTTYY) June 15, 2018

. @kanyewest #NASIR listening session #Queensbridge pic.twitter.com/w7X3Jgi1VU

— XXL Magazine (@XXL) June 15, 2018

@chrisrock & @teamvic in #Queens tonight to see #Queensbridge native @Nas perform! @ItsInQueens pic.twitter.com/YCH7dExd3s

— Jimmy Van Bramer (@JimmyVanBramer) June 15, 2018

2/ Surreal to hear new @Nas album at listening party in secret location (under Queensbridge) with Havoc (Mobb Deep) + Pusha T + Kanye.

This is the hit. pic.twitter.com/rfP3JVCsQZ

— Josh Wolfe (@wolfejosh) June 15, 2018

#LastNightWasMadReal #NewNas #QueensBridge pic.twitter.com/FD8HweBkgM

— 🤴🏾Givenchy Aki (@Akhen) June 15, 2018

Nas listening party w @lala @jonathancheban pic.twitter.com/BpCtou4YkT

— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 15, 2018

Nas listening session 🔥🔥 #QueensBridge @Nas pic.twitter.com/eHAElbDqeC

— Nina 9 / IG:@djnina9 (@DJNINA9) June 15, 2018

I'm sorry about the live stream situation and all, but I can hear the #nasir listening party from the comfort of my roof #nyc #music #rooseveltisland pic.twitter.com/NR56VHpcl5

— Gesa (@Gesa_J) June 15, 2018

Always use earplugs bro! Sound was rocking buildings in my neighborhood across the water on #rooseveltisland @Heilemann @Rooseveltisland all good, the #gregorian choir sample on "Not For Radio" must have sounded like the world was ending. 😎✊🎶

— Jonn Nubian ® (@JonnNubian) June 15, 2018

https://t.co/mbglUlrCXH

— Roosevelt Islander (@Rooseveltisland) June 15, 2018

If Nas and Ye can get the F fixed, I’ll endorse their next listening party myself! 😄

— Michael Heilemann (@Heilemann) June 15, 2018

Sweet, beautiful silence.

Can’t wait to hear the album on my own time 😄

— Michael Heilemann (@Heilemann) June 15, 2018

Kanye West must like the East River waterfront area. In 2016, he hosted a fashion show at FDR Four Freedoms Park. What's next?

Rio 2016 Olympics Opening Ceremony And Parade Of Nations Watched On Big Screen From Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Commons Lawn - Global Village For Some, Excessive Noise Volume For Others

The Riverwalk Commons Lawn

was a global village

filled with Roosevelt Island residents

from all over the world watching the 2016 Rio Olympics Opening Ceremony

last Saturday evening, August 5.

Here's first few minutes of the Parade Of Nations led into the Olympic Stadium by Greece



as seen from the Roosevelt Island Riverwalk Lawn.

It was a very nice event for those attending. But, there were complaints from some Riverwalk residents about the excessive noise volume coming from the outside speaker system that could be heard inside the Riverwalk apartments (with closed windows) surrounding the Commons.

The noise was coming not from the Olympics TV Broadcast, but from the sound amplification system used by the event's Master of Ceremony who spoke during the TV commercials.

Brazilian Drum Band Awesome For Some Runners But Not So Good For Roosevelt Island Resident At 10 AM On A Sunday Morning

The Roosevelt Island Twitterverse reported today:

Awesome way to end my first #5k! Brazilian drum band! @ NYCRUNS Roosevelt Island 5K for Icla Da Silva… instagram.com/p/Yp660uS49O/
— Rebecca Bellush (@rehobothrebohka) April 28, 2013

Not everybody thought the Brazilian drum band was so awesome - particularly at 10 AM on a Sunday morning and continuing for 3 hours. Roosevelt Island resident Raye Schwartz expressed her unhappiness with the morning drum beating in this message she sent to Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Don Lewis and RIOC Dirctors.

From Ms. Schwartz:

Dear Mr. Lewis,

This morning I was trying to sleep in, as I was exhausted from an all day trip out of town yesterday, I was awakened around 10AM by the sound of parade drums beating loudly. I jumped out of bed and looked outside but there was no parade. Those drums kept beating continuously for almost 3 hours. At one point I called Public Safety. They said they had received other calls but that there was a permit issued by RIOC. It seems there was a permit for a celebration at the end of a 5K race.

I wonder who at RIOC issued this permit. Was this person aware of exactly what the celebration entailed and that drums beating so loud and continuously were involved? If so, that person was not very thorough. If yes, in allowing such an activity, that person was completely out of line.

Tell me sir, is the person who issued such a permit a resident here? I suspect not!

Please investigate who was responsible and be sure this does not happen again.

It's not that I don't love a parade or celebration, but I don't love three hours of continuous drum beating, nor do I appreciate being awakend by that sound. I'm certain that you or the person who is responsible would not love the ensuing headache that this has caused me or my neighbors.

One other thing...where, when or how were residents told this was going to happen? I did not receive a RIOC advisory about this nor have I seen any signs posted.

Ms. Schwartz is not exaggerating. I heard the drums from inside my apartment as well. The drums were part of a good cause, a 5K run/walk to benefit the Icla da Silva Foundation.

On April 28, 2013, The Icla da Silva Foundation’s 3rd annual 5K run/walk returns to the beautiful Roosevelt Island (NYC)! This great race is now called The MatchMaker 5K – a name that truly reflects the Foundation’s mission of finding bone marrow matches for patients with life-threatening conditions.

Whether you are a runner, walker or just want to bring your family and friends for a day in the sun, The Matchmaker 5K Run/Walk is a fun-filled activity for people of all ages. BatalaNYC, an all female AfroBrazilian Samba Reggae Drum band will be at the finish line to perform their lively rhythms for all to enjoy.

Read more about Don't Miss The Matchmaker 5K Run/Walk on Roosevelt Island on www.icla.org ...

Here's an example of what the BatalaNYC drum band sounded like this morning.


Batala NYC Promo from Willow O'Feral on Vimeo.

BatalaNYC is a very good drum band but probably should not be playing at 10 AM on a Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood.

RIOC did send this advisory out on last Friday:

A 10K will be held on Sunday, April 28th, 2013 at 10:00AM. Expect traffic delays around Goldwater Hospital and on the West Roadway up to 400 Main Street.

Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Nothing about the drums in the RIOC Advisory.

UPDATE 4/30 Rebecca Bellush shares this photo

of the BatalaNYC Brazilian drummers.

How Loud Is Too Loud For Roosevelt Island - Amplified Noise Advisory For Capobianco Field On Saturday

 Image of Speakers At Firefighters Field Last Saturday

Received the following advisory from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC):

Please be advised that on Saturday, October 30, 2010, from 12:00PM to 5:00PM there will be a permitted event held at Capobianco Field that will be using amplified sound. All efforts will be made to ensure minimal disturbance to surrounding areas. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp Advisories Group

Amplified noise was the subject of this email message I received last Saturday afternoon from a Southtown resident:

I think you should do a story on the use of speaker systems on Firefighters' Field on the weekend.  Right now, the field is being used for the MMC Pep Rally (?).   They have large speakers blasting loudly, to the extent that it is making my walls vibrate in my apartment Riverwalk Court.  A DJ is literally yelling into a microphone and I heard him say that his goal was to make everyone at the rally go deaf!  I have noted that other groups have used large speakers on the field on the weekends, as well.

I called Public Safety and they said they would check to see if the group on the field had a permit.  Permit or no, residents have a right to quiet enjoyment of their homes and should not be subjected to extremely loud noise that can be heard inside their homes for hours at a time.  Why does RIOC permit groups to use speaker systems on the field in this manner, when there are three apartment complexes in the immediate vicinity?  What can be done to change this?

I forwarded the message to RIOC and received this reply from Donna Masly, RIOC's Programs/Permits Coordinator.

Please convey my apologies for any headaches from this weekend.  The permitted group uses our field annually for their Homecoming festivities, but usually they're able to utilize Octagon Field.  A scheduling conflict caused Octagon to be unavailable, so I moved them to Firefighters.  Since Octagon is a bit more out of the way, my assumption is this just hasn't been an issue in previous years.  I was unaware that amplified sound was going to be used, but to ensure this doesn't happen again, I'll be sure to update all permit applications and permits in regards to amplified sound restrictions.  Doing the research as we speak.