We may be in the dog days of August but Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Susan Rosenthal has a Very Cool Plan for the upcoming Christmas/Chanukah Holiday Season.
During the August 9 RIOC Board of Directors meeting (video web cast of full meeting here), Ms Rosenthal announced a plan to bring a Winter Wonderland of Holiday Lights to Roosevelt Island on Main Street from Blackwell House to Capobianco Field including the Tram, Ferry and Subway Station.
Ms Rosenthal reported to the RIOC Board:
... Last Christmas I walked down Main Street and it was kind of dreary...
Ms Rosenthal hopes to:
... bring lots of light and festivities to Main Street ... to light it up and make it look great....
adding:
... maybe even Cornell Students would want to come down. It might even encourage a new retailer or two....
Here's Ms Rosenthal explaining the Roosevelt Island Winter Wonderland concept to the RIOC Board.
Just to get you in the mood, take a look at the fabulous annual Holiday Lights show
One of the best things about the Christmas season are the brightly colored outdoor lights displays. We have a little bit of outdoor Christmas lights here on Roosevelt Island, but not alot. We could do much better, maybe next year.
One place that does a great job of outdoor Christmas Lights is the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dyker Heights. The Bensonshurst Bean show us how its done.
One of the best things about the Holiday season are the brightly colored outdoor lights displayed on streets in neighborhoods all over the City. For an over the top example of a neighborhood Holiday Lights Display, take a trip to Dyker Heights Brooklyn. Here's what it is like.
Unfortunately, Roosevelt Island has a rather limited Holiday Lights display centered around trees surrounding the Blackwell House area and on some Main Street light poles in Northtown and the Riverwalk Commons. Can Roosevelt Island do a better job at displaying Holiday Lights next year?
Julia Palermo of the Roosevelt Island Chamber of Commerce spoke at the December Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) meeting seeking a $275 donation from RIRA for one of the Holiday Light displays that are placed by the Chamber on Main Street Light Poles. Ms. Palermo explained that the Chamber of Commerce currently lights 17 of the 25 Main Street Northtown poles and hopes to have light displays on all 25 in the future.
An annual discussion topic when RIRA discusses the Holiday Lights donation is whether the lights should be purchased or continue the current practice of renting the lights? The cost to purchase is approximately $500 per pole while the rental fee is $275. Ms. Palermo and several RIRA members who researched this question report that renting is a better option because of storage, maintenance, service and theft issues.
Ms. Palermo said that donations for the Holiday Lights come from the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) ($1100), building management companies (RY Management of Island House and Westview) as well as individual residents. I am not sure if Rivercross or Roosevelt Landings makes a donation. One RIRA member from the Octagon asked if the Holiday Lights could be spread out across Roosevelt Island to include the Octagon Building. Ms. Palermo replied that the Octagon management has never donated to the Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights but that she hopes to light up the entire Island.
Here's Ms. Palermo's presentation including questions and comments from RIRA members.
You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Holiday Lights Discussion
RIRA voted to donate $275 for one Holiday Lights on one pole.
Looking for fun things to do on Roosevelt Island or in some other part of New York City this weekend before Christmas and Chanukah? Here are some suggestions.
On Friday night take a trip to Dyker Heights in Brooklyn to see how neighborhood residents try to one up each other with fabulous Christmas light decorations. Gothamist says of this spectacular:
Every Christmas residents of the predominantly Italian-American community of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn try to outdo each other for the most epic light display. And they're certainly not about to let a little economic meltdown spoil the festivities; this year's displays are as spectacular as they were in the year 2000, when the hilarious documentary Dyker Lights was filmed. (It airs again on PBS Thursday night!)
Here's a map of the neighborhood, and if you don't feel like schlepping out via subway, Brooklyn's own Tony Muia operates a tour bus from Union Square to Dyker Heights...
Once in Dyker Heights, the bus—which broadcasts excerpts from the Dyker Lights film during the ride—stops again and Tony leads passengers around to the most impressive displays in the neighborhood. Finally, the tour culminates with a stop at Mona Lisa Bakery for dessert before heading back to Manhattan.
In addition to Tony's Slice of Brooklyn Dyker Heights Christmas Lights Bus Tour a walking tour of the area is given by Justinsnewyork.
On Saturday night (as well as Friday and Sunday) , the Cathedral Church of St. John the Devine is hosting Paul Winter's 29th Annual Winter Solstice Celebration with The Paul Winter Consort & Special Guests:
A highlight of this year's Solstice events will be the return to the full space of The Cathedral, after the past several years of having only part of it available for the consort's various presentations. The stunning, fully-renovated interior of The Cathedral will be featured in these celebrations, as well as the newly restored Great Aeolian-Skinner Pipe Organ, being played for the first time since the fire in The Cathedral seven years ago.
"This event is comparable to a performance at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center! Thank you for sharing such a wonderful concert with our community." and
"The Chapel of the Good Shepherd is a better place to hear (rather 'experience') chamber music than Carnegie Hall. It is close to ideal. More chamber music, please.".
Also on Roosevelt Island this weekend, the Farmers Market will be open Saturday as is Gallery RIVAA, the Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association which is featuring the Winter of Change group show and RIOC has produced a great self guided tour map(PDF File) of Roosevelt Island for any visitor or resident looking to stroll the Island and learn something more about it. Roosevelt Island 360 reports that there will a Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony in front of Blackwell House on Sunday at 5 PM with music, latkes, hot drinks and gelt.
Good weekend transportation news. The MTA is reporting normal Roosevelt Island F Train subway service in both directions and RIOC is not reporting any Tram service advisories either.
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
