Santa Claus Is Coming To Town For The Annual Roosevelt Island Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Tonight & Tomorrow The Roosevelt Island Chanukah Menorah Lighting Ceremony Will Take Place - Can't Take All This Excitement!!!

Roosevelt Island Reindeer Card

Can Roosevelt Island residents take any more excitement this week? First, there was the re-opening of the Tram and later this evening comes the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Blackwell Park

Image of 2009 Roosevelt Island Holiday/Christmas Tree At Blackwell House Plaza

with a visit from the Big Man In The Red Suit - Santa Claus

Santa Clause Arrives For 2007 Roosevelt Island Tree Lighting Photo by Alexis Villafane

From RIOC:

You are cordially invited to join the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation at the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The festivities will take place at Blackwell Plaza on Friday, December 3rd at 7 PM.  Santa will make a special appearance to receive wishes from the Roosevelt Island Community. Join our musical guests as they lead the audience with up-beat carols and a dance-inducing live performance.  Warming winter treats such as hot cider and hot chocolate will also be served.  Kids can look forward to small holiday gifts and a photo with Santa.

Bring your holiday cheer for a celebration you would not want to miss!

More holiday excitement to enjoy Saturday with the Roosevelt Island Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony.

 

 There will be Music, Hot Latkes and donuts, Hot Drinks, Dreidel’s and Chanukah Gelt and Gifts for everyone starting at 6:30 PM.

Image of Roosevelt Island Chanukah Tram At Riverwalk Landing

My head is spinning from so much Roosevelt Island excitement!!!!!

You Tube Video Of Hannukah Lights

Hopefully, will know soon weather the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards will be available for sale this year.

Last, but not least, here's Neil Diamond's version of Adam Sandler's classic Chanukah Song



and Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming To Town.

UPDATE 2:25 PM - CNN reports on the lack of good Chanukah songs:

 Face it: Good Hanukkah songs are hard to come by.
For decades, school children performing in holiday concerts have droned on about that dreidel, dreidel, dreidel they've made out of clay....

but here's a new one from the Maccabeats
 

Track Santa Claus This Christmas Eve With NORAD & Google - Hey, Santa & Reindeer Spotted Over Roosevelt Island Using A Tram Sled

You Tube Video Showing NORAD Tracking Santa Across China

Reports are coming in of the Big Fella, yep, that's right, Santa Claus himself making his way around the globe. According to Mashable, it's now easy to track Santa's route:

Want to know Santa’s whereabouts this Christmas Eve? Well, Google has you covered. The company has been helping NORAD track the man in red since 2004 — the bi-national U.S.-Canadian military organization had been tackling the task all on its lonesome since 1955, when a Sears and Roebuck magazine ad accidentally instructed readers to call NORAD instead of the real hotline...

Wow, I'm looking out my window now - Can it be? I think I see Santa flying over Roosevelt Island and the Queensboro Bridge.

Roosevelt Island Reindeer Driven Tram (more info here)

You can track Santa's route at the Official NORAD Santa Tracker.

Hope you've been good this year.

You Tube Video of Sanat Claus Is Coming To Town

Live version of Springsteen's Santa Claus Is Coming To Town here.

Santa Claus and Bach Coming To Roosevelt Island This Weekend Before Christmas - No Pogues Though

Santa Claus Image From How Stuff Works

Hey, it's the weekend before Christmas and guess who is stopping by Roosevelt Island this weekend. That's right, Santa Claus himself will be making an appearance at the Riverwalk Bar & Grill (425 Main Street) Saturday afternoon from 2 -6 PM to have pictures taken with local kids. Stop by and say Hi to Santa! Hope you have all been good this year.

You Tube Video of Bruce Springsteen's Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

For classical music lovers there will be an All Bach Holiday Celebration Tonight (8 PM) at the Good Shepherd Community Center (543 Main Street) presented by the Rosemarie & Robin Russell Family Concert Series. The program will include Concerto in D minor for Oboe and Violin and Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major.

The Pogues and Kirsty McColl will not be coming to Roosevelt Island this year, well never, but here is their Fairytale Of New York. Not a cheerful Christmas song but certainly beautiful and poignant - one of my favorites.

You Tube Video of Pogues Fairytale Of New York

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - On The Roosevelt Island Tram!

Roosevelt Island Reindeer Card

Santa Claus has been spotted near the 59th Street Bridge by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.

Have you all been good this year? Well, according to the Big Man Clarence Clemmons as well as the other Big Man Santa:

you've better been good for goodness sakes!!

You Tube video taken from London concert on December 19, 2007.

Here is Classic Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band from 1978 at the Capital Theater in Passaic, New Jersey doing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

You Tube video is here.

More information on the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer card is available here.

Merry Christmas!

Here's How To Get Your Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards and other RI Holiday Gifts

Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards can be ordered from Marty Atkins

A reader asks:

Last year I bought Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Cards from a man who lived on the island. Does anyone know if he is selling them again this year?

I spoke with the creator of the reindeer driven Roosevelt Island Tram Holiday Cards yesterday who explained that he has been ill recently and not able to sell his cards at the Motorgate Atrium as in previous years. However, the cards are available to be purchased. Just send an email to Marty Atkins to order and for more information-  - 20 cards with envelopes for $15. He delivers on Roosevelt Island. Sounds like a good deal to me!

Holiday Gifts are also available at the Roosevelt Island Historical Society Kiosk.

Special Evening HolidayShopping

At the RIHS Visitor Center Kiosk

Tram Plaza, Roosevelt Island

Thursday

December 18th

5 to 9 P.M.

Jewelry, Calendars, Toys, Cards & More!

GREAT GIFTS FOR FAMILY& FRIENDS

Refreshments Served

Roosevelt Island Holiday Cards & Gifts

A reader of this Roosevelt Island Christmas tree posts asks:

Last year I bought Roosevelt Island Christmas/Holiday Cards from a man who lived on the island. Does anyone know if he is selling them again this year?

I hope he is because I love his reindeer driven Roosevelt Island Tram cards and bought some last year at his booth in the Motorgate Atrium.

If you are looking for that special Roosevelt Island holiday gift, check out the Historical Society Kiosk this weekend.

UPDATE - 12/16 - Information on ordering the Roosevelt Island Tram Reindeer Cards here.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Roosevelt Island

Santa Claus has been spotted near the 59th Street Bridge by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.
Have you all been good this year? Well, according to the Big Man, Clarence and Santa:

you've better been good for goodness sakes!!

You Tube video taken from London concert on December 19, 2007.

Here is Classic Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band from 1978 at the Capital Theater in Passaic, New Jersey doing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.


You Tube video is here.


I remember driving through a blizzard in 1980 to see Bruce in Hartford, CT the night before an important exam. Don't remember much about the exam, but the concert was fantastic. He is simply the BEST live performer in the history of Rock.

Image of Roosevelt Island Tram being pulled by reindeer is from a card created by local resident who sells them at the Motorgate Atrium. I'm not sure if they are still available but if anyone is still interested in buying a set for this year or next, let me know and I will put you in touch with the seller.