A Sign to Remember the Last Trolley Kiosk ?

The last of 5 Trolley Kiosks still sits at the Manhattan foot of the Queensboro Bridge isolated and without a single sign as to what the structure's original purpose was. During this year the Bridge will celebrate its 100th Anniversary. It is time that a sign is erected to recognize the contribution of the trolleys and the last kiosk sitting at its original location.

As I have written in the past there were once 5 of these kiosks, each an entrance to the actual trolley lines which would traverse the Queensboro Bridge. One now serves as the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) Visitors Center but the last one sits, restored, but unused and for the most part unappreciated as so few people know its original purpose and why it sits where it does.

I have asked Judy Berdy, RIHS President, if such a sign is possible and she believes she heard that a sign was discussed and she is investigating this recollection. If no plan exists I believe one should be suggested to the NYC DOT, and the Transit Museum among others. The City by its restoration of the last kiosk has deemed it worth saving. I would think that recognition should be evidenced by a sign so residents and visitors alike can share in its history.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Rain, Snow, Nor'Easter ? Overboard Predictions ?

By 9:00 am tomorrow morning the weather casters are predicting a truly lousy commute with the possibility of a Nor'easter to follow.

As a reminder of Winter's past Catherine Grieco brings us the image above of what Roosevelt Island looked like back in the mid 1990's when NYC would be ppounded by snowstorm after snowstorm.

YouTube: East River Time Lapse – View from Riverwalk

This time lapse video, shot I believe from either 475 or 465 Main Street, looking West towards Manhattan from Roosevelt Island moves quite fast and is a bit grainy but still quite cool to watch. It was added onto YouTube on August 11, 2006.

Direct YouTube Link by mikesieben

The NYC Marathon – A Tram View

Each of these NYC Marathon photos are taken from the Roosevelt Island Tram and were found on Flickr. The first is by Katrinkles from the 2006 Marathon. The second by New Amsterdam 2005 of the 2005 Marathon. Go to either of these links to see larger versions of these pictures.

Last year was my first year riding the Tram on Marathon Sunday. It’s exciting to see the runners on the Lower deck of the 59th Street Bridge from a view that most people do not see and the helicopter cameras just can’t get. The Tram was packed last year with Islanders and visitors alike all pointing their cameras at the bridge hoping to get a great picture of the race. As such I was surprised to find so few pictures on Flickr.

It’s also exciting to see the runners step off the bridge onto the exit ramp as their excitement raises as these are their first steps into Manhattan before they run up First Avenue into the Bronx and then back down towards Central Park. I am not sure what mile marker the bridge is in the race.

Roosevelt Island – The My Space Blog

I have been too long in not writing about the My Space page Roosevelt Island. The blog is written in the first person by the Island. The blog was first featured in the Main Street Wire back on October 10, 2006 in an article written by Jami Bernard and mentioned again in the October 20, 2007 issue.



What the blog lacks in recently added content it makes up for in the continuing email exchange between its readers. As Ms. Bernard wrote this blog now boasts over 230 friends who appear loyal to this My Space page. The enthusiasm this page has for Roosevelt Island is great and reading through the Interests box you learn the island has been featured in or used in a few more movies or TV shows than you thought you were aware of.

Behind the various content boxes as background wall paper to the My Space page itself is a great photo looking South from what I suppose must have been the Roosevelt Island Bridge towards the 59th Street Bridge. Double click on the below image to see an enlarged version of that shot.

Photo: USAF Aircraft Flying Up East River

The above photo is part of a collection photographed by Victoria Arocho Photography and presented by Rocka Rho Publishing on the website for the 2006 Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach. It is an amazing photo and really cannot be appreciated unless you view it HERE for its full size.

The planes starting from top middle rotating clockwise are the A-10 Thunderbolt, the F-15 Eagle, the P-51 Mustang, and lastly the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

For those of you outside New York I am sure you are surprised by the thought of an airshow on Long Island but then again maybe not after all Lindbergh did take off from Mitchell Field and Bethpage Long Island was home to Grumman Aerospace for more than half my life and as any Grumbag can tell you it was the birthplace of the Navy F-14 Tomcat. This does not even address great airfields and other originally Long Island based companies such as Fairchild.

RI Tram & 59th Bridge as Art

As I was returning to the Tram this afternoon I saw the above gentlemen painting the 59th Street Bridge and the Tram.

In my haste to take his picture and get on the Tram I neglected to ask his name. If anyone sees him again please let him know I would like to appropriately credit him for the use of his artwork here.

It was a gorgeous day and comfortably cool. Walking around on the East Side is always amusing as we get glimpses of Roosevelt Island looking East as we walk up or down Second and First Avenues. One day I will have to photograph these glimpses.

Tram "Documentary" - Older Footage

This video is from a few years ago (circa 1980) as evidenced by the old Tramway Plaza staircase and the old logos on the Tram. The video is way too dark but the music is funky. It also shows the old mini buses. It includes an interview with Bonnie Waldman, an island resident.

Direct YouTube link by rcortell1

Skyscraper View of the Roosevelt Island Tram & 59th St. Bridge

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

One day I got lucky enough to shoot this video, from a local skyscraper, of the Roosevelt Island Tram and the Queensborough Bridge. I wish I had a better camera as the video might have been a bit less grainy. This is taken from the 15th floor of the skyscraper. Perhaps one day I will try to shoot it again with a better camera.

Tram Views: Manhatan Dog Run or Roller Coaster

Every day when I come over to Manhattan via the Tram I see a dog run below and just North of the 59th Street Bridge on the Manhattan side of the East River. I have been told that the lower part of the structure was once used as some sort of loading point for garbage being sent off Manhattan via barge. All I know is the upper part of the structure looks like something that escaped from a roller coaster park. The park’s formal name is the “East River Park Dance Oval” per the NYC Parks Department website.



Anyhow whenever my kids look down and see this park they want to visit it and play with the dogs. I am guessing you can’t enter the park without a dog and this is what I tell them but I also have always shared their curiosity. This video gives me enough of a feel for the park to quench that interest. It does appear to have some nice views of Roosevelt Island though which is part of what drew me to the video.

Direct YouTube Link by gothamsyren

Aerial View of Roosevelt Island from E44th Street Hotel

The above video of East River views was shot from the Millennium Hotel located at One United Nations Plaza, on 44th Street between First and Second Avenues. The music is not my style but the aerial view of the river and the Southern half of Roosevelt Island is not something we get to see everyday.

Direct YouTube Link by Vincentdear

NYC Sunrise - Time Lapse - View from Riverwalk

Direct YouTube Link to video posted by nodemonsorg

East River 360 View - Behind PS 217 and Westview

360 View - Intersection of West Channel Road and Tramway Plaza

Direct YouTube Link

This 360 view of Roosevelt Island is at the intersection of West Channel Road and Tramway Plaza. Views of Manhatan, the East River, and the 59th St Bridge. The video whites out for 4 seconds at 28 seconds.

Red Bus Ride - Tram Station to 510 Main Street

Direct YouTube Link

Manhattan View, Bridge

Putting aside the camera shots of this video's ptographer this video is a pretty stylized quick 3 minutes of the Tram and the island South of the Queensborough Bridge.

You Tube Direct Link for video posted by martinbroda

Riverwalk Construction

Direct YouTube Link of video posted by nodemonsorg


This video is of building number four of the total nine planned