Paddle Wheel Boat Passes Roosevelt Island

I am currently subletting an apartment here on Roosevelt Island and my apartment has a view of the East River so occasionally I get to see some fun stuff. Today it was a paddle boat. Have not seen this before. Made me smile.

Sabrina Contemplates Her World View

I have written before about how Sabrina came to Roosevelt Island and her connection to the universe, Amherst College and Roosevelt Island and many photos have been shown of her but few of her view of the world from Roosevelt Island looking outward.

We thank Tisdale on Flickr for the above photo. My apologies as Blogger seems to be slightly distorting the image. Link to Flickr to see the original image.

Trolley Car on Roosevelt Island ?

When I first viewed the above photo on Twitpic I thought that the vehicle partially shown was a subway car or trolley but only after focusing on the buildings across the East River did I realize that the photographer, Kadiyah, took this picture at Goldwater Hospital.

Between the partial view and the fencing I thought I was looking at a vehicle on elevated tracks. OK, maybe it was just my eyes that saw this.

Everytime I see this view it is no wonder that real estate developers would love to get their hands on this property.

A Parkour View of Roosevelt Island

The above video is a Parkour practitioner's view and includes mashed up images of both Roosevelt Island and NYC's Central Park. For someone not used to quick camera work this video might be a bit strange to get used to but is quite interesting. I recognize shot outside Rivercross, behind Westview, along Island House among others. The last minute or so is a bit of out takes and just walking around.

As I have stated in past posts about Parkour, the actions taken would not be sanctioned by PSD and this video is not disagreeing that many of the moves seen could be dangerous.

Direct YouTube Link by Shadowgodny

Octagon Dock – Winter – 360º View

The above video was found on YouTube (by DIEGoMOL80) and is a 360º view shot from the "Octagon" dock across from the DaySpring Church here on Roosevelt Island. The video starts with a view of the East River (West Channel) and Manhattan. It's a bit clunky and quick but does what the videographer wanted to capture the moment.

East Side Panorama

The above panoramas each include Roosevelt Island and are from the blog "New York Panorama". Go to theblog to see full size versions of each. The top half of the above image features the Queensboro Bridge with Roosevelt Island in the background and is the blog's header image and the lower half of the image features Roosevelt Island in the foreground with Manhattan in the background.

Additionally look for the night panorama in a future Main Street WIRE as Dick Lutz, the editor, appears interested from the comment and inquiry he left on the blog.

A Wedding at Southpoint Park

All I have to say is you have to go see these pictures by Jerry Yoon Photography of this wedding at Roosevelt Island's Southpoint Park. I have never seen a personal event like this at Southpoint and I have to say if this is the first wedding at the site this couple did it right. they look amazingly happy and the groom is a lucky fellow as his bride looked radiant.

If pictures like this alone do not justify stopping the FDR Memorial from destroying the views I don't know what will. Can we convince RIOC that if it continues to rent out Southpoint Park for weddings perhaps they will see that the space is more valuable than any old FDR memorial can possibly be to the community? Of course if they actually take up this idea we would want to limit the number of dates the park is taken out of public use. If RIOC agrees then we can keep the land undeveloped in the manner most of us love today.

Roosevelt Island Scenes Shown on Fox Television Show "New Amsterdam"

Well this week the scenes filmed on Roosevelt Island for the FOX television show "New Amsterdam" aired within Episode 7 "Reclassified". Thanks to the folks over at the fan site "New Amsterdam Forever" for pointing the scenes out to me as I missed this week's episode. I admit I first starting watching because I had seen the television production vehicles some months agao and I have become a fan since.

The first scene (at 7.41 minutes) played involves the main character John Amsterdam, a homicide detective, having a discussing with his former partner Andy. The scene is supposed to be on a balcony just off the detective's office space in the local precinct house. Based on the views and the balcony railing it became clear that the scene was shot at Goldwater Hospital just South of the Queensboro Bridge facing East into Queens.

The second scene (at 12.41 minutes) is obviously shot from the Western promenade overlooking the East River with Manhattan and the Queensboro Bridge in the background.

The Views from Goldwater Campus …

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Last July there were articles , news stories, as well as my own blog posts regarding a long term proposal that would result in the Goldwater Hospital campus being closed and the facilities merged with Coler Hospital at the North end of Roosevelt Island. The above video shot last month shows a brief glimpse of the views of the East River and Manhattan currently enjoyed by the Goldwater Hospital community.

If Goldwater were ever razed this property would be extremely valuable to NYC on the open market. As this is City property, occupied by a City Hospital, the usage of the land is not subject to the GDP that was signed by NYC when the bulk of the Island was rented to NYS.

Residents would be up in arms about infrastructure issues and the fact that the current transportation systems could not handle the added growth and patient advocates would have concerns egarding whether patients at both hospitals would suffer due to a merger.

Water Views from Roosevelt Island

This video was shot on the Manhattan side of Roosevelt Island by some individuals waiting for a friend. Nothing remarkable about the video. Just some views of the East River’s West Channel, Manhattan and the 59th Street Bridge mixed in with a number of shots of the videographer and her friends. I am not sure if these individuals live on the Island or are visitors waiting for a resident.

Direct YouTube Link by Babebhp

FYI: The Roosevelt Island "Prow"

On March 5, 2000, the F.Y.I. column in the New York Times ran the following Q and A regarding the construction of one of the few Roosevelt Island “points of interest” that point to the island being an island. If anyone has additional information regarding the design and construction let us know.

I have always wondered why at that spot and not somewhere else. I suppose it had to do with the boat landing referred to below. All I know is that every time my kids and I walk up that part of the promenade we have to build in a few minutes, at least, to play on the “boat”.

“A Nautical Stage

Q. A strange object that looks very much like a rusty old ship's prow protrudes from Roosevelt Island's west sea wall. It appears to be ''sailing'' across the channel toward 79th Street in Manhattan. What is it?

A. It's a performance stage and observation platform, built over an old boat landing in 1997 and designed to look . . . well, like a ship's prow. It projects about 50 feet out into the West Channel, and consists of a flat, unadorned concrete wedge clad with rusty plates of steel. Two small slots near the tip -- presumably for imaginary anchor chains -- are the only real nautical embellishment, though a few heavy mooring posts have been placed nearby.

The prow is in Octagon Park, in the northern section of the 157-acre island, below Coler Memorial Hospital. Nine acres of the 15-acre park, which was designed by Weintraub & di Domenico, a landscape architecture firm, were completed in 1992, but the prow is in a treeless forgotten area near the vents for the city's unfinished Third Water Tunnel. Set along a tattered section of the promenade, it is, at best, a diamond in the rough, though the view of Manhattan is stunning."

View from the South

Nautical Moorings

Octagon Dock

According to a conversation I had with an Octagon resident this past Summer this dock is probably not able to accept Ferry Service as it is wearing structurally such that the "contact" made with repeated moorings would cause it increasing damage. It appears safe for pedestrian traffic but beyond that it would probably not hold up to an official inspection to receive ferry service. At least that was the opinion of that resident.

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

My Roosvelt Island Tram Video - 360 Degree View

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I have watched a lot of Tram videos and many of them are great. I realized my video / image blog would not be complete if I did not contribute to the library of Tram videos that continues to grow with each tourist that passes over the East River.

So here's my entry. Nothing flashy. Just a video of a nearly empty tram allowing me to capture a continual rotating 360 degree view as the tram glides on her tracks across the river one Sunday morning.

Another 360 View from Southpoint Park

This video was shot from Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island. The video clearly shows the fantastic views this park offers of Manhattan and Queens. While I can support the goal of creating a memorial here to Franklin Delano Roosevelt the prospect of destroying this 360 degree view would be a travesty. I usually am one to always want more trees but to add them here and block these views would be criminal. Can we honor Teddy instead and leave it like this?

Direct YouTube link . Video by Federicofabrizio

My First Southpoint Movie Experience: A Video

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I was a few minutes late to Southpoint so I missed my RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk video montage but what I did see is a very professionally run movie night. RIOC should be congratulated. And the weather was great making life great for everybody. Attached to this blog post is a short 2 minute video giving the viewer a taste of what attending a RIOC movie night provides.

Both the picture and sound were great and I state in the video above the views from your seats are priceless. As I have stated in prior posts RIOC chares nothing to those attending and all of the movies are open to residents and non-residents alike.

Once the bus arrives at the South end of the Goldwater Hospital Campus I walked with a large group down the lighted path towards the screening. I should point out before entering Southpoint a large sign announces the future of Southpoint and the parkland planned. Unless I missed it very little is stated about the planned FDR memorial as part of that project.

Before you get to the movie the lighted path takes you past the former city smallpox hospital known to most residents as the Renwick Ruin. With the spotlights on the ruin the eerie feeling of ghosts descends upon you which would be great for a Halloween film fest if RIOC ever were to sponsor one (hint hint).

Once I got to the screening area it became clear that if you want a good seat you better get there early and bring a late picnic dinner. RIOC provided popcorn during the showing but you should bring your own food so you don’t have to get up during the showing. I believe that full height folding chairs are not allowed but beach height chairs were OK. As I said above I was late so I never got a full view of the audience.

The next movie on 8/18 is Funny Girl starring Barbra Steisand and I plan to have the baby sitter arrive early so we can do the same.

NYC Sunset - Time Lapse - View from Manhattan Park

Note the view of the "Prow" and the dock on the right hand side of the screen.

NYC Sunrise - Time Lapse - View from Riverwalk

Direct YouTube Link to video posted by nodemonsorg

Manhattan Park Plaza View of East River

Direct YouTube Link

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