Roosevelt Island (live, building, top)

[Jdawg8181]

can't you just access it from the regular subway? one of the subway lines goes there, can't think of which one? Is that what you are referring to?

[Dark of the Moon]

The F train stops on Roosevelt Island, but I believe the OP wants to take the tram (for the experience) and was asking if there's anything to do once s/he lands on the island.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by squeezeboxgal

The F train stops on Roosevelt Island, but I believe the OP wants to take the tram (for the experience) and was asking if there's anything to do once s/he lands on the island.

ahhh gotcha...sorry if that was off-topic...I wasn't aware there was a tram.

carry on

[citychik]

I think Roosevelt Island is very depressing. Most people you will see there are either patients or medical staff. The island is dominated by the hospital and senior residence, and condos. The noise of the traffice from the FDR Drive is amazingly loud, considering that it's across the East River. There are just a few stores (like pizzeria, deli), a pretty church, and the one restaurant I went to there didn't offer much. My sister roped me into going because she wanted to see some historical house that is there, but it was closed that day.

The reason it's depressing there is the same reason hospitals can be depressing -- so much sickness and sad people surrounding you. One of the most bizarre things I've ever seen in 23+ years of living in NYC happened on Roosevelt Island - a man was on a gurney, complete with some kind of intravenous bag attached to it, hanging out with his friends on the sidewalk, drinking, in the little shopping area. He was lying on the gurney, so it meant that someone had to wheel the guy there to go have a drink, y'know?

The old Smallpox Hospital ruins on the southernmost tip keeps crumbling more each year and is butressed now with exterior supports -- looks dangerous, and can't check it out anyway.

The tram ride used to be the only public transportation to Roosevelt Island until fairly recently (1989) when they added a stop there for the F train, which is one of the deepest stations in NYC's subway system. Once on the island, it has its own buses, and there is a walking/jogging path that you can take to the old lighthouse and park at the northern end, which is close to Hell Gate, an area of the East River known for its treacherous currents and the site of the General Slocum disaster, as well as the legendary sinking of the HMS Hussar, a British frigate said to have gone down there containing many bars of gold (currents are too swift there for diving).

I guess for a quick jaunt just to check it out, seeing Roosevelt Island could make for an interesting day trip, but it wouldn't be a whole heck of a lot of fun, IMHO. I think for the trouble it takes to go there, the experience would be quite an anti-climactic letdown.

For a photographic tour, check out Forgotten NY's photo essay.

[mjohnson4381]

Wow, that place does sound kind of crazy. I don't like being depressed...I might have to stay away from the hospital.

Yeah, the tram ride is what appeals to me. And it's really the only thing I know about Roosevelt Island. But I'll only be in New York for two days, and it's my first time, so I don't want to waste any time. I'll have to think about whether the ride is worth it.

I don't want to get too off-topic, but I'm also interested in seeing the Grand Central Station Terminal, Castle Clinton, Top of the Rock, and the Dakota apartment building. Do you have any input on whether or not those things are worth my time?

[Dark of the Moon]

I love Grand Central, especially the "night sky" painted on the ceiling. (Interesting factoid: the constellations were painted on backwards, based on a photograph the artist used.)

I'm not sure you can do anything at the Dakota except look at it from the outside, so I'd have to ask "why bother?" Top of the Rock is, safe to say, a great viewing opportunity and probably well worth your time -- plus, it's not too terribly far from Grand Central, so you could easily visit both within a few hours.

[Minus]

The tram ride to Roosevelt Island is cool - even if you don't want to spend time on the island, if you want to go to Top of the Rock (recommended), you can take the tram over and then just hop on the F train to Manhattan, which'll take you right to Top of the Rock.

[omigawd]

Citichick, not sure when you were there last, but they're trying to build Roosevelt Island up. There's many more stores there than just a deli and a pizzeria --- there are a bunch of different types of stores, including Duane Reade.

There are apartment buildings (and many "luxury" condos going up). The day I went, I didn't see any "patients" hanging out or people in wheelchairs (as another poster mentioned) or anything like that. I plan on going again and will look more closely this time.

Yes, there are still some of the old crumbling buildings (which will probably become condos soon) but I think Roosevelt Island had a horrible reputation at one time and people don't realize that time has passed and things have changed and still attribute old horror stories to the place.

[mjohnson4381]

Thanks, everybody! You're helping me map all this stuff out. It saves me the work of figuring out where these things are in relation to everything else.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by Minus

The tram ride to Roosevelt Island is cool - even if you don't want to spend time on the island, if you want to go to Top of the Rock (recommended), you can take the tram over and then just hop on the F train to Manhattan, which'll take you right to Top of the Rock.

what is top of the rock? how sad, I have lived here 27 years and have no clue what that is.