Yesterday, it was spring for one day on Roosevelt Island as 60 degree weather brought strollers out on the promenades and on Main Street. The other half of topsy-turvy lands today.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Out and About
My goal, walking up the East Promenade was simple. The crabapple trees under the Roosevelt Island Bridge Helix are the first to blossom, beating out cherry blossoms by a week or so. I hoped I’d catch the first burst, but they weren’t close.
That still made a great reason for getting out for a walk – coatless – on our spring for one day. The walkways along the East River were filled with strollers, and a RIOC crew was busy with spring clean up.
After checking out the trees, I turned down Main Street and immediately met friends. Across from PS/IS 217, I talked with RIVAA President Tad Sudol and artist Ioan Popoiu. With pandemic restrictions pulling back, they’re opening this year’s Vernissage on March 5th.
Crossing Main Street, Nisi owner Kaie Razaghi told me what most Roosevelt Islanders already know – Main Street business has been terrible since the Omicron surge. But being ever resilient, Kaie’s planning a new menu in a few weeks, and we will bring it to you.
The best surprise was meeting the Roosevelt Islander blogger near Blackwell House. Before I discovered it, he spotted the awful handicapped un-access sign being removed. He’d already sent me a photo.
Conclusion
Things change. And that includes the weather. Temperatures go in the wrong direction today, falling through the 40s and 50s, ending our spring for one day. After a cool, dry weekend, Monday brings a high in the 50s. By Wednesday, we see 60s again.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily News
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- From US-Iran tensions to Ridgewood preservationHow global events touch daily life on Roosevelt Island: international headlines meet local routines, preserving community balance and neighborhood identity.
- Legionnaires response, Queens bus upgrades, and NYCHA fundingExplore the steady rhythms of Roosevelt Island as city life blends with local routines, from public safety to community gatherings. Discover how behind-the-scenes work supports our daily pulse.
- Upper East Side Legionnaires cluster and Queensbridge NYCHA fundingCatch the latest neighborhood news updates from Roosevelt Island and across the river, including public safety, health alerts in the Upper East Side, new funding for NYCHA Queensbridge, transit upgrades, and community events.
As the Dust Settles
The way the wind cuts across the river this time of year. The way older buildings hold heat but never quite hold air. I told myself that was why my chest felt tight again on certain mornings. Age, perhaps.
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