This was a delightful read, thank you! I ran a 5k Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Roosevelt Island on a solo trip to New York in 2018. I remember thinking it felt weirdly...sparse, clinical? compared to Manhattan, but had lovely views. I got lost in Queens trying to get back to my holiday apartment in the Lower East Side. Look forward to your next issue! Cheers
See if the Department of Correction will let you visit Hart Island, NYC’s potter’s field. The DOC is responsible for burying the bodies. The place lends itself to your ample curiosity and descriptive talents.
Gosh I remember many moons ago looking at an apartment on Roosevelt Island but I can’t remember why I didn’t get it, I’m thinking the rent $. I do remember it feeling a little too quiet so maybe that was it....I was in my 20’s and quiet wasn’t in my wheelhouse. The cat sanctuary seemed interesting. When I worked at NYP my unit faced the East River so I always had great views or Roosevelt island. Nights were the prettiest. I enjoyed reading your piece, you really conveyed a sense of community there.
Best line: “While there really wasn’t anywhere to go, it was certainly easy to get there.” It tied with, “First came the new Cornell Tech campus, obviously built by billionaires from Mars.”
I’ve been hoping for an update of Halloween at the Behr Mansion in Brooklyn! Bad timing on Diane and her husband’s costumes, though.
As for you, Sparkles and that “Scrooge” attitude toward candy/children at Halloween: "Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge… "And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"… “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned--they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
OMG!! I threw-up in my mouth reading about the “exceptional and grandiose” life of Kellyn Shensky in “Pigeon of the Month.” Made me feel soooo inadequate in my humdrum existence that I’m surprised I didn’t take-the-gaspipe! “If the poor have no sushi, let them eat cake!” Kellyn is far too bumptious for my taste. I can only imagine the reality of how lacking she is.
As for the delightful story about Roosevelt Island, my take-away is that I must purchase a Roosevelt Island “ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE” shot glass, for my bro-in-law, for Christmas! Mr. Gaye described the ideal spot to spend eternity: “When I’m in Roosevelt Island, I can see everything. You should come to my house! Come to my rooftop and stand there. You’re seeing all five boroughs from my rooftop.” And since he was related to a diplomat and since, “It drew many workers from the nearby U.N., so the apartment buildings are packed with folks from around the world,” that reminded me of the daughter of a diplomat at the U.N. who I went to college with, Liz Mahoney. Her father was a diplomat from a country in Africa. Liz was the nicest! And she had the absolute nicest shape of any girl at Ohio Northern University in the early 1970’s; the guys I hung with called it a “sheer-power-build!”. She once came to my dorm room to ask advice on a failed romance and I could have taken advantage of the situation as she was vulnerable, and I was 20 year old male; but I didn’t. Sigh! Thanks for the memory, Sparkles! Maybe Liz and her family lived on Roosevelt Island?
Fortunate Sully Sullenberger didn’t encounter Roosevelt Island on US Airways Flight 1549 that he ditched in the Hudson River in 2009!
Fantastic newsletter issue, Anne, as always! Your description of Roosevelt Island made me want to live there (currently a CA resident seeking new vistas), but Realtor.com shows zero available homes, and judging from the cost of renting a very small apartment, totally unaffordable. But very intriguing. I think Ms. Shensky might be totally bored there, however.
Hello Dear Anne. I voted no on the tree mystery. Because unexplained has its own particular beauty. The other night my ex-husband and I were walking the dogs and we saw this incredible stream of shivery lights in the sky. We stood, transfixed. He immediately went home and googled it. I treasure that I will never know what it was. Much love from Texas, Hillary E.
I've always wondered what Roosevelt Island is like, but never bothered to go there. Great piece. It sounds perfect for people who want to move to a suburb to raise their children but they would miss the city life too much.
"Be the person your dog thinks you are." sometimes the best part of your missives are inadvertent or second-hand. That's gold.
Anne, thank you for making me feel like I just spent the day on Bonkers Island! I feel like I got some secondhand bonkerismo.
This was a delightful read, thank you! I ran a 5k Thanksgiving Turkey Trot on Roosevelt Island on a solo trip to New York in 2018. I remember thinking it felt weirdly...sparse, clinical? compared to Manhattan, but had lovely views. I got lost in Queens trying to get back to my holiday apartment in the Lower East Side. Look forward to your next issue! Cheers
I've never been to Roosevelt Island, and after your post I don't necessarily want to visit, but it does seem like a lovely place to live!
HILARIOUS issue!
See if the Department of Correction will let you visit Hart Island, NYC’s potter’s field. The DOC is responsible for burying the bodies. The place lends itself to your ample curiosity and descriptive talents.
Among many bonkers things on Bonkers Island, the most unusual is a male speech therapist! (as a profession, we're 90+% female).
Gosh I remember many moons ago looking at an apartment on Roosevelt Island but I can’t remember why I didn’t get it, I’m thinking the rent $. I do remember it feeling a little too quiet so maybe that was it....I was in my 20’s and quiet wasn’t in my wheelhouse. The cat sanctuary seemed interesting. When I worked at NYP my unit faced the East River so I always had great views or Roosevelt island. Nights were the prettiest. I enjoyed reading your piece, you really conveyed a sense of community there.
A visit to Bonkers Island is now on my bucket list.
Best line: “While there really wasn’t anywhere to go, it was certainly easy to get there.” It tied with, “First came the new Cornell Tech campus, obviously built by billionaires from Mars.”
I’ve been hoping for an update of Halloween at the Behr Mansion in Brooklyn! Bad timing on Diane and her husband’s costumes, though.
As for you, Sparkles and that “Scrooge” attitude toward candy/children at Halloween: "Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge… "And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"… “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned--they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
OMG!! I threw-up in my mouth reading about the “exceptional and grandiose” life of Kellyn Shensky in “Pigeon of the Month.” Made me feel soooo inadequate in my humdrum existence that I’m surprised I didn’t take-the-gaspipe! “If the poor have no sushi, let them eat cake!” Kellyn is far too bumptious for my taste. I can only imagine the reality of how lacking she is.
As for the delightful story about Roosevelt Island, my take-away is that I must purchase a Roosevelt Island “ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE” shot glass, for my bro-in-law, for Christmas! Mr. Gaye described the ideal spot to spend eternity: “When I’m in Roosevelt Island, I can see everything. You should come to my house! Come to my rooftop and stand there. You’re seeing all five boroughs from my rooftop.” And since he was related to a diplomat and since, “It drew many workers from the nearby U.N., so the apartment buildings are packed with folks from around the world,” that reminded me of the daughter of a diplomat at the U.N. who I went to college with, Liz Mahoney. Her father was a diplomat from a country in Africa. Liz was the nicest! And she had the absolute nicest shape of any girl at Ohio Northern University in the early 1970’s; the guys I hung with called it a “sheer-power-build!”. She once came to my dorm room to ask advice on a failed romance and I could have taken advantage of the situation as she was vulnerable, and I was 20 year old male; but I didn’t. Sigh! Thanks for the memory, Sparkles! Maybe Liz and her family lived on Roosevelt Island?
Fortunate Sully Sullenberger didn’t encounter Roosevelt Island on US Airways Flight 1549 that he ditched in the Hudson River in 2009!
Fantastic newsletter issue, Anne, as always! Your description of Roosevelt Island made me want to live there (currently a CA resident seeking new vistas), but Realtor.com shows zero available homes, and judging from the cost of renting a very small apartment, totally unaffordable. But very intriguing. I think Ms. Shensky might be totally bored there, however.
I’d like to know if you bought one of those shot glasses to add to your altar with the rubber band balls?
Hello Dear Anne. I voted no on the tree mystery. Because unexplained has its own particular beauty. The other night my ex-husband and I were walking the dogs and we saw this incredible stream of shivery lights in the sky. We stood, transfixed. He immediately went home and googled it. I treasure that I will never know what it was. Much love from Texas, Hillary E.
To rearrange an old saying...
It's a nice place to live there but I wouldn't want to visit.
I've always wondered what Roosevelt Island is like, but never bothered to go there. Great piece. It sounds perfect for people who want to move to a suburb to raise their children but they would miss the city life too much.
I love this post! Thanks for sharing this with your readers.