I am a professional wedding celebrant who has officiated weddings all over New York City, and in many other cities. Now, I also do walking tours, as a Licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide. I love meeting new people, walking around and sharing my knowledge of NYC. I've lived in NYC since 1992. I have traveled all over Europe and done walking tours in many cities. I refer to my tours as 'Christerical Tours' because I like to keep them fun. I'm also involved with the Guides Association of NY and with Big Apple Greeter.
Roosevelt Island: Manhattan's Australia.
Years ago, Manhattan sent their psychos and criminals over to Roosevelt Island (aka Blackwell's Island, aka Welfare Island, aha Hog's Island). There was a lunatic asylum, hospitals, a workhouse and an Alms house. Now there's a college campus and pretty parks.
And it has always had incredible views of NYC.
It's an incredible escape from the craziness of the city - this is what we call irony. The air is clearer, the sun isn't blocked by high rise apartments. You can get close to the water. Boats pass on either side. It's peaceful. It has parks, it has a church, it has one really awesome diner. A day walking around Roosevelt Island is like a vacation. You'd be nuts not to visit.
We meet near the entrance of the Tram to Roosevelt Island, on the Manhattan side at East 60th st/2nd Avenue. I will have a colorful hat and a black bag strapped across my chest. 254 East 60th St - on 2nd Ave, Tram Station. We will all board the Tram together! Have $2.90 ready on your Metro or Omni card. (Any debit card.)
Tramway Plaza is at 2nd Avenue and 60th street. This is where we will all board the Tram for glorious views of NYC, the East River, and Roosevelt Island.
West Loop road runs down the western side of Roosevelt Island. Here are great views of NYC.
Not only is this park gorgeous, but it has a restroom! We'll see the FDR Hope Memorial.
We'll swing by one of the most gruesome, ugly, old, abandoned properties in NYC, the Smallpox Memorial Hospital. What visit to NYC is complete without a walk by a ruined, haunted Smallpox Hospital?
FDR Four Freedoms Park, named for his 4 freedoms speech in 1941, is a stunning bit of art which just happens to have spectacular view of NYC and the lower part of the East River.
We'll walk back through the park and across the campus of Cornell Tech. You can imagine what it would be like to be a student next to a haunted, miserable and abandoned Smallpox Hospital.
One Google reviewer says 'Gotta get their ice cream.' And you know the internet is never wrong. They have coffees, sandwiches, bib m bop, poke bowls -- great place for a snack. If you're good, we'll stop here.
Roosevelt Island used to be called Blackwell's Island, but all he has here now is a house. If it's open, we can stop inside. They even have a few souvenirs available for sale.
We'll walk back up the island, under the Ed Kock Queensboro Bridge, to Main Street and by the beautiful Riverwalk Commons. If anyone needs a Starbucks break, this would be a good time.
Next to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shephard (let's face it, he was a GREAT Shephard), we'll stop here and peek inside if it's open.
Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).
