Weirdest location in New York City: Roosevelt Island.
Some places just have strange and unsettled energy – and Roosevelt Island, formerly known as Blackwell’s Island and then Welfare Island, is one of them. In the 1800s, the island, which sits a stone’s throw away from Manhattan in the East River, served as a prison and insane asylum. If there is such a thing as residual energy, this island certainly has its fair share.
Visiting the island isn’t easy. It’s accessibly by a completely bizarre tramway system that resembles a ski lift. Less adventurous visitors can use the island’s sole subway station. The Queensboro bridge, which connects Manhattan to Queens, passes over the island but doesn’t stop there. It knows better.
Since the tramway is closed for renovations, Mitch and I took the subway. Getting off the subway, we were greeted by a number of para- and quadriplegics. There must be a rehabilitation hospital nearby that specializes in amputations; almost everyone was saw was missing limbs. Getting out of the subway, we were also accosted by a mentally ill middle-aged woman who kept screaming, “I’m not no damn white girl you f*****g faggots.”
The reason we ventured to the island was to visit the ruins of an old smallpox hospital that is now part of a public park. We quickly discovered that the park was closed for expansion and the hospital was inaccessible. With the purpose of our trip unfulfillable, we quickly left what must be one of the strangest places in the world – and certainly the weirdest place to visit in New York City.
June 28, 2010 at 10:27 am
Thank you Todd, you continued my point, are amputees less a person?
Davey, aren’t people worth more than their c**k size, limbs, abilities?
I still think you owe and apology, and I still love you and your posts.
June 28, 2010 at 10:52 am
It’s not so much what he says about others that concerns me; it’s what those statements say about himself. Remember we are not his “blog buddies.” We are his customers. He is an underwear salesman, and however he can reel in new customers, her
will do
June 28, 2010 at 12:26 pm
You’re a customer? You’ve bought some of his underwear? Really??? Okay, setting aside where I was headed with that for a moment —- if you “know” this, then why do you give so much power over to another person that you “believe is only trying to say what you want to hear, in order to sell you a bill of goods?”
Here’s the thing… I’m in agreement with some of the observations I’ve heard DW make during the time I’ve been reading his blog (which FTR, isn’t every day like the twinks who have a DW-infatuation seem to do). If something resonates with the sound of truth, I pay attention and will meditate on it. If it sounds like total B.S. then I immediately dismiss it and don’t give it another thought. That’s the approach I “try” to take with everybody (though I’ll admit I’m not always successful). The point is, you really DO have the power over your own experience here on this earth. Things WILL happen that you weren’t expecting and something things you’d LIKE to happen might not, but you ALWAYS have the power to choose how you’re going to respond to it (from a perspective of love or from one of anger).
Mom always told me, “Michael, if you have nothing good to say, better to say nothing at all.” Did I listen to her? Nope… LOL. I’m as brash and as big of a bitch as the next old queen might sometimes be “SOMETIMES” — but that doesn’t mean that I don’t first give a little more thought to what I’m about to say.
The comments I’ve heard on this post are really no different than those I read on the bathhouse talky blog. In that video he made some reference to the “older” crowd who were there, who were following him and his friend around and everybody (mostly bitter, self-absorbed and disenchanted old men I think) got on his case about it. That says something about him? ROFL! In this post he talks about the para- and quadriplegics that he and his friend saw when they first arrived on the island. He DIDN’T say that the frucking place was crawling with them; that the entire population of the place was comprised of unfortunate souls who’d lost their limbs. He ONLY MADE an observation of what they saw upon first arriving, the same as when he talked about the crazy nutcase that was screaming “I’m not no damn white girl you f*****g faggots.” Yes, talking about what you first observe upon your arrival at ANY place might be revealing about the kind of person that you are (or at the very least, what kind of mood you’re in at that moment). I mean, after all, he “could” have chosen to set aside whatever seemed negative or not so enjoyable and only commented on the fresh, clean air or the vast open areas of parkland. (Do they have any of that in NYC? I don’t seem to remember smelling any of it when I was there on business in the late nineties and the ONLY park land was Central Park, which I admit was rather pretty.) I guess the argument may be made, again, that far too many people here seem to be hella’ intent on judging DW for what he does or doesn’t say (and then we have those whose noses are shoved so far up his backside that they wouldn’t know an original thought if it slapped them across the face).
I just think it’s ridiculous that so many are “reading SO MUCH INTO” what he says in his posts. He may be trying to make a shekel on the Internet with his ads for the “Total Body Assault”, nutrition tapes(?) or the apparel — as well as the ad space he sells to advertisers like bathmate; who the hell cares? Do you come here to see what ad is appearing on his page or do you come to see if he’s had anything interesting to say today? (I choose the latter. Sometimes I’m happy with what I read and sometimes I just say, “meh! Not really worth commenting or spending a lot of energy on.”
It’s really not unlike my own comments here… I could make ninety-nine observations that the majority would think were great and wonderful – but the only ONE observation that would get a response would be the one my detractors were looking for; the one they think depicts me in a negative light. ROFL!!!! (I guess they’ll always be happy because, as imperfect as I am they will never be wanting for material with which to judge and cry “foul.” It’s the same way with DW and his blog here…
In closing, David, I’m sorry if my response here sounds overly harsh and directed at you. It isn’t intended to be. Not all of what I’ve said applies to you or even every person commenting in DW’s blog. I’ve brought up the points I have so that others might give them some thought and see if they resonate and apply to their lives. Nothing more, nothing less…
Namaste,Michael
June 28, 2010 at 12:39 pm
What the he’ll would I want with purple undershorts or a yoga video? We are no his customers- well I’m not. I am a “blog buddy” kinda
June 28, 2010 at 1:36 pm
HOW did he insult para- and quadriplegics? I’d really like to know the answer to this. He made an observation that most of the people they saw “when they first got off of the subway” were missing limbs, etc. If that is what they saw, THAT IS WHAT THEY SAW. Christ, do I need to apologize to God because I observed that the sky wasn’t blue yesterday or the grass dies off in the Winter? If so, I’m guessing that hell will freeze over first. Oh, wait! It did (see http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/113830985_09f377146d.jpg).
June 28, 2010 at 1:38 pm
http://www.flickr.com/photos/billmurray/113830985/sizes/o/
June 28, 2010 at 5:07 pm
well-you have to see how the rest of us-how unfortunate ones live.
June 28, 2010 at 5:17 pm
i was in chicago for Pride Parade-a three hour marathon-i absolutely saw no vulgarity-nothing thrashy.after the parade and monumental cleaning up of massive thrash on the streets-i saw a 20-something with bare breasts-with two large-Xs-covering her nipples-but other than that-looked pretty wholesome-and a party atmosphere to boot.and i got to see the Stanley Cup-yeah Gays play Hockey,too.
September 2, 2010 at 2:54 pm
Roosevelt is one of my favorite places… you have all of the perks of manahattan a “stones-throw” away, yet none of the pains on nyc. I currently live there with my boyfriend and we have our car (w. cheap monthly parking!), the most beautiful view from both our family room and bedroom, an awesome roofdeck, the friendliest neighbors and some great restaurants…PLUS there are parks and grass everywhere.
Then, when we want the city, we hop the F train and are at Lex and 63 in a minute and a half. I moved from the UES and my commute is shorter now, and the F Train takes you almost everywhere.
Its NYC’s best kept secret if you ask me.
September 5, 2010 at 12:11 pm
You are a phony. Rikers is still called Rikers. It’s where the men’s prison is. Perhaps you were thinking of Welfare and Blackwells’ which is today called Roosevelt Island. Is everyone who posted here from out of town ? I have been to Roosevelt Island and I am going again today. The tram ride is the best deal in all NY.
March 7, 2011 at 11:37 am
You’re crazy! I live there and that’s the most beautiful place in NYC! It’s a diverse place. You guys sound close minded!
September 9, 2011 at 11:52 pm
Just another typical Muscle Queen who favors young, intact bodied men and anyone who doesn’t fit into that mold, is a freak. Sad to hear this from a gay male. You’d think they’d know better. FYI, for those who say he is merely pointing out what he saw… he also is dissing the island and their residents, by claiming it had “residual energy” or bad vibes. So if a location has people that aren’t perfect or able bodied, it has bad energy? WTF. And for the record, I am very fit and considered goodlooking by most. I am not envious of Mr. Davey. I am just more evolved, like most of the other gay men on here who have responded negatively to Davey’s comments.
I long ago, left the vanity of the gay meccas for the simpler life of a quiet suburb of the Midwest with my partner (who is less than perfect and chubby) having lived in Manhattan and South Beach, FL for a long time, I know how most gays can be fickle and vain, but hearing Davey’s views just really irked me. It’s no wonder I don’t miss the gay, big-city mentality and have embraced the mentality of smaller cities and suburbs, especially surrounded mostly by heteros. I find most heteros, especially the gay-friendly ones, aren’t so vain and superficial. They are very explorative and open-minded to new things. It’s the gay vain men I have met in my lifetime, from the big cities, that are the close minded ones.