Thanks to Frank's recommendation on another thread, I checked Roosevelt Island on line, and we will probably send some time there. I'm really looking forward to the tram rides.

We will walk around the island and were wondering about any special sights/buildings, areas etc.. to see, and also a recommendation for lunch or a light dinner if we go in the evening.

Nina66: We took the tram back and forth this past Saturday, the ride was fun and great views. It's the best $3.00 you'll spend. Unfortunately we didn't spend any time on the island, but it's my impression there isn't much there.

There really is not much there If you like to take a short tram ride over the river, but that is about it.
The place where you get on the tram is the street, just a few doors down, from Serendipity Nice lunch.

I have driven around the island, and no, there's not really much to do there except watch some little kids play ball. There's a couple of small restaurants & shops on the main street, but nothing that looks interesting enough to check out.

However, there are some great ruins of an old observatory (?)...they appeared in the final fight scene of "Spiderman". So did the tram, if you remember...

Just saw that you were thinking of walking around the island at night. Don't. You may not feel too safe after dark...it's quiet bedroom community with no nightlife, and you'd have to pass through the projects in order to get to the "center of town" so to speak.

I was thinking that it might be nice to be there at sunset, but will maybe now just take the tram, shots some pictures and come right back.

It's funny that you should mention the bad areas, I read their local paper online while on the island site, and a local survey mentioned the need for more public safety due to crime, but no specifics. I had imagined that it was a sleepy 'bedroom community', so it's great to get this kind of info from you.

We are going to have lunch at Serendipity again, loved those hamburgers, so this sounded like a fun and easy thing to do, and maybe to walk off our meal. RIGHT .. to walk off one of those sundaes, I'd have to walk back home to San Francisco.

do not spend time there! there is nothing there, or to see and i'd hate for you to waste a minute when you could be in the heart of new york! maybe a quick ride on the tram during daylight hours, but thats it! it's not what you think. had to chime in...

Better places to watch the sunset are the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights or on the riverfront in Battery Park City.

The ruins on Roosevelt Island are the former Small Pox Hospital, but not open to the public.

I've just cancelled our reservations at the Roosevelt Island Club Med. Thanks again.

Roosevelt Island is like not being in NYC. There is nothing there at all to see. After dark, everything closes. Good to raise kids or live if you don't like traffic and noise but bad to sightsee in.

BTW, there are no projects there. You're probably thinking of the bus from Roosevelt Is. to Queensboro Plaza that drives through Queensbridge Houses. Even so, yu'll be fine as long as you don't get off in the projects.