ISLAND PARADISE

So, you've got a couple of hours in between classes and don't quite want to go to the library and study and you've already eaten and you don't know what to do? Well, this column is here for you. Every issue, I will be highlighting certain places near here where you can go and hang out.

I know that many of you wish you had a nice campus with grass and trees, instead of concrete and traffic lights, but what you may not know is that we have a beautiful campus about ten or fifteen minutes from school. It's called Roosevelt Island. Yes, that interesting piece of land between Manhattan and Queens. Having been born here in Queens, I must shamefully admit that I had never been to the Island until recently when I started working there, and boy have I missed out. Just to walk around and watch the sea gulls is better than any stress-reducing techniques that I have ever tried.

To get to Roosevelt Island, you have two choices, the Tram or the train. You can take the Q train (towards Queens) at 63rd and Lexington for $1.50 (for now, anyway) one stop to the Roosevelt Island station. Or, you can go to 60th Street and Second Avenue and take the Tram for $1.40. I prefer to take the Tram and calmly look around as it goes over the streets and river towards the Island, but if you're afraid of heights, I would think twice before going on it. At either destination, you can catch the Island bus (it's usually waiting there when you get off the Tram) and take it to Main Street and look around the shops, or just take it to tour the Island (it only costs a quarter, believe it or not). On the bus you don't have advertising (so far), just some signs that tell little tidbits of history about the Island. You don't have to take the bus, you can just walk around. It doesn't take very long to walk around the Island. The atmosphere is so tranquil, you feel like you're on another planet. There are a couple of traffic lights, I think, but I don't remember seeing any. There are stop signs, though, and the cars actually obey them!

There's a walkway that goes around the Island right on the edge of the river, and you can usually see quite a few sea gulls lounging around on the wooden posts. The views of the city are beautiful, and even Queens looks nice and clean from there. From the farther end of the Island, there's a bridge that connects to Queens and you can see many joggers coming accross.

So, if you're looking for a nice place to visit, or a quiet area outdoors to study, check out Roosevelt Island. But don't take my word for it, go.

If you have any comments or suggestions of places to go, please drop them off for me at the Psychology Deaprtment Office in 611 HN in the Psych News evelope or leave me a message on E-mail.

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updated 7/12/96