blog

Hi Charlie...Could you please forward this note to the group? Thanks
and I hope this finds you feeling great! I'll miss seeing you until
June....;)
Polly
Hello, dear Roxy family,

Polly here. I haven't seen you all in a bit, but I am very much with
you in spirit and I so miss seeing you, hugging you and dancing with
you! I have had a lot of wonderful things happening in my life...one of
which is that I am presently living and working in Amsterdam until the
end of June. I lived here years ago, and I am loving being back! I've
got all kinds of juicy creative opportunities and I'm spending time
with wonderful old friends who are like family. I'm having fun taking
dance classes and riding around town on my bike with my little canine
son (some of you know Ruby) in a pouch on my chest! I guess the image
is vivid for you now! Also, I've got my skates with me and I already
have a practice space here! I've yet to find the skate dance
community...but I'll track them down. If any of you know anything, you
can e-mail me at prubyjudge@earthlink.net.
The sad news is that I won't be there to skate with you on our beloved
floor in the coming month. Ouch. It's a real miracle that you'll be
there....I know you'll make the BEST of it! I'm there in spirit, for
sure...and if you think of it, take a go-round or rub up against
someone or switch your hips in my honor.
I send you tons of love and well-wishing, and I can't wait to see you
all again at the end of June. I'll say a prayer that by some incredible
happening... Club 515 will stay open ongoing!!!
xxoxo,
Polly

Dear Charlie and Roxy Family,

Last night was anazing!! Having not skated regularly for
awhile due to illness, I looked around in amazement..people
joining together celebrating friendship and a love for skating
that we all know is unique only to those who have had the
Roxy experience.

I recently turned 50, and have been battling cancer. I am
doing well thank god; but as I have had too much time to
reflect on life, the Roxy is a huge piece of my fondest
memories in my life. From my most amazing friends
Rhonda, Hap, Manny,Marion, little Charlie, John and Mel
and many more...to the wild parties Butch Ford and all
created. We are a lucky family and I pray we will party
together soon.

Maybe Steve Greenberg's presence was the beginning of a
thought...I sure hope so. Thank you to Charlie for keeping
us all in the loop....and to Julio; whose creativity and love of
the DJ booth made us all smile week after week after week.
I am wishing on a star he will play for us all in the future!

Thank you all for the best evening, and awesome memories!

Linda

I am so deeply saddened by what tonight means to all of us
skaters.

Roxy has been part of my life for thirty years. Not only am I
a hard core, like that huh, skater, but I was also an integral
part of Roxy as the skating club and night club. I managed
Roxy for 4 years, during that time we grew from a roller rink
to a major night club in New York City. We were part of and
instrumental in establishing the "rap" music scene that is so
popular today.

During that time and including the present, I have met some
of the most wonderful people and have developed many
long and loving relationships. The Roxy experience was
magical for me, and one that fed my soul in more ways than
I could ever explain.

Tonight will be so very difficult, I can't imagine walking out
knowing that we might never walk back up that ramp again.

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to the
absolute high I feel every time I skate at Roxy.

Who knows, maybe by some miracle Roxy will open again.
A cat has nine lives, maybe Roxy too.

Love,
Rhonda

Hey Big C, what’s the word? Hope you and Liz
are well. How are you going to fend tonite?
I'm at a total loss as to what to do with myself
tonite. I guess it won't be too bad. We'll jusT
look at this first Wednesday as “one day we
missed” in about two more weeks, I'll be going
stark raving mad, lol Hey remember, we'd
love to go with you anytime you're going
skating..will do anything to hang with you and
Liz. Rent a car, chip in for gas, buy dinner,
clean your bathroom. Charlie W.

Hi Charlie W & Jerri scotch gal, i hear people
are going to SKATE 22 In Union, NJ. I'd like
to give it a try -- I'll drive if you call and get
address---let me know??? - then I'll share with
GROUP.
thanks XXOO Charlie Z - (email guy ready to
skate)

Hi Folks,
please join us for this adventure. it's a
temporary plan.....we're still in negotiations
with other locations. Spoke to Julio - he's fine
- but nothing concrete yet!
Next week we might have worked it out.
If you have a car and can take some people, let
me know your location and Tel number-- maybe
it could come to something--- doesn't hurt to
try.
If you are going-let me know so I can get a
count, so we're not lonely for ROXY family
types.. you dig??? XXOO Charlie (organizing
email guy) Z

United Skates of America in Woodbridge is supposed
to be Great... A model for our future....Interviewed the
owner for our skate article and it even has a pool and
track from what I understand!   I think it is worth
checking out this week.

Best,
Suzanne
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

jack.   thanks for the input. is it possible to comment
if these are adult nites, or old school? some
characterization titles such as lighting, music type [
fast, mellow etc] and skaters [old school, hot rods].
wouldn't it be great to find the best of these for us to
all go? thanks again.      Howard
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Hey Jack,
It's Phil,
   I skate at USA on MON nights. There's a decent
mixed crowd of
ROXY n Empire people.The floor can be slippery at
times n there's 4 columns
to skate around, similar to Empire. D. J. Stokes does a
Great job.
   On the other hand, Hot skates which has a big open
floor that is
immaculate. Small crowd n poor D. J., but the floor n
space is worth it. Not as big
as Montvale but a good crowd of skaters can make
the place happening. Please
pass this on to skaters n D.Js LOL. It's always nice to
have a backup night.
                                                          Hope to see you
there soon,
                                                          Your skating friend,
                                                           Phil Russo
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been Skating at the USA in Massapequa for
years on Monday night and it's getting better. Bob
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Charlie,

It looks like you forgot to mention Branch Brook. I'm
going to add the web link below. Hopefully you can
just click on it, if not cut and paste it. Adult nights
appear to be On Thursdays and Sundays.

Dave

Hi Folks, hope all is well!
yes, I went to SKATE 22 last night after getting an email from
Charlie W....."HE MUST SKATE!!!"
rick said he heard some ROXY folks would be there, he was
correct. opens at 9 PM.
Charlie, jerri and I met Robert, Jerry and about 5 other ROXY
skaters there. nice size rink, about 50% bigger then ROXY.
beautiful wood floor, sound system fine - music pretty
good.....reminded me of Sundays at THE KEY. Fast skaters!
Music building too slowly for me. I like some REAL ROCKIN
STUFF, and I don't like to wait till 1 am to get it. we left at 12:30
it had a moderate crowd. all good skaters---FASTEST ON
OUTSIDE -----so if your not fast, stay toward the inner
circle--(this is normal procedure for all skating rinks, says JULIO).
only 18 miles from union square - were I live. half the 35 miles to
Montvale, a BIG PLUS.
owner Phil greeted me with open arms- ( I was trying to be
incognito) very friendly---good stuff.
they also have a small rink attached for practice or whatever.
anyway, lots of stuff still happening behind the scene - so sit
tight --- news coming sooooooon!!!!!
XXOO Charlie (traveling email skater) Z

PS: when I pulled into parking lot, police car was right
there--good and bad----be aware of law breaking

Hello My Skate Family,

I missed you all dearly last night. I've got some great photos and
some
video of our last 2 skate nights at The Roxy that I'll be sharing at a
later
time. This message is of a very serious matter and must be
sent to you
alone and unadorned so as not to take away from what I have to
say.

It has come to my attention on more than one occasion, most
recently
this
morning, that a very hurtful and potentially harmful rumor has
been
circulating that I am a MAN/TRANSEXUAL... no, I am not joking, I
wish I
were. I first heard this silliness about a year ago and laughed it
off. My
husband was not so amused. Now, having had this resurface, I
must put
a
stop to it, as my safety could be compromised. I am a happily
married
woman
with an 8 year old child that I gave birth to.

Please do not continue to perpetuate this ugly rumor, I want my
husband
and
son to feel/know that I am safe wherever I may go skating. Now
that we
have
new venues in play, all of which are not in forward-thinking,
extremely
liberal NYC, I am concerned that this rumor will continue, and
may be
told
to someone who might do me harm.

I despise drama and gossip of any kind and to have to send this
email
really
troubles me and breaks my heart, but I need to know that I will be
safe. I
knew a transexual woman who lived our building who was raped
in the
basement
of my building about 7 years ago, because of who/what she was.
There
are
sick people out there who prey on gay, transvestite,
transgendered
people.
PLEASE do not contribute to compromising my saftey by
perpetuating an
untruth.

FYI, I do know 2 of the people who were/are continuing to keep
this
rumor
alive (you will remain nameless...at this point). I've sent this
email
because I do not know how widespread it is and I want to insure
that it
does
not continue.

Thank you for "listening".

Margo Drucker

Dear skate family and friends,

As we already know, the Roxy is closed. L Why you ask?
Because the project with the high line (the elevated train
trestle in front of the Roxy) will become the next Central
Park type concept of New York City , look here http:
//thehighline.org/ for more info.

Consequently the property around the High line was
rezoned from industrial to commercial/residential look here
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp for more info.

As a result, the property’s value increased beyond
comprehension. The Highline project and the West
Chelsea rezoning were started in 1999 and were modified
several times until its recent conclusion. Hence, why we all
knew about the Roxy closing as this is just one of the
reasons why it has been on again and off again so many
times.

Consequently, the Roxy is slated to be demolished to make
way for a new building.

When you ask is not a question that can be answered as
this big kind of real estate deal can take a while to
conclude.

Because of all of the rumors and speculation, some of us
could not stand by and just let our beloved Roxy be taken
from us with out a fight.

So Rick set out to find the facts, truths and possibilities and
to find out who call the shots for the actual property the
Roxy sits on and to see what can be done with it. These
are not the same people who lease and run the Roxy.

As information is power, acquiring this valuable detailed
factual information gave us the ability to do the following;

Charlie (email guy) being the conduit of all information, was
asked by Rick (wine guy) to call a meeting with Lezly (skate
guy) and Joe (trainer guy) who have good relations with the
business owner of the Roxy to distill a plan to utilize this
new factual information that was discovered by Rick to
convince the land owners and the ones who lease the Roxy
to allow us to utilize the vacant Roxy until the day of
reckoning when the wrecking ball arrives.

Unfortunately, this has not been going as quickly as
original hoped as our goal was not to miss even one
Wednesday.

Concurrently our dedicated group among rumors of other
independents has been working hard on finding the perfect
replacement for the Roxy at a variety of different venues.

To the rescue, our beloved Sherry, and her wonderful son
Jason secured the Party Palace of the legendary Webster
Hall for us to party hearty in. The extremely pleasant,
courteous, humble, management has warmly welcomed us
with a magnanimous offer.

Ok kids this is the skinny on Webster Hall as reported and
negotiated by our group, Jason, and Webster Hall
management.

We get to skate our first gig at Webster Hall - Wednesday,
March 21, 2007 . Yeah J J

If you are the kind of skater that needs or craves big full
size rinks to go around in or need to speed skate this will
not be the venue for that. Rick calls Webster Hall “lounge
skating.” Webster Hall has three floors. The third and
biggest floor is booked Wednesday nights for six to eight
weeks and possibly more. Therefore, we get the other two
floors for now, while the concerts are going on upstairs, in
the grand ballroom. We will have our beloved DJ Julio
spinning on the main floor and DJ Nick@Nite famous for
after hours deep house spinning in the second skate floor
lounge area. Currently rentals are NOT available, but will
be available at a later date. Admission is $15 dollars; skate
time is 8:00pm till 2:00am . This will also grant only skaters
a 10% discount at Webster Hall’s restaurant across the
street, kitchen open until 2am . When there will be no
concert on the third floor we will have all three floors, so
there will be more space to go around. Imagine three
floors of skating and two DJ’s. We may also try Sundays
but as every business needs to make money, not spent it,
this will depend upon attendance.

As we have heard a plethora of stories, we would like to
dispel rumors, and want to give credit to where credit is due
to all of the others who are working on finding a new home
for the Roxy people and skating in New York City .

We sincerely and deeply thank you all for all of your time,
efforts, help and suggestions whether we have heard of
them or not. Please keep trying as nothing is forever, nor
is any one-solution good for all skaters and styles, so
alternative skate venues are always good to have,
especially big ones. If so inclined, please keep us in the
loop and ask for help if needed to follow up with a location
to see if it has merit and/or to negotiate the details and
logistics.

The future of skating will eventually be determined by
where the most people have the most fun. Therefore, that
means we may have to try a few places or may even need
more than one alternative to make us all happy.

Regards to all

WOW! I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of love
and support from all
of
you. I have been, and will continue to respond to each
of you
individually,
so as to honor, personally, each of your concerns,
generous
compliments, and
feelings of anger and outrage.

Please, please, please, know that I am not the least bit
distraught at
the
actual rumor itself. I am secure in my womanhood and
myself as a
strong,
loving being. My sole reason for addressing this issue
was to make
sure
that the rumor did not continue, thereby putting my
saftety at risk. I
really do think it's quite laughable. I feel sadness for
those unhappy,
insecure, conflicted, unenlightened individuals. I
surround them with
light
and know that they will do the right thing in the future.
My hope is
that
they learn from this.

My "sources", I must tell you, are unimpeachable, and
are two VERY dear
individuals who knew that the rumor itself was not
something that would
crush me. One of them, is one of my closest friends
whom I would trust
with
my son's life. Their "motives" I did and do not
question. This was an
ugly
thing that needed to be brought into the light.

Thank you, again. My faith in this "family" has been
restored/solidified.

Lovingly,

Margo Drucker
Reiki Master Teacher

>From: ROXYSKATEGROUP@aol.com
>To: undisclosed-recipients:;
>Subject: Fwd: Hi Margo -Peggy responds and Lezly
too
>Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 08:45:51 EDT
>
>I am responding to the email that Margo sent to the
Roxy Group. I am
>shocked &
> furious that anyone would spread such mean
spirited nonsense about a
>woman
>whose husband & child I know well & whose beauty &
humanity make her
one of
>the
>most memorable individuals I have the privilege of
being associated
with
>over
>several years that I've known her. Are there people
out there that are
so
>envious of her extraordinary beauty that they would
put her in
jeopardy
>with
>their slanderous & vicious gossip. I am thoroughly
outraged &
disgusted by
>this
>injustice perpetrated by some lowlifes who obviously
do not know this
>WOMAN.
>Whoever you are shame on you!! LEZLY
>
>
>
>**************************************
> AOL now offers free email to everyone.
> Find out more about what's free from AOL at http:
//www.aol.com.

>From: "Skateknut@yahoo.com" <skateknut@yahoo.
com>
>To: Margo Presley-Drucker <margopd@hotmail.
com>, Roxy
><roxyskategroup@aol.com>
>Subject: Hi Margo
>Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:20:58 -0700 (PDT)
>I'm sorry that you are going through this turmoil and
>that you have to waste your time and energy justifying
>your existence. No one should have to go through
>this. You are admired throughout the skating
>community and it's extremely upsetting to hear that
>anyone would spread such a vicious rumor. It sounds
>like a purely jealous and simple-minded individual who
>only wishes they could be like you.
>
>Not that I have the answer to any of this, but
>Honestly Margo, I would consider the motivation of the
>source that brought this to your attention and go from
>there. The skating community are fun-loving and
>free-spirited folks and do not past judgment. That’s
>what makes up so special.
>
>I feel and I am sure the consensus is that you are
>absolutely stunning and visually you are everything
>most women only dream of.
>
>Please know that the skating community is in your
>corner. And please go in peace and love and try not
>to put too much energy and feel threatened by this!
>
>From,
>
>Peggy a/k/a Skateknut
>

What a great time I had. It was great to see all of our
friends from the old “ROXY”. Now we can start anew at the
new “Webster Hall”, yeah. and once again much love to
Sherry and Jason for making it happen. Let’s spread the
word and let everyone know that we are not a dying breed-
“SKATERS ARE SURVIVORS”. Love to you all and see ya
next week, bigger better and fuller than ever. Charlie W

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had to leave early but the skate was incredible, and what
a great show of
support! I can't wait til next week !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tommy
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-

Hey Lezly and ROXYSKATEGROUP,

Glad to hear the party was good, I knew it would be. Can't
go wrong with the
wonderful people in our skate group plus 2 great DJs. I am
in Florida right now
enjoying the WMC (Winter Music Conference where many
DJS from all over the
world and dance parties every day. I will be home in 2
weeks and cant wait to join
you all at Webster Hall, I will spread the word too

Happy Birthday to Roberta!!!!

XX 00

Denise

Charlie,

I'm not a person who is naturally enthusiastic and
gushing with optimism, so don't depend on me to be
ecstatic over Webster Hall. I've found that very little in
life is perfect, but Webster Hall is really all we have
right now and so I think we should all get behind it and
give it our most ardent support.

I would like to see them use a floor wax that doesn't
powder so easily under our wheels so that we had a
touch more grip and a tad less slide, but perhaps that
is my own personal preference.

As far as the music is concerned I was very pleased
with both Julio and Nick.

I am looking forward to the Pajama Party and Pole
Dancing Contest next Wednesday and I assume that
the ladies will be mobbing Victoria's Secret and Rikky’s
for more alluring lingerie. I don't know what the other
guys are doing, but I plan to get a new prescription for
my glasses.

I haven't been to a pajama party in a very long time, so
my question is:
should we bring our own pillows?

Bob Nichols

> WEBSKATE HALL? - hi bob, what do you think?
should we make it our own? CZ

----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
Hi Everyone!
Ditto.......oh what a night! Loads of love and thanks to
OUR Sherry and son Jason for MAKING IT HAPPEN!!!
- for making sure that we would still have our
"Wednesday Skate Night" together - same group,
different place - as long as we're together it doesn't
matter at all.................. also thanks to Julio and his
terrific music to make us feel like we were in our "new
home" - and of course Lezly for all his love and
devotion - spread the word to all - as the Marquis
outside Webster Hall states "LIVE ROLLER SKATING -
WEDNESDAY'S" lol.............see you next week -
Gail/Tara/Rick
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------

> CHARLIE,
>     THOUGH WEBSTER HALL IS BETTER THAN NOT
SKATING AT ALL
> IT IS NOT BETTER BY MUCH. HOPEFULLY A NEW
AND LARGER VENUE
> WILL BE FOUND IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT
FUTURE. DOES CHELSEA
> PIERS HAVE AN INDOOR ROLLER RINK OR THEY
JUST HAVE ICE RINKS?
> I WOULD BE ONE WILLING TO SWITCH TO ICE
SKATING ON A FULL SIZE
> RINK WITH APPROPRIATE MUSIC.
>     I WILL TRY TO HANG IN THERE UNTIL NEW
HOME FOUND
>
>                                                         BILL
> no indoor - 1st place we checked ----and spoke to
top management about starting one.

don't forget New jersey and long island - and yes -
HANG IN THERE!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

> Charlie Z, I'm Sorry once again. versatilek@netzero.
com: The name is
> Earl. Can't miss me, with the DU-RAG always
knocking people down.
> Anyway, just a small comment regarding my
experience at Webster Hall.
> I'm guilty of my own negative remarks "I prefer the
floor was wood".
> But I was, at one point seated in the hall way as
people left in
> droves and they had their piece to say, THEN IT HIT
ME, as the words
> flow from me and I was saying to those people,
ROXY was us, we, all
> of us together made it what it was, and that's what we
are gonna take
> with us no matter where we meet. They could close
the building ROXY,
> but they can't shut us down. I didn't have my wooden
floor, but I had
> a whole lot of fun. And I gotta say, the people that
made it happen
> are amazing, and we need to show our appreciation
for such invaluable
> efforts by our support, financially, verbally and with
all the moral
> fiber in our being. I look forward, come Wednesday,
to not just
> skating, but skating with all my people, minus the
complaints. SEE
> YA
> earl: many good points-thanks for sharing, xo CZ

MR.JACK....AND TO ALL TRUE SKATE /MUSIC LOVERS

NO DISREPECT TO ANYONE..JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT..

WHEN PEOPLE NO LONGER SUPPORT A VENUE .WHAT ARE THE
REASONS?

1/WEATHER
2/THE PRICE
3/BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE
4/THE SAME MUSIC/OR A NOT ON HIS GAME DJ
5/A BETTER VENUE FOUND
6/BAD KARMA/NEGATIVE VIBES

SO IF THE ROXY IS NOT PRODUCING NUMBERS LOOK TO THE
REAL REASON AND STOP POINTING FINGERS...IT'S ALL IN
HOUSE..

SHOULD ONE NOT RECORDNIZE THIER ERROR ONE CAN CORRECT
THEM..
ROXY OWNER NOT ANYONE ELSE MUST SEE THIS ;AND HAVE
VISION NOT CLOUDED BY THOSE WITH THIER OWN SELFISH
AIMS....
LIES.AND DISTORTED TRUTH..ABOUT WHY THE NUMBERS ARE
DOWN..
TIME FOR CHANGE TIME FOR CHANGE ..SOMEBODY IS NOT
LISTENING TO THE SKATERS.......WHY DO WE ALL LOVE
SKATING??????WHY/WHAT MAKES YOU GO THE A RINK ...FOR
ME I DON'T CARE IF IT'S IN A BOX
IF THE MUSIC IS INCREDIBLE I'LL BE THERE..PERSONALY
THATS ALL I NEED ..OH YEAH..AND THE PRETTY
LADIES..WHAT MAKES YOU GO...?
......................JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT.BECAUSE I
TRUELY CARE ABOUT THE SKATERS FROM MY HEART AND I DJ
RCLaROCK WILL ALWAYS PLAY MY MUSIC FROM THE HEART OR
I'LL RETIRE AND HANG UP MY NEEDLES..OR HAND DOWN WHAT
I KNOW SO TO CONTINUE TRUE SKATERS MUSIC......

ONE LOVE TO ALL SKATERS .......GOD BLESSYOU ALL


DJ RCLaROCK
IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS CALL ME
646/387-8129
rclarockpartyblast@yahoo.com
I hpoe this message is well received.and not taken
in a negitive way..

please keep in mind it's only roller skating not life
or death ok....

Hello All!
This weekend I took my kids skating again at Murrays in Yonkers. We all had a blast! My children loved the big open floor and
so did I for very different reasons. This is a place where we can bring our families and get our roll on at the same time. The floor is
great. I was spinning, dancing and jamming. I spoke to Vincent from XM radio who DJs with Julio there. He has literally worked
from the ground up to offer us skaters a place to go. It is not Roxy, nor is it close but it is a great family skating center. He and the
rink are open to all suggestions. They serve great food and the prices are very reasonable. The music is great, it gets you
motivated. !
Then on Saturday, I went to Roller Jam USA. WHAT A GREAT PLACE! The floor, atmosphere, energy are all there! They just need a
liquor licence and I'm set! Quite a few Roxy skaters were there with me. They are also looking for suggestions. Its a ferry ride away
guys... go check this place out.. its so worth the trip. The DJ was pretty good.. kept the pace a little too fast for me all night. Maybe
Julio can get us a night there & our family night just have a new home.
Colleen

BRANCHBROOK DRIVING
INSTRUCTIONS: 9 PM TO 2 AM

Easy to get to Branchbrook.
ADDRESS is 7 TH AVENUE and
CLIFTON AVENUE

Take Holland Tunnel, and follow
signs to 1 and 9 South. After
getting onto the Pulaski Skyway,
stay in the right lane. Very
soon, look for an exit for Truck 1
and 9 south, and Rt 280. Get off
at that exit, and keep following
signs for 280 West. Once in
Newark on 280, take Clifton
Avenue Exit (I think it is exit
number 14A or so, but I'm not
certain). Go onto Clifton, you'll
soon see the Newark Cathedral
in front of you (which, by the
way is really gorgeous, and
worth a look when it is all lit up),
and there will be a left turn into
Branchbrook Park before you
get up to the Cathedral. There is
a sign there indicating that you
use that entrance to get to the
rink. Then, follow road down
the hill, and make a left into the
skating rink.

I hope I'll see you there. These
directions take about 15
minutes from the Holland
Tunnel.