Fire Island 2011, part 5

Started writing at 10:23 a.m. while listening to “The Brian Lehrer Show” in the cottage in Ocean Beach.

A thunderstorm woke me up a couple of hours ago. And while fog enveloped the beach several times over the last few days, this weekend was a largely wonderful kick-off to another summer on Fire Island.

I came out 10 years ago on Friday, May, 27, and I was able to spend the anniversary of this milestone on Fire Island—running on the beach, delivering guides and simply hanging out in Ocean Beach, Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines. The gaggle of gays who grew (in numbers) exponentially over the weekend provided some particularly pleasing eye candy. My tan line has returned. And dancing for hours last night at Cherry’s in the Grove once again proved the highlight of the long holiday weekend.

Here are three notes and observations from the previous days.
1) Porsche’s proclamation at the pool show at the Ice Palace in the Grove on Sunday, May 29, that Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” will become the song of the summer could possibly prove true, although Katy Perry’s “Firework” could give the soulful English chanteuse a serious run for her money.
2) The group of revelers who boarded the water taxi late last night in Ocean Bay Park provided even more proof that I remain very happy to be a gay man.
3) A career as a drag queen can prove to be a particularly wise choice for those who are not necessarily natural beauties.



Sunset from the ferry in Fair Harbor on Wednesday, May 25.



From the pool deck at the Ice Palace's pool show on Sunday, May 29.



Low Tea in the Pines on Saturday, May 28.



Homecoming Queen 2011 contestants at the Grove's Community House on Sunday, May 29.



Dallas Dubois in the Pines on Saturday, May 28.

Fire Island 2010, part 11

Written at 1:09 p.m. while on the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal (and later crossing the bay.)

It’s a typical Sunday afternoon in August. People (and their children) are online at the ferry terminal waiting to return to the mainland after another weekend on the beach, boaters are enjoying the beautiful weather out on the water and one man is even trying to convince his friend he was right (about which I’m not particularly interested to know.)

It was a fairly quick trip to Fire Island this weekend because I am coming out for a week on Wednesday night or Thursday morning. In true August form, however, there was a lot on the agenda. This includes the annual Concerned Women of the Grove breast cancer benefit, a fundraiser for state Assemblywoman Ginny Fields at the Hotel Ciel pool deck in the Fire Island Pines, a tribute to long-time Cherry Grove archivist Harold Seeley, delivering newspapers (and several hours of dancing at Low Tea, Sip n’ Twirl and Cherry’s thrown in for good measure.)

It’s arguably unnecessary to provide any sort of analysis to contextualize the past weekend, but here are three notes and observations to consider.

- Lady Gaga performed at the Ice Palace on Aug. 8, 2008 (and “Paparazzi” is currently playing on my iPod as I write this blog on the ferry.)
- It is indeed possible to have at least three costume changes a day on Fire Island
- Kudos to the lovely Dallas Dubois for leading those at her and Logan Hardcore’s pool show on Saturday, Aug. 7, in a toast in honor of U.S. Circuit Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling that found Proposition 8 unconstitutional. Dubois also called out Best Buy and Target for contributing to a group that supports Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.



A perhaps all too common sentiment on Fire Island.



The lovely Dallas Dubois performs at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove.



The Concerned Women of the Grove auctioned off Lady Gaga paraphernalia at their annual fundraiser on Saturday, Aug. 7.



Looking east into the Meatrack from Heaven n' Earth in Cherry Grove on Saturday, Aug. 7.



Looking towards Ocean Beach from the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal.



On the Ocean Bay Park ferry terminal.



Lady Gaga performs at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove on Aug. 8, 2008. [Photo by Koitz]

Return to Fire Island

An interview with Cherry Grove's new postmaster, a cat that apparently likes to hang out on top of an upside-down rowboat near the Ocean Bay Park fire house and seemingly relentless gale force winds were all features of my first weekend on Fire Island this year. And all in all, I remain very optimistic this summer will be a good one on the beach.



Bicycles parked along Bay Walk in Ocean Beach



Looking out at the bay from Bay View Walk in Ocean Bay Park on May 8.



Apparatus from the Ocean Bay Park Fire Department parked in front of the fire house on May 8.



This cat apparently likes to hang out around the Ocean Bay Park firehouse.



Some interesting beach debris between Point O' Woods and the Sunken Forest.



Beach plums in bloom near Sunken Forest on May 8.



Tea in the Fire Island Pines on May 8.



Point O' Woods oceanfront on May 9.



The remnants of the access to Point O' Woods' main beach on May 9.



Home sweet home on Surf Road in Ocean Beach.