Into the Pines Kitchen contains 200 recipes from 100 contributors, including Pines notables Scott Bromley, Gilbert Parker, and Hal Rubinstein. As a nod to bygone days, the book also features a posthumous contribution from John Whyte, one of the Pines' founders. The book includes original photography of the island from Pines artists William Karam, Mark Lonsbury, and Barbara Sahlman. •More About this Book»
"Drag Queens Can Cook-Recipes to Sync Your Lips Around" is a new cookbook, being sold for a tax deductible $25, created by doctors and life partners Rick Byrd, PhD, and Patrick Fratellone, MD, as a benefit for the Elmer A. Lindsay Memorial Medical Center, the Cherry Grove Doctor's Fund. •Read More»
Arrival of the Invasion Ferry at Fire Island Pines
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Queen Urban's Circus Invades the Pines
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert
During Memorial Day Weekend, when Urban Sprawl was elected Homecoming Queen 2009, she declared that the theme of her Invasion would be "Sideshow-Urban's Circus," or, she added, "us, being ourselves." And on the Fourth of July, Queen Urban Sprawl invaded the Pines and the "circus" that Her Royal Ringmistress presented consisted of: reigning Miss Fire Island Coco Love as a three-legged ballerina; Margo in Bettie Page dominatrix mode; Lola and James as lovely mermaid and leather merman; veteran Cobra; Craven Moorhead wrapped in a boa-a stuffed toy boa constrictor, that is; Bobbi Green and Doreen Rallo as fierce jungle cats and Donna Piranha as their tamer; four Messrs. Fire Island Leather-Steve Rodriguez (2009), Master Tom (2006), Joe Saporito (2005) and this writer (2001)-with our sashes; Kitty Litter and Trixie; Fatal Fawcett; Jack; two "power lesbian" Urban Outfitters, whom the Queen called "my boys;" much tattooed Venus and escort; photographer Lorraine Michels, to record it all; and assorted others.
photo by Marco Herrera
Organizing the Invasion Contingent in Cherry Grove
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Panzi, founder and coordinator of the Invasion, was a vision in canary yellow. Ariel Sinclair as Sophia Petrillo, Jason Cozmo as Blanche Devereaux, and company portrayed "The Golden Girls." The Cherry Grove Garden Club came in floral prints, with overflowing flowerpots on their heads. Ruth and Susan Freedner, selling tickets for the Invasion ferry, came as Siamese twins to see us off. Wanda Sykes, watching from Top of the Bay, saw the Invaders depart and Rose Levine, escorted by the FI Pines Property Owners Association's Ron Martin, welcomed us by singing "Over the Rainbow."
Furry porn actor Scott Spears invaded, wearing a blue dress, his beard and all his fur. Donnie Russo was in the Pines to greet us. Robin Byrd was stationed on the Pines dock, filming the proceedings. Gusty Winds came with a group of yentas. Reigning Empress Anne Tique, working an Italian food theme, wielded a huge salami. Artist Steven Menendez, burlesque queen Dirty Martini and friends were flowery and as bare as they dared, as is their custom. Joyce Rodgers brought her Yorkie, Sybil. Someone else brought a cat. And a bearded Colombian brought a poodle and a parrot, an African gray, perched in his hair. Miss FI 2004 Dakota Sue wore a headdress of peacock feathers; her boyfriend, Rick, sporting a feathery headdress as well, wore a leather thong with some black feathers poking out of it. Mathilde von Sluttenberg, as a ballerina, and Lady Gardener, in her big picture hat, escorted each other. The iconic Philomena, Tony Bondi, Charity, China, and Angela Mercy, and Ann Phetamine, Noche, Charlene Chivoe, singer Jackie Dupree, and Juicy and Chicklet were all accounted for. Ruby Delight came dressed to match the Messrs. FI Leather. A lesbian couple came as a Chasid, complete with pais and tzitzis, and a superhero, whimsically adorned with a unicorn and a rainbow. Viking Queen Aida Herring came in full Valkyrie regalia to "rape and pillage the Pines," as she once promised. Brazilian photographer Anderson Zaca captured numerous images for his forthcoming book "Invasion in Black and White." Archbishop Harold Seeley gave us his blessing.
Congratulations to Panzi and Urban for a phenomenal Invasion!
Dakota Sue & Rick
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Cherry Grove becomes super-lively on July 4, as we commemorate the first Pines Invasion in 1976, when Pines entrepreneur John Whyte refused a transgendered person, Teri Warren, service in his restaurant for being fully herself. Since that historic date, when the first "Invaders," the dozen or so friends Teri returned with, were then welcomed with open arms, and cocktails, Invasion has become an annual tradition for both communities.
Imagine the Grove, boats studding the bay here and there to watch the mayhem from a safe distance. Daytrippers and townspeople mingle peacefully with music, glitter, feathered boas, and the whirring click of, first, film cameras, and now digital cameras, recording some amazing creativity, often not found in any other venue.
Imagine the Pines, where the entire harbor is lined with tanned lesbians and shirtless, buff gay men. Boats fill the marina, many with parties on board. There is a pre-show to keep the crowd engaged until the special ferry makes its way from the Grove, out into the channel, and thence to the Pines. But let's go back, for a moment, to 2004.
The morning of July 4, 2004 dawned bright and clear and it promised to be a great day. G3 (Grove Grrls with Guitars) had determined this was our year to Invade the Pines, with Panzi. Dressed in full regalia-white pants, white undershirts and appropriate facial hair of varying styles-we invaded. Al Lergy, Al Veoli, Al Ravioli and Al-Vis-"the Sons of Italy," many of us virgin Invaders-and friends boarded the boat amidst great fanfare in the Grove. We spent as much time on the top deck as we could, hoping the breeze would cool our faces and keep the spirit gum on our moustaches fresh. And as we gathered at the front of the boat, we entered the marina to see a virtual sea of faces. Then the cheering began.
Was Ulysses ever welcomed the way the Grove is welcomed to the Pines? Panzi, the original Invader, introduces each contingent and sometimes actually remains with the introduction that the group has asked be made. More often, she takes the written introduction as a starting point and, with her sharp wit, piques the interest of the crowd further still. Once the individual or group is introduced, they proceed to Sip 'n' Twirl for a cocktail. Later when the boat returns-victorious?-to the Grove, the Invaders, with whatever energy remains, process around the pool at the Ice Palace and the hometown parties begin.
There is nothing in the world like the feel of the fresh bay breezes, the glorious sunshine and the cheers of thousands of people who want to see YOU. But what about the other side?
When I was first coming to the Grove, I would see the boat off and then hightail it through the Meat Rack to the boardwalk downtown toward the center of the Pines. It takes the ferry a while to go out via the channel, so my friend and I made it in plenty of time. We stood at the railing of the small bistro, ordered cocktails and waited. Shortly, people began to fill up the balcony area where we stood-immediately above the walkway, adjacent to the marina. Kind gentlemen, Robert and Sergio, shared their railing space and thank goodness! In just a few moments the walkway below became blanketed with people of all ages-colors-sizes-shapes and if you wanted to move from one place to another, you looked like a corpuscle moving through the bloodstream.
And then we heard the ferry's horn and the crowd went wild! The pre-show that year featured Kevin Aviance and was a great precursor of what was to come. The throngs from the Grove were gloriously bedecked and dazzling to behold and, when the boat finally left for the triumphant return, the marina cleared out so quickly that it was almost unbelievable. My friend and I walked back on the beach and joined the parties already in progress.
The Invasion is a must-see whether you are observing from the Grove, the Pines or the deck of the special ferry. Be a part of our-story and join us. You never know where it might lead! And what better way to spend a beautiful July 4th. I'll see you next year-we'll ride out together!
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