The fourth annual Fire Island Bear Weekend, presented by Shane Tate, took place from June 7 to 9. The highlight was the Mr. Fire Island Bear 2018 contest, at Cherry’s, on June 9 and, beating four other contestants, Ted Bishop Nieves AKA DJ Ted Bishop was selected, by a panel of five judges, as the new Mr. FI Bear. The runner-up was Rick Londano, and the other contestants were young José Fuentes from Puerto Rico, muscular and much-tattooed Daniel, and Robert, a Pines lawyer and bodybuilder. Cherry Grove Homecoming Queen 2017 Ginger Snap and Mr. FI Bear 2017 Danny Jimenez hosted the contest and JizzaBella was the DJ. Judges were Danny Jimenez; Mr. Fire Island Leather 2017 Sir Joseph; Mr. Eagle NYC Leather 2017 John-John Punki; Syluss of the Leatherman, who designs the sashes; and the Pines’ Gil Neary. Leatherman of Color 2018 Dax Volpe served as tally judge.
Contestants were judged on bar wear and sexy fetish wear, as well as Q & A from the contest hosts. Ted’s fetish wear was a harness, see-through black briefs, and a hat with a pig, labeled “schwein,” adorning it. Rick wore a harness adorned with the image of Batman, reflecting his Batman fetish.
Ginger’s numbers were “I’m Every Woman,” “Roar,” Meghan Trainor’s “No Excuses,” “This Is Me” from “The Greatest Showman,” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” the last with Danny Jimenez giving his best go-go bear moves, for his step-down. He concluded his step-down speech with, “Thank you. I love you all.”
The weekend’s other events were a “Bear-Ass Tea & Pool Party,” at Belvedere, with DJ Jonny Mack; a pool party at a ‘fabulous!’ Pines home; a “Beards and Bears” dance party at Cherry’s, with DJ Ted Bishop, and a “Brut” party at the Ice Palace, with Peter Napoli and Dan Darlington.