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Island Briefs 2008
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by Bruce-Michael Gelbert
October 4
Cherry Lane Closes Season with Survivors' Party
Cherry Lane Café, the restaurant at Cherry's at the Bay, celebrated its closing night for 2008 with a Survivors' Party, the last scheduled public event of the Cherry Grove season, on October 4. DJ Susan Levine provided the music and Heaven posed for a photo on the dance floor. Cherry Lane provided a complementary buffet, of salmon, fried shrimp, spicy chicken wings, fettucine Alfredo, and so on, to its patrons.
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September 30
Fall Storm Batters Grove Beach
Late September storms left the beach in Cherry Grove severely battered. A stormy ocean swept away the Aeon Walk stairs to the beach, as well as sections of fencing, meant to prevent erosion of the dunes, and cut a steep cliff into the sand, which left walkways, such as this one, unsupported and unsafe.
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September 27
Cherry's Halloween Party
Cherry's Hosts Angels & Devils & Ghouls, oh, my, at Early Halloween Party.
For the climax of Cherry's season, on September 27, Mark LeMay and Kevin "Ginger Moore" Hammond turned the bar into a haunt for garish ghouls, angels and devils and queens, oh, my! Susan Levine served as DJ.
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September 20
Cherry's Fêtes Jacqué with Candyland Party
Cherry's on the Bay celebrated co-owner Jacqué Piazza's birthday with a "Candyland" party, featuring a table groaning with high-calorie treats, on September 20.
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September 13
Epiphany Hosts Cherry's Christmas in September party
Singer Epiphany hosted Cherry's annual Christmas party on September 13 and among her guests was decorative young porn star Ryan Raz.
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September 13
Grove Celebrates Martha's 60th
Grovites gathered at the Tides on September 13 to help Martha Pitkin and mate Ellen Biggers celebrate the ever-youthful Martha's reaching the big 6-0, which actually occurred on September 10. Congratulations, Martha!
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September 4
Nardicio Strikes Back at Ferry Ban
Party giver par excellence Daniel Nardicio had planned to run a special ferry to bring folks from the Pines to the Grove for his next Panty Revolution underwear gala at the Ice Palace/Grove Hotel, now scheduled for September 12, but, as nighttime ferries between our communities are now barred, he plans, instead, to lead an 11:30 p.m. 'Meat Rack Naked Party Parade,' complete with porn stars and a band, from the Pines Harbor through the Woods to the Ice Palace. Wendy Ho, Dirty Martini, Shealita Baby and Rose Wood are scheduled to perform at the party and Aaron Elvis is the DJ.
photo courtesy of Daniel Nardicio
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September 4
Fire Island Film & Video Festival Announces Awards
The Fire Island Film & Video Festival's Stephen Flynn announced awards today to films shown during its July-August season in Cherry Grove. Ron Davis and Stewart Halpern's "Pageant" won the Audience Award for Best Feature and Claudia Morgado Escanilla's "No Bikini," the Audience Award for Best Short Film. Todd Verow's "Between Something & Nothing" won the Jury Award for Best Feature and Dennis Shinners' "Area X," the Jury Award for Best Short.
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September 3
Shequida Nixed for Final "Talent" Rounds
Having made it into the top 40 contestants on NBC-TV's "America's Got Talent," by singing both the female and male parts in operatic duets "Libiamo," from "La Traviata," and "Là ci darem la mano," from "Don Giovanni," Fire Island favorite Shequida, shown here, right, with Pines DJ Lina, failed to make it into a further round when she performed "I Will Survive" with full operatic soprano flourishes. Dressed in hot pink, she sang the Gloria Gaynor number live from Los Angeles on September 2 and results, according to audience and judges' reactions, were announced the following day.
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August 31
Josie Is Chosen as Miss Long Island
Having won the title Miss Grove Hotel at the end of June, Josie added another feather to her cap when she was chosen as Miss Long Island, at the Bunk House in Sayville, on August 31.
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August 29
Pines & Grove Dress "Forum" Performer by Lending Leather
When producer and performer Steven Alan Black put out the word that he needed leather accoutrements for Fire Island Pines Arts Project's "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" cast member Jason Kittleberger's costume, Pines photographer Tom Castele and this writer, in the Grove, responded by lending leather harness, wrist cuffs and so on for the Labor Day weekend show.
photo courtesy of Steven Alan Black
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August 22
Pianist Dan Daly Returns to Cherry Grove
Beloved Grove pianist Dan Daly, absent from the community for most of the summer while making music aboard cruise ships, returned to his familiar post, at the keyboard at Jumping Jack's Seafood Shack, on August 22, to serenade diners, lead sing-alongs, and present guest soloists.
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August 16
DJs Rich King & Gustavo Bring SNAXX Party to the Ice Palace
DJs Rich King and Gustavo brought SNAXX, their New York City party, to Cherry Grove and the Ice Palace, as "Summer SNAXX by the Sea," on August 16 and men from both the Grove and the Pines danced to Rich and Gustavo's music on this full moon night.
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August 16
Island Breeze Catches the Disco Fever
The Island Breeze remembered the 1970s at its "Catch the Fever" classic disco party on August 16. People danced to music by DJ Jo Mendez, Stevie Rich was behind the bar in motorcycle cap and harness, and Will offered interpretive go-go dancing.
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August 16
Cherry's Celebrates Full Moon & Madonna's Birthday with a White Party
On August 16, Jacqué Piazza and Donna Bianco hosted "the Fire Island White Party" at Cherry's on the Bay. Susan Levine served as DJ, and noted that it was Madonna's birthday, and singer Heather Leigh West entertained.
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August 10
Renée Flaming Is New Miss Cherry's
Renée Flaming won the tiara, sash and title Miss Cherry's 2008 in a contest which took place at Cherry's at the Bay on August 10.
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August 2
Times Squares Dance at the Palace
Twenty members of the Times Squares, the gay and lesbian square-dancing group, came to Cherry Grove on August 2 to demonstrate their dancing at the Ice Palace.
(see the calendar for more dates)
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July 30
Victoria Chase Presides at "Beauty & the Beef" at Island Breeze
Late on Wednesday nights, entertainer and bartender Victoria Chase presides over an event entitled "Beauty & the Beef" at Island Breeze, featuring Victoria as the eponymous Beauty and her go-go dancers as the Beef.
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July 30
The Bingo Bitch Is Back at Cherry's
Bored on a quiet Wednesday night? Go to Cherry's on the Bay and play Bitchy Bingo for prizes and revel in the barbs of Kenny Dash, known as the Bingo Bitch, who reigns there.
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July 30
Tides' Cozy Bar Resounds with Sound of Buster Freeze's Music
English pianist and singer Buster Freeze, new to the Grove this season, brings the Tides' Cozy Bar alive with the sound of music most nights from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Classic show tunes predominate and singing along and guest solos are encouraged. Buster is also involved with a couple of Arts Project of Cherry Grove theatrical productions and made a guest appearance at Brandon Cutrell and Ray Fellman's Monday evening "Broadway at the Beach," at the Ice Palace, singing "Mr. Cellophane," from Kander & Ebb's "Chicago."
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July 27
Fire Department Serves Pancakes
Cherry Grove's volunteer Fire Department raised funds with its 15th annual, all-you-can-eat pancake, bacon and sausage breakfast, on July 27, at Cherry Lane Café.
Lorraine Michels was on hand with her firefighter mascot puppets Lucy and Larry.
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July 24
Sherwood Returns to the Grove
Making a welcome guest appearance tending bar at Island Breeze, on July 24, was none other than Sherwood, of the upstairs bar at the old Monster (where the Tides is now) and the earlier incarnation of Top of the Bay.
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July 15
Leather at Island Breeze
There's a Dungeon on the Dock with Island Breeze's Steve Rich - July 15, 2008
Island Breeze restaurant has instituted a new leather night, late on Tuesdays, tentatively billed as bartender Steve Rich's Playhouse and Dungeon.
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July 6
Gusty Winds' contest
Gusty Winds Hosts Wet Contest, for Men & Women, at Cherry's - July 6, 2008
On the Sunday of the Fourth of July weekend, Gusty Winds hosted a combination wet jock contest, for men, and wet t-shirt contest, for women.
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July 3
Sybil Bruncheon's Bingo
Sybil Bruncheon Hosts Holiday Bingo at Community House - July 3, 2008
Sybil Bruncheon, AKA Empress Sybil the First, founder of the Imperial Court of New York, hosted a special holiday edition of Bingo, on July 3, for the Arts Project of Cherry Grove at the Community House, billed as "Comedy Bingo." Assisting Sybil were Gefil Tefish and the comely Kevin. Dennis McConkey painted the festive backdrops. Bingo games are regularly scheduled for Sundays at 7 pm at the Community House.
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July 2
Singer-Songwriter Sedaka Visits Cherry Grove
On July 2, Jackie Presti, recently in the musical revue "I Love New York," received a visit from noted singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka.
Filling me in on Sedaka's many credits, Susan Freedner mentioned "Laughter in the Rain," "Love Will Keep Us Together," "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," and "Where the Boys Are," among other memorable melodies.
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June 29
Josie Is Miss Grove Hotel 2008
Josie became the new Miss Grove Hotel, besting all other competitors in a contest at the Ice Palace on June 29.
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June 26
Business Owners Announce "Bay Pride" Fireworks for August 15
On June 24, a group of Cherry Grove entrepreneurs, including representatives of Belvedere, Island Breeze, Cherry's, and the Grove Hotel/Ice Palace/Dune Point, announced a 15-minute display of "Bay Pride" customer appreciation fireworks, off the Grove dock, accompanied by music courtesy of WBLI radio, for August 15 after 10 p.m. Vinnie Grucci and Island Breeze owner Bob Dixon are sponsoring the fireworks, with Ken Stein, of Sayville Ferry Service, contributing $500 and a free 2 a.m. ferry back to Long Island.
Many community members had voiced concerns after last August 4's fireworks, which rained considerable debris on Grove walks, decks and even individuals. Addressing those concerns, Grucci explained that, on that unusually windy night, the barge, which started out located 600 feet from the dock, had drifted closer, and said that he planned to stay in closer touch with Tony's Barge personnel during the display to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
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June 20
Jan Felshin & Edrie Ferdun Make It Legal in California
Beloved veteran Cherry Grove couple Jan Felshin and Edrie Ferdun, seen here at "Ocean Aires," are celebrating their 49th anniversary together, on June 20, by marrying in California on that day.
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June 9
Shequida Displays Her Soprano at 2nd Palace Show
At her Ice Palace debut, on June 2, Shequida eschewed any display of the high-octave singing she is noted for, sticking strictly to her 'pop' voice, but a week later, her Juilliard-trained soprano was very much in evidence. DJ Chuck was on sound.
Shequida obliged aficionados with her soaring "Pie Jesu;" "Star Trek" theme; and bits of "Like a Virgin," "Gimme More" and "Umbrella," a cappella, given the classical treatment.
In her best pop voice, Shequida sang "Fever," in a raunchy version; "Private Dancer," as "Tranny Singer," with interpolated high obbligato; "At the Carwash" as "At the Ice Palace;" and "Please don't stop the music."
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June 8
A Blessing on Your House for 2008
On June 8, "a motley group," as Tall Paul Jablonski put it, of colorful nuns, church ladies, Archbishop of Cherry Grove Harold Seeley, 'Miss Cherry Grove' Sybil Bruncheon, and other assorted faithful blessed the houses of the Grove, as is traditional, "with wit and charm," Sybil said, and with a splash of Earl Grey tea, warded off "spills, falls and flatulence" to raise funds for Grove organizations.
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June 7
APCG Hosts Flea Market
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove held a flea market at the Community House, early in the day on June 7. Joan Van Ness and Harold Seeley coordinated the event and celebrated their 10th anniversary of running it.
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June 7
Ye Pyrate Brotherhood Invades Cherry Grove
A fierce band of pirates, billing themselves as Ye Pyrate Brotherhood (www.yepyratebrotherhood.org), and providing "historical entertainment for any occasion," invaded Cherry Grove, on the afternoon of June 7, and paused at Island Breeze for a few photographs. The group holds Long Island's first annual Pirate festival, in conjunction with the Long Island Maritime Museum, in West Sayville on June 14 and 15.
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June 7
Tim Steffen & Susan Ann Thornton Celebrate "Saving Faith"
Tim Steffen and Susan Ann Thornton introduced their newest installment of "The Adventures of Baby Cat in Cherry Grove," "Saving Faith," with illustrations by Susan Ann, at a champagne and cheese party at Casita, on Maryland Walk, on June 7. The new book, which concerns the rescue of Faith, Denise Harbin's cocker spaniel, is a sequel to Tim and Susan Ann's 2006 "Adventure," entitled "Home Sweet Home." "Saving Faith," which the authors call "a labor of love," celebrating our community, was published by iUniverse, Inc., has a cover price of $9.95, and is available from Amazon.com.
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May 26
Grovites Remember Losses at Moving Memorial Day Service
People of Cherry Grove gathered at the Community House on Memorial Day, May 26, to recall our losses, particularly of the past year, at a moving service, with Rev. Dr. Charles Whipple and volunteer Fire Department veteran Dominic DeSantis presiding. "On this day, we remember friends and loved ones who were part of Grove life," said Dr. Whipple, mentioning, among others, Dan Lanning, Bo Perillo, Bill "Violet" Silver, and Dutch Wavering and assuring, "You are not forgotten." Dominic commented that composer and pianist Lanning is "now tickling the ivories for a group of gay angels" and added the names of Florence Mingolelli, CJ's mother; Bill McGraw, Freda Rosen, Joe "Aunt Betty" Fuller and Elise Pisani, Lois Pisani's mother to the list of those who have left us.
Pianist John Nieman aptly opened the service playing an at once majestic and contemplative Johannes Brahms Intermezzo in E Major and, in "Reflexions," aired his thoughtful variations on George and Ira Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" and Stephen Sondheim's "Not While I'm Around." John and his partner, Rick Reder, recited the Mourner's Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead, the former in English and the latter in Aramaic.
Charlie Isola and Michael Coffindaffer, Presidents, respectively, of the Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc., and the Arts Project of Cherry Grove, spoke of honoring those gays and lesbians who helped give the Grove, in particular, and the LGBT community in general, the character they have today. "Pioneers," Michael called them, and reminded us of our "basic freedoms," urged, "Don't ever take them for granted," and lauded "the overwhelming sense of community in the Grove."
Dr. Whipple concluded the service with a prayer for peace.
After the service, Dylan Ftera, Dan's survivor, and John, Tom Cunningham, and other members of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus repaired to Cherry's to drink a toast to Dan's memory.
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May 26
Top of the Bay Reopens on Memorial Day Weekend
Top of the Bay restaurant, a longtime fixture at the dock, welcoming people into Cherry Grove and originally started by Amelia Migliaccio and Lyn Hutton in 1980, happily reopened on Memorial Day weekend, after standing empty -a wounded hulk-for several years.
New owner Ron King, original owner of Island Breeze and the Tides, has had the place refurbished, inside and out, giving it the look of a place that's spanking new.
Chef Judy, from New Orleans-try her jambalaya, full of shrimp and andouille sausage-rules in the kitchen, assisted by Gary, and young Darren, also from the Big Easy, presides over the wait staff.
The balcony remains a wonderful place from which to watch the sunset.
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May 25
Robert Bonanno Launches "Lessons from the Beach" at Sip 'n' Twirl
Robert Bonanno introduced "Lessons from the Beach: Reflections from Fire Island," his book of photographs, which he took in Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove, along with thoughts about the photos, at an afternoon wine-and-cheese-and strawberries book launching party at Sip 'n' Twirl on May 25. Watch these pages for an article about the book and interview with the author.
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May 24
Henry Sterling's Deck Sale Raises Funds for PAWS, Cherry Grove
Henry Sterling's 13th annual, two-day, Memorial Day weekend benefit deck sale, on the ocean, at Greene Walk, opened on sunny Saturday morning, May 24, with eager shoppers lined up down the walk waiting for admittance. Books, drag, dishes, brick-a-brack, objets d'art, porn, and household appliances were among the treasures for which the crowd competed. This year's beneficiary is PAWS, the Pines Animal Welfare Society, Cherry Grove chapter, over which Valerie Perez presides.
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May 23
Grove Enjoys First Friday Night Chili at Cherry's
At the start of Memorial Day weekend, against the backdrop of a perfect Fire Island sunset over the Great South Bay, manager Hiram Rivera presided over the season's first Friday night complementary chili at Cherry's. Nonagenarians Miss Carmen and postmistress Jeanne Skinner were among those enjoying the repast.
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May 23
Jack Aaronson Presides Over Piano Sing-along at Tides' Cozy Bar
On May 23, composer and pianist Jack Aaronson, at the keyboard, led a first sing-along of the season at the Cozy Bar at the Tides. Jack will be playing on Fridays and Saturdays this summer, starting at 10 p.m. We stayed for hours and sang Flaherty and Ahrens, Gershwin, "Les Misérables," "Cabaret," "Chicago," "Sweeney Todd," and other favorites.
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May 23
Ice Palace Joins the Friday Night Underwear Party Craze
It's going to be dueling underwear parties on Friday nights in the Grove, with such events scheduled to occur at the Grove Hotel's Ice Palace, Cherry's and the Tides-and we hear that there's one in the Pines as well. The Ice Palace got the ball rolling by kicking off its Memorial Day weekend festivities with the season's first of these.
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May 23
Maui Makes an Entrance
Maui, a beautiful blue-and-gold macaw, made an entrance into Cherry Grove perched on the shoulder of one of her mothers, one wing hovering over mother's head. Maui, born in Hawaii as her name suggests, and her mothers, Donna and Lynn, settled in at Christopher Street soon after, where Maui, on her perch on the deck, squawked at bees buzzing nearby.
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May 10
Porsche & Company Stay All Night & Sing Them All for Ice Palace Gala Opening
On May 10, the Grove Hotel/Ice Palace celebrated its opening for the season and the ascent of the newly svelte Sal Piro-87 pounds lost and counting-to the post of General Manager with a gala evening, previewing some of the performing talent of the summer ahead.
Following a complementary buffet from Cherry Grove Pizza, Ariel Sinclair began the show and her 12th season with a raunchy number, her glitzy gold high-heeled high boots meriting mention.
The stars of "Broadway at the Beach" here, singer Brandon Cutrell, in fine voice, and Maestro Ray Fellman, at the piano, offered an optimistic air ("I've got one hand in my pocket and the other is giving a high five"). Brandon and Kenny Holcomb blended instruments mellifluously in duet ("Because of you") and Kenny went solo for a lusty "Play that Funky Music, White Boy."
Rose Levine marked the start of her 54th year in the Grove by belting out "Nothing Can Stop Me Now" and "I'm Riding High" with verve.
Bella got hot with "Push the Button" from "The Color Purple."
With DJ Chuck on sound, Porsche, the singer of a hundred voices, then gave her first full "Porsche Live" show of her seventh season, which she opened with "Fame." She lent "These Boots Are Made for Walking," in succession, the growl of Cher, creamy sound, with a side of Brooklyn, of Barbra Streisand, and squeak of Megan Mulally as Karen Walker from "Will and Grace."
Borrowing Shirley Bassey's earthy bass, Porsche sang "Big Spender," from "Sweet Charity," and "Something in the Way He Moves." New additions to our diva's repertoire were "Perhaps," her Doris Day sweetly tempting and teasing, and "Come on in My House," in Japanese, à la Eartha Kitt.
It was Mother's Day eve and, on stage, Porsche became mother Judy Garland, for a plangent "Over the Rainbow," and daughter Liza Minnelli, inviting "Come to the Cabaret," while in the audience, OooFaaa played host for the holiday to his mother, Mary (really).
Porsche was Dolly Parton striving "Nine to Five," Amy Winehouse resisting "Rehab," Karen Carpenter, Kelli Clarkson, and Patsy Cline carrying a torch and going "Crazy." For a Pat Benatar number, Porsche enjoyed the impromptu accompaniment of Lazy Susan, drumming-on the stage floor- and dance and strip tease by a trio of lithe Pines boys.
For a grand finale, Porsche, barefoot and wig disheveled, turned herself inside out emotionally, doing Janis Joplin, one of her specialties, singing "Me and Bobby Magee," and for encores, from "Dreamgirls," "And I Am Telling You, I Am not Going" and "One Night Only."
And so another season begins!
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February 21
William Devine, Associated with Top of the Bay, Critically Injured in Car Crash
William (Bill) Devine, age 40, of West Islip, a familiar figure in Cherry Grove, who worked at Top of the Bay, was critically injured at approximately 4 a.m. on February 21. He was driving west on Route 27A in West Bay Shore, when his Lincoln Mark III skidded into the eastbound lane and collided with a General Motors box truck, driven by Roby Golub, 41, of Coram, who was making deliveries for the All Island Bread Company, Commissioner Richard Dormer of the Suffolk County Police Department reported.
A Suffolk County Police Helicopter airlifted Bill to Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he was treated for a broken neck and serious internal injuries. Roby Golub was taken to Southside Hospital and treated for a dislocated elbow and a fractured wrist.
"A preliminary investigation by Third Squad detectives indicates that excessive speed by Devine was a factor in the crash," according to the police report, which adds, "There was no sign of alcohol use by either driver."
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February 8
Joan Van Ness, Frank Santoro & Pierre Galarneau Will Receive CGCAI '08 Honors
Joan Van Ness, Frank Santoro and Pierre Galarneau, who are associated with a number of organizations in Cherry Grove, including Elmer A. Lindsay Memorial Center (the Doctor's Fund), will be honored by the Cherry Grove Community Association, Inc. (CGCAI) at a awards ceremony at Blueberry Hill, at Bayview and Aeon Walks, on August 23, CGCAI President Charlie Isola announced on February 8. One hundred tickets, at $100 each, will be available for the Honors Awards Program and dinner and dessert reception.
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