Pines Party 2019: Island of Lost Boys

Fifty Years of Pride: Then and Now

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, I would like to share some thoughts about Pride
in New York, then and now.

The history of Pride in the city has been a long and evolving one. The first Pride was the Christopher
Street Liberation March, a spirited rally for LGBTQ rights that made its way from the Stonewall Inn to
Central Park, where it ended in a defiant political rally.

One year after the riots, this march made it clear that the uprising that occurred in 1969 was not an
isolated event. The demand for LGBTQ rights was not going away — ever.

Sodomy laws had not yet been overturned, being gay was still considered a mental illness, and there
were no anti-discrimination laws or protections preventing LGBTQ people from being fired from their
jobs, evicted from their apartments, or denied public accommodations.

The first Pride march highlighted our fight for human rights, for our liberation, and for our community
to be treated as equals in the eyes of our straight peers. It was also an opportunity for us to come out of the closet and to stand proud of who we were. This
very public acceptance of ourselves showed the world that gay people existed in large numbers, everywhere. We were — and still are — members of all colors,
of all creeds, and of every socio-economic status.

In the ’80s, Pride marches highlighted the life and death struggles of the AIDS crisis. In 1987, I played a major role in the ACT UP “quarantine camp,” which
we constructed on the back of a flatbed rental truck to highlight the alarming conversations happening among conservative forces in the Congress, who were
trying to drum up support for the mandatory testing and quarantine of people living with HIV.

I even sat on the roof of the cab of the truck dressed in a suit with a Ronald Reagan mask over my head. As our president did with his inhumane policies, I
pointed to and laughed at the HIV-positive people contained in the barbwire camp while a loud
speaker blared “A Spoonful of Sugar” from “Mary Poppins.”

This year on Pride, I helped plan and organize the Queer Liberation March and an accompanying rally
on the Great Lawn of Central Park. Many of you have asked why we planned an alternative march,
and I would like to take a moment to explain the reason to my dear friends here on Fire Island.

In the early days, anyone could join the Pride march and carry a sign to highlight the pressing issues
impacting our community without expensive registration fees, rules about who could participate, and
streets lined with police barricades separating the marchers from the spectators on the sidewalk.

Over time, the Pride march became a rigid, rules-driven event, which requires participants to pay sky-
high fees in order to join. Placement in the parade is now directly correlated with how much money
an organization pays to the powerful few who run the march. Corporations who fork over tens of
thousands of dollars get to have large floats with priority placement for the sole purpose of marketing
their products to us, and that keeps individuals who are not affiliated with big money and without purchased wristbands from even walking in the parade.

For those of us living in rich and powerful countries like the U.S. and its European allies, we have over the years secured our human rights, gained access to life-
saving HIV medications, and even achieved marriage equality.

But in 70 countries, it is still a crime punishable by up to 25 years in prison simply for being LGBTQ. In seven more countries, the punishment is the death
penalty. Moreover, there is a concentration camp in Chechnya, were gay men are continuing to be locked up, and in some cases, tortured to death.

The modern-day Pride march in New York wholly ignores the life and death situations that LGBTQ people face around the world every day, and thus, it has lost
its very soul. For these reasons, a number of us organized the alternative Queer Liberation March to bring Pride back to the foundation upon which it was built:
the original Christopher Street Liberation March.

In line with the banner that capped the stage of our Central Park rally — which said, “NONE ARE FREE UNTIL ALL ARE FREE “ — Larry Kramer gave
one of his most iconic speeches yet when he called on all LGBTQ people to realize they have a responsibility to try and improve the lives of our community,
everywhere. Larry urged us all to rise up and join the fight for queer liberation around the world. Five
decades later, it’s far from over.

I know everyone won’t agree with the belief that LGBTQ people who have rights and freedoms have
a responsibility to fight for their siblings across the country and around the world, who lack the same
rights and freedoms. Perhaps you think Pride shouldn’t be political at all. But I’m hoping this will
encourage some of you to reflect on our privileged lives here on the island and back in the city and to
rise up and contribute to improving the lives of LGBTQ people in a meaningful way.

Happy Pines Party!

Love,
Eric Sawyer

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PINES PARTY 2019: Island of Lost Boys

BENEFICIARIES HOOK - CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS: A VIP VOYAGE

The Pines Foundation Hosts – Ed Schulhafer & Crayton Robey
Stonewall Community Foundation Producer – John Wood
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Music – Jeff Hall & Aaron Aanenson
Executive Producer – Allan Baum Event Design – John Wood
Co-Chairs – Ed Schulhafer & Randy Wilson Catering – Sarah
President, The Pines Foundation – Jay Pagano Bar – Dimitri Kritsky & Beau Speer
ISLAND OF LOST BOYS BEACH PARTY Spirits/Wine – Absolut, Milagro, The Palm by
Music – Peter Napoli & Roger Sanchez Whispering Angel
Producer/Creators – Guy Smith/Free Radical Design- Special Spirits – Pines Liquor Shop
Group Beverages – Pines Pantry
Creative Directors – David Wright & Robert Montenegro Event Set-up – Jeff Staadt, Ken Castronuovo, Randy Wilson
Show Director/Choreographer – John Alix Concierge – Randy Wilson & Jeff Staadt
Asst. Choreographer – Khadija Griffith Lighting Grip – Randy Wilson
Musical Arrangement for Performance – Scott Jones Best Boys – Cody & Parker
Performers – Jeremy Ward, Julian Wicks, AJ Blankenship, Event Support – Rico Calvano
Justin Henry, Brett Thiele, Kit Treece, Omar Garibay, THE LOST BOYS LAGOON: THE POOL PARTY
Javier Amaya Host – The Pines Club
Costumes – Timmy Schues Producer – Rafael Kuhn, Scott Linnertz
Makeup & Headdress – Darrell Thorne Event Sponsors – Milagro & CAM4
Captain Hook – Iman Le Caire Music – Scott Martin & Raf
Peter Pan – Pixie Aventura (Cesar Villavicencio) Production Manager – Mitchell Strong
Tinkerbell – Michael Snipe Jr. Tech & Art Direction – Thaddeus Echeverria 
Gogo Dancer Talent – Julius Anthony Rubio Bar Manager – Beau Speer
Gogo Dancer Costumes – Cassidy Hayes Costume Design – Matty Glitterati
Head Carpenter – Glenn Chee Associate Production Manager – Ruby Chen
Visuals & Graphics Editors – Aaron King, Tristan Fuge, Food/Beverage Sponsor – Milagro
Robert Montenegro STRAIGHT ON ’TIL MORNING: THE MORNING PARTY
Lighting Director – Stephen Wyker Music – Abel
Décor Manager – Todd Anderson Lights – Darren Kawa
Projection Vendor – Mark Baker/Digilite Decor – Tiago Ravazzi
Site Construction, Lighting & Audio – Brian Boatwright & Venue Courtesy Of – PJ McAteer/PinesFI.Com#WeAreFIPines
Vision Technical Group Event Management – Kenny Sullivan
Audio Design – Wallace Morgan BELIEVE: THE AFTER PARTY
Strike Manager – Anthony John Meade Host & Venue Courtesy of – Jim Pepper
Volunteer Director/Site Manager – John DeStefano Producers – Yuki Productions: Marc Cote & Jay Henry
Logistics – Anthony John Meade Music – Danny Krivit
Team Lead – Chris Nichols Bar – Absolut, Milagro, Founders Brewing Co.
Graphic Design – Robert Montenegro & Aaron King Visual Designer – Eric Hastings
Photography – Alex Geana & Jeff Eason Bar Captain – Alex Salazar
Video Producer – Daniel Robinson Audio – Digilite Productions
Video Footage – Ryan “Sea Monster” McLendon Bartenders – Liam Daniels, Favio Freyre, Tomas Lazarou,
Assistant Site Manager – Zach Job Anthony Nacerino, Cedric Todd, Alex Salazar
Bar Manager – Beau Speer Door – Joseph Cortez, Konstantin Koutalides
Bar Staff – Our Community Volunteers Volunteers – Alex Pacheco, Patty Rosado, Vanessa Valencia
Bar Courtesy of – Absolut, Milagro, Founders Brewing Co.,
Red Bull, Pines Pantry, Pines Liquor Shop
Crew Meals – Pines Pantry
Queen of the Keys – David Hamann
Production Painter – Christine Fisher
Sponsor Cabanas – Randy Wilson & John Wood

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WEBSITE/SOCIAL MEDIA PINES PARTY 2019 COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Website Design – Jon Gilbert Editor – Frank Liberto
Social Media – Justin Harter Graphic Design – Scott Mahia/SJAM Graphics
Video Content – Justin Harter, Matt Tague, Editorial Content – Janine Just, Jim Lee, Tony Lombardi,
Tim Dejsiriudom, Tos Sasitorn Hal Rubenstein, Eric Sawyer, Jeff Staadt, Matt Tague
E-Mail Marketing – Matt Tague, Scott Mahia Photographs Courtesy of – Jeff Eason/Wilsonmodels,
Treasure Map – Wissam Abyad Alex Geana, Robert Zash, Fire Island Pines Historical
Facebook - Pinesparty Preservation Society
Instagram - @pinesparty, #pinesparty Ad Sales – Andre Almeida, Andy Baker, Allan Baum,
SPONSORSHIP DEVELOPMENT Stephen Daniello, Bruce Robert Harris, Frank Liberto, Tony
Coordinators – Jeff Staadt & Patrick Forrett Lombardi, Randy Wilson.
Consultant – Janine Just, Inc. Printing – Pop Life Printing
TREASURE COVE: VIP CHECK-IN LOUNGE

TICKETING/HARBOR SALES Host, Venue, Beverages – PJ McAteer/PinesFI.com
Cosmo Anselmo, Mike Carreras, Gary Castaneda, Rosemary #WeAreFIPines
Coluccio, Joseph Cortez, Marc Cote, Ariel Fernando, Jim Producers – Tim Dejsiriudom, Eric Michael, Jevin Dornic,
Ford, Steven Frost, David Hamann, Andrew Hecht, Jay Jonathan Lewis
Henry, Leslie Howitt, Eric McGahey, Tom Meir, Hussein Music Supervisor & Logistics Coordinator – Eric Michael
Morsi, Al Owens, Alex Pacheco, Michael Sottile, Vanessa Visual Designer & Graphic Designer – Jevin Dornic
Valencia, Brian Vaught, Cyd Waage Music – Phillip Kimball & Brandon Vescovo
WILL CALL TICKETING Ticketing & Will Call – Marc Cote & Jay Henry
Charlie Carson, Mara Dean, Jim Ford, Jonathan Porter Sound Equipment – David Aldea
SECURITY Flowers & Plants – CAMP
Jordan Cohen, Joseph Geiman, Tony G, Chris Lovito, Furniture Sponsor – Lovesac
Greg “Hulio” Benoff, Jean Riboul/Supreme A Security Rosé Sponsor – The Palm by Whispering Angel
Volunteers – Armand Galan, Brandon Gage, Leonardo
Velandia, Shafiq Akhtar, Andrew Barron, David Hamman,
Michael Sottile, Ariel Fernando, Eric McGahey
VIP GIFT COMMITTEE

HOUSING Coordinator – Tim Dejsiriudom
Bruce Nottman & Julio Cruz, Kevin Cathcart, Jon Wilner/ Committee Members – Randy Wilson, John Wood,
Island Properties of the Pines, Belvedere Guest House Pete Accardi, Oliver Chen, Jonathan Lewis, Jeff Staadt,
for Men, Daniel Nardicio/Big Dick’s Halfway Inn, Vinnie Patrick Forrett
Petrarca Fire Island Real Estate, Ken Pollard Volunteers – Andrew Barron, Alexander Kacala, Patrick
Leo Bethea

MEDICAL TEAM VOLUNTEERS*

Dr. Tar Hwang & MedEvent Tatiana Castro, Joseph Sokolowski, Jeremy, Judd Kopicki,
FIPPOA Kieran O’Dowd, Jack Schettino, Marshall Gunter, Dashon
Community Manger: Peter Muneyyirci Pratt, Nick Ponce, Mike Russo, Jonathan Abad, Brian
Administrative Support: Chris Carroll, Dennis Murphy, Wall, Sheila Garson, Steven Holguin, Daniel Ramierez,
Dennis Murphy Sr., Ken Pollard, Ashley Pope, Connor Freddie Cosmo, Thomas Blake, Johnny Balzano, Dan
Sullivan, Brianne Vought, Kalle Weik Werner, Micheal Mirpuri, Abraham Sandoval, Daniel
  Hughes, Moises Mosquera, Victor Jolley, Matthew
MAC DRIVERS Grillo, Ruben Rivera, Darryn Scott, Brent Charles, Nicky
  Feliciano, Kenwin Lockhart, Robert Faulkner, Christopher
Kent Dillon, Larry Tallamy, Jerry Gaschen, Rob Gehlmeyer, Wierzbicky, Nicholas Occhipinti, Deirdre McCormick,
Douglas Wolff, Robert Weber Enrique Martinez, Ian James Roberts, Mario Laurenzi,
TRANSPORTATION/LOGISTICS Ruben Torres, Michael Cuomo, Trevor Kuhn, Adam Lewis,
Coastline Freight, Sayville Ferry Service, Tony’s Barge, Lee Tran, Matt Fitz, Brian Cundari, Danny Mejia, Andrew
Steve Young, GaytrippersNYC Simms, Leo Alarcon, Richard Heaton, Vito Genova,
PINES PARTY 2019 ONLINE AUCTION Nicklaus Chalk, Steven Chen, Jim David, Lawrence Patti,
Josh Lang, Mike Damico, Josh Luis, Haven Houston,
Ruben Torres, Eddie Pendergraft, Tony Mansker, Andrew
Campbell, Patrick Burns, Adam Strayer, Brian Bonci, Daniel
Antillon, Devon Graf

Bruce Robert Harris, Jack Batman, Daniel Rakowski/ *List as of 7/14/19. Pines Party regrets any omissions or errors.
SunnySpot Celebrations, All Of Our 2019 Auction Donors
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PINES CONSERVATION SOCIETY

CELEBRATES PINES PARTY 2019

KEEPING OUR NEVERLAND GREEN

www.pinesconservationsociety.org

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EST. 198 8

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Helping LOST BOYS find perfect homes in New York City for over thirty years!
And, as always,

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646.431.7330 917.608.6309

bankneary.com
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212.633.2727

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Dear Bambi Sue,
I am excited about coming out to the Pines Party, but I am having some trouble wrapping
my head around the theme this year. I mean what is this Lost Boys thing about? How
does it relate to the Pines? In the era of World Pride and the 50th anniversary of the
Stonewall Uprising, haven’t we progressed from being lost to being found? Now that we are
recognized, why are we celebrating being lost?
Found and Proud.
Dear Too Serious To Party,
Darling, I think this is the perfect theme for a Pines Party. The theme is not about boys who
are lost, but the Lost Boys from the many books, plays and movies based on the writings of
J.M. Barie whose most famous character was Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up.
Lost boys were forgotten children who were flown by fairies to Neverland, a mythical island,
where they ceased aging. Sound Familiar?
The most important inhabitants of Neverland are the fairies, magical creatures whose job it
is to transport the boys to parties and adventures. Being a fairy on Fire Island has never been
more fabulous! Did you catch the Invasion a couple of weeks ago? Fairies from 18 to 88
were acting like Lost Boys, refusing to grow up. The fairies who plan the Pines Party create
a fantasy night club on the sand, and like Neverland, it doesn’t last for long, so you have to
play while you have the chance. The boys come for the dancing, adventure and celebration
with all the other lost boys - their common goals being fun, brotherhood and community.
Peter Pan describes his home as a place “where dreams are born and time is never planned.”
Have you ever tried to keep a schedule in The Pines?!! You send a house mate out for
butter, and they come back three hours later with three new friends and an invitation to a
naked pool party. Sure we have our social structures, but until you run for that last ferry,
usually two or three ferries later than you originally planned, you never really follow a
schedule. There is too much fun around!
How many times has dinner been scheduled for 8:30pm, and your house finally sits down
to eat at 11pm? Or, how often has everyone planned an hour at Sip n Twirl and an early
morning, only to be sitting around the pool laughing with your house mates at sunrise?
How often have you had one more drink and/or slept with one more boy and/or danced to
one more song because you were just having so much fun you couldn’t stop? When we are
in this magical place, we are all lost boys, seeking adventure, knowing we must return to the
mainland, REALITY! But for now, we “think of lovely things” and believe in fairies!!
I’m Flying!
Bambi Sue

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GET THE MOST
FROM YOUR BEACH

Play Explore Enjoy

We work hard to maintain a healthy beach so you can play, explore,
and dance all night under the stars. Have an amazing Pines Party
and go to seashoredefensefund.org to learn more about how you
can help protect our fantastic beach.

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Crellory Property Management is a full service construction company
with over 30 years of experience building custom homes on Fire Island


Bill Santangelo – President
Office phone and fax: 631-589-2157

Cell: 516-523-2365
Email: [email protected]

www.crellory.com

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SPECIAL THANKS
f rom the CO-CHAIRS

OLIVER CHEN
TIM DEJSIRIUDOM
PATRICK FORRETT

JON GILBERT
BRUCE ROBERT HARRIS

FRANK LIBERTO
TONY LOMBARDI
SCOTT MAHIA / SJAM GRAPHICS

KEN POLLARD
GUY SMITH & ROBERT MONTENEGRO

JEFF STAADT
JOHN WOOD
TAR HWANG & MEDEVENT

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DJ PROFILES

Roger Sanchez: From humble beginnings in New York City, diggin’ in dusty crates

of old vinyl and spinning at house parties in Corona, Queens, to dominating huge
dance floors and headlining festival main-stages in every corner of the globe, Roger is
truly a self-made man and a house music legend. The crafting of Roger Sanchez, the
DJ, started in the late 80s, where as a young man he was enticed by the explosion of
hip-hop that was taking over the city. Embracing the culture as a b-boy and graffiti
artist, he would hit parties on the Bronx River and before long, his friends had him
trying his hand on the wheels of steel. In a time and place where hip hop, house
music, and “turntablism” all collided in a perfect storm of creativity, opportunity, and
sick beats, Roger seized his moment and began to build his empire on vinyl and slip
mats, starting with a few singles and expanding into a massive collection of over two
thousand original productions and remixes.

Peter Napoli: You may have heard Peter Napoli at one of his traveling BRÜT

parties (NY, LA, SF and Chicago), where his pulsating beat reigns over packed dance
floors and throngs of young men in gear. While this nightlife attraction has been a
mainstay for years, Peter’s love of music actually began far earlier, growing up in a
family of musicians in the boroughs of New York City.
Peter found inspiration in Deep House and Techno, but also the classic basslines of
Frankie Knuckles and David Cole. This diversity is on display at his legendary Burning
Man sets, and now at Voyage.

Aaron Aanenson: Aaron quickly found his place in the NYC music scene in

2015 when he and partner Matt Maggiacomo founded NoHo Nights at Barry’s
Bootcamp, catching the attention of the NY Post and Men’s Health Magazine.
Following its 3-year run of sold-out weekly DJ-curated fitness classes, Aaron began
DJing in nightclubs, gaining notoriety for his progressive, tech, and tribal sets. His
bookings for Atlantis, Alegria, Viva!, Sunrise, Pines Party, Action!, Carry Nation,
and Sip ‘n Twirl demonstrate his unique ability to entertain both the circuit scene
and underground/tech audiences. Aaron’s philosophy is that music should make you
feel something, inspire you to dance, and be appropriate for the time, place, and
audience.

DJ Abel: Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Miami, Florida, Abel Aguilera

has always had a passion for House music. His production and remixing team,
Rosabel, continues to churn out #1 Billboard dance hits including their Grammy
Award Nominated remix of Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World”, ”Wepa” by Gloria
Estefan “Papi” by Jennifer Lopez, Madonna’s “Bitch I’m Maddonna with Nicki Minaj,
and the insanely huge anthem “Chacha Heels” by Rosabel featuring Jeanie Tracy. The
team has also worked with the likes of Donna Summer, Janet Jackson, and who could
forget their remix of Cher’s “Different Kind of Love” and so many others.
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Jeff Hall: I grew up in the Pines, musically speaking. From cocktail parties along

the bay during countless sunsets, to the magic of The Clam Bake on the beach, my
musical roots are here in the Pines. But the musical highlight of my time in the Pines is
having the honor of playing the opening song, of the opening set, of the every Pines
Party for the past 8 years. For me, the Pines Party, and the Friday night VIP Party in
particular, have always felt like a community block party.
There’s a sense of shared experience here in the Pines that knits the community
together in ways that not many other communities can relate to. And that makes
this event and all of the people who make it possible something very special. I’ll be
opening this year’s VIP Party with a deep and welcoming vibe and then handing over
the decks to DJ Aaron Aanenson who has already proven himself to be a crowd
favorite here in the Pines and around the world. See you on the dance floor! (All of
them!)

Danny Krivit: A New York DJ veteran with an endless list of credentials, Danny

Krivit has been involved in his city’s dance/club scene since childhood, and has had a
profound impact upon it. In 1971, he began DJing at The Ninth Circle, in the West
Village, and soon after began lifelong friendships with DJs David Mancuso and Larry
Levan. Throughout the 70’s & 80s the list of clubs he DJ’d at grew to include Area,
Danceteria, The Limelight, Roxy, Save The Robots, Tracks, The Tunnel, The World,
and a guest spot at the legendary Paradise Garage.
Moving into the 90s, Danny commanded legendary status amongst young and old,
DJing at Mars, Palladium, Shelter, Sound Factory Bar, Twilo, and The Loft. At it’s
inception in 1996, Danny helped form the legendary Body and Soul party alongside
Francois K & Joe Claussell and has been an integral part of it ever since. In 2002,
Krivit started NYC’s soulful phenomenon, 718 Sessions, & has been the soul resident
ever since.

DJs Scott Martin & RAF: REBECCA. has been bringing holleration to the

danceries of New York City and the Fire Island Pines since 2015. More specifically,
she is a collaboration between ShareGurl and DJs Scott Martin and RAF, founded to
bring a fresh take on music and atmosphere in queer nightlife outside of pop music
and tribal beats. REBECCA is all about a world in which nightlife doesn’t take itself
seriously, and her pledge is to make you move by delivering high quality jackin’, deep,
tech and straight up house music in venues worth visiting.
REBECCA’s projects include ULTRAMAROON, New York’s new home for House
Music Sundays, and Spray Fire Island, a beach party benefit weekend for the Ali
Forney Center in its fifth year.

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Help Peter find his way to the parties

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xoxo Legal
Lambda

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Pines Party 2019 Community Journal

Pets of the Pine s

Have fun mates
save me a bone o AVA

www.pinesparty.com/pets

PIP Happy Pines Party!

82 TRUMAN Love, Truman
@trumantheboston

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“Still looking for Mr. Right..”
-RUSTY

Lickety Split ‘Lost Boys’ of 351 Sunburst Happy Pines Party from
Emma - Jimmy - Jeff Caruso & Lorenzo

Phoebe

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Love, The Babies

Kai CODY & PARKER

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#Lladronyc

Dora Loves You...

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Captains #AnnieSpankyPoopie
Searching for buried treats for the past 13 years!

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Lexi Crackers

Did someone mention puppy play after the party? Aaliyah FROM FRIDA TO THE LOST BOYS OF THE PINES

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Jimmy & Jackie of 232 Bay Walk 91
wishes everyone a WOOFerful Pines Party!

While you’re dancing, the beach is all mine! Trixie

Sophie Doodle, The Countess of Sail, invites
92 you to the Reef!

PINES PARTY 2019

THE ISLAND
OF LOST BOYS

LOST BOYS, FAIRIES AND THEIR PETS
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF PINES PARTY.
CELEBRATING OUR 20TH YEAR OF SERVING
YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS...LET'S PARTY

FIRE ISLAND PINES STYLE!

Office: 631.597.7000
Email: [email protected]
Site: www.fireislandpines.com

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B each in 1979 became a landmark by changing the politics and culture of Fire Island Pines forever.

It created a community that would have never seemed possible 20 years earlier when straights and gays
were in open warfare over whether The Pines should be a “family” community. Although 10 years after
Stonewall, gay residents had only slowly become emboldened enough to begin taking more ownership of
a community that they had by that point largely defined and that had
begun attracting an elite crowd of celebrities and international visitors to
the ferries that crossed the Great South Bay. United under the banner
of the volunteer fire department with the common purpose of raising
money to buy a new fire truck, straights and gays worked together for the
first time to produce an unprecedented event. Then, after 10 months of
planning and preparation, an entire community, along with its glamorous
visitors, danced together all night on the beach, finally fully integrated and
comfortable with itself. The Pines became an example to the world.
The gay cultural impact of the party was greater than Fire Island. Because
attendees came from everywhere, it was arguably the first “circuit” party.
Eventually it became common for gay men to converge on a destination
and dance together in tribal unity in non-traditional venues.
Perhaps the biggest reason that Beach has attained such legendary status
over the years – to be known as the “Party of the Decade” – is simply that
it did in fact close the decade, a near perfect coda to a colorful, wildly creative, and remarkable era. Four
decades later, the myth of Beach usually overwhelms the facts. In fact, to this day there is no definitive
answer as to whether 1970s icon Farrah Fawcett was actually there!
After Beach, our new, enhanced sense of community would serve us extremely well as the HIV/AIDS
epidemic brought so much personal loss in the years ahead. The hedonism of the 70s began to quickly
dissipate as the lives of so many would change painfully and never be the same. But for 12 magical hours
from sunset to sunrise under a July full moon, at the apotheosis of a decade, Fire Island Pines felt to us like
the center of the universe, and there was no other place on Earth where any of us would have wanted to
be.
Ron Martin

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Back to Beach… 1979-2019

It was 1979, the golden age of the Fire Island Pines where the creative field of New York

City collected together in a creative melting pot that would influence art on every level. It was an age
before the word AIDS was spoken. Therefore, sex was somewhat still free. Community meant putting
your hand out without a return expected, and the worlds of straight and gay had yet to be joined.
The Sandpiper was in its last season of summer and the Tea Dance at the Botel was the place on all of
Fire Island to see and be seen. Disco was the soundtrack. The local Pines Volunteer Fire Department
needed a new truck. A young man new to the organization named Jimmy Meade, with his housemate
Ron Martin, knew just what they could do to raise the funds to make it happen. The Pines was noted
for its extravagant parties. After experiencing a party called “Sunrise” with chief Dick Van Brundt and
Clern LaFountaine they all agreed that party creators Scott Bromley and Robin Jacobsen were who
they needed to pull off what would go on to be the biggest party Fire Island had ever seen. Building
a disco on the beach had never been done. It would take the many designers who stayed in the Pines
and the local craftsmen to create this. The straight residents, along with the growing gay population,
would have to come together for a common goal that would go on to change the community…

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Beach” this year, the Fire Island Pines Historical Preservation Society President Bobby Bonanno has written a book
about it. The organization celebrated with two events on Saturday July 6th: at 3:30 a panel discussion called “Boardwalk Talk” with the creators and
participants of “Beach”, followed by their annual event “Souvenirs” a classic disco tea dance with DJ icon Robbie Leslie. A special performance by
disco singer France Joli, who debuted her hit “Come to me” at “Beach”, was a highlight. Both DJ Robbie Leslie and France Joli have a long history of
supporting the Pines at many benefits throughout the years.

The Pines Party journal sat down with Fire Island Pines Historical Preservation Society President Bobby Bonanno:

PPJ: How did FIPHPS come about?
BB: In 2010, on a ferry ride to the Pines, I overheard a conversation
about the new ownership of the commercial area and their plan to
rename the Blue Whale. I thought to myself “how can they change
the name of a place where so much history happened?” The Tea
Dance was created there in 1966. I immediately reached out to them
on what was a new social media called Facebook. They responded
and as you can see the name Blue Whale is still here. I would like to
think that, somehow, I preserved history.

PPJ: What was the evolvement from then to now?
BB: At the end of that same season was a panel discussion about the music of Fire Island. It was there that the seed of this
all was planted as I said to myself once again “someone needs to preserve this history.” Up until then there was some effort,
but none addressing the growing technology. Social media was what I chose to become the way to not only reach a new
generation, but eventually reconnect to an older one for remembrance. We became a registered not for profit in 2011 with
a board: Bo Fridsberg, Scott Bromley, Walter Reich, and Wayne Heyser. We have a very active social media presence on
Facebook & Instagram - all driving to our website pineshistory.org. There one can read and learn all about our history: the
people, homes & parties - including the Pines Party history.

PPJ: How did the “Beach” book, and event come about?
BB: We are always about history, and anniversaries are part of that. 40
years is significant, and I consider “Beach”, in this year of Stonewall
50, to be one of the Pines proudest moments. The story is one that needs to be told especially
now to a new generation. It is about the age of volunteerism and how the culture of the Pines
was changed. So, a book, a physical manifestation of history that will be for all time, was the way
to tell it. Our goal is that this will be in every home in the Pines where it will be looked at and
read by many. The event was a no brainer as it needed to be celebrated. By incorporating it into
our annual “Souvenirs Tea, “ which we have done for over six years, it combined the music of
the era and owner PJ McAteer generously gave us that platform to bring back singer France Joli
to celebrate her song “Come to me” that she debuted 40 years ago at “Beach.” What really is
special is the talk with” Beach” creators that we are hoping to tape as a future podcast.

PPJ: How important is this in the bigger picture?
Look at what we are celebrating this year: Stonewall 50! All these young people are getting a history lesson about the struggle of those who have come
before them. Putting it out front and center is how we teach a new generation. Fire Island history
is part of that story. Coming here is a gift. A haven from the world then and now that is ours.
The history is part of that gift…

PPJ: Why is the Beach Party still so relevant today?
“BEACH” literally laid the foundation for all beach parties that have followed. From the GMHC
Morning parties to the now Pines Party it had never been done before, and that is what makes
history. It was the power of community that, when united, made what was thought impossible,
happen. With the remembrance of Stonewall this year, the power of our history becomes
paramount. It is the legacy that we now pass on. The Pines Party is an example of that legacy.
None of it would have been possible today if that group of Pines people did not dream of
something bigger, and so we do now forty years later...Pines Party 2019.

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Still believe in you

Love to pines party 2019
jonathan lewis tim dejsiriudom

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Wendy Darling Interviews Peter Pan

Wendy: Well, hello Peter! Are you ready for the Pines Party?
Peter: Of course, Wendy! This is my 21st Pines Party and they’re finally throwing
the party in my honor!
Wendy: Well, you look like you haven’t aged a day.
Peter: I haven’t!
Wendy: But what will you wear? Do you need some help sewing your shadow on?
Peter: No, a shadow will be far too much clothing for this party. I think I’ll keep it
classic Peter - with an extra coating of pixie dust.
Wendy: You should keep in mind you will have a lot of people trying to replicate
your look.
Peter: Let them try!
Wendy: And how about that crazy crew of Lost Boys that you run around with?
Peter: They wouldn’t miss Pines Party for the world - even at the risk of being
hooked by Hook!
Wendy: And which events do you plan to attend?
Peter: All of them, naturally! You know that Tinkerbell will fade away without a
constant dance beat to keep her afloat. And what about you, Wendy? Excited for
Pines Party?
Wendy: Well…. yes - I just hope that I don’t have to walk
the plank - Again.
Peter: Walking the plank is the most exciting part!
Wendy: Oh Peter, at what point do you plan to start acting
like a grown up?
Peter: Seriously, Wendy? I’ll see you on the dance floor!

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