July 12, 2011
Fire Island Frolics: Disaster Averted!
Michael K. Lavers READ TIME: 7 MIN.
Started writing at 3:11 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, at the pool at the Grove Hotel in Cherry Grove.
It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon here on the beach with a deep blue sky, low humidity and DJ Chuck spinning Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" before Ariel Sinclair's first number.
This post-July 4 weekend included Congressman Tim Bishop talking about marriage equality in New York, the Defense of Marriage Act and other LGBT-specific measures on Capitol Hill and local beach management. Lambda Legal's annual Fire Island Pines fundraiser took place on Saturday, July 9, while Logan Hardcore thankfully did not nearly drown anyone at the Grove Hotel this weekend. And a group of Islip lifeguards who were trying to raise money to attend an upcoming lifeguard tournament on Saturday night quickly learned that Cherry's patrons are far more generous to those who take off their shirts.
On a far more serious note, Grove firefighters thwarted a potential catastrophe on Friday, July 8, when they quickly extinguished a fire at Xanadu at Lewis and Gerard Walks. The blaze only damaged the second floor of the complex's guesthouse, but it could have been far worse. Those sitting here at the pool show watching Sinclair prance around the pool in a gold-sequined dress may not realize that one spark or one carelessly tossed cigarette butt can quickly become a raging inferno.
Mother Nature-there was no wind and it was raining when the fire broke out around 6 p.m. on Friday-certainly spared the Grove from a potential disaster. One Xanadu resident summed it up best while praising firefighters' quick response and local residents who helped with the cleanup.
"The heart of the community showed that night," she said.
Indeed.
Modern Art in the Pines
This poolscape proves that modern art can be found almost anywhere in the Pines.
At the Pool
Revelers enjoy Logan Hardcore and Dallas Dubois at the Grove Hotel on Saturday, July 9.
Yet Another Beautiful Fire Island Sunset
This reporter took in yet another beautiful sunset from the Grove's dock on Saturday, July 9.
Ariel Does the Pool
Ariel Sinclair was a glitter in gold at the Grove Hotel on Sunday, July 10.
Thanks Be to Firefighters
This sign outside the Cherry Grove Fire Department on Sunday, July 10, sums up the thoughts of many Grove residents over the past weekend.
Based in Washington, D.C., Michael K. Lavers has appeared in the New York Times, BBC, WNYC, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Advocate and other mainstream and LGBT media outlets. He is an unapologetic political junkie who thoroughly enjoys living inside the Beltway.
