Pining for Fire Island

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Ben Nelson
May 25, 2023
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7 minutes read

Pine no more… summer is here and Fire Island Pines is gearing for its steamiest season yet!

Pines Bistro and The Canteen are already up and running, serving delicious eats. Joining them soon will be The Blue Whale, relaunching for daily dinners and a Sunday drag brunch. Also returning will be the Blu Taco Truck! It and Pines Pizza are the perfect stops for a quick beach bite.

The island’s world-famous nightclub, The Pavilion, and its neighboring dance club, Sip N Twirl, will begin pumping new beats this Memorial Day weekend. Also opening will be the General Store; Camp Hardware; grooming salon Handsome Haircuts; and retailer Ron Dorff. The Pool and an updated Pines Gym, featuring new equipment will open on June 16th and the juice bar is opened now.

“We are working full speed to make sure this is another amazing summer in the Pines,” says PJ McAteer, Managing Partner of the Pines. He promises round-the-clock tea dances every day of the week and top-notch entertainment at various venues.

On Thursday, former ‘Real Housewives’ star Jill Zarin will be the special guest at PLAY at The Pavilion, hosted by Marc MacNamara.

On Saturday, drag icon Kevin Aviance, featured in Beyonce’s ‘Pure Honey’ single from her Renaissance album, will perform two shows: the first at Low Tea and a second performance at Sip N Twirl.

Fire Island Pines first became a destination for gay men in 1952, when it was illegal for two men to dance together in public and when many in the world viewed gay men as sexual deviants. With its lush foliage, white sandy beaches (850,000 cubic yards of additional sand was recently added), beautiful modern architecture, and miles of wood plank boardwalks, the island served as a refuge for young men to take each other’s hands and help each other explore their natural inclinations. It also attracted celebrities from Liza Minelli to Luciano Pavarotti. Calvin Klein, David Geffen, Perry Ellis and the director Michael Bennett even purchased homes on the island.

Kevin Aviance will be on Fire Island Pines this Memorial Day weekend.

“The Pines continues to be a unique, magical place like no other on the planet,” McAteer reflects. “It truly is an LGBTQIA+ paradise that rests on the shoulders of its forefathers and foremothers who fought tirelessly for the protections and rights that we enjoy today. We celebrate them. It is why every day on Fire Island Pines is gay Pride.”

A trip from NYC is less than two-hours on the Long Island Railroad. From the Sayville train stop, travelers board busses to the Fire Island Pines ferry. There is a nearby airport, too. MacArthur is ten minutes away, allowing guests from around the world to enjoy The Pines’ many attractions.

On Sundays, theatre lovers will be able to enjoy Showtunes Sundays at The Pavilion. On Mondays at 10pm, drag star Pixie Aventura takes the stage at The Pavilion. On Tuesdays at The Pavilion, NYC Entertainer of The Year Bootsie LeFaris performs. Wednesday’s at 8pm is Lose Your Balls Bingo at Blue Whale hosted by Bubbles D Boob. On Thursdays, host Marc MacNamara welcomes adult entertainers and reality housewives at his Reality Queens & Dirty Things party at Sip N Twirl. Friday is Fun Tea on the pool deck followed by Sing-A-Along Piano at Blue Whale, Latino dance party at Sip N Twirl and Jockstrap party at The Pavillon. Saturday is another Fun Tea on the pool deck and then The Pavilion and Sip N Twirl each host their own Saturday night dance party with rotating world class DJs and celebrity performers followed by a new concert series in July.