Archives
The Pavilion Est.1980-2004
It was the end of the golden age of the Pines. At the end of the 1979 season the beloved Sandpiper was being replaced by a new club called the Pavilion. It was an end of an era, and many in the community were not happy…
The Biennial Art Show
Art has always been part of the Pines community. The beauty of the beach has inspired many. In the 70’s it became a melting pot for the creative as designers, artists, architects, and theater people found their way to the Pines.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Kay Ballard
There were many celebrities like actress Kay Ballard who were familiar with the Pines. They were part of the inner circle of closeted stars who found the haven of Fire Island a place to be themselves.
Fire Island Celebrity history- Carol Channing
As a good friend to Broadway composer Jerry Herman actress Carol Channing had special access to Fire Island. From her early visits in the 1960’s to her last to Cherry Grove in 2013 she made herself at home here.
Pinesfest 2016. The party/ benefit that almost wasn’t…
Pinesfest was the brainchild of Pines resident Greg Dyer. A New Beach Festival. September 3-5, 2016. Pinesfest was born out of the desire to carry on the incredible legacy of Fire Island Pines. Due to an impending hurricane the party never saw its true potential…
Art history- Jack Brusca
Many artists have found their way to the Pines. Some for fun, sex, inspiration, or all of that combined. Artist Jack Brusca was just one.
The GMHC Morning Party 1995-1997
Created in 1983 as a community answer to the growing AIDS crisis the GMHC Morning Party grew throughout the 1990’s.
The Copa Cherry Grove Est.1980-81
Like a shooting star The Copa nightclub arrived in Cherry Grove and lit up the night. Night life that is. Like the Pavilion in the Pines that was built on the site of the Sandpiper, it was built on the site of the former Sea Shack.
DJ Lina Bradford
For 10 years DJ Lina Bradford ruled the deck at Sip n Twirl in Fire Island Pines. Creating the phenomenon called Twirlina Tea. What was a mixture of music, performance art and lovefest was an experience that is irreplaceable. Before that, and now after is a history that is like no other…
Rockshots Greeting Cards by Michael Rock & Tolin Greene
An image is worth a thousand words they say, and so it went with Photographer Michael Rock and the erotic images that became greeting cards known as Rockshots of an era…
World AIDS Day…we remember.
1987. As we celebrate World AIDS Day we remember the rose ceremony that was a tradition began in the Pines as more and more from the community were lost to AIDS. Many brought a rose as a symbol of love. These were then thrown into the ocean at the close of the service…
A Dual in the Sun. The Rockefeller/Ron Martin home Est. 1965
Designed by Architect Harry Bates at the height of his Fire Island Career. 607 Shore Walk remains an intact example of Bates style as well as classic 60’s architecture. Built in 1965 by Walter Reich for Alan Morton, the two simple glass boxes that are the main house and a separate cottage inspired the house’s original name “Dual in the Sun.”
The Gifford, Wittstein, Miller, & Bromley house. Est. 1963-1981
Architect Horace Gifford’s second house design for Robert Miller and his partner Edwin Wittstein began as a sketch in the sand…
The GMHC Morning Party 1991-1994
The GMHC Morning Party had grown up. It was time to bring it onto the beach.
PAWS Est. 1984
As the Pines community grew so did its animal population. Most noticeably the many pets that would arrive with homeowners and renters. However after season it was being noticed that some pets were left behind to fend for themselves. In addition during season pets got lost with no form of identification. So with that Pines longtime residents Myra Kahan and Lee Frey created PAWS Pines Animal Welfare Society.
Louis Katz - Murderer on Midway
Louis Katz was the owner of Uncle Charlie’s, a popular chain of gay bars in the 1980s, and infamous for murdering his ex-lovers’s new boyfriend in a love-triangle knife fight and fleeing the country.
Future Pines 2013…
In planning the new Pavilion, plans were being made for the entire properties. The Pavilion was designed by HWKN architects. The plans called for a futuristic modern feeling, so Charles Renfro at Diller Scofidio + Renfro designed the rest of the properties. Not exactly a beach esthetic, nor any nod to what had come before…