Archives
Firemens Masked Ball 1989.
The Fire Island Pines Fire Department celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a masked ball…
Fashions of the Pines 1980’s
The 80’s come roaring in as the Fashion Show gets bigger and better…
Celebrity history- Andy Cohen
The Andy Cohen Diaries chronicles a year in the whirlwind life of the beloved pop icon, in his own cheeky, candid, and irreverent words, and some Fire Island Pines visits…
Fashions of the Pines 1970’s
The Fashion Show takes center stage as it moves to it’s home at the Botel Pool and takes on a life of its own…
Fire Island Celebrity history- Barbra Streisand
1966. Actress/singer Barbra Streisand, just beginning her illustrious career arrives by seaplane in the Pines with her then Broadway show “Funny Girl” costar Kay Medford for lunch.
“Beach” by David Morgan 2000
In the tradition of Robert Mapplethorpe and Tom Bianchi, Beach by photographer David Morgan celebrates both the male nude and the pleasures of friendship on a summer’s day.
Grey Gardens Est. 1960’s.
Named after the famous home in the Hamptons “Grey Gardens” also lived in the Pines. However it had a very different story…
Jay Hyde Crawford Home Est.1969
Jay Hyde Crawford was a fashion Illustrator most famous for his design for department store Bonwit Teller. A simple bouquet of violets created in 25 minutes according to him…
Pines People- Maia Helles 1916-2016.
Some residents of the Pines go unnoticed, and they like it that way. Maia Helles was one. Her home is one of the original homes built in the 1950’s, and remains so. She quietly passed in 2016, but left the film in this post by Julia Warr that exemplifies her life and philosophy…
Art history- Robert de Michiell
Artist Robert de Michiell captured the heart and soul of the Pines he loved…
Our Pines Party 60th Anniversary 2013 Idea…
In 2013 we were celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Pines community being established. As an historical organization we thought we would throw our hat in the ring for concepts and ideas about how we could celebrate this great anniversary with a Pines Party concept…
Fashion history- Richard Avedon comes to Fire Island 1946.
Photographer Richard Avedon and his young wife, Doe, had no idea what they were getting into when they agreed to take a beach-house share in the summer of 1946 with his boss at Harper’s Bazaar, Lillian Bassman, and her husband, photographer Paul Himmel, in Cherry Grove…
Pines People- Walter & Joyce Reich
Walter & Joyce Reich were straight people living in a gay community, however they were here first. Yet none of that mattered as they created community wherever they went…
The GMHC Morning Party 1983-1990.
The GMHC Morning Party was the Pines answer to the growing AIDS crisis. Beginning as a house party it became GMHC’s biggest fundraiser…
“The Fire Island” house.
From a Daytripper fantasy to a reality show failure the homes of the Pines all have a history…
The 4th of July Boat decorating contest. The Aquaminium…
The Annual Boat Decorating Contest at the Invasion is tradition. Go big or go home. The Aquaminium went big…
Fashions of the Pines 1960’s
Fashion has always been a part of Pines history. Noted designers like Halston, Angelo Donghia, Calvin Klein, Perry Ellis and more have either visited or made a home here. It was natural for a Fashion Show to become a community event…
The Origins of Fire Island’s Tea Dance at The Blue Whale
The Tea Dance was created in 1966 in the Pines by then owner John Whyte. It is now replicated in gay resorts around the world…
The Island Club Est.1992-2005
Before you Sipped N Twirled you cruised at “The Crews Quarters”, then found yourself at “The Island Club”… Our clubs have a history too.
Art history- Felice Picano
Like many in the Arts lives were touched by Fire Island and inspired. Felice Picano is the author of more than thirty books of poetry, fiction, memoirs, nonfiction, and plays who spent time here and reflected on it in his work.