FAIRYLAND

Look at the sunset taken from The Belvedere Hotel.

It had been two summers since I last visited Fire Island, the undisputed, glitter-dusted matriarch of the LGBT beach resorts. The place where heteronormativity goes to die and drag queens go to thrive. The whole island is a great time, but our clan this time was staying in Cherry Grove, who thanks to Preston got us three rooms at the Belvedere thanks to a connection. If you get the chance to go...GO! I said every gay person could benefit from a trip here once. I just adore it. The place is so special...all the troubles left outside from the world and then for this moment on the island for everybody to forget about it all and let loose. Because we have to have balance, otherwise the world is a misery, and I do believe serenity and peace are found on this island and the dances floors here. Everyone here has a good time and that's what it is all about...there is unity, and freedom and fun and festivity here. And if the Pines is the polished gym-sculpted young buff brother, Cherry Grove is the eccentric fun-loving aunt who mixes a pitcher of martinis at 1pm and has a story about Studio 54. It's lovely...you take a ferry there and one can ride a ferry that whole time there if you choose! There are no cars...just sand and a labyrinth of wooden boardwalks and an intoxicating sense of absolute freedom. You can wear a gown into town, a speedo to dinner or absolutely nothing at all on the clothing optional beaches.

Only on Fire Island

Pearly playing bartender, or just standing there.

Preston getting demure

My gams!

The Lad in our doorway. With perky nipples.

My unexpected delight to see ginger Brody! First time I met a reader naked. Took my breath away. That is all I'm saying on that!

Ah and darling, you want to talk the Meat Rack? Now we are getting to the truly legendary untamed heart of the island. The Grove is the open-air theater, the Pines is the runway, and the meat rack is the seedy backstage dressing room where the real magic, and mischief happens! Since the 1950's the meat rack has reigned supreme as the world's most famous, historic and delightfully racy and scandalous cruising ground of them all. And they ain't there looking at sea views darlings! It's a must!

Preston, the Lad, Brody, MM#1 Fan and myself came upon this in the meat rack!!!! The guy, Fred was kind enough to let me make him blog fodder! Another guy came along and that turned into quite the scene, while we enjoyed the popcorn. Or something like that.

Love this place. A great way to end the summer with the whole clan and joined by blog reader Brody for a meat up, huh.... I mean meet up, yes, hehe, and Pearly, who jumped Ptown and who talked the Mistress into a special appearance at the pool show at Ice Palace she hosted with resident queen... with my own brand of drone dramatics. No one expected the drone to bring me a lighter. I never leave home with at least one ensemble and wig. 

Another summer in the books.

SEEN IN HARRISBURG

 

Seen around town this weekend. The clan all got together for the Fire and Ice tour in the downtown this weekend.., our lesbian branch from Rehoboth Beach came for the event even. Cards on the table, while we did see some of the ice sculptures placed all around town, it was more an excuse to get together for some fun times, have a few cock-a-tails and pub hop and enjoy some good food. Granted, I didn't arise before 1pm today. That's beside the point. A good time had by all. And the above is one of the shop windows of the Dame's Flower Shop. It was pure coincidence the ice sculpture mimicked the windows. Some of the sights... I liked the homes and street art more...

The day started with expresso martinis at noon.

So there was that.

SEEN IN FIRE ISLAND

I have another few posts from Barbados to share yet but thought we'd jump to some Fire Island postcards first. If the first leg of the trip wasn't enough, and granted, that was very relaxing, Labor Day found us back in the US and on Fire Island with most of the Clan for some debauchery. For many of the clan, it was meeting Warbucks for the first time. All went well, and he fit right in with my crazy circle, and he loved Fire Island. I didn't make Fire Island last year and hard to top the last visit what with getting scolded by Patti Lupone herself for the Lad and I making out by an exit. I adore Fire Island and think it should be mandatory for every gay to experience it at least once. I love it. SO GAY...the drag queens, the beaches, the gay antics and flirting, the Meat Racks, the boardwalk paths, the deer everywhere, and seeing many of the Horace Gifford houses of the Pines, and the campy and quaint Cherry Grove. Finding the perfect spot to get nude and catch some rays. We had a blast and at least one party to attend. One nights dinner consisted of about 24 queens!!!!

Look at the Livingroom view of the house we were in! And one couldn't be shy to use the bathroom!

I don't think I'll ever get over seeing deer at the beach! And they are quite daring and will get very close to you.

Sorry for the blur, but these deer were jumping.

Not deer.

MM#1 Fan and the Mistress catching some rays.

 

Preston and MM#1 Fan up to something.

Shadow puppets. Can you even believe such lewd acts going on???? Who'd do such a thing???

Pansy...a drag legend and a past Empress of the Imperial Court of New York.

Your Mistress's comfort shoes.

Impromptu boardwalk parade!

And this was seen walking the day we arrived from the ferry. Like I said you never know what you may see!

BUT BREAKING!

 I was HEARTBORKEN from news after our visit, when I got a text and picture from my friend Jamie who stays in Fire Island all summer. The text included a picture of the flags on the dock in Cherry Grove all flying at half-mast. Below the picture it said flags flying half-mast in honor of Kirk. I thought it was a joke and said this better be for William Shatner as Captain Kirk? He said no you dope; it's for Charlie Kirk. The CGAA dock master decided after he was threatened by officials from Brookhaven county with consequences if he didn't follow the national directive. I was aghast. It felt like a gut punch to the stomach. It was one thing to lower the American flags, but the gay pride flags too? For a man who's hate speech against our community caused so much suffering felt like an assault, a hate crime, a gay bashing, with our very own flag!! Cherry Grove and the Pines Fire Island has been a huge safe haven for the LGBTQ+ for decades, a refuge from an intolerant world. And now we were honoring a man whose very ideals are like acid and being thrown in our faces. This person would NEVER step foot in Fire Island and yet there he was, even after his death, his presence being seen, his menacing presence flaunted over our sacred little town.... the flags... half mast, all of them. But there is a dark underbelly to this town. There are a few trump loving business owners there who love him, just waiting to take our beloved rainbow flag and rise it at half-mast for a rancid, homophobe. I don't know how we come back from this. Our sweet, fun and safe Fire Island has been violated by their wickedness.