On And Off The Deck
Volume 49, Issue 5
By Jon Wilner

Love is in the Air, that was one of the final songs that San Francisco DJ Phil B played at Dancing on the Bay, Ken Zarrilli and Josh McKinney’s spectacular benefit dance party that benefited the Gay and Lesbian Center. Over 1,000 shirtless and stunning men plus 50 gorgeous gals danced their hearts away on a barge descending well out into the bay on Sail Walk. As the sunlight turned to dusk and then to the summer starlit evening, there was more love in the air than we have seen in years. Vinny Petrarca produced an event that will be an evening never to be forgotten, with a finale of incredible fireworks taking our breath away. This is what summers on Fire Island are made of.

The thirtieth annual invasion of the Grove upon the Pines brought new sparkle to a classic event. FIPPOA Prez Alan Brockman began the festivities by welcoming one and all to the greatest community in the world. Kevin Aviance performed as did the fabulous flaggers featuring the incredibly talented Billy Angel, then Tim Burke, a former Naked Boy Singing, gave a rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” that was the introduction for the several hundred “Ladies of the Grove” arriving in grand style aboard Kenny Stein’s newest star of the fleet ferry boat. Panzi was the first to embark on the Pines red carpet declaring the 2005 Invasion officially underway. The sun was shining, the crowd cheered and yet another unbelievable annual Pines event outdid itself. Love was certainly in the air upon our shores.

Versions of J4

Perry Wolfman and Aaron Kirsten opened up their bayfront home to their dearest friends last Saturday night for cocktails and dinner kicking off the July 4th holiday week. The night before a sold out Blue Whale had us all doubled over in laughter and joy as Candice Cayne did her version of Independence Day. Her Whitney Houston and her surf number with the boys of the Blue Whale were an example of what it takes to be a star!

Cocktail parties were abundant all weekend long. Andrew Kirtzman and Kyle Froman wowed their friends with their oceanfront renovation, Paul Bernstein and Al Gillio entertained their special friends at their new abode on Lone Hill, while Ann Gentile and Carlotta Rossini opened up their bayfront home to all the luscious ladies of the Pines. Jon Biondo, Tim Horman and Sean threw a holiday lunch poolside at their new oceanfront home while the former owner of that oceanfront home, Sam Champion, lunched at Robin Byrd and Shelley Tannenbaum’s Lincoln Center on the beach. And let’s not forget Eddie Schwartz and Russell Vance’s dinner that captured their true feelings for their friends of over a quarter of a century in the Pines.

July 4th week brought Doug Chadwick, Cheri Lyons, Lorenzo Ramos, Stephen Knoll, Stewart Deluca and Dale Lohrer, Vinny Petrarca and Julio Greg Benoff back to the Pines. The Pines welcomed newcomers Elisa and Richard Rosen to their very first invasion, I can tell you right now, they are here to stay! Laurence Isaacson and Larry Bullock celebrated their birthdays with Candice Cayne serenading them at the Blue Whale.

Glamour is Back

This was certainly the week that brought glamour back to the Pines, as if anyone ever thought it had left. Just as the harbor was a bevy of activity on Saturday night around 7:30, with lines to get into both tea at the Blue Whale and coffee at the Bay Bar, the first sea plane in years was circling around eyeing a landing. There was no doubt in my mind that it was John Addy, arriving from London, just in time to enjoy his American independence. As the plane landed in the bay, I quickly hailed a water taxi to pick up John, Tomek and 1,000 red sparklers that would eventually be hurled throughout the crowd in the Pavilion several hours later.

Our this past weekend was the ever so controversial New York Post theatre columnist and THEATRE TALK host Michael Reidel. This was Michael’s first visit to the Pines, and we outdid ourselves theatrically for him. He immediately gravitated to theatre folk such as David Zippel, Gilbert Parker, Sue Willis, Lou Bullock and even managed to spot producers Jordan Roth and David Binder in the crowds. Michael was so generous in donating his time and his talent to a theatre talk back for FIPAP, graciously hosted by Glen Wielgus and Ed Lewis. It was a provocative and luminous adventure through Broadway ins and outs, secrets and aspirations and gossip.

Michael is great company and it was nice to see him having a relaxing holiday.

They all laughed when Christopher Columbus said that the world was round. And they laughed when Jon Gilbert said the West hook renovations in the harbor would be completed by July 1. Well the yachts returned and the sunset bathed the west hook in all its newly restored glory this past weekend. Thank you FIPPOA for bringing this vital and enormous job to reality.

There’s a lot to get in this month, and you won’t want to miss a trick! This Sunday (not Saturday, as previously scheduled) at 12:30 at the bayfront home of Brandon Fradd, say hello to Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Refreshments served with a suggested donation of $100. Broadway Cares presents Dancers Responding to AIDS July 15, 16 and 17. It is still time to get your discounted ticket for PINES PARTY 2005 if you’re a FIPPOA member. Go on line www.pinesparty.com.

Select your costume from your favorite old time television show, and do it soon, for the party is Saturday night July 30 on the beach! Don’t forget to vote Tuesday, July 12 in the firehouse for our Fire commissioner.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, the progress on our pool is going splendidly. In fact we are amazingly ahead of schedule. The platform is almost completed and by next week’s column we should have the metal frame in, according to Walter. I’ll let you know in a week.

You have no time to leave the Pines this month, Mondays are Broadway musical night, Tuesdays are Video Haze, Wednesday is Margarita Madness movies, Thursday brings Robin Byrd and her growing BULGE party, collecting the Pines best bulges for a Labor Day bulge off Friday welcomes Daniel Nardicio’s Big Top. Saturday hosts the most famous dj’s in the circuit world and Sundays are retro nights at the Pavilion. And while you’re here stop in at either INDEX, SUMMER SOLSTICE or ALL AMERICAN BOY for your new outfit for tea dance, you’ll need seven outfits per week.