The Grove Gang
By the Grove Gang
Bruce-Michael’s Musings
After celebrating LGBT Pride in Cherry Grove, Joe Saporito and I headed for Pride in the City. We marched with the leather and bear contingent, which included four of the six Messrs Fire Island Leather: Master James and his boys, Joe and me, and Master Tom. We caught up with Jeff Goodman and Ralph later in the day and got word of Peter B, who was quoted in the NY Times the following day. Other Fire Islanders we saw during the afternoon were Dr. Anna Tirado; Amber Hollibaugh; Hernan Poza; the Pines’ Rick Weber; composer Tom Wilson Weinberg, whose music has been heard at Arts Project of Cherry Grove shows; and hunks Maxson Scott and dancer Taurus, whom we saw in the Grove on Thursday at their Where The Boys Are! party. After enjoying the fireworks over the Hudson, we ran into Miss Fire Island 2004, Dakota Sue, and miraculous China, glittery in silver, who had marched all day and had danced at the Dance at the Pier all evening.
That night in the Grove, Ivanna Cocktail bested five other contestants for Miss Grove Hotel with a "Mambo Italiano," during which she "hurled tomatoes and cheese at the judges," according to hotelier Isaac Steven Vaughan. Aurora Stone was selected as Miss Dot Com and Titania as Miss Congeniality.
Miss Sweetie is back at the Tides, leading the "Match Gaym" on Tuesdays at 9 and doing her show on Wednesdays at 10. Her opening show, pertinent and political, included Pink and the Indigo Girls’ "Dear Mr. President," demanding, "How do you sleep while the rest of us cry?" and Eve’s–the Ruff Ryder’s First Lady–"Love Is Blind," deploring domestic violence. Sweetie donated her tip money to her "Violence isn’t pretty" ad campaign against LGBT-violence.
Ariel Sinclair hosted her season’s first Kamikaze Kabaret show at the Grove Hotel, now on Thursdays at 9, with an opening cowgirl number, "All Jacked Up;" three guest comics, including Nancy Witter, who returns on July 13; a "joke-off" competition; and an impromptu striptease, at the hostess’ behest, by two male guests from London.
Photo Credit Correction: I took the cover color photo of Porsche and Jeanne Skinner and the one of Island Breeze "revelers," Matt and Jack, at the Pride parade in last week’s FI News. Stephen J. Flynn, of the Long Island Gay and Lesbian and Fire Island Film Festivals, took the one of Joe and me.
Linda Looks at…
This is the year we were almost here. First there was Alaska, and then there was babysitting, followed by a fourth grandchild, and a trip to Los Angeles to see her. Then there was more babysitting, and Atlantic City, and more grandchild-watching. Of course at our age there are also lots of doctor’s appointments. Hopefully we will be here full-time soon.
Our Cherry Grove Homecoming Queen, Coco Love, graced us with her presence at the Jacqueline Jonée show, “Born on the 4th of Jonée.” Our queen was escorted to her seat directly in front of me with her massive blond locks. Fortunately the seat next to Coco was empty and I got to sit next to our very beautiful queen for the entire show. And what a show it was. Before Jacqueline came on the stage, we heard Kate Smith singing God Bless America, and the entire audience joined in. Jacqueline came on stage dressed in a red dress, with a headdress of red, white and blue. She started off by singing a French number, and was reminded by Matt Baney that this was the 4th of July show, at which point she came around and sang in English. As with her other shows, she was quite entertaining, and the audience loved her. If you missed Jacqueline, you missed a very special show. Jacqueline was accompanied by Michael Haddad on bass, and our very own Mary Rodriguez on drums. Jacqueline even had her own special guests, the Uptown Express, and they were very special. They were under the very able direction of James Followell. Not only were they extremely talented and entertaining,but they were also very good looking
I was asked to be a judge at the bathing suit contest at the Ice Palace. It consists of any bathing suit not made out of cloth. I must give credit to the imagination of everyone who entered. The big winner was Laura, the lifeguard, who won a round-trip ticket to the Sunshine State. She made her bathing suit out of hot dog wrappers and plastic cups.
The Invasion will be on Tuesday, July 4. Unfortunately, this column must be submitted by Monday, July 3, so the Invasion will be reviewed in next week’s issue.
Sadly, I just heard David Loring has passed away. I’m sure many of you have an interesting Emerald Queen story.
Till next time…
Sooz Sez
If we have to have abysmal weather on the weekend before and the weekend after a holiday weekend… well, that is a small price to pay… the owners and seasonal renters have interests that keep us busy and contented without actually requiring sun… of course Dish TV helps! The commercial interests need the day-trippers and weekenders and we do wish them the best.
In support of the APCG and Jacqueline’s show we at Eastwinds were thrilled to have Mary Rodriguez and her partner Lisa as our guests. Mary more than compensated us by installing our new DVD/VCR and multiple handset telephone system that had been purchased before the season started.
Ruth and I were eagerly looking forward to the return of Le Cabaret Melange, as we were truly impressed with their talent and laidback yet tightly-crafted show last year. I had strongly encouraged my VSO (Very Significant Other) Cathy Eckdahl, to attend this year and the nearly sold-out audience was clearly pleased with the entire show. We were slightly disappointed as last year’s show was excellent, but this year was very good. We were still very taken with the voice and presence of Jeffrey Marsh, ‘gender-bending chanteuse,’ but not particularly pleased with the additional time given to the other members of the trio. It was our adored Panzi that was the highlight of the comic bit done by the drummer, Jefferson Kidd, and the audience also appreciated Grove favorites Urban Sprawl and Little Joe. The musical talents of Rick Sorkin, guitar and composer, were pleasant, but Jeffrey’s more flamboyant makeup and costume of last year were missed.
“Broadway Rose” will be reviewed in next week’s issue due to the early submission deadline of this column.
Take a side trip to Nassau Community College in Garden City to the Firehouse Plaza Art Gallery to view an exceptional photography exhibit by Cherry Grove’s own Sue Kravitz, NCC’s Dean of Arts & Humanities. The exhibition includes many stunning photos of long-time Grovites as in Sue’s words she ‘continues to explore women’s lives and the GLBT community’. There are photos of Rae DiStefano, Candy, Ruth and Susan Freedner, Dottie Cox and Barbara Mancuso, Lynne Tunderman, Lucy Lloyd, and many more. The Gallery hours during the summer are Mon. – Thurs., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. with additional hours added after Labor Day, call 516 572-0619 for the exact information.
This Sat., 7/8 the splendid and inimitable Philomena will ‘host’ Comedy Night at 8 p.m., presented by the APCG at the CH and I have inside information that Ruth and Susan Freedner will share their anecdotal views, Panzi will perform in honor of Philomena’s birthday, Amelia Migliaccio will regale us with stories and Sal Piro promises new material. Tickets on sale at the kiosk from noon – 2 p.m. and again 1/2 hour before show time.
Be sure to get your tickets early for The High Fashion Follies, the always eagerly anticipated Doctor’s Fund Benefit show at the CH 7/15, performances at 8 and 10 p.m., tickets on sale Sat. and Sun. from noon – 2 p.m.
The remaining weekends in July will be eventful at the CH with the APCG Art Show and Sale on Sat. 7/22 and Sun. 7/23 and Casino, on Sat. 7/29 and Sun. 7/30, please check the posters and flyers or this column for the exact hours as the time draws near.
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