The Grove Gang
By Bruce-Michael Gelbert, Linda Dickerman and Susan Freedner
Bruce-Michael Musings…
Beloved “transsexual chanteuse” Bianca Leigh returned to the Grove for a welcome first appearance of the season, at the Tides on July 23, still svelte and elegant and now raven tressed, to sing in silvery tone the sultry numbers “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Fever” and zesty “Le Jazz Hot” and “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
Earlier that day, at a pageant at Sunsets, Rae Lindsay won the title Miss Sunsets. Porsche, who, presided as Sunsets’ manager, has since severed ties with that establishment and has been singing at the Ice Palace.
Bianca was one of several performers in the show, “Puttin’ on the Titz,” hosted by Jacqueline Jonée, at the Ice Palace on July 30. Diva and pianist Jonée, backed by Lady J at the keyboard, bassist Mark Haddad, percussionist Scott Morehouse, trumpeter Cole Uhrig, and cellist Allison Seidner, introduced the show with a Grove spin on “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” which included lines, “All dressed up in whips and chains and leather/and, well, maybe a feather.”
Dakota Sue shed trench coat and baritone to become the glamorous former Miss Fire Island, belting “The Big Time.” Tommy Femia sang “Swanee” and “Hey, Look Me Over” as Judy Garland. Natalie Joy Johnson made a Fire Island debut, singing of unrequited love and sweet revenge in a song by Lady J. The combo’s showpiece was a jazzed-up “Bolero,” by Ravel, and the singers’ finale was Kander and Ebb’s “ New York, New York.” Later, wry singer and comic Flotilla DeBarge dazzled at the Tides, wistfully wailing “Private Dancer” à la Tina Turner, singing “I try to say goodbye and I choke” in the wispy rasp of Macy Gray, and spoofing Porsche, changing voices mid-song, by doing part of “Fire” as Cher.
That afternoon on the Ice Palace deck, under the auspices of PAWS (Pines Animal Welfare Society), dogs and owners gathered for a 4th Annual Pet Blessing by Interfaith Minister Eleni O. Marudis. The pets had water, bread blessed by Rev. Eleni, and turkey courtesy of Grove grocer Reggie. At the ceremony, Excelsior Motorcycle Club President Victor Skolnik presented the organization’s Man of the Year Award to Gary Reynolds, in whose honor the club held a fundraiser here for the St. John’s Humane Society of Louisiana, which rescued pets during Katrina.
At Charity’s show at Cherry’s the following day, veteran performers Rose Levine and Tony Bondi, cutting up in “Making Whoopee” and “Something’s Got To Give,” joined her. Rose sang a touching “They Say It’s Wonderful” and Tony banged a drum relentlessly in a riotous “I Got Rhythm.” Charity figured out that she, Tony and Rose have been on Fire Island for a total of 138 years!
Last Saturday, the CGCA, Inc., in conjunction with the APCG, held an inaugural Community Honors event, granting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Rev. Charles Whipple and other honors to the Fire Department and Dunes Fund’s Michael Romanelli, archivist Harold Seeley, and Wild Cherry’s Bill “Violet” Silver. During the evening, Assemblywoman Ginny Fields announced a $50,000 “brick and mortar—projects, not programs” grant for Fire Island, and Anthony Rapp, stage and screen star of “Rent,” with our own Dan Daly at the piano, entertained with “My Funny Valentine” and, from “Rent,” “Seasons of Love.”
Cobra, as well as many others, expressed gratitude that during last week’s debilitating heat wave, Community House Curator Denise Harbin and Custodial Goddess Luisa Verde extended an open invitation to all Grovites to come to the air-conditioned CH to view movies, such as “Transamerica” and “Brokeback Mountain.” Denise’s dogs Faith, Gianni and Maggie especially enjoyed “Eight Below” as it featured sled dogs.
Linda Looks at…
This past week was another social whirl. It was the perfect time to visit friends with air conditioning.
Did you get to Casino? If you didn’t you missed something very special. Besides losing money for a good cause, which was the objective, you could have a really nice time. The theme was Mardi Gras, and much of the proceeds are going to victims of Katrina. If you had a Blackjack, some of the dealers gave away more beads. Of course, I didn’t get too many, but what I did get I set aside for the grandkids. The Community House looked like we were in New Orleans. Gary Greene and Luis Valentin did a masterful job decorating.
There was a small get together at Golden Griffin. Buddy and Dick have some friends that visit every year and stay at the Belvedere. They decided to have an impromptu cocktail party for them, which was quite nice. There was a lot of good home cooked foods, and as always, good conversation.
Then there was Martha and Ellen’s cocktail party, which was another great event filled with lots of calories and excellent conversation. Martha’s sister Dawn was visiting.
The Suffolk County Police Department cancelled the regular Grovettes versus the Copettes volleyball game. So as not to disappoint anyone, our team of regulars decided to play men against women… the women won.
Lynn and Pat had their sometimes-annual cocktail party… Happy Anniversary. As usual the food was plentiful, delicious, and filled with calories, but at that point, who cared about calories? Not I.
On a sad note for those of you who knew Anthony Ciancarelli, on Sunday there was a memorial and eulogies, followed by a celebration of his life at David’s Grill with a champagne toast and hors d’oeuvres. Thank you, Amelia.
Bella had another show at the Ice Palace, and of course it was just great. It was the last Bella Show of the season, so if you missed it you will have to wait ‘til next year, not to mention what a great show it was that you missed.
Make sure you see the Archives Show this weekend, at the air-conditioned CH from noon to 5 p.m. and 7 to 10 p.m. on Sat, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Harold is showing many things that have never been seen before. This year Just Lorraine donated many pictures from selected shows that were also never seen before. She has left them in envelopes with the name of the people she thought would want them. You can check to see if some of your pictures are there.
Well, rehearsals have started and will continue throughout August for the last APCG show of the season, called “Panzi and Philomena meet Frankenstein.” Who is Gypsy and where did she come from? Can she really tell the future? To find out the answers to these questions come to the show, Labor Day Weekend.
Sooz Sez…
Another opening about the weather? It’s too darn hot… and buggy. How hot was it? I would have paid to sit in the shade… I actually made that offer to one of the volunteers at the 11th Annual Concerned Women of the Grove (CWOG) Breast Cancer benefit on Saturday at Heaven and Earth… another heartfelt thank you to Diane Romano and Pat Goff for the use of their beautiful space. Thank you DJ George, Celeste, Bella, Donna Piranha, and Ginger Moore. Fabulous hors d’oeuvres constantly circulating (my personal favorite server Bud Henriksen, for his accessories and effort above the call), beverages, raffles, items available for sale and the always-anticipated silent auction items. As of this writing over $55,000 was raised and the donations are still counting…
The CWOG would like to thank all of the Grove commercial establishments for their ongoing support, especially Isaac and Jackie at the Grove Hotel. An event of this size requires dozens of hard-working volunteers and space does not allow me to mention them all by name, but thanks is all that volunteers get so I would personally like to thank the CWOG… Rosie Grassi, Ann Scarpa, Joann Tavis, Lois Pisani, Lucille Flora, Mella Yodice, Nancy Famleghetti, Paul Scarpa and Michael Bennett, as well as Linda Salvatore, Maryann Buren, Barbara Mascali, Anita Auricchio, Sharon Weinberg, Bobbie Green and Doreen Rallo.
Be sure to find your local volunteer firefighter and purchase tickets in advance for the CGFD Pancake Breakfast… my own personal favorite event of the year… our outstanding, exceptional firefighters and commissioners will be hosting, cooking, and serving at David’s Grill on Sunday, August 13, from 8 to 11 a.m.
Try to stay cool… |
