ROSE’S VIEW – FIRE ISLAND PINESBy Robert LevineHats off to Linda Gottlieb who successfully produced and spearheaded her Sixth Annual Women’s Pride in The Pines Benefit White Party on June 11. Each year this event gets bigger and better. The afternoon portion was held at Whyte Hall with a dance, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and silent auction. An elegant buffet dinner was served with an open bar at the new bed & breakfast, Pines Club, overlooking the bay. The evening was concluded at Whyte Hall featuring legendary disco queen France Joli, as well as the hilarious comedienne Jessica Kirson.Linda has developed her own LGBTQ focus foundation. The money raised was given to the LGBTQ organizations Hetrick-Martin-Institute and the Ali Forney Center. Among the 200 people who attended this gala were Joyce Cohen, Alana Berger, Diane Freidman, Hal Hayes, Bob Howard, Jane Grosvenor, Cathy Tanelli, Alana Berger, CeeJay Rosen, Peg Ryan, Mella, Lucille, Cathy Ricci, Guido Alvarez, Kristin Ocho, Cindy Butler, Robbie Regina, and Gene Kagan. Cabaret performer and TV producer Angela LaGreca, with her friend and pianist Lenny Babisch, attended the afternoon party and then went to the Grove to see Faith Prince and Karen Mason. A $100 car raffle will be drawn on July 24. Go to lgbtqfocus.org/raffle, if interested.Mark Ricigliano made one of his delicious gourmet dinner parties, which Michael Fitzgerald and I attended. Other guests were Jim Vandernoth, Michael DeFalco, and Bill Matthews, along with their houseguests Jim Lin and Bill Mattle. It looks like the birds and the bees have caught up with Jim and Mark. Mazel Tov! Sumner Freeman and Roy Yaeger had a small dinner party with guests Barbara Sahlman, Scott Bromley, Impavido, and Lila Swell. Lila recently spent a weekend in Asheville, NC, where she visited her niece. Lila also had houseguests the past few weekends: Robert Evans, James Lambo, and Richard D’Addario.John Putnam was invited back this season to the Blue Whale where he will perform with his Used Blues Group, except on July 31. In addition to brunch, he will do a dinner gig in New York City at Machiavelli on Columbus Avenue. John and his blues group also marched in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn on June 18. The Blue Whale is also featuring a Saturday drag brunch. Congratulations to Henry Fanelli, a Pines resident and harpist who has been in the orchestra of the Broadway production of “Phantom of the Opera” for the past 28 years. Stand Up Comedian Jim David just returned to his home in the Pines, after a few road trip gigs. He is returning to his hometown of Asheville, NC on June 23, to appear in a benefit for equality in North Carolina at the Asheville Community Theatre. Legendary cabaret performer Marilyn Maye appeared at Whyte Hall accompanied by Billy Stritch and the audience went wild as she brought the house down. Jack Aaronson plays the piano at the Blue Whale Piano Bar every Friday and Saturday, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. He will also be the musical director for the FIPAP Labor Day production of “Once on This Island,” directed by Joe Barros. While in the Pines before taking the Water Taxi, I sang one number. It was fun!
- Yoga is held at Whyte Hall every Sunday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Please bring your own towel.
- See yours truly as Rose Levine in “Cherry a la Mode,” at the Cherry Grove Community House Theatre on July 2. The cast includes Kenny Rahtz, Luis Villabon, Adam Serrette, Justin Henry, and Frank Reinhardt, with Musical Director John McMahan. Tickets available at artsprojectcg.org.
- On July 4 the Invasion from the Grove to the Pines happens once again. The big boat with the Invaders arrives around 2 p.m. Jay Pagano, Ariadne Villarreal, and Randy Wilson organize a pre-show in the harbor, which begins about 1:30 p.m. If you don’t invade on the boat, come to the harbor and join the pre-show fun. See you there!
- Independence: A benefit for the Pines Care Center will be held on Sunday, July 3, from 5-10 p.m., at 145 Ocean Walk. DJ Tracy Young will spin. Tickets available at independencefip.org.
- The 22nd Annual Fire Island Dance Festival (Dancers Responding to AIDS) will be the weekend of July 15, at 236 Beach Hill. To order tickets go to dradance.org or call 212-840-0770.
We lost Angelo Boscia at 96 years old. He moved to the Pines in the mid 1960s, which entitled him to become a part of the original old guard. He was always there to offer his help and assistance for any event.* Our June 10 edition of Fire Island News erroneously described Mark Ricigliano, Jim Kelleher and Rik Morris’ business as an “ice cream company.” Slate Roof Creamery is a specialty butter company. We apologize for the error.
