Waterford® Crystal is graciously donating a beautiful chandelier to be installed in the new Pavilion – an homage to the trademark chandeliers installed by John Whyte in 1989, which lived within the Pavilion walls until they were destroyed in the fire.

This amazing recreation of a cherished piece of Pavilion history will undoubtedly be a beautiful addition, and a loving, nostalgic nod to the past.

Engraved on the chandelier will be 25 names of those who have contributed to making the Pavilion so iconic. This will include DJs, benefactors, influencers… and YOU!

Please submit in 500 words or less your most amazing Pavilion memory for a chance to be the 25th name etched in history.

The top stories will also appear each week in the brand new FIP Magazine.

We look forward to reading your memories!

Please send submissions by May 5 to: pavilion@pinesfi.com

For media inquiries, please contact: Jamie@narrativemediagroup.com

* please note submissions become property of FIP Ventures, and may be used in print at a future date.

Photo courtesy of Fire Island Pines Historical Preservation Society

FIRE ISLAND PINES CELEBRATES 60th ANNIVERSARY WITH REBIRTH OF “THE PAVILION”

NEW LEADERSHIP PRESENTS EXCITING PLANS FOR AN HISTORIC SUMMER
INFUSING ART, HOSPITALITY AND ENTERTAINMENT

(Fire Island Pines, NY – March 4, 2013) — This year Fire Island Pines, the world’s premier gay summer mecca, which draws visitors from around the globe with its gorgeous beaches and bustling social scene founded on freedom of expression, celebrates its 60th anniversary. The Pines, located just fifty miles from New York City, long ago proved to be the most accessible – and liberating – gay vacation destination in the country.

FIP Ventures, the group that owns the majority of The Pines’ commercial properties including the Pavilion Nightclub, restaurants Blue Whale and Canteen, the Botel, Pines Pool Deck and several retail spaces, enters this historic season with new leadership and vision. Blesso Properties, led by founder Matthew Blesso, will serve as the managing owner. Known for creating and executing visionary concepts (including the Tantalo Hotel, the number one boutique hotel and nightlife space in Panama City), Blesso will embark on a deep, comprehensive process of reinvigorating the Pines Commercial District, including the addition of visual and performance art that will enhance the uniqueness of Fire Island Pines as a social and cultural destination. “Extreme attention to detail is what creates a work of art and that’s our mantra for all of our projects” says Blesso. “It will not be one big move that will reinvent the Pines but hundreds of little ones.”

The crown jewel of the 2013 season will be the rebuilt Pavilion Nightclub, slated to open in early spring. Following the devastating fire in November 2011, Blesso Properties tapped acclaimed design firm Hollwich Kushner (HWKN) Architects to design an iconic new structure from scratch. The new, two-story showplace will be a stark improvement from the previous building, both aesthetically and functionally. The famous – and infamous – Pavilion Nightclub and High Tea Deck terrace will occupy the second floor, presenting party-goers with dazzling views of the harbor, while the gym, retail spaces, and the new Welcome Bar, will be on the first floor.

The nightclub will be furnished with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, a retractable skylight over the dance floor, and a contemporary reinvention of a chandelier, an homage to the iconic centerpiece that adorned the original Pavilion. With expansive decks, seating areas and the Welcome Bar, the Pavilion is designed with social gatherings in mind. Just steps from the ferry dock, it provides a central meeting point, and creates a strong sense of community for new visitors and veteran island dwellers alike.

FIP Ventures is thrilled to introduce its new management team, led by General Manager Constantino Papadakis. Papadakis is launching “Rebirth,” an initiative that aims to improve the guest experience at every level, including updates to the properties’ infrastructure, hiring of culinary professionals to reinvigorate the restaurants, and a host of new programming and entertainment throughout the season. Tony Fornabaio joins Papadakis as FIP Venture’s Entertainment Director. Fornabaio has long been one of the most prominent figures in gay nightlife, with integral roles in Sound Factory, The Limelight, The Roxy, Studio 54, the Palladium, and XL nightclub. He will curate an array of top DJs and performers to deliver a reimagined “Pines sound” that pays homage to the island’s inherent sexy, sultry sonic identity – a special brand of beachy house and Nuevo disco – while staying contemporary and relevant with tribal and circuit beats. Ryan DeJong, Hospitality Director, will focus on providing new ways to make the island and its resources accessible and convenient for both the established FIP community and new visitors from around the world, including “Pinesbooker,” a web platform similar to AirBNB, and the “Pines Survival Guide,” a website aimed at helping vacationers navigate the unique ins-and-outs of daily life in the Pines.

FIP Ventures continues to work hand-in-hand with the homeowner community through its collaboration with the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA.) “FIP Ventures has an excellent record of working with the community to resolve issues,” says Jay Pagano, FIPPOA President.  “They are always responsive to the concerns presented by residents and eager to develop solutions … we very much appreciate and value FIP Ventures as an important partner with the Island.”

For more information visit www.pinesfi.com
Press Contact:
Jamie Krauss
The Narrative Group
646-435-9810
Jamie@narrativemediagroup.com

–  The National Parks Service released a statement yesterday regarding their intention to begin enforcing state laws banning public nudity on certain Fire Island beaches this summer. Fire Island Pines would like to clarify that this does not affect The Pines community.

The Chief Ranger of the Fire Island National Seashore, Lena B. Koschmann, sheds light on exactly what this means to the Pines:

“Fire Island National Seashore has chosen to start enforcing the state law prohibiting public nudity in the federal land it administers.  Community beaches – including those in front of the Pines and Cherry Grove – will not be affected by this. They are policed by the Suffolk County police department, and it is not something they have chosen to enforce in the past.”
“The area known as “the Meatrack” is not a target of our enforcement. We do not plan on focusing our enforcement efforts in that area – however, of course, if people are disobeying the law, including having sex in public or doing drugs, of course we would enforce laws.  Use and compliance will be monitored throughout the park, with additional measures being taken as necessary.  Should concentrations of nudity and lewd and lascivious behaviors increase in other federal areas and cause conflicts with other visitors or protected species, then we may expand its enforcement efforts.”

The areas affected by the enforcement include:

• Lighthouse beach, from the western boundary of the park to the western boundary of Kismet
• The Sailors Haven tract, from Point O’ Woods to Cherry Grove
• One half mile on either side of the Barrett Beach lifeguard stand
• One mile on either side of the Watch Hill lifeguard stand
• From the Wilderness Visitor Center to the breach at Old Inlet

Here is a map of the Fire Island National Seashore: http://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/upload/FIIS_Map2_5-2006.pdf

Fire Island Pines was founded on the freedom of expression, and looks forward to maintaining that quality, and providing vacationers with a beautiful, safe environment to be themselves and enjoy their summer.

• How would you describe the style in Fire Island Pines?
• What are must-have items to pack for your trip?
• What are some of the Pines’ hidden gems?
• How would you describe the Meat Rack? What should you know before going there?
• Where would you go to relax? To meet friends?
• How do you find out what’s going on & where?
• What makes the Pines’ different from NYC or from other gay destinations?
• How do you find a place to stay?
• What’s a share and how do you get one for the season?

Comment below to submit your words of advice. We’ll try and include as much as we can in the Survival Guide coming soon!

A 30-mile-long barrier island to the south of Long Island, New York’s Fire Island is, essentially, one long strand of white sand fronting the rolling waves of the Atlantic. Come summer, it’s also New York City’s official gay playground, where everyone who’s anyone spreads a blanket on the sand and parties come Teatime.

Our Academy says:

Parties every weekend and gays galore, but the best part is the beautiful beach itself.
–Charles Runnette

Read more: http://www.newnownext.com/travel-choice-awards-2012-best-beach-fire-island-new-york/10/2012/

The new two-story showplace will be a stark improvement from the previous building, both aesthetically and functionally. The famous—and infamous—Pavilion Nightclub and High Tea Deck terrace will occupy the second floor, while the gym, retail spaces, and the new Welcome Bar, will be on the first floor.

Significant progress has been made throughout the winter, with framing of the second floor nearing completion.

Above, check out a cool time-lapse video of the building’s reconstruction.

Full story here: http://www.queerty.com/watch-fire-island-pines-pavilion-on-track-for-spring-re-awakening-20130215/#ixzz2KzdcHM00

By: Dan Avery
On: Feb 15, 2013