Construction Progressing In The Pines

The La Fontaine rebuilding is on a fast track.

Gay Pirates (Extended)

New Kitchen Floor At The Cottage

Beware automatic icemakers! When the leak, as ours did last year, they can cause lots of damage. We had a leak last year that buckled the wooden floor underneath our tile floor. The tiles cracked. I waited until everything dried out over the winter and the swelling of the wood went down. I had to sand down some high spots before installing the new tile.

Dustin Lance Black: Obama Disappoints Gays

"Until the president publicly puts his wheels down on the side of full equality, he must be passionately engaged, confronted and protested for maintaining his prejudiced, hurtful public position. If his evolution continues to fall short, then those interested in equality in this country must abandon their support. Hope should never become delayed disappointment."

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/#ixzz1tAjDXgoB

Barbados Kitty

Dan took this photo while doing a land tour in Barbados last month.

New Bank Branch & New Walkway

In Sayville TD Bank now has a new branch that was built where the Bunkhouse bar formerly stood. That's good for us because TD is our bank and we used to have to go to Patchogue to do our banking. The National Park Service has also finished repairing the walkway between Cherry Grove and Sailor's Haven. Now they need to take down the barricade to the path near the West End of the Grove.

Pop-Up Exhibit Contents

These photos show some of the contents of my exhibit at the Philadelphia Pop-Up Museum of Queer History, currently on display at the William Way GLBT Community Center through May 19.

More Pop-Up Museum Opening Photos

Dan took a number of photos at the opening of the Philadelphia Pop-Up Museum of Queer History on Friday last. From the top down: Louise & Michael; Louise & Richard; Sandy, Louise, Richard & Jet; Michael standing by Jim's exhibit; JIm, Arlene & Hal.

Pop-Up Museum Of Queer History

At the 1979 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Photo by Jim Kelly-Evans

My exhibit is arranged in a glass display case and on the wall.

Photo by Dan Evans... Last night was the opening of the Philadelphia Pop-Up Museum of Queer history. My contribution to the museum is an exhibit of artifacts and photos From The First National March on Washington For Lesbian And Gay Rights, that I participated in on October 14, 1979. The exhibit consists of my personal collection of March memorabilia and original black and white photos taken by me of scenes at the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that took place on October 14, 1979. Included in the exhibit is a copy of the Official Souvenir Program; the 2” diameter March button that I wore that day; a Philadelphia newspaper clipping showing the March; and the Philadelphia to Washington March emblem embossed private charter bus ticket stub. This exhibit tells the story of the very first lesbian and gay march on Washington from one participant’s perspective. It is a very personal look back over thirty years ago to a groundbreaking gay and lesbian event. The fact that the five demands of the 1979 march are still not met shows that while our community has come a long way in our struggle for equality since our first national gay rights march in 1979, we still have work to do.

Spotlight Parrotfish St. Barths

One of my underwater friends that I met in March in St. Barths.

Fairmount Park Bob

Fairmount Park Bob has been a fixture in the park for over 60 years. He sets up his table and sells soft pretzels, sodas and candy along boathouse row. Bob is 80 something and his health is failing, but he makes an effort to get out there every day that he can. He always sets up a water bowl for the dogs. He is a nice man who always has a smile to greet you. The smiles are free.

Cherry Grove Signs Of The Times

The town, like Brigadoon, is waking up after a long sleep.

Stormy Skies Over Fire Island

Yesterday afternoon I walked as far as the entrance to the Sunken Forest on Fire Island, probably a mile and a half west of Cherry Grove. When I turned around to return home, the unsettled skies provided a beautiful backdrop to the dunes and the ocean.

Sailor's Haven Walk Repairs Underway

This is great news for those of us who enjoy the Fire Island National Seashore walk west of Cherry Grove to Sailor's Haven and beyond. The section of the walkway that was destroyed last year by hurricane Irene is being bridged with a wooden walkway.

Cherry Grove Improvements

Mother nature grows our dunes. It was not all that long ago that you could get to the beach using the side ramp, remember? Workers are sprucing up the Jumping Jack's complex for the summer season.

Another Slap In the Face From Obama

Obama today announced that he will not sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT employees. That is totally unacceptable. Obanma does not deserve the votes of GLBT Americans. We can and should vote Green Party, or write in someone who is willing to embrace full equality. Obama should be ashamed of himself for refusing to issue an executive order banning discrimination against LGBT Americans, and for not supporting marriage equality.

Thimk Pimk Is Now Think Beige

This Cherry Grove house was formerly known as "Thimk Pimk." The previous owner, now deceased, had it painted pink. It's been for sale for a while. Apparently someone felt it would be more marketable painted another color.

Enormous New House In Cherry Grove

Anything goes out here on Fire Island. According to National Seashore regulations, there aren't supposed to be any new houses built in the dune district. And the only new construction permitted is limited to single family dwellings. Well, look at the size of this house going up in Cherry Grove on the ocean side of Lewis Walk. It actually looks more like a hotel complex.

Building Up

This small two bedroom cottage was formerly owned by two older gents that we knew named Hal and Ralph. Hal died a couple of years ago and Ralph sold the house for somewhere in the high $300K range. Since some lots are small, expansion to the sides is often not possible. However, adding a second story is an option that the new owners of this small Cherry Grove house have taken.

New Beachfront Construction

The location in the first photo is in the Fire Island Pines, the second photo was taken in Cherry Grove.

Small Cherry Grove House Getting Much Bigger

This bayfront house, for sale last year, is on Bayview Walk. The house is next door to the house ownbed by Mel Rock. Looks like quite and addition.

Pines Partial Reconstruction

The La Fontaine building in the Fire Island Pines is going up fast, but there is no reconstruction whatsoever on the Pavillion. High Tea will have to be on the Yacht Club deck.

Cherry Grove East End Bayside Erosion

It's going to be tough to get to and from Bayview Walk and the meat rack this summer!

New Bird Species At The Feeder

The bird feeder out on Fire Island is a delight to watch and photograph in the early Spring. The birds are hungry and their natural food sources are perhaps in short supply at this time of the year. I've been photographing birds at our feeder for over a decade now. That's why it's exciting when a new species comes to the feeder. This morning this pretty little Downy Woodpecker arrived. It's the first time I've ever seen one at our feeder here in Cherry Grove..

Tropical Blossoms

Photo by Dan. Location: Grenada Date: March 2012

Pop-Up Museum Of Queer History

In a couple of weeks, beginning with an opening reception on Saturday, April 21, I’ll be participating in The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History, a grassroots organization that transforms empty spaces into temporary autonomous shrines dedicated to celebrating the rich, long, and largely unknown histories of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. My exhibit will feature photographs of mine and personal memorabilia from the October 14, 1979 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, the very first gay and lesbian march on Washington. Over 1,500 people attended the last Pop-Up Museum in New York; and we want to make sure this show is just as successful! We have the space, we have the exhibits, now all we need is you! From April 21st - May 19th at the William Way Community Center in Philadelphia, exhibits on everything from the use of drag in Philadelphia Mummers’ Parades dating back to the 1880s, to a sculptural memorial for queer communities in Uganda threatened by a proposed law that makes queerness punishable by death , to a video history project about the lives of black lesbian elders will be available as part of the Museum’s mission make queer history visible in a fun, engaging way and promote community ownership of our histories. The museum is founded on the belief that our communities - and especially our youth - deserve to know our history. If you don't know you have a past, you can't believe you have a future. Now is a moment when you can invest in that future and the work of local artists, and help bring that history to life in Philadelphia! Please support the Pop-Up Museum - and queer artists and historians like myself - by helping fund Pop-Up Philadelphia. http://www.indiegogo.com/popupphilly2012?c=home&a=536290 Your support is critical, and will make a huge difference for The Pop-Up Museum of Queer History and the communities whose stories it tells. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Please mark your calendars and join me at the opening reception on Saturday April 21st at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. I'll let you know the time very soon.

Saturday AM Gustavia, St. Barth's

There is a big regatta finishing up today on the island. This shot is from a web cam that was set up in connection with the regatta.

Occupy Philadelphia Spring Awakening

Occupy Philadelphia members get a legal briefing at Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia prior to a march and mini-encampment at Independence Hall in Philadelphia on Friday, April 6, 2012. The event marked the six month anniversary of Occupy Philadelphia that began with an encampment at Dilworth Plaza in center city Philadelphia on October 6, 2011. Occupy Philadelphia was evicted from that encampment on November 30, 2011.

View Of Grenada

Dan took photos on land while I went scuba diving during our recent visit to this island nation.

Visiting Grenada

Dan took this photo of the Celebrity Summit in the waters off of Grenada. Note the graveyard in the foreground.

A Musical Welcome To Grenada

A steel drum band playing for cruise ship passengers during our visit to Grenada on March 19th. Photo by Dan Evans.