Getting to Fire Island

[Guest]

My beau and I will be going to Cherry Grove in early July, presumably a busy time. Never been. Does one need to buy ferry tickets in advance, or risk having the ferry sell out? Also, how does one get from the LIRR station to the ferry dock? Are there plenty of taxis?

[Kevin Slater]

I don't think you get ferry tickets in advance.  I never did.

There will be a couple of vans waiting for you at the train station to take you to the ferry for like $10 or so.  Same in reverse.

Kevin Slater

[pubic_assistance]

The LIRR station has shuttle busses to the ferry. You can buy tickets when you arrive at the ferry. ( Just realize the longer line is people who already bought tickets ..so look for the shorter line).  Both shuttles and ferries run frequently. So although technically you could hit a rush hour  and not make it on...you won't wait long for another one.

Chery Grove and The Pines are both gay oriented communites. The Grove has large Lesbian/ hippy vibe. The Pines is more upscale and full of the pretty Instagram gays. Beautiful beach...and lots of beautiful men to oggle. Both towns have nightlife and cafe's but the Grove is a bit more commerical and full of day-trippers where the Pines is more of a seasonal crowd + homeowners.  Both are worth a visit.

Enjoy.

 

Edited April 26, 2023 by pubic_assistance

[+ LIguy]

I didn't take you for the Cherry Grove type.....more the Pines suited.

[Guest]

6 hours ago, LIguy said:

I didn't take you for the Cherry Grove type.....more the Pines suited.

When I lived with my (formerly) Russian beau, I used to buy cherries and forget them in the fridge. The Russian word for "in" as "in a few days" in Russian is pronounced "cherries." So when he asked me when I was going to eat the cherries, I'd respond "in a few days," or "cherries nyeskolka dnei" (через несколько дней). My current beau thinks he'll know people in the Pines and that we'll therefore be invited to parties there. Wherever we go, anyplace from Pensacola Beach on Memorial Day or Chicago or wherever, he always knows people. He's very social. We'll be doing an Italian/Greek extravaganza for most of May. 

This photo reminds me of the sexiest man with whom I've ever had carnal pleasure--a former escort in Dallas. It could actually be a photo of the man...???

[kingsley88]

On 4/25/2023 at 6:30 PM, Unicorn said:

My beau and I will be going to Cherry Grove in early July, presumably a busy time. Never been. Does one need to buy ferry tickets in advance, or risk having the ferry sell out? Also, how does one get from the LIRR station to the ferry dock? Are there plenty of taxis?

I'm guessing you mean 4th of July weekend? That's a busy weekend because of the Invasion.

Definitely bring some cash. The minivans taking you from Sayville LIRR station to the ferry dock mainly take cash ($5 but who knows it might be $6 due to inflation).

Enjoy Fire Island!!! Between Pines and Cherry Grove, I prefer the nightlife at Cherry Grove. 

[pubic_assistance]

The nightlife in the Grove is your typical gay bar scene. Drag queens and lots of effeminate types mixed in with a few rough Lesbians. I always considered it to be too casually trailer-trash for my taste  (To each - his own)

The Pines is MUCH more upscale, attractive and predominantly gay/bi MEN only. (With the exception of Robin Byrd) Most of the real beautiful people are over there. Unfortunately the beauties do too many party drugs and most of the big weekends include a body bag removing an OD'd guest from the dance floor.

Both towns have a distinct community. All depends on what you like. Enjoy.

 

[+ Lucky]

2 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

..."most of the big weekends include a body bag removing an OD'd guest from the dance floor."

 Enjoy.

 

Most weekends?  I don't doubt that deaths might occur, but I could not find any evidence that it was common.

[pubic_assistance]

On the BIG weekends like the Pines Party not every weekend.

There's always a lot of drug use going on with the glamour-boys.

I haven't been out that way for several years but I doubt the scene has changed much.

 

Edited May 27, 2023 by pubic_assistance

[Guest]

9 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

...The Pines is MUCH more upscale, attractive and predominantly gay/bi MEN only. (With the exception of Robin Byrd) Most of the real beautiful people are over there...

Hopefully we'll go to at least one party over there. I'm not sure I myself am considered a raving beauty any more! 😄 My beau would qualify, though. 😉

 

[+ Italiano]

Being quite allergic to big crowds (especially at the beach) for my first visit to Fire Island I chose one gorgeous week day of early September 2019 to wake up early, drive one hour from Brooklyn to Sayville, take the ferry with a little bunch of gay early birds and enjoying a beautiful day at the Pines. Breakfast at Canteen, little walk through the village and then a few hours at the beautiful, almost empty beach. I repeated it another couple of times during the following weeks and then last year (I skipped 2020 and 2021..), and I plan to do the same this year. Very very enjoyable.

I am definitely too old for parties and loud music.

[+ nycman]

On 4/26/2023 at 1:36 PM, LIguy said:

I didn't take you for the Cherry Grove type.....more the Pines suited.

[Guest]

40 minutes ago, Italiano said:

...I am definitely too old for parties and loud music.

 

[kingsley88]

On 5/28/2023 at 7:13 AM, Italiano said:

Being quite allergic to big crowds (especially at the beach) for my first visit to Fire Island I chose one gorgeous week day of early September 2019 to wake up early, drive one hour from Brooklyn to Sayville, take the ferry with a little bunch of gay early birds and enjoying a beautiful day at the Pines. Breakfast at Canteen, little walk through the village and then a few hours at the beautiful, almost empty beach. I repeated it another couple of times during the following weeks and then last year (I skipped 2020 and 2021..), and I plan to do the same this year. Very very enjoyable.

I am definitely too old for parties and loud music.

I think Fire Island is really what you make of it. If you go with some close friends, you can host your own parties and do what you wish. I've noticed as I've gotten older that the best parties are the private ones held in people's houses that you get invited to during the week. 

[SouthOfTheBorder]

On 5/29/2023 at 2:38 PM, kingsley88 said:

think Fire Island is really what you make of it

this is the oldest cliche about Fire Island there is.  

In both Pines & Cherry Grove, vast majority of houses are dumps (expect for some that are owner occupied), everything is obscenely overpriced compared to Manhattan, no decent restaurants and RAMPANT/visible drug use.  It’s not uncommon to see guys doing powder bumps on the ferry and in the bars. Who knows what kind of powder - there are so many.  There are frequent overdoses that require medical evacuation - it’s super common.  There is an unmistakeable energy that goes along with the crystal meth crowd (agitated, bitchy & aggressive) & it’s pervasive. Drug use seems more of thing in Pines than Grove 

The weather is generally very unpredictable - it’s about 50/50 chance you get sunny weather with little humidity.

I spent many summers wondering why I was paying astronomical sums of money in an isolated place with bad weather surrounded by drug addicts at every turn.  I can only see Fire Island as a destination for New Yorkers that can’t really get away for anything beyond a long weekend and then only if you can somehow tune out all the bad behavior at every turn. 

There are some people that hibernate in their house with a small group of friends only - but if that’s the case, why go to Fire Island at all ?

Also - getting there by public transport is a ridiculous schlep. Take a car from Manhattan to the ferry dock and save your sanity. 

[mike carey]

3 minutes ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

this is the oldest cliche about Fire Island there is.  

In both Pines & Cherry Grove, vast majority of houses are dumps (expect for some that are owner occupied), everything is obscenely overpriced compared to Manhattan, no decent restaurants and RAMPANT/visible drug use.  It’s not uncommon to see guys doing powder bumps on the ferry and in the bars. Who knows what kind of powder - there are so many.  There are frequent overdoses that require medical evacuation - it’s super common.  There is an unmistakeable energy that goes along with the crystal meth crowd (agitated, bitchy & aggressive) & it’s pervasive. Drug use seems more of thing in Pines than Grove 

The weather is generally very unpredictable - it’s about 50/50 chance you get sunny weather with little humidity.

I spent many summers wondering why I was paying astronomical sums of money in an isolated place with bad weather surrounded by drug addicts at every turn.  I can only see Fire Island as a destination for New Yorkers that can’t really get away for anything beyond a long weekend and then only if you can somehow tune out all the bad behavior at every turn. 

There are some people that hibernate in their house with a small group of friends only - but if that’s the case, why go to Fire Island at all ?

Also - getting there by public transport is a ridiculous schlep. Take a car from Manhattan to the ferry dock and save your sanity. 

You paint an idyllic picture of a weekend there (or second prize, a week). Why would anyone take a weekend trip to, say the Caribbean, when Fire Island is on offer?

[SouthOfTheBorder]

10 minutes ago, mike carey said:

Why would anyone take a weekend trip to, say the Caribbean, when Fire Island is on offer?

good question - mainly the draw to Fire Island is proximity to NYC.  It usually a 3 hour trip door-to-door to FI if you’re in a car and if you arrive just before a ferry departure. So, for gay New Yorkers it’s a go to weekend destination if you can afford it.

Flying to Caribbean from nyc would be 3-4 hours & that’s flight time only.  Factor in airport wait time & transfers and it’s just not an easy alternative.  Plus, Fire island is a summer destination whereas Caribbean is mainly winter. 

I quit going to Fire Island when I retired and could get away for extended periods of time. I do not miss it at all. 

[pubic_assistance]

There ARE other towns on Fire Island. 

You don't NEED to stay at Cherry Grove or the Pines.

There are multiple mini ferries going from town to town, that would allow you to visit the gay-centric towns for your dose of visual stimulus (or a bump of meth). Then head back home to a more peaceful environment in one of the other beautiful sea side villages on the island.  You can alternatively visit from the town of Sailors Haven or Water Island by walking along the beach in 20 minutes time. I agree: the pernicious drug use in the gay towns is a downer. But its most obvious in the later part of the day when the body-builders start heading out for cocktails, coke and cuckolding

[SouthOfTheBorder]

8 minutes ago, pubic_assistance said:

There are multiple mini ferries going from town to town,

ferries to other towns (from Pines or Grove) are unreliable with limited hours. when they work I suppose it’s an option.  I’ve seen more people stuck in grove from other “towns” than I can count tho.  

yes - of course other towns on fire island.  this thread originally referenced the Grove, thus my specificity.

my overall point remains that Fire Island (all towns) are primarily for New Yorkers getting away for weekends - and that it’s super expensive with mediocre weather and lack of services/amenities.  Upstate towns way more interesting as a weekend NYC getaway without the attitude, drugs & drama. 

if you’ve got time - just go to europe instead 

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Agreed about saving your sanity and booking a car from the city to Sayville.  It's a small price to avoid a lot of bullshit.

Fire Island is what gays have when they can't or won't afford the Hamptons or a shore house.  For the price of a house share, I'd personally rather go to South America, Asia or Europe.

That said, it's life in the gay bubble, which many enjoy and want.  I'm not one of those people.

My real issue with FI remains that many people who go don't cut the ultra-competitive Manhattan shit and just relax.  There's always this underlying current of one upmanship that tends to ruin the vacation vibe fast.

Sidenote:  It's what I still like about Key West... Although it's a lot less gay than it used to be, the island is still very much an island.  People don't give a shit about your money, cars, jets or vacation houses.  

 

 

[+ nycman]

4 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

Fire Island is what gays have when they can't or won't afford the Hamptons

You took the words right out of my mouth.

[mike carey]

46 minutes ago, nycman said:

You took the words right out of my mouth.

Wasn't there a novella about that?

[+ nycman]

38 minutes ago, mike carey said:

Wasn't there a novella about that?

I’m not sure, but there was definitely a Meatloaf song:

 

[pubic_assistance]

7 hours ago, BenjaminNicholas said:

That said, it's life in the gay bubble, which many enjoy and want. 

Exactly true.

I always found the other towns on Fire Island to be more charming to stay.  The Pines was just fun to check out the pretty boys in the Pines for an hour or two. (Maybe drag one into the "Meat-Rack" for a quickie.)

But I know some of the gays enjoy a gay-only-bubble, and the Pines and the Grove definitely provides that wonderland fantasy for those who need to be away from "the straights" and not feel "second class".

The Hampton's isn't really a decent alternative, because that too is all movers and shakers from Manhattan doing their networking. So that's just tedious and ruins the whole social scene. Most of the gays are super pretentious and won't suck your dick if you're net worth is under $10M.

[+ azdr0710]

though a geography nerd, I never checked out Fire Island.....always assumed it was a tiny little ferry-only island with the two oft-cited gay towns and this "Meat Rack" place in between and nothing else.....

just now went to Google Earth and, wow, Fire Island is much bigger than I thought......several other towns/settlements along the miles-long and very narrow island......looks like cars are even allowed via a bridge at the far west end and on the island to a point just west of the Grove.......beach driving appears allowed (special permit??), though, to access the Pines from the west, based on the tire tracks along the beach.......(I can see evil cars on the streets of the Pines!) 

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fire+Island,+NY/@40.6577999,-73.0941511,134m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e81153da534b8f:0x63032a1963b35f70!8m2!3d40.6475997!4d-73.1459474!16zL20vMDJfM3h5?entry=ttu

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fire+Island,+NY/@40.6623544,-73.0737487,135m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e81153da534b8f:0x63032a1963b35f70!8m2!3d40.6475997!4d-73.1459474!16zL20vMDJfM3h5?entry=ttu