Greetings from Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is a barrier island adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately 50 kilometers (31 mi) long and varies between 160 and 400 meters (520 and 1,300 ft) broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places (CDPs), and villages, all of which lie within the towns of Islip, Brookhaven and Babylon. (Picture: Fire Island Lighthouse) The land area of Fire Island is 22.5 square kilometers (8.7 sq mi). According to the 2000 census there is a permanent population of 491, expanding to hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists during the summer months.
Fire Island is approximately 8.9 kilometers (5.5 mi) south of Long Island, but varies widely. It is separated from Long Island by a series of interconnected bays: Great South Bay, Patchogue Bay, Bellport Bay, Narrow Bay, and Moriches Bay. The island is accessible by automobile via Robert Moses Causeway on its western end and by William Floyd Parkway (Suffolk County Road 46) near its eastern end. Motor vehicles are not permitted on the rest of the Island, except for utility, construction and emergency access and with limited beach driving permits in winter. The island and its resort towns are accessible by boat, seaplane and a number of ferries, which depart from both Bay Shore and Sayville.
Around 1683, Fire Island Inlet broke through, separating it from Jones Beach Island.
The Fire Island Inlet was to grow to nine miles (14 km) in width before receding. The Fire Island Lighthouse was built in 1858, right on the inlet, but Fire Island's western terminus at Democrat Point has steadily moved west so that the lighthouse today is six miles (10 km) from the inlet.
The origin of Fire Island's name is not certain. It is believed its Native American name was Sictem Hackey, which translated to "Land of the Secatogues". The Secatogues were a tribe in the Bay Shore, New York, area. It was part of what was also called the "Seal Islands." Other versions say the island derived its name from fires built on the sea's edge by Native Americans or by pirates to lure unsuspecting ships into the sandbars. Some say it is how portions of the island look to be on fire from sea in autumn. The name of Fire Island first appeared on a deed in 1789.
( Read more... )
The Fire Island Trittico by Paul Cadmus:
Point of View, Fire Island, by Paul Cadmus, 1945
( Read more... )
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_Island
What not to miss about Fire Island?( Half-Share )
I would say that once you get there you realize what an enchanting island it is - no cars, and no inhibitions. It's full on gay, and by the time you have to take the ferry back to "reality" you're sad that the default world has to be so threatening.
The new owners of the Pines harbor area are a great threesome who have brought the community spirit back to the island. You have to hit all three teas (low, middle and high) as well as Pavilion, and the neighbor "Sip & Twirl". The Blue Whale restaurant is good food and fun entertainment from drag queens and entertainers. The same can be said of Cherry Grove and the Ice Palace. It's a walk away, with a more diverse population, and is a bit more relaxed and also sports fun competitions like "Miss Fire Island". In between the Pines and the Grove is the Meat Rack - a swampy forested area more excitable than Birnam wood coming to Dunsinane!
If you go, I recommend planning far in advance so that you can find accomodation - or just heading there with a backpack and a smile. The Fire Island mantra is: "Jump and the mattress will appear!" Try July 4th - when the "drag queen invasion" happens in the harbor. It's better than Disneyland! --Jesse Archer
( Further Readings )
Fire Island is a barrier island adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately 50 kilometers (31 mi) long and varies between 160 and 400 meters (520 and 1,300 ft) broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places (CDPs), and villages, all of which lie within the towns of Islip, Brookhaven and Babylon. (Picture: Fire Island Lighthouse) 