Fire Island Reporter

May 17, 2012

-Servng Cherry Grove & Fire Island Pines -

Vol. 1 Issue 1

Fired Up About the 2012 Season

get an idea as to how business is shaping up there, as well. Mark at the Pines Pantry is incredibly hopeful and optirojections for the upcoming 2012 season are gener- mistic, praying for good weather, and adds that Theres ally positive, although there is some slight varia- a tremendous level of excitement and enthusiasm from the tion when one particular topic is broached the clientele and the community in general. weather. Jon Wilner at Island Properties stated that summer 2012 is Tommy Tush, a local painter, put it succinctly, shaping up to be a great rental season. There seems to be a The success of any season is contingent on the weather. lot of interest in the region due to the fire, and everyone is While this sentiment was echoed by nearly every business really banding together in the community. owner I met with, most C. F. LaFountaine, were positive about the when contacted for a upcoming season, lookcomment admitted that ing forward to a beautithey were entirely too ful summer. busy, which is comIn terms of preparing pletely understandable for visitors to Cherry under the circumstancGrove, taking a look es. Its truly great to see around the Grove Marthem bounce back so ket, its easy to see that smoothly Reggies really gotten In terms of rentals and the place ready, with homes on Fire Island, the new shelves fully Evelyn Danko, Presistocked. I couldnt posdent of A Summer Place sibly recommend the yoRealty and Management gurt-covered almonds Corp.shared these inmore, theyre fantastic. spiring words: Sales Reggies market isnt are high, unexpectedly the only place offering good. Whatever the more goods and servic- Linda DAncona and her grandson Joseph DAncona. economic conditions, it es, plenty of other busidoesnt seem to effect nesses are changing a bit, as well. The Sand Castle is cur- Fire Island. Bill Ottignon, top sales agent, added With rently undergoing construction and will be ready very soon, such close proximity to New York City, and gasoline prices they will be offering an all new upscale menu, including nearing five dollars a gallon, Fire Island is truly a perfect fresh seafood according to Johnny Pool, bartender and long- vacation spot. Why go anywhere else? time Cherry Grove personality, now in his forty-eighth year Susan Levine, award-winning DJ spoke to me about the working on Fire Island. situation between the Pines and Cherry Grove two great Top of the Bay Bistro chef Stephen Daniello is looking for- gay communities, though Cherry Grove has stronger enterward to a busy and exciting season also, offering some new tainment, for sure. While the Pines may in fact be lacking dishes while also delivering some classic favorites. in terms of some businesses that were lost in the fire, Cherry Linda at Sweet Licks has been doing business here for forty- Grove more than makes up for them with plenty of great two years, and has something truly inspired to bring to the places to eat and play. mix this summer. At a mere 178 calories, Sweet Licks now Kenny at Island Breeze smiled and said (while dining on offers wine sorbet that just goes with the party atmosphere some incredible-looking sliders off the menu) All the busiof Cherry Grove. Having given the wine sorbet a taste, I nesses here are stepping up their game. The customers feel have to say, the merlot is quite delicious. it. The community feels it. Its like a Cherry Grove renaisAfter the devastating fires in the Pines, its important to sance.
By Robert Ottone

Whats Happening
Cherry Grove
May 18-20 Excelsior Leather Weekend Grove Hotel/Ice Palace Friday Welcoming Party Master Slave Auction Porsche
Saturday Mr. Fire Island Leather Contest

Sunday Porsche May 19-20 Grand Bazaar Flea Market Community House

Fire Island Pines

Remembering The Monster

By Lianna Tedesco

It was like a vacation every time we went over there. At least this what my mother once said about The infamous Monster restaurant that thrived here in Cherry Grove from the 70s era into the early 80s. Remembering The Monster in all of its glory brought smiles to the faces of both my mother and grandmother as they remembered outrageous summers and Lobster Thermador at The Monster. But what made all of these memories even more special--and more outrageous--was Warren McLaughlin. He was the chef at The Monster from 1981 on, and he was my uncle. He was known simply as Mel to all those who knew him, short for Melanie Maison, so named by the Infanta, MaitreD of The Monster in those days. Mel be-

The original Monster. Photo courtesy Summer Place Realty

lieved that The Monsters years on Fire Island were the best years in its restaurant life. And, as his best friend Tom,or Mother would say, possibly some of the best years in mu uncles life. He was a modest man, incredibly strong throughout his life, and I think my grandmother (Ruth McLaughlin 87) described him best when she said, Nothing was too much trouble, he would attempt anything. He had great abilities. He carried this philosophy and style throughout his career in Cherry Grove. The man behind the brilliant lobster, Steak Tartar, Steak Monster, Oysters Rockefeller and Lobster Bisque was a man who proudly sported striped shorts, pink tank top, and a bandana as he popped out culinary delights for a community, in what may have been considered its Golden Age. Along with the stunning array of seasonal food, The Monster was also known in Cherry Grove for its highly regarded Monster--Tea Dance. A big colorful party with dancing, cocktails flowing from Sherwood the bartender (another story), sparkling disco balls, throbbing music including The Monster favorite Its Raining Men, and men. In short, that was The Monster Tea Dance. It really was the place to be. Disco music played by DJ Warren Gluck and men in various degrees of dress and glamour, fanciful and campy as they were. Between the drinking and the music and the noise, it got very loud, as my mother (Tess McLaughlin 53) recalls it, along with the ridiculously packed-to-capacity dance floor and the people on it who could not have had any more love for life than they did then. However this was not the only event staged at The Monster. While it was the party that mattered, there were other celebrations as well, such as the Queen Mothers birthday celebration every August, a highly respected date,

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store

Never the same store twice!

At the top of Main Walk Cherry Grove

and a time well remembered. Cherry Grove still lives in all of its glory today, but if you ask anyone who frequented the island when The Monster thrived, they will tell you that it was truly magical. The Monster tragically burned down in the early 90s, but in NYC there lives a second Monster, opened by Joe Scialo, owner of the original Monster in Cherry Grove. Joe passed away in late 2004, a tragic loss of an amazing man who was similiar in heart to my Uncle Mel. My uncle once said that Scialo taught him everything he knew, and it was a friendship that lasted forever. Charlie Rice, partner to Joe Scialo, inherited The Monster in NYC and all its fame, and once said of my Uncle Mel, He was synonymous with The Monster. Mel was an accomplished chef and prepared many of the famous dishes that customers on Fire Island loved. He was a never-say-never guy, and when asked to do something, his answer was always affirmative. He loved The Monster. The memory of my Uncle Mel and The Monster live in infamy with the food, music, laughter and whole-heartedness they instilled in Cherry Grove. Editor: Lianna Tedesco is a local journalism student from Blue Point, NY. She will be covering the historical/remembrance feature each week. We are pleased to have her writing for us and want to give her unending support for the start of her career.

Publisher: Michael Pittman

Designer: Jed Collins

Photographer: Bobby Lerch

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