INVASION OF THE PINES 2024-LOOK BACK

It’s certainly early on but there’s always interest in what this next dance and entertainment season is going to look like. This is particularly so since there have been some ownership changes one in Cherry Grove and a second larger one in FI Pines. Over the last few weeks this editor has been reaching out to various owners or their representatives to find out some early news about what’s ahead. We didn’t get all that we hoped for but there has been enough feedback to provide a good idea of what’s ahead for a majority of the venues in FI Pines and Cherry Grove. FI PINES Let’s start with the elephant on the dance floor. This season there’s going to be new ownership of a majority of the dance venues in FI Pines as Tristan Schukraft, first pictured today, takes over, among other businesses in FI Pines, these dance venues. The Blue Whale restaurant site of afternoon to early evening Tea dances, weeknight piano bar, and other events too (e.g. bingo) is one of the three dance venues he will own. Nearby the pool deck area site of Fun Tea dance events on weekends falls under his management too. And last but not least the full-scale famed Pavilion nightclub as well now will come under his management. In the past several years all these venues including Sip and Twirl nightclub have fallen under the management of PJ McAteer. Now with an ownership change that role for him ends as he pivots to managing the one nightclub that remains under his ownership, Sip and Twirl giving that venue his full attention. So, with a new owner, and new money, renovations occurring and more to occur, the question that comes to mind is: shake up on the dance floor or is it stay the course at least for a while. And the answer is: we could get none. At least not yet. We were able to speak to a representative of the business and the response was that an announcement was coming “soon” about what changes if any were ahead. While we struck out there we were able to get answers from other club owners allowing readers to get a context though about what is happening elsewhere. PJ McAteer (second pictured today), who will be continuing his 20-year tenure as a club manager/owner in FI Pines did tell this editor that Sip and Twirl’s programming will essentially remain stable although as always clubs do try to bring in some new programming for variety. He will be managing that business along with the other FI Pines businesses he continues to own: Pines Pizza, the Bistro and a catering business. He did say that the club will be offering programming on a seven-day a week basis and that does lead one to think that programming at Sip and Twirl may include more early weekday events than previously (Monday to Wednesday). Dance events in FI Pines are not limited to just brick and mortal businesses. The beach is a venue too and now with the beach rebuild in full swing it’s going to be an even more beautiful natural venue. That means beach dances provided by BOFFO (e.g. Sunday Sounds, beach arts festival 7-11-25), and pop-up beach dance events held by the 5htp collective should continue. And of course there is the big beach dance event definitely scheduled, the Pines Party (weekend of 8-1 to 8-3). 11-14-25 update: there has been a confirmation on social media that indeed the 5HTP events will be held this season. Of some note this year is the 50th celebration of the Invasion of the Pines that might bring on special programming to mark that milestone (Friday 7-4-25). Cherry Grove Over in Cherry Grove, unpictured, Cherry’s now has a new owner and manager, Paul Scarpa. On our contact with him he advised that he will be a hands-on presence in the club. He too will be holding the past Cherry’s schedule pretty stable but did say he will be bringing on a group of new headliners too. At the Ice Palace we spoke to the Ice Palace’s major domo, Daniel Nardicio. This will be his third year managing the entertainment at the Ice Palace. It’s taken him two years to build out a very extensive program schedule of dance events, and performers and this year the plan is pretty much to stay the course. There will be some attention paid to expanding the coffee bar offered last season. It was successful last season and has potential for doing better. Cherry’s and the Ice Palace are the two main dance venues in Cherry Grove but there are other venues that provide entertainment. We’ve been advised that Sand Castle on the Ocean will be continuing its long-standing piano bar, perhaps the longest held piano bar event in Cherry Grove, as well as offering singers and other performers from time to time at the business pretty much then a stay the course plan. At the Island Breeze, we could not get any direct information about what they are planning for this season. If last year is a guide expect a return of their weekend scheduling that includes an overall regular rotation of karaoke, band performers and drag performances and some pop-up DJs. Sky High Tea, promoted by Robin Bryd, and DJ Greg Scarnici will be returning to the roof deck of the Cherry Grove Community House we’ve been advised by the Cherry Grove Arts Project, that is the actual sponsor of that event. It was very successful last season, and expected to do just as well this season. For those marking their calendars the 2025 schedule for this event is: Sat May 24 and Fri June 27th and Sat July 5th and Sat August 30th. Our dance survey would not be complete without mentioning that both FI Pines and Cherry Grove are blessed with multiple other dance events that occur during the season for all sorts of good causes, too numerous to catalogue here. These are events held at other venues, community buildings, private homes, and housing accommodations that convert their spaces into venues for those causes from time to time. Expect the return of all of them. If there is a summation for this survey it might be this. If you liked the 2024 season then the 2025 season looks to be on course for a repeat. There does remain one wild card and that is just what might the new owner of the Pavilion, and Blue Whale might be up to. He’s got prior club experience as an owner of multiple other nightclubs elsewhere. How that might play into the 2025 season still remains to be discovered. All and all it looks like another banner year and as the years have evolved of late starting earlier than in years in past think late April, and lasting longer think more into Columbus day weekend in October (and if the ferry service improved it's late season weekend service there would be a lot more around to take in post-Labor day weekend.). Just a thought there Sayville Ferry! By John Bogack, Editor Fire Island Star