August 24, 2011
Fire Island Frolics: All About Ascension!
Michael K. Lavers READ TIME: 8 MIN.
Started writing at 9:12 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, while listening to the rain and thunder from inside Ocean Beach and reading Tweets about the increasingly likely downfall of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
It's another rainy Sunday night here in Ocean Beach, but the weather is nothing like last weekend's deluge that left the village waterlogged for days.
The weather fortunately (or unfortunately, depending upon one's perspective) did not damper Countess Luann de Lesseps' performance at the Ascension kick-off party in Fire Island Pines on Friday, Aug. 19. Kelly Killoren Bensimon joined her "Real Housewives of New York" cast mate on the balcony. Congressman Barney Frank made a brief appearance, while Bensimon had an impromptu performance of her own when she climbed onto the bar at High Tea and began to dance.
A flip flop malfunction did not stop us from reveling among the cute boys with minimal bathing suits at the Ascension pool party on Saturday, Aug. 20. A complimentary cocktail from the Absolut vodka boys at Canteen proved a refreshing respite from the day's festivities as we watched the world pass along Harbor Walk on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. And the Ascension tea dance and fireworks over the day rounded out a perfect Saturday in the Pines.
As if Saturday didn't feature enough revelry, the beach party on Sunday, Aug. 21, proved Ascension's seminal event (at least for these two non-circuit queens.) The weather held out long enough for Dragonette to perform "Hello." Actor Wilson Cruz, porn star Arpad Miklos and Reichen Lehmkuhl of "The A-List: New York" were among those whom prying eyes spotted throughout the day.
It's almost time for bed, but snarky source's astute observation seems particularly appropriate: Mother Nature certainly proved herself a fag hag over the weekend.
Sunset from the Ascension tea dance on Saturday, Aug. 20.
At the Ascension pool party on Saturday, Aug. 20.
Ascension detritus
Awaiting the fireworks at the Ascension tea dance on Saturday, Aug. 20.
Among the throngs at the Ascension beach party on Sunday, Aug. 21.
Hanging out on the dock in Fair Harbor on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Based in Washington, D.C., Michael K. Lavers has appeared in the New York Times, BBC, WNYC, Huffington Post, Village Voice, Advocate and other mainstream and LGBT media outlets. He is an unapologetic political junkie who thoroughly enjoys living inside the Beltway.
