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Beauty queens, the parents of transgender children, a former Special Forces police officer, and the Deputy Mayor/Alderman of Amsterdam are among the accomplished transgender individuals telling their stories. His documentary, which has earned recognition at the World Film Festival in Cannes, is having its world premiere at The Suffolk Music and Arts Festival, presented by the Love Wins International Film Festival and Babylon Pride, in collaboration with House of Yes in Sayville, on June 6.

LGBTQ+ Love Wins International Film Festival debuts with Heartfelt Cinema at Sayville Movie Theater

Posted on May 29, 2026

Sunday, May 31 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) The Sagtikos Manor Historical Society will host The Peony Path Tour at Sagtikos Manor, 677 West Montauk Highway, Bay Shore. Attendees will take a private tour of the Manor’s walled garden and learn the history and horticulture of the Peony, the Sagtikos Peony Project, and other restoration efforts. Cap the day off with a stop at the magnificent peacock fountain and waterlily pool. Light refreshments will be provided. Admission: $20. Tours begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For details and reservations, visit sagtikosmanor.org

Dining

Say So Long to the Month of May, and Hello to June! Things To Do this Weekend and the Week Ahead

Posted on May 28, 2026

I painted my sensory experiences, discovering ways to express the dynamic coastal environment. In 2020, I painted a watercolor study of the boys up in the lifeguard stand. Although the people around me were in my line of sight, I altered some figures to provide a variety of archetypes, mindful of including people of different genders, ages, and ethnicities. The directional paint strokes are dynamic forces on the surface and into the third dimension. They suggest changes in wind and heat that carry light through the humid atmosphere. The paint texture has a direction that one feels at their center of gravity as beachgoers interact and the surf crashes ashore. The colors are descriptive while also expressive. The back of the figure in the foreground contains pink, orange, and red. White describes reflected light off the burning sand and highlights on skin rich with sunscreen and perspiration.

Meet Visual Artist, Margery Gosnell-Qua, Painter of Life

Posted on May 25, 2026

The Fire Island Dance Festival, returning July 18-19 to Fire Island Pines, is set on a waterfront stage overlooking the Great South Bay. The festival gathers extraordinary dancers in a place where salt air, open sky, and communal memory become part of the performance. Here, dance is not merely entertainment. It is witness, offering, and love made visible, moving from the stage into real life through meals, medication, counseling, emergency assistance, testing, grants, and care.

Fire Island Dance Festival Launches 2026 Season with Pop-Up Performances in the Pines

Posted on May 23, 2026

It may have been a gray, damp Thursday morning, with shops still busy making final touches as Memorial Day Weekend loomed large on Fire Island, but things felt a little warmer as vibrantly colored editions of Fire Island News (FIN) graced with the cover artwork of Margery Gosnell-Qua were loaded off the water taxi and onto wagons, and delivery rounds were made in Fire Island communities multiple communities including Atlatique, Cherry Grove, Davis Park, Fair Harbor, Fire Island Pines Kismet, Ocean Beach, Ocean Bay Park, and Saltaire.

First Fire Island News of 2026 Rolls Off the Presses, and Stocked on Newsstands Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

Posted on May 21, 2026

Tuesday, May 19 (7-9 p.m.) STAR SPANGLED CONCERT: Honoring our Nation’s 250th Anniversary Enjoy a special evening of music, remembrance, and celebration as we honor America’s 250th Anniversary and pay tribute to U.S. Navy SEALs and all veterans on Tuesday, May 19, as the North Shore Community Band performs against the backdrop of the museum and the legacy it represents. Raffles and lite snacks are available. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., the concert begins at 7 p.m. The LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum is located at 50 West Ave. in West Sayville.

The Week of May Before Memorial Day: Things To Do Before the Big Weekend

Posted on May 15, 2026

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Mother’s Day and Mid-May: Things To Do this Week and the Week Ahead Along Great South Bay Long Island

Posted on May 7, 2026

When artist Rosi Barry passed away in May 2025, she left behind a large body of work—photographs, paintings, and sketches—full of beauty, natural wonder, and whimsy. She also left behind a community of artists who loved her and her work and wanted to pay tribute to her in the best way they could.

Rosi Remembered: A Commemorative Exhibition by South Bay Art Association

Posted on May 6, 2026

Disney’s Wonderful World of Color was a staple Sunday night television program on NBC from 1960 to 1969. I got to hand it to the Argyle Theatre for providing the same carousel of color, but this time it was live on their stage. Disney’s Descendants: The Musical is just one more of their vivid productions.

Disney’s Descendants Descends on Babylon’s Argyle Theater

Posted on May 2, 2026

Opening Friday, May 1 Awakenings The BAFFA Art Gallery will feature a multi-media exhibit by Women Sharing Art in May. The exhibit includes painting, photography, mosaics, sculpture, fiber arts, and mixed media. “Awakenings explores moments of transformation, discovery, and renewed awareness.” The show can be viewed at the Gallery, Thursdays through Sundays, from Noon to 4:00 p.m. An artists’ reception and awards for students whose work was exhibited at the student art show will take place on May 2 from 1 - 4 PMp.m. The BAFFA Gallery is located in the historic Gillette House at 47 Gillette Avenue in Sayville. This exhibition runs through May 31. The gallery is open Thursday-Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For further information: www.baffa.org or www.womensharingart.org.

Books & Authors

May Day and More: Things To Do this Weekend and Week Ahead Along Great South Bay Long Island

Posted on April 30, 2026

Rising from the ashes—literally—Whalehouse Point Restaurant and Bar on Fire Island has been resurrected after a fire destroyed the building back in September 2019. “Reconstruction has been an uphill battle,” said John Tafe, director of operations, as the establishment is situated on federal land on Fire Island’s National Seashore.

Dining

Whalehouse Point: A Star is Reborn on Fire Island’s National Seashore

Posted on April 27, 2026

Bluegrass music may originate in the Appalachian Mountains, but it has made a home on Long Island for the past 50 years, despite its rural beginnings, thanks to Buddy Merriam.

Bluegrass Great Buddy Merriam Brings Back Roads to an End

Posted on April 24, 2026

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