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Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The first rule of ICE Club? Don't talk about ICE Club. And treat all migrants as criminals.
A bird sits on a security fence at the Chase County Detention Facility in 2021. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector) Jails are hard places made necessary by people like Ernest Hoefgen. Few are likely to remember Hoefgen now, but back in September 1943 the 31-year-old escaped from the city jail at Cottonwood Falls. He'd been picked up for assault, according to newspaper accounts, and was using an alias. In reality, Hoefgen was an escapee from the Texas state prison at Huntsville, where he had been serving a life sentence for murder. Stick with me, because this is not a story about a murder that took place eight decades ago, but about due process in America in 2025. I've been thinking a lot lately about the Constitutional guarantee of due process, which means everyone should have access to fair and adequate legal proceedings when the government threatens to deprive us of life, liberty or property. This is regardless of what Kristi Noem, director of Homeland Security, may say it and habeas corpus are. Our thinking about courts and jails and their role in American society has been shaped by Hoefgen and other criminals like him. The reason 'In Cold Blood' stays with us, apart from Truman Capote's writing, is that it's a story of a farm family in western Kansas who were murdered in a sensational way. It leaves us asking, why? Movies, books and television also tend to blur our thinking about who is a criminal and who is not. If you're in jail — or a detention center, as they're likely called now — you must be a criminal, right? Well, no. There are plenty of people being processed in our jails right now who have committed no crime but who have violated relatively minor civil codes, comparable to getting a ticket from the city for the height of your grass. But unlike policing lawn care, there's a gold rush related to immigration enforcement. There's a billion-dollar detention industry hungry to fill beds with Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees, and civil liberties are being eroded in the process. ICE doesn't like to talk about how much it pays facilities, or to have any of its contractors talk about how much they make per day for each detainee. Apparently, the first rule of ICE club is don't talk about ICE club. But let's talk first about how jails are supposed to function. In 1938, Hoefgen killed carpenter George Richet with a hatchet from Richet's own toolbox. Hoefgen and a teenage girlfriend, Sylvia Phipps, were hitchhiking near Wichita Falls when the carpenter gave them a lift, according to the Associated Press. Hoefgen later told investigators he didn't know why he killed Richet, who still had $8 in cash when his body was found by railway workers. The case remained unsolved for two years. Both Hoefgen and Phipps were later picked up on forgery charges at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, found guilty, and sentenced to prison. In 1940, Phipps told the matron at the women's reformatory she wanted to talk to investigators because she had witnessed the killing of Richet in Texas. When questioned, Hoefgen confessed. We know all this about Hoefgen because of due process. The evidence against him was carefully detailed in court filings, he had advice from lawyers, and his court proceedings were open to the public and the press. Hoefgen was sent to Huntsville to serve his life sentence, but he escaped — twice. After the second escape, he ran back to his home state of Kansas, where he married a local girl named Pauline and got into trouble at Cottonwood Falls. After escaping from the city jail, he stole another car and picked up a hitchhiker, 18-year-old Kansas State University student Bruce Smoll. When Smoll became suspicious, according to a United Press story, Hoefgen shot him to death. Rabbit hunters found the body a month later in a cornfield near Peabody, about 40 miles southwest of Cottonwood Falls. Based on a hunch from Smoll's father that Hoefgen may have been involved in his son's death, and tips from Pauline's parents, investigators found Hoefgen living in Denver and returned him to Marion County, where he was charged with Smoll's murder. Hoefgen's story is full of odd details that, if you put them in a movie, would shatter the audience's suspension of disbelief. When he and Phipps were in the county jail at Gering, Nebraska, awaiting trial on the forgery charges, they allegedly hatched a ridiculous jailbreak plot by hiding notes to one another in bananas and tomatoes. My interest in Hoefgen is because his last murderous jail escape began in Cottonwood Falls. The Chase County Detention Center at Cottonwood Falls has received attention lately as being the last and largest ICE-contracted jail facility in Kansas. The 148-bed facility was built to turn a profit for this central Kansas county of 2,500, and it has been mostly full since the mass deportations began under the Trump administration. Back in 2021 and again earlier this month, I wrote about my discomfort with a picturesque Kansas county profiting from the misery of ICE detentions. Four years ago, the rate paid per day of inmate detention was $62. Curious about how much Chase County is now receiving to house detainees, I filed a Kansas Open Records Act request for the facility contract. I was told to take a hike. 'Due to being a federal contracted agency,' Sheriff Jacob Welsh wrote in an email, 'there are contract restrictions which I am not allowed to disclose any information about the contract.' Requests, he said, were to be sent directly to ICE. Welsh did not respond to a request to cite the KORA exemption he felt applied in the situation or to provide the language in the federal contract that forbade him from discussing the contract. I did contact ICE for the contract but received an automated out-of-office reply from spokeswoman Yasmeen Pitts O'Keefe. The email said she would respond when she returned 'Monday, May 21.' As of Friday, I had not received a response from O'Keefe or any other ICE representative. Max Kautsch, a First Amendment lawyer at Lawrence, told me that Welsh's responses showed a lack of concern for open records and state law. 'The sheriff's response violates the Kansas Open Records Act,' Kautsch said, 'because he does not 'cite the specific provision of law' authorizing denial of the request,' which he must do under Kansas law. There are legitimate exemptions to KORA that allow the use of federal law to deny requests, such as how public universities can deny some requests for student information under Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. 'If the sheriff insists on denying the request based on guidance he's received from the federal government, he must come clear to the public and cite that authority, as KORA requires,' Kautsch said. 'He also would need to explain why he is unable to produce even a redacted version of the requested records.' Welsh's response raises concerns about open government. 'These circumstances suggest, at a minimum, that the sheriff is indifferent to open records laws, attention to detail, or both,' Kautsch said. 'That conclusion is bolstered by the fact that the inmate information portal on the sheriff's website says access to records held by the Chase County Jail is purportedly governed by the 'Kentucky Open Records Act.' Their office is in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. If the sheriff's office can't be bothered to properly identity its own state law on its own website, perhaps it is to be expected that it wouldn't know how to respond to a KORA request, either.' Why Kentucky? I don't know. Perhaps the template for the inmate portal was borrowed from the Muhlenberg County Detention Center. To get a better understanding of what ICE detainees at Chase County and elsewhere go through, I contacted Kansas City, Missouri, immigration attorney Michael Sharma-Crawford. For years, Sharma-Crawford told me, Chase County was the only immigration detention facility for most of Kansas and Missouri. There are now more counties being contracted, he said, especially in Missouri. In Kansas, for-profit CoreCivic is attempting to repurpose a shuttered prison in Leavenworth for ICE detention, but it has faced legal challenges and has not yet opened. The issue with the current wave of detainments, Sharma-Crawford said, is the speed at which deportations are being carried out and the difficulty in tracking cases through the system. Migrants are typically given a handful of documents upon their arrest containing the specifics against them. Without access to those papers, it's difficult for an immigration attorney to evaluate a case, he said, or to track a migrant's case online. In many instances, he said, jails meant to house criminal detainees are unprepared to deal with civil immigration cases. He commended Chase County on being willing to fax immigration documents to attorneys, while allowing the detainees to keep the originals, and to facilitate attorney-client phone calls. 'I'd take 12 Chase Counties compared to other facilities,' Sharma-Crawford said. Access to legal counsel is an important Sixth Amendment right, he said, and this is especially important when deportation may now occur three weeks or less from the time of arrest. 'If you're from Mexico, you have to move quickly,' he advised. 'If you don't know what your status is, you should talk to an immigration attorney.' He also suggested having important documents, like birth certificates, at the ready, and being prepared to seek a second legal opinion when necessary. Sharma-Crawford said the immigration system was broken and that things were building to a chaotic crescendo. The administration's goal, he said, is to artificially clog the system and then claim it is impractical to give every detainee a hearing. But as late Justice Antonin Scalia said, due process applies to everyone. It's something average Americans should take to heart, no matter where they were born. It's something that is being lost among the current rhetoric about crime and immigration. The vast majority of ICE detainees, he said, are held on civil charges. 'I don't defend people against criminal charges,' Sharma-Crawford said. If we don't protect the due process rights of migrants now, he said, we might be denying due process for everyday civil infractions tomorrow, such as allowing your grass to grow too high. 'At some point, this leads to abbreviated trials' and other erosions of due process, he said. The prospect of CoreCivic opening a thousand-bed facility at Leavenworth terrifies him. The previous prison operated by CoreCivic in Leavenworth was described as a 'hell hole' of abuse and mismanagement. The city of Leavenworth sued to stop the facility from being reopened as an ICE detention facility, but on Thursday a federal judge dismissed the case. While Chase County did not provide answers to my questions about how lucrative its ICE contract was, a 2024 report by the American Immigration Council provides some clues. It estimated the average daily rate for detention to be $237 per person, with single adults spending an average of 55 days in detention. The rate for Chase County, of course, might differ. But with nobody willing to talk, who knows? Communities such as Cottonwood Falls and Leavenworth must weigh the price of monetizing ICE detainment in the age of Trump against the fundamental American values of fairness and compassion. Leavenworth wouldn't directly share in the per-day rate as Chase County does, but there is the lure of jobs and economic development. It is a devil's bargain, a Faustian pact, the civic equivalent of 30 pieces of silver. Back in 1943, Hoefgen pleaded guilty in Marion County District Court to the murder of K-State student Smoll. He was sentenced to death. Hoefgen was hanged shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, March 10, 1944, on a newly constructed gallows in a warehouse at the Kansas State Penitentiary at Lansing. His last meal had been fried chicken. He declined requests to speak to reporters and showed little emotion as he was led up the 13 fated steps, an eyewitness from the Associated Press reported. Hoefgen was the first person to be executed by Kansas since 1870. The death penalty is currently legal in Kansas, but it hasn't been used since 1965. The most notorious murderers executed at the Lansing gallows were 'In Cold Blood' killers Dick Hickok and Perry Smith. While it's easy to see the story of Hoefgen as that of a criminal who got what he deserved, it's also a saga of Constitutional due process. He was repeatedly brought before the courts in the downward spiral of his life, afforded lawyers, treated humanely and even given fruit while in custody. Whether you agree with capital punishment or not, there was no abbreviation of justice. County jails were typically places where criminal defendants were sent to await their trials or where those convicted of misdemeanor crimes served sentences of a year or less. They were not places for defendants in civil cases. Criminal cases can result in punishment that includes jail time, while civil cases typically involve settling disputes. The migrants now being rushed through the deportation pipeline deserve the full protection of due process. If we deny them legal representation and access to courts by accelerating their cases through a broken system, we are betraying core American values. We risk turning justice into an unthinking machine run by idealogues and fueled by the monetization of detainment. It is either due process for all, or due process for none. Max McCoy is an award-winning author and journalist. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS NEW GLOBAL BRAND CAMPAIGN - FAIRMONT PRESENTS "MAKE SPECIAL HAPPEN" - A CINEMATIC TRIBUTE TO THE BRAND'S HERITAGE AS STORIED CELEBRATORS
Campaign Launches in Tandem with New Collection of Bookable Experiences Enabling Guests to 'Make Special Happen' Every Day at Fairmont Hotels NEW YORK, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - World-renowned luxury hospitality brand, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, today reveals its new global brand campaign, Fairmont Presents "Make Special Happen". Paying homage to the brand's centurion heritage as host to some of the world's most storied celebrations and history-making moments, as well as its legacy with the silver screen, the creative tells the story of the build-up to a grand celebration, capturing how Fairmont colleagues and guests come together to "Make Special Happen". The resulting campaign is Fairmont at its most captivating, elevating the art of making every moment a celebration. Developed by King & Partners, the new campaign was directed by award-winning filmmaker Jean Claude Thibaut, and shot at Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Stylistically, the creative evokes the charm of a classic film, a tribute to the refined elegance of a bygone era, where the North American spirit of allure and adventure on which Fairmont was founded, is reimagined for today. It was inspired by the brand's rich heritage of hosting some of history's most momentous occasions, from the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, to Truman Capote's Black and White Ball in New York City, to John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'bed in for peace' in Montreal. The creative team was tasked with building upon this legacy to set the stage for a new era of celebratory moments at Fairmont, looking forward to some of the more modern design hotels which shape the skyline of the destinations they reside in, such as Fairmont Doha and Fairmont Tokyo. "In creating this campaign, I drew inspiration from Fairmont's incredible heritage, with particular influence from the allure of the Truman Capote era. The focus was on capturing the essence of celebration, friendship, and togetherness—values that have always been at the heart of the Fairmont experience," commented Jean Claude Thibaut. "Through both the film and imagery, I sought to evoke the joy of gathering, with Fairmont as the incredible backdrop, always there to support and elevate special moments. It's been an incredible project to be a part of, and I'm excited to see it come to life." Through a mix of film and stills, the artwork follows a charismatic cast of characters through a series of intriguing and playful moments, leading up to an unforgettable celebration. The audience follows along as "The Celebrationist", the Grande Dame of the story, carefully pens her invites, handing them over to "The Porter", always on a mission to "Make Special Happen" for Fairmont guests. He glides through the grand corridors of the hotel to hand deliver to "The Linksman", usually found out on the links or out on the town; "The Wellness Enthusiast", whose favorite places are in a Fairmont gym or on the dance floor; "The Muse & Her Makers", a family whose travels have taken them all over the world, always with their beloved Golden Retriever; and "The Legends in Leisure", still as in love as the day they met, and always ready for a night of cocktails and adventure. When it's officially time to "Make Special Happen", special guest and a legend in his own right, Tom Wolfe, America's first concierge, and Chief Concierge and Director of Heritage at flagship Fairmont San Francisco, appears, as a flurry of activity by both guests and staff ensues. Elegant attire and indulgences appear. Chandeliers cast a golden glow over a soirée. With anticipation rising, the celebration reaches its crescendo, bringing with it the realization: Fairmont Makes Special Happen. "Make Special Happen isn't just a campaign, it's part of our brand DNA and is the sentiment we make our guests feel. Fairmont hotels are social epicenters that blend genuine encounters with the heart of the action, creating vibrant spaces where communities gather. Occasions are celebrated, milestones are marked, and history is made every day at our 92 properties in 30 countries globally," said Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont Raffles. "Bringing to life our first new global brand campaign in many years marks another special, history-making moment. 'Make Special Happen' reaffirms Fairmont's core identity and what sets it apart in a way that reaches a new and discerning audience." Upon launch, the campaign will leverage a blend of still imagery alongside video showcasing the Fairmont film. A 360-degree paid media plan comprising of global print, online and social titles are being activated in two phases commencing May-July and then September-October when all owned, earned and paid media channels will be fully live. Key regions for the campaign include North America, Canada, Asia, the Middle East and Europe with a particular focus on national, travel and lifestyle publications in these markets. Though the first iteration of the campaign focuses on a party, it was important for Fairmont to demonstrate that making special happen isn't just about major galas and events, but it's also about making every moment of every day special in its own way. The brand is bringing this to life in the hotels with the concurrent launch of "Special Happens…", a collection of unique offerings which immerse a guest or local into their own unforgettable experience: Special Happens... After Dark – a series of nocturnal fetes and adventures, such as private access to the spa after hours for a wellness ritual under the stars at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa or Fairmont Austin, or an "anywhere dinner" on the lush grounds of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakesh. Special Happens... In the Wild – indulgent experiences in the heart of nature, such as Fairmont Empress' famed afternoon tea on the beach, in a rain forest, or at the foot of a waterfall; or taking a seaplane from Fairmont Chateau Whistler to do guided yoga and meditation under a waterfall. Special Happens... Around the Table – embracing the power of mixology and dining, from playing chocolatier for a day, crafting your own one-of-a-kind chocolate bar with Fairmont Orchid, to participating in the ancient Hawaiian art of imu cooking, from private foraging experience to all-day roasting in an underground oven with Fairmont Kea Lani. Special Happens... In the Spotlight – a vibrant tapestry of moments inspired by the arts, culture, music and performance, from being welcomed into the home of a local chef or artisan to learn a craft that has been passed down for generations with Fairmont Jaipur, to a visit to the private home of Claude Nobs, famed founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, not normally open to the public, arranged by Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. Fairmont will continue to add new experiences to the collection throughout 2025. Images: Fairmont Presents Make Special Happen images are HERE, HERE and HERE Make Special Happen Fairmont Film is HERE About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand's unrivalled portfolio of more than 92 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Fairmont Doha and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,600 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. | | View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Cision Canada
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS NEW GLOBAL BRAND CAMPAIGN - FAIRMONT PRESENTS "MAKE SPECIAL HAPPEN" - A CINEMATIC TRIBUTE TO THE BRAND'S HERITAGE AS STORIED CELEBRATORS
Developed by King & Partners, the new campaign was directed by award-winning filmmaker Jean Claude Thibaut, and shot at Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Stylistically, the creative evokes the charm of a classic film, a tribute to the refined elegance of a bygone era, where the North American spirit of allure and adventure on which Fairmont was founded, is reimagined for today. It was inspired by the brand's rich heritage of hosting some of history's most momentous occasions, from the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, to Truman Capote's Black and White Ball in New York City, to John Lennon and Yoko Ono's 'bed in for peace' in Montreal. The creative team was tasked with building upon this legacy to set the stage for a new era of celebratory moments at Fairmont, looking forward to some of the more modern design hotels which shape the skyline of the destinations they reside in, such as Fairmont Doha and Fairmont Tokyo. "In creating this campaign, I drew inspiration from Fairmont's incredible heritage, with particular influence from the allure of the Truman Capote era. The focus was on capturing the essence of celebration, friendship, and togetherness—values that have always been at the heart of the Fairmont experience," commented Jean Claude Thibaut. "Through both the film and imagery, I sought to evoke the joy of gathering, with Fairmont as the incredible backdrop, always there to support and elevate special moments. It's been an incredible project to be a part of, and I'm excited to see it come to life." Through a mix of film and stills, the artwork follows a charismatic cast of characters through a series of intriguing and playful moments, leading up to an unforgettable celebration. The audience follows along as "The Celebrationist", the Grande Dame of the story, carefully pens her invites, handing them over to "The Porter", always on a mission to "Make Special Happen" for Fairmont guests. He glides through the grand corridors of the hotel to hand deliver to "The Linksman", usually found out on the links or out on the town; "The Wellness Enthusiast", whose favorite places are in a Fairmont gym or on the dance floor; "The Muse & Her Makers", a family whose travels have taken them all over the world, always with their beloved Golden Retriever; and "The Legends in Leisure", still as in love as the day they met, and always ready for a night of cocktails and adventure. When it's officially time to "Make Special Happen", special guest and a legend in his own right, Tom Wolfe, America's first concierge, and Chief Concierge and Director of Heritage at flagship Fairmont San Francisco, appears, as a flurry of activity by both guests and staff ensues. Elegant attire and indulgences appear. Chandeliers cast a golden glow over a soirée. With anticipation rising, the celebration reaches its crescendo, bringing with it the realization: Fairmont Makes Special Happen. "Make Special Happen isn't just a campaign, it's part of our brand DNA and is the sentiment we make our guests feel. Fairmont hotels are social epicenters that blend genuine encounters with the heart of the action, creating vibrant spaces where communities gather. Occasions are celebrated, milestones are marked, and history is made every day at our 92 properties in 30 countries globally," said Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont Raffles. "Bringing to life our first new global brand campaign in many years marks another special, history-making moment. 'Make Special Happen' reaffirms Fairmont's core identity and what sets it apart in a way that reaches a new and discerning audience." Upon launch, the campaign will leverage a blend of still imagery alongside video showcasing the Fairmont film. A 360-degree paid media plan comprising of global print, online and social titles are being activated in two phases commencing May-July and then September-October when all owned, earned and paid media channels will be fully live. Key regions for the campaign include North America, Canada, Asia, the Middle East and Europe with a particular focus on national, travel and lifestyle publications in these markets. Though the first iteration of the campaign focuses on a party, it was important for Fairmont to demonstrate that making special happen isn't just about major galas and events, but it's also about making every moment of every day special in its own way. The brand is bringing this to life in the hotels with the concurrent launch of "Special Happens…", a collection of unique offerings which immerse a guest or local into their own unforgettable experience: Special Happens... After Dark – a series of nocturnal fetes and adventures, such as private access to the spa after hours for a wellness ritual under the stars at Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa or Fairmont Austin, or an "anywhere dinner" on the lush grounds of Fairmont Royal Palm Marrakesh. Special Happens... In the Wild – indulgent experiences in the heart of nature, such as Fairmont Empress ' famed afternoon tea on the beach, in a rain forest, or at the foot of a waterfall; or taking a seaplane from Fairmont Chateau Whistler to do guided yoga and meditation under a waterfall. Special Happens... Around the Table – embracing the power of mixology and dining, from playing chocolatier for a day, crafting your own one-of-a-kind chocolate bar with Fairmont Orchid, to participating in the ancient Hawaiian art of imu cooking, from private foraging experience to all-day roasting in an underground oven with Fairmont Kea Lani. Special Happens... In the Spotlight – a vibrant tapestry of moments inspired by the arts, culture, music and performance, from being welcomed into the home of a local chef or artisan to learn a craft that has been passed down for generations with Fairmont Jaipur, to a visit to the private home of Claude Nobs, famed founder of the Montreux Jazz Festival, not normally open to the public, arranged by Fairmont Le Montreux Palace. Fairmont will continue to add new experiences to the collection throughout 2025. Images: About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is renowned for the international luxury hospitality brand's unrivalled portfolio of more than 92 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. From grand hotels to urban retreats, since 1907 Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations – renowned addresses such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Fairmont Doha and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Fairmont hotels are the social epicenters of their cities—iconic gathering places where people, culture, and ideas converge. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,600 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL, a booking platform and loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The New York island hideaway that inspired Truman Capote and W H Auden
The Sayville Ferry Terminal is just like any other, until you notice the collage of intriguing photos, some black and white, cluttering the walls. In the pictures dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, men are flopped on top of one another looking relaxed and happy. In the café by the ticket booth, mostly male groups see off frozen margaritas at 11am. They'll set you back $14 but a plate of fries is just a handful of change, a reminder that you've long left New York City. Sayville, a hamlet deep into the suburbs on the south shore of Long Island, is an hour and a half's drive east from Manhattan, and from where passengers make the half-hour crossing to Fire Island. For more than 100 years, the destination has been a safe space for LGBTQ people, a strip of sand offering solace and acceptance away from the judgement and prejudices of the day. It remains the undisputed day trip or weekend getaway for queer New Yorkers wanting to connect with their community. The Village People even had a song about it. Many of the 20th century's great creative thinkers journeyed here, the sand dunes and endless-feeling beaches becoming muse for their writing. W H Auden, Christopher Isherwood, Truman Capote, Frank O'Hara and Oscar Wilde were some of those who visited, and while many wrote here, the privacy and seclusion also meant Fire Island became a place of sexual expression too, before homosexuality was decriminalised in New York in 1980. On the island there is refreshingly little to do. The boat docks at either the Fire Island Pines or Cherry Grove ferry terminals, which take about 20 minutes to wander between on foot. Explore wide stretches of beach that feel surprisingly exotic for New York, swim, stroll on boardwalks, then drink in the handful of bars, perhaps forging new friendships. That's really it – and it's heaven. Cherry Grove is the most built-up part, though it comprises just a handful of options for refreshments. There are a few bars, a pizzeria and The Grove Hotel, where drag performers swoosh across a runway over the swimming pool when there are events on. There are no cars allowed in this area and you could do a lap of the whole of Cherry Grove in five minutes, from the waterfront dancefloor at Cherry's On The Bay to the ice cream parlours and back to the deserted beaches. Auden epitomised the freedoms of the place in his 1948 poem Pleasure Island, but perhaps the biggest literary claim to fame came in the 1950s, when Truman Capote penned Breakfast at Tiffany's in Carrington House, one of the earliest homes, built around 1912 for theatre director Frank Carrington. Today it is the island's cultural venue, hosting ad-hoc art exhibitions (check posters at the ferry terminals for information) and with grounds in which to walk around. Sexual freedoms often became conflated with hedonism, and by the middle of last century Fire Island had developed a reputation as a place of excess, an assessment that still rings true. Frank O'Hara, a leader of the New York School of Poets and establisher of a new stream-of-conscious style, epitomised the island's dual purpose for work and play. One of his wittiest works is A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island. Tragically, O'Hara was run over by a beach buggy here on one drunken night in 1966, which led to his death. Following the social revolutions of the 1960s, Fire Island's reputation was increasingly eulogised in writing. Dancer from the Dance by Andrew Holleran has evocative descriptions of a place where 'you could lose your heart, your reputation, your contact lenses.' It is also celebrated in contemporary writing, most notably Matthew Lopez's epic two-part play The Inheritance, one of the most seminal 21st-century queer texts. Queer women have been finding safety here too since at least the 1950s, though their history is less well documented. The actor Wanda Sykes is the biggest female celebrity advocate today, doing ad-hoc appearances in the bars. The 2018 documentary Grove Girls recounted some of this history, while the growing number of female artist residences housed at Carrington House are perhaps beginning to redress the gender (im)balance somewhat. 'It represents freedom,' says Bobby Bonanno, who first visited the place in 1976 and set up the Fire Island Historical Society in 2010 to protect its historical legacy. Bonanno runs historical tours weekly, taking guests for walks around the island. Today, there is very little left of the basic hut structures that writers would have inhabited in years gone by. Most have been demolished to make way for shimmering glass rental homes that look more like Bond villain lairs. Locals worry greedy landlords are pricing visitors out, but with such a small amount of space available and the island's proximity to New York City, perhaps gentrification was inevitable. It's already a thrill to be at the beach in New York, somewhere you might not typically associate with fly-and-flop holidaying, but Fire Island is on another level entirely. You'll need to book ahead of time because accommodation is scarce and sells out, but there truly is nowhere quite like it. The Grove Hotel offers doubles from around $170 (£130). The Sayville Ferry costs $11 each way; tickets can be bought on the day upon arrival. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The New York island hideaway that inspired Truman Capote and WH Auden
The Sayville Ferry Terminal is just like any other, until you notice the collage of intriguing photos, some black and white, cluttering the walls. In the pictures dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, men are flopped on top of one another looking relaxed and happy. In the café by the ticket booth, mostly male groups see off frozen margaritas at 11am. They'll set you back $14 but a plate of fries is just a handful of change, a reminder that you've long left New York City. Sayville, a hamlet deep into the suburbs on the south shore of Long Island, is an hour and a half's drive east from Manhattan, and from where passengers make the half-hour crossing to Fire Island. For more than 100 years, the destination has been a safe space for LGBTQ people, a strip of sand offering solace and acceptance away from the judgement and prejudices of the day. It remains the undisputed day trip or weekend getaway for queer New Yorkers wanting to connect with their community. The Village People even had a song about it. Many of the 20th century's great creative thinkers journeyed here, the sand dunes and endless-feeling beaches becoming muse for their writing. WH Auden, Christopher Isherwood, Truman Capote, Frank O'Hara and Oscar Wilde were some of those who visited, and while many wrote here, the privacy and seclusion also meant Fire Island became a place of sexual expression too, before homosexuality was decriminalised in New York in 1980. On the island there is refreshingly little to do. The boat docks at either the Fire Island Pines or Cherry Grove ferry terminals, which take about 20 minutes to wander between on foot. Explore wide stretches of beach that feel surprisingly exotic for New York, swim, stroll on boardwalks, then drink in the handful of bars, perhaps forging new friendships. That's really it – and it's heaven. Cherry Grove is the most built-up part, though it comprises just a handful of options for refreshments. There are a few bars, a pizzeria and The Grove Hotel, where drag performers swoosh across a runway over the swimming pool when there are events on. There are no cars allowed in this area and you could do a lap of the whole of Cherry Grove in five minutes, from the waterfront dancefloor at Cherry's On The Bay to the ice cream parlours and back to the deserted beaches. Auden epitomised the freedoms of the place in his 1948 poem Pleasure Island, but perhaps the biggest literary claim to fame came in the 1950s, when Truman Capote penned Breakfast at Tiffany's in Carrington House, one of the earliest homes, built around 1912 for theatre director Frank Carrington. Today it is the island's cultural venue, hosting ad-hoc art exhibitions (check posters at the ferry terminals for information) and with grounds in which to walk around. Sexual freedoms often became conflated with hedonism, and by the middle of last century Fire Island had developed a reputation as a place of excess, an assessment that still rings true. Frank O'Hara, a leader of the New York School of Poets and establisher of a new stream-of-conscious style, epitomised the island's dual purpose for work and play. One of his wittiest works is A True Account of Talking to the Sun at Fire Island. Tragically, O'Hara was run over by a beach buggy here on one drunken night in 1966, which led to his death. Following the social revolutions of the 1960s, Fire Island's reputation was increasingly eulogised in writing. Dancer from the Dance by Andrew Holleran has evocative descriptions of a place where 'you could lose your heart, your reputation, your contact lenses.' It is also celebrated in contemporary writing, most notably Matthew Lopez's epic two-part play The Inheritance, one of the most seminal 21st-century queer texts. Queer women have been finding safety here too since at least the 1950s, though their history is less well documented. The actor Wanda Sykes is the biggest female celebrity advocate today, doing ad-hoc appearances in the bars. The 2018 documentary Grove Girls recounted some of this history, while the growing number of female artist residences housed at Carrington House are perhaps beginning to redress the gender (im)balance somewhat. 'It represents freedom,' says Bobby Bonanno, who first visited the place in 1976 and set up the Fire Island Historical Society in 2010 to protect its historical legacy. Bonanno runs historical tours weekly, taking guests for walks around the island. Today, there is very little left of the basic hut structures that writers would have inhabited in years gone by. Most have been demolished to make way for shimmering glass rental homes that look more like Bond villain lairs. Locals worry greedy landlords are pricing visitors out, but with such a small amount of space available and the island's proximity to New York Cit y, perhaps gentrification was inevitable. It's already a thrill to be at the beach in New York, somewhere you might not typically associate with fly-and-flop holidaying, but Fire Island is on another level entirely. You'll need to book ahead of time because accommodation is scarce and sells out, but there truly is nowhere quite like it.
