Opening Night at the New and Improved Bunkhouse
(Long Island, NY) Last weekend I was proud to host Opening Night at the New and Improved Bunkhouse in Sayville Long Island. The quaint town of Sayville Long Island has a rich legacy of gay history. Traveling to The Bunk House these days, you are more likely to encounter one of the Fab Five or even the legendary Harvey Fierstein, en-route to Cherry Grove. The Bunk House is one of the most exciting sophisticated innovative clubs on the Island, with everything from country western nights and go-go dancing, to Tuesday movie night. This is the sort of watering hole where before long you most definitely will be part of the family — and the family grows, especially in summer when the place cranks with the Fire Island set.
As you approach this hidden obscure rustic long Island treasure, a bright neon sign welcomes you into something you could never be prepared for. Upon entry, a collection of famous drag divas decorate the club walls and immediately the show begins. The entertainment ensues complete with lip syncing and gyrations to popular tunes. Each night has a certain theme to it, and hopefully you are lucky enough to go when they are in effect.
Opening night was an extravaganza of glamorous drag queens on the runway doing the Fashion Walk. The night began with spectacular performances by Porshe, Drag Star extraordinariness Ariel Sinclair, Aura Stone and the glamorous platinum blonde China and The Dirty Dance Diva Wendy Diamond. The night completed with a Cognac Wellerlane Lookalike Contest which was won by Ms. China who took home the title Miss Cognac Wellerlane Lookalike 2007.
Drag Diva Ms. Sinclair has been performing in the tri-state area for over 15 years. Ariel has many titles including two time winner of Entertainer of the Year at the Miss Fire Island contest as well as being crowned Miss Fire Island 2002, Miss Long Island and many others. Singer Porshe is originally from Texas and has an amazing ability to impersonate the voices of Cher, Janis Joplin and Macy Gray among other top vocalist. Wendee Diamond has performed at many famous clubs including Night at the Apollo, Show, Avalon, Plaid, Barry Z, Slipper Room, Escalita, OPalene, 13 Little Devils, Bar 333 and Bauhaus. The event also featured Host RANDY from WBLI in the Morning (Holla!).
No other establishment on Long Island has better capitalized on drag cabaret entertainment. Club owners Colin Hogan and Eileen Shapiro have collaborated to create a premier interactive night club experience on Long Island showcasing their flamboyant drag reviews to bodaciously entertain both gay and straight alike.
Eileen darling, why did you open a gay club instead of a straight club?
Club Owner Eileen Shapiro: Because I love gay men, I have always loved gay men. They are fun, they are exciting, they are very respectful and there are not that many gay clubs that are elegant.
Have you ever owned any clubs before this one?
Club Owner Eileen Shapiro: This is my first one, my very first one ever.
This must be like a dream come true for you?
Club Owner Eileen Shapiro: Yes, absolutely this is my dream come true.
What did you do before opening up the Bunk House?
Club Owner Eileen Shapiro: I own a real estate agency, Little Princess, I am a real estate broker but this is so much more fun. I know everyone here tonight and everyone knows me. I love this place more than life itself.
How did you find out about the Bunk House being for sale? Was it something you saw listed and said I am going to buy it?
Club Owner Eileen Shapiro: Actually my partner Larry owned it years ago and he asked me to sell it through the real estate and we did. Unfortunately whomever bought it did not treat it the way it should have been treated so we bought it back. My other partner Colin Hogan has turned it into a phenomenal club. We intend to have Drag shows, dinner parties, tomorrow we are having a sporting event. We’ll do anything. We have big plans for the club.
Here is a marvelous list of A-list Celebrities Who Love Drag Queens: Tyra Banks, Prince Albert of Monaco, Ashley Olsen, Joe Frazier, Yoko Ono, Britney Spears, Richie Rich and Traver of Heatherete, Amanda LaPore, Richard Branson, Jimmy Fallon, Queen Latifa, Bernadette Peters, Elvira, Vivian Westwood, Donna Karen, Kelly Ripa, Victoria Gotti, Margeret Cho, Ed Bradley, Tina Brown, Peter Brant, Stephanie Seymour, Wendy the Snapple Lady, Robin Byrd, Candace Bushnell, Sarah Jessica Parker, Tina Louise, Veronica Webb, Boy George, Joan Rivers, Ted Danson, Patrick Swayze, John Leguizamo, Winona Rider, Matt Lauer, Bryant Gumbel, Stephen Baldwin, Dite Von Teese, Paulina Porizkova, Patrick McMullen, David LaChappelle, Wesley Snipes, Madonna, Ivana Trump, Gennifer Flowers, Lenny Kravitz, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kenny Scharf, Matthew Barney, Bjork, Dominick Dunne, I Love New York, Michael Griffith, Paul Licalsi, Sy Presten, Kristy Hume, Eleanor Mondale, Quenton Crisp, Donovan Leatch, Ali Sheedy, Jerry Springer, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Michael Musto, Drea DeMateo, Johnny Knoxville, Dennis Rodman, Sylvia Miles, Stella, Lola, Jacqueline, and Vito Schnabel, Bill Kuntzler, Rene Ricard, Zac Posen, Don Ho, Monica Lewinski, Gennifer Flowers, Jack Wagner, Heather Locklear, Jose Eber, Oliver Stone, Kate Moss, Robin Givens, Ivanka Trump, Betsey Johnson, Cynthia Rowley, Angelica Torn, Mary McFadden; Debbie Harry, Mary Wilson, Ahn Duong, Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, Grace Jones, Elle McPherson, Connie Stevens, Ru Paul, Nicole Miller, The B-52’s, Ethan Hawk, Taylor Dayne, Thierry Mugler, Sally Jesse Raphael, Tommy Lee, Rip Taylor, Christy Turlingon, Irina Panteva, Sarah Michelle Geller, Betsy Johnson, Joan Chen, Ron Jeremy, Alana Starr, Jon Sedaca, Rosie O’Donnell, Ricki Lake, the Spice Girls, Bret Easton Ellis, Donny Bonaduce, Grace Jones, Tommy Tune, David Byrne, Debbie Boone, Robert Plant, Luther Vandross, Christy Turlington, No Doubt, Robert DiNiro, Kate Shaw, Shalom Harlow, Robin Leach, Beverly D’Angelo, Mary Steenburgen, Joanne Worley, Sandra Bernhard, Amy Irving, Amber Valletta, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Ford, Calvin Klein, Toni Braxton, Roseanne Barr, Cindy Shu, Ron Jeremy, Harvey Fierstein, Dee-Lite, and Matt Dillon.
Darlings, whether you are on your way to the Hamptons, Montauk Point, or Fire Island – be sure to stop in and say “Hello” –You’ll always feel welcome at the Bunk House!
For more information about the Bunk House please visit http://www.myspace.com/bunkhousesayville
