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HELEN
OF 608... 'NUFF SAID!
by Jed
Ryan
 It
would be tough to find a gay man or lesbian on Long Island
who doesn't know Helen Radziewicz. Ms. Radziewicz is so well-known
in our community that just saying "Helen"
is enough to cue others to her identity. If you need further
clarification, "Helen from 608" will do the
trick. It would also be a big challenge to find anyone out
there who doesn't speak of Helen with glowing praise. At the
6th Annual LIPP Community Awards back in 2000, Suffolk
County Legislator Maxine Postal recognized Helen's humanitarian
efforts with a County Legislative Proclamation as recognition
for her services. That night, Helen also went home with a
Lifetime Achievement Award. Helen's tough exterior broke down
as she was brought to tears. She thanked the community for
the Award-- and she also reinforced that she was proud to
support gay and lesbian Long Island. In other words, Helen
doesn't do what she does for praise or for self-serving reasons:
she does what she does, simply, because she wants to do.
For Helen, it comes naturally. Helen is being honored at the
2001 Dock of
the Bay Summer Party on Sunday, August 19. Barry
Jones, President of GALFOLI
(Gay And Lesbian Foundation Of Long Island) and one
of the organizers of The
DOTB Summer Party, said that Helen was chosen because
"Helen has supported every single organization on Long
Island! She's had fund-raisers for all of them. Helen is not
just there for the community-- she's there for you personally
as well."
Helen
doesn't mince words or alter her blunt-spoken, brassy persona
for ANYONE. In other words, she's 100% real.
There's no pretense with this gal. Cigarette in hand, she
spoke with me about her omnipresence in the Long Island scene.
I interviewed Helen in, appropriately enough, Club
608 in West Babylon, the bar she's owned at least
in part since 1990. And, no, Helen doesn't own any other bars
on Long Island, despite rumors to the contrary! To avoid disrupting
our interview, Helen tells the customers, "It's self-serve
tonight!" Helen has been supporting the gay and lesbian
community for at least 25 years, starting with her experiences
at the bar Dockside in Lindenhurst. Helen credits at
least part of her devotion to gay and lesbian Long Island
to Marie Bamberger, who since 1974 has been in Helen's life.
"...As a partner, boss, and best friend through the years.
If it wasn't for Marie, I wouldn't be where I was today."
Helen recalls desiring to create a new nightspot for gay guys,
Helen modeled Club 608
after Thunders
in Huntington, and to this day thanks Thunders'
owner Tommy for his help and support. She also recognizes
Al from the Long
Island Eagle. Although inconspicuous from the outside,
when you walk into Club
608, the polished decor and perfect lighting make
for a fabulously cozy atmosphere. Her goals for Club
608 are simple: "I just want everyone to be comfortable
here. I've made Club
608 what it is by giving the customers individual
attention. I want everyone to know everyone else on a first-name
basis." Indeed, even on a sleepy Monday night, Club
608's customers slowly infiltrate... but they don't
expect to be served without greeting Helen first! One of the
first to show up were Helen's own brother and his partner,
who Helen called "my brother-in-law." Next
was one of Helen's former employees, a tall, beefy guy named
Phil. "I've worked for Helen on and off for six or seven
years. She's one of the most FAIR employers I've ever
had the privilege of working for. She'll do anything for anyone--
whether they want it or not!" Then a Lou
Reed look-alike in an "I Can't Even Think Straight"
T-shirt and his posse stop by. Helen pauses with our interview
to take the time to introduce everyone-- and to find out who's
single and/or committed!. "People do support my bar,
and they treat my bartenders well. I'm thankful for that."
 When
asked about how she feels about being honored at Dock
of the Bay, Helen replies, "I'm honored. Dock
of the Bay isn't political... it isn't bullsh*t. Over
the last couple of years, we've come together as a community
a lot. A lot of organizations are getting better. There aren't
as many phonies." Helen acknowledges that there are some
members of our community who try to distance themselves from
the bar and club scene and/or view the nightlife scene in
a negative light. "All bars carry bottled water, soda,
and coffee... it doesn't need to be just about alcohol. The
bar scene is as negative or as positive as you want it to
be." Helen also would love to see more organizations
hold their functions at some of the larger bars and clubs,
rather than renting space OUTSIDE the community (such
as VFW halls). She's right!
Later
that night, Helen and her boyz headed over to Auntie
M's for Bar Night. A couple of the bars didn't send
any reps that night (We won't say who they were!), but Helen
and her staff made up for that when the emcee introduced them
and they were greeted with loads of applause. Helen didn't
waste the opportunity to reinforce to the crowd the importance
of supporting Long Island gay and lesbian nightlife. And as
you can imagine, Helen on stage with a microphone can be a
VERY commanding presence. Just TRY not to take
her seriously-- I dare you!
At the
end of the night, Helen informed GALFOLI's
Barry and Jim that she wouldn't be at
Dock of the Bay unless they served the liquor Irish
Mist. I don't know if Helen was kidding or not, but one thing's
certain: I already bought my bottle! And here's a toast to
Helen Radziewicz... no, just "Helen!"
Stop by
Club 608, on
Sunrise Highway in West Babylon, or check out their website
at www.club608.com.
Related
Articles:
Photos
by: Louis Trapani and GALFOLI
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