Fire Island is the setting for a July 18, 1982, photography trip that brings fashion’s promise of discovery into view alongside the practical risks of getting there and back. The diary locates the visit near Calvin Klein’s house, where a crowd of aspiring models gathers, then ends the excursion with a hard landing and leaking fuel on the return flight.

The Photography Excursion

Chris Makos called to say that a 10:00 plane was arranged for a photography trip to Fire Island. The diarist picked up Jon Gould and traveled to 23rd Street before flying out. After lunch at an outdoor spot, the group decided to call Calvin Klein, who invited them to come over.

Calvin Klein’s House and the Crowd

The house was just off Ocean Walk. The diarist described 8,000 boys around it, as well as many girls, all walking about in hopes of being discovered for a jeans advertisement. The detail makes the visit more than a scenic photo assignment: Fire Island is presented as a place where a private home and its surrounding walk become a gathering point for people seeking access to fashion and visibility.

The Return Flight

The group returned with the same pilot. As the plane reached the water, they heard a noise; the diarist thought something might have broken. The landing in Manhattan was very hard, and after getting out they saw gas leaking. The round trip cost $360, with a $40 tip. The account’s closing shift—from an invited visit and a crowd anticipating discovery to a worrying flight and visible fuel leak—gives the location episode its abrupt, uneasy finish.