They Call Me the Mayor At Riis Beach
For one day at the end of each summer between 1994 and 2000, Ralph Hopkins and the community transformed Riis Beach (aka the People’s Beach), New York City’s oldest public gay beach, into a vibrant and otherworldly fashion event. Ralph worked alongside friends, designers, and models from the storied queer sanctuary to create joyful spectacles and iconic looks in the sun and sands of the Rockaway Peninsula.
Now, Anthology is thrilled to present They Call Me the Mayor at Riis Beach: Ralph’s Beach Parties 1994–2000. Featuring more than 100 photographs alongside reflections by Ralph and his collaborator Gili Rappaport, They Call Me the Mayor at Riis Beach is a celebration of the historic parties as well as a unique document of artistry, inclusivity, and wondrous beachfront fashions on Ralph’s signature glittering mylar runway.
8.5" x 11.25", 104 pages, 107 images, paperback