kis-met n. fate; destiny.
Chance house members relaxing on the beach.
There is probably no community on Fire Island more difficult to categorize than Kismet. Among the scattering of families and fishermen, there is no shortage of progressive, epicurean singles.
Kismet is a paradise that harks back to that time before Lawsuits and Litigation ruled the land. Unlike its neighbor, Saltaire, which until recently banned barbecuing, or Ocean Beach, which forbids drinking bottled water in public, Kismet is governed by common sense. Bass fishermen coexist on the same beach as bathers without incident; responsible beer drinking on the beach is never a problem.
Chance house members at the annual Kismet BLT, where partiers wear either Black tie, Lingere, or Toga.
Forget the guest lists and waiting on line and the Hummer-driving guys and the uptalking girls of the Hamptons. Kismet is a haven free of cars, pretentiousness and, thankfully, the whole Paris Hilton Generation. Most people's idea of dressing up involves jeans. This laid-back atmosphere is partly a condition of geography--no matter where you are in Kismet, you are always close to the beach, leaving your hair perpetually wind-blown.
Still, Kismetians do have their own way of "dressing up." From the Mermaid Promenade, to the BLT party (Black tie, Lingere or Toga), to whatever wacky outfits people wear out to the bars on a whim, Kismet's free-flow creativity and party-in-motion atmosphere give it the feel of a perpetual parade.
The annual Kismet Guac-Off, in which 20 chefs vie for the best margarita and guacamole during sunset on the beach. (Everyone is a judge...)
Kismet lies just east of the Fire Island Lighthouse, an historic landmark offering a stunning view of the entire island. Between Kismet and the Lighthouse sits an unspoiled wildlife refuge.
Kismet is served by two bayfront bar/restaurants, The Inn and The Out, both offering indoor and outdoor dining. The tavern-like Inn has pool tables, a jukebox and lots of tables, while the Out features a DJ and all-night dancing. The Inn and The Out are right next to one another, so forget the endless rounds of phone calls and text messages and leave your phone at home--if you don't see your friends at the first place, you'll find them next door. As with most things in life, we don't need more choices, we need fewer, better ones. The Inn and the Out meet that standard. Additionally, both establishments guarantee in writing that you'll never lose your table to Sean [insert current infantile nickname here] Combs.
Kismet is also served by a grocery store, a pizzeria, an ice-cream parlor, a liquor store as well as basketball and tennis courts. If you're the kind of person who knows how to make your own fun and wants to experience epicurean beach living, Kismet has all the bases covered.