Mid-Atlantic Leather Report

[bjarvis]

Really, I spent less time at this year's MAL than at any other in the past several years. This was largely because of scheduling conflicts through the weekend but no small part is also my growing dislike of many of the supporting events and the bar scene in general. I don't smoke or drink so the cigar & smoking events, the bar hopping & such are of little interest. The drag show beauty contest Mr. MAL competition also doesn't hold my interest: if I were director, I'd toss most of the would-be contestants in the first round, then have the survivors slug it out for an hour rather than drag it into a four hour long event.

However, by the large crowds attending each event, my personal preferences are clearly in a very tiny minority. So why do I attend? Largely, there's a number of people who come to DC who I'd like to visit with but wouldn't get the chance otherwise. I'm content to hang out in the lounge of the host hotel, chatting with various people over the course of an afternoon or evening.

Anyway, my weekend started with a private party & light buffet at the home of Jon & Donn in Arlington, VA. They have a very nice large house and a fascinating circle of friends. Odds are I'll know enough people to not be a complete stranger while still having a large pool of interesting people I haven't met yet. This year, Jon & Donn arranged for a photographer --Ken W.-- to take photos in the sitting area of their basement space. Click here for a look, although this link will vanish in a month or so.

Saturday was spent away from MAL entirely, helping Cal & Eric dismantle their xmas trees & decorations. We helped put up & decorate six last December so there was a particularly pleasing symmetry in tearing them down. A very nice chinese dinner and leisurely soak in the hot tub didn't hurt in the slightest either.

Sunday afternoon, we were back at the Washington Plaza to schmooze with friends at MAL, as well as do a little shopping at the vendor market. Click here for my photos.^* Shopping was light for me as I have almost all of the leather gear I want (although my harness needs a rivet repair and I'm looking for a pair of gloves), although Kent bought a pair of leather pants from CJ's Leather of Denver, CO. We also bought a small present for a friend which I cannot disclose here as he may be reading.

I was hoping to find a window of time to meet up with apparentparadox, ruggedbear and qnetter, among others, but time & scheduling didn't allow this time around. Fortunately, there's ample opportunities for our paths to cross in the near future.


^*The photos turned out not as well as I'd have preferred, largely because I'm still trying to figure out the correct settings on the new camera Kent gave me for xmas. So many settings! And the nuclear powered electromagnetic pulse which passes for an electronic flash really needs to be tamed a little... close-ups not only blind & possibly sterilize the subjects, but they're hopelessly over-exposed in the photo. Practice, practice...

Comments

drag show beauty contest

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

The beauty pageants at bear runs are the same: needlessly long, but they attract the huge crowds. However, I've noticed that not that many in the crowd are really paying attention. It seems that everyone is either there to cheer their friends on, or to talk with the people who are there to cheer on their friends. :)

Re: drag show beauty contest

[moofedct.livejournal.com]

As usual, we serve little purpose.

Re: drag show beauty contest

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've noticed the same thing at bear events. My suspicion is that people aren't really paying attention because there's so little to hold their attention for very long... MCs are usually a little lame, the entr'acte entertainment isn't and even the would-be sash queens themselves aren't particularly interesting. A few may be nice to look at, but even a person as shallow as I can be gets a little tired of that in the 4th hour.

Perhaps I'm just becoming exponentially more bitter as my birthday approaches. :-)

Re: drag show beauty contest

[rsc.livejournal.com]

I still remember the time (probably 1993) when I was visiting Nelson (remember him?) in Portland, and we went out for an evening with Brent Capps (remember him?) to a leather bar that was holding the Mr. Portland Leather contest (I won't swear that I have those words in the correct order). Now, leather isn't really my thing, but I figured what the hell, I was with friends, it would be fun.

The contest was pretty lame -- there were only two contestants (one of whom had more or less been brought in off the street so they could actually have a contest, or so I was told), but somehow they managed to drag it out through several stages. At one point Brent turned to me and said, "If you think this is boring and stupid... that's because it is."

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

I'm still not used to Kent-without-glasses.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

We're not used to you having a kid. :-)

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

some days, I'm not either :)

BTW, the Foot Book is about to drive us nutters :P

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

The Honky Tonk Queen 'contest' draws a disproportionate number of people to watch this particular travesty, and after two decades, it's totally unknown why it maintains its appeal. The only draw for me would be a funny MC, and that doesn't happen a lot of the time...sometimes turning into truly offensive v. edgily funny.

The gay rodeo can be fun for the first time, or if you know anyone that's actually competing, but just sitting in the sun watching the interminable slow tick of time between the 8 second events is soul-killing, too. I usually feel lost at those events after touring the vendor booths and checking out the dance possibilities.

The leather competitions here in Albuquerque are all about pageantry and awards for the participants, but there's usually SRO just to watch this...again, I don't know why.

Maybe it's just the dressup we like! :-)

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

See? See, Brian? all the interesting stuff in this state happens in Albuquerque. Portales is just...dead.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

More interesting stuff happen anywhere that isn't Portales. :-)

We so have to get you out of there.

[paigemom.livejournal.com]

agreed. We're working on that as hard as we can. A is sending out another resume this week.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

I can't stand the Honky Tonk queen events. I so want to see it simply dropped from conventions, particularly since doing so would save enough money to drop $8-10 off the registration rates.

The gay rodeo thing also fails to capture my interest, but then again, most sporting events do. I joke with Kent that I'm not interested in seeing the rodeo competitions: I was taught not to play with my food. :-)

We attend the local rodeo regularly but largely for the same reasons as attending MAL: visiting with friends we see but rarely, checking out the vendor booths and occasionally meeting new people. I find the cowboys to be a lot hotter at the rodeo than the leather men at MAL, but I'm shallow that particular way.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting pics! There's considerable hotness going on there, but none more than you and Kent. It's nice to see you. Rememeber this? (Sorry about the colour.)

http://www.livejournal.com/users/vaneramos/99969.html

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yes, very fond memories...

We really do have to get back up to Canada again some time soon.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yes, you have to!

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

The next scheduled trip is to the Canadian Unison festival in Vancouver in May... any chance we'll see you there?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately not. Because of the Rainbow Chorus's invitation to Carnegie Hall, they decided not to make an official appearance at the festival in Vancouver because it would be too much of a financial burden for the chorus and individuals. I simply can't afford to go to either one right now.

[rsc.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, I'd forgotten about that post. Must have been before Brian was on LJ (or at least before I discovered his journal).

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yep, as far as I know Brian was a baby LJer last summer. I came home from holidays and he was here.

[bjarvis.livejournal.com]

Yup, I was a newbie last August, finally caving into the peer pressure at the IAGSDC convention in July.

what did you get me?

[(Anonymous)]

I promise to act surprised.