I’ve been taking classes all day every Saturday since early October, which has made it a challenge getting out to all the great events going on this fall. But one thing I obviously couldn’t miss was Halloween.
The Philadelphians MC bar crawl was a blast! A lot of our out-of-town friends came along for the fun, and we hit up a lot of bars that we haven’t gone to in a while. As a result, we got to meet and mingle with a whole new cast of characters.
It’s with great pride and even greater horror that I report one of my club brothers, Phil, has received over 1.25 million hits on www.perezhilton.com with his rendition of Lady GaGa’s signature meat dress, which he called the “meat-kini.” Yes, it was a bikini made out of steak. Check it out at www.perezhilton.com/galleries/index.php?pgid=128366. The concept and execution were brilliant, and he totally deserved to win first place in Tavern on Camac’s costume contest, but up close and personal it was hands down one of the most disgusting and disturbing things I’ve ever seen. Which, of course, means I loved it!
Diabolique Ball
There’s one more big event this fall before Thanksgiving arrives and the holiday rollercoaster takes over our lives.
Every year Diabolique Ball invites you to “Be Bad for a Good Cause.” Since 1997, Diabolique has raised over $100,000 for local and national charities benefiting a wide range of causes, including HIV/AIDS, LGBT youth, women’s and men’s shelters and women’s and men’s health.
This year’s theme is “Quack! Medical Mayhem and Chicanery.” That means plenty of naughty nurses, devious doctors and madhouse mischief. Costumes are required for entry, so don’t just slap on a pair of scrubs and think you’ll get past Diabolique’s infamous Fashion Police. Medical gear can be incorporated into your costume, but make sure you’re wearing something that appears on the “required attire” list, which includes leather or latex fetish gear, corsets, kilts, Victorian formalwear or underwear. If you have any questions about what is permitted, the fine folks at Passional Boutique and Delicious Boutique will be more than happy to help you out.
Don’t be late for the ball! The big event is from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 20 at Shampoo Nightclub (on Willow Street between Seventh and Eighth), with a special meet-and-greet for ticket holders from 7-9 p.m. Nov. 19 at Sexploratorium, 620 S. Fifth St. Ticketholders can also receive special discounts on costumes and accessories at Passional Boutique, 704 S. Fifth St. and Delicious Boutique, 1040 N. American St., #901.
This year’s ball will benefit the Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, Mazzoni Center’s LGBTQ Youth Drop-In Clinic and Project SAFE, which provides health care and safety services for Philadelphia sexworkers. In addition, Mazzoni Center will provide a trailer at the ball where you and your date can get fast, free and anonymous HIV and syphilis testing.
For more information, see www.phillyfetishball.com
Philadelphia Leather Pride Night
The second annual Philadelphia Leather Pride Night was another success.
On Nov. 6, Voyeur was filled with over 250 men and women from the leather community in Philadelphia and the surrounding area. Official totals haven’t been released yet, but initial estimates state the live auction raised a little over $10,000 to benefit the Leather Archives and Museum in Chicago and the Leather Heart Foundation here in Philadelphia, and the raffle and silent auction raised about another $1,000 for By The Grace Of George and the Carter/Johnson Leather Library.
Other events were held at the host hotel and The Bike Stop, including a vendor mart, history lectures, a survivor’s brunch and a traveling display from the Leather Archives and Museum.
The two highlights of the night for me were catching up with an old friend from New York City and touring the art show on the second floor of Voyeur. The show featured a fascinating collection of photos, paintings, illustrations and sculptures that ranged from beautiful to disturbing and back again.
What about the leather contest?
Yes, this is the second year in a row Philly has not had a leather contest. But I have it on the best authority that the Mr./Ms. Philadelphia Leather contest is definitely coming back. No one knows exactly when or what it will look like when it returns, but rest assured that the new ownership of The Bike Stop does not want to see this tradition end.
LOCAL CLUBS & EVENTS:
— KEYSTONE BOYS OF LEATHER: Meets every third Thursday at The Bike Stop, 7:30 p.m.; www.keystoneboysofleather.org
— LIBERTY BEARS: Meetings (7-8 p.m.) and socials (8 p.m.-midnight) first Saturdays at The Bike Stop; www.libertybears.net
— PHILADELPHIANS MC: Meetings every first Monday at The Bike Stop, 7:30 p.m.; www.philadelphiansmc.org
— WOOF! PHILLY: Every Sunday at 5 p.m. at 1416 Chancellor St.; www.woofphilly.com
— DIABOLIQUE XIV: Annual fetish masquerade ball fundraiser, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 20 at Shampoo Nightclub. This year’s theme is “Quack! Medical Mayhem and Chicanery;” www.phillyfetishball.com
Questions? Comments? Contact Jim at [email protected]