Observationf from Mid Atlantic Leather Weekend

[Lex]

So, the BF and I went to MAL (Leather Weekend in DC). We did the Saturday-overnight-to-Sunday thing. It was quite the surreal experience--lots of men (And a few women) in some rather interesting leather and rubber combinations.

The event is held annually at the Washington Plaza Hotel with a full leather vendor mart and coat check. While there are lots of events planned, many men are content to shop the mart and hang in the lobby (there is a bar there, so you can buy a drink if you want). Some gus also cruise the hotel hallways looking for sex parties. Oh, the INTRIGUE!!

We went to the leather mart to get some armbands and then hung out in the Host hotel lobby for the evening, leaving for meals and such (I already have harness as most of you know--yes, I wore the outfit from my avatar). Nothing like seeing people strip naked to try on cocks rings, harnesses, leather chaps/pants, and more. *whew*

There were so HOT HOT men there. HOT, I tell ya. Saw more than a few guys from BigmuscleBears.com, bear411.com amd dudesnude.com and it's always nice when a person looks either (1) like their pictures or (2) better than their pictures.

So here are some personal oberservations:

• Many guys were advertisiing water sports, fisiting, blow jobs, or "anything, anytime anywhere" via hankerchiefs, armbands, or jock colors.
• A guy in fireman's suspenders and pants is HOT. HOT I say.
• Assless chaps are NOT for eveyone. The ass is the problem--you either got a good one, or you don't.
• Is there a better feeling than a guy you just met picking you up, saying "YUM!" and sucking your nipples in front of a room full of 200 people?
• Touch and be touched is SO the philosophy to have at these events.
• Men get sexier as they age (as if you need me to tell you that)
• It is interesting what leather pieces guys are into (boots, aprons, chaps, pants, kilts, etc).
• I so totally did NOT get the guys in the full gas mask nucklear environmental wasteland gear. Is the fun in taking that off?
• I also so totally did NOT get the guys who were on all fours, being lead around on a leesh, barking and licking boots for doggie treats. DWM, EricBear--help?

All in all, I had a fantastic time. We ran into a lot of internet buddies and the amount of exposure to this scene was just right.

 

[DC_DEEP]

Hey, Lex... sorry we did not get a chance to email a few times before the event. My partner and I, along with our visiting boy from Houston, were at all the events. It would have been great to meet you.

I also do not understand the "super-gear-intensive" fetishes like the hazmat stuff you describe, but I do know the guys who were doing that scene in the lobby. The others that you don't get (and not really my cup of tea, either) are into the "K9" scene, and it's all about the puppy training and discipline.

I already have just about too much leather wear, so I settled for getting just a nice little 3' singletail whip from HappyTails. I prefer floggers to whips, but my flogger collection is just out of control, so I wanted to get something different.

The reaction dance was fun, but as usual, too loud. Good thing I remembered to bring earplugs this year... I was actually able to have fun at the dance for the first time.

We also spent quite a bit of time in the Lobby, and also in the cigar area.

By the way, if you went to the contest, you may have seen me; I was near the front at stage left. Mr Baltimore Eagle is a good friend, so I was hanging out with all the deaf men at the contest to cheer him on. I think he should have at least gotten runner-up, but the award he got was nice. <g> and he was wearing one of my floggers in the formal wear section.

Ah, I wish we could have met.....

 

[Lex]

There's always next year, DC Deep. I had no idea you were going or JB and I would have been looking out for you. We left on Sunday, so I probably did not see you. I was in the lobby most of the afternoon and late evening on Saturday. During the day I had on a black, long sleeve compression t-shirt and the harness outfit at night. Would have liked to have met you as well. Sigh.

EDIT: Hey--I added you to my AIM contacts. Will send a PM with my screen name.

 

[ericbear]

...I also so totally did NOT get the guys who were on all fours, being lead around on a leesh, barking and licking boots for doggie treats. DWM, EricBear--help?

That's puppy play. What better way to show your subservience than to be someone's dog...Fetch their newspaper...Pant at their feet...?

I remeber several years ago at MAL, they set up a dog run in the hotel lobby. All the masters sat on sofas watching the puppies play. It got quite frisky-- I remember one bit the other on the ass, and ripped the seat out of his jeans!

So, Lex, are we going to see you at IML (MAL experience multiplied by 100)?

 

[Lex]

...

So, Lex, are we going to see you at IML (MAL experience multiplied by 100)?

Thanks for the clarification, EricBear. As for IML--I dunno. JB's best friend just moved to Chicago, so it's not out of the question. Everyone at MAL said that IML was more of a circuit party and I am not into that whole scene. Is that assessment wrong? The circuit boys who purchased leather to wear that night make my stomach turn. UGH.

I will keep you posted!!

 

[DC_DEEP]

Ericbear, my partner and I will probably be at IML, also. We usually have 3 "set" events we go to: MAL, IML, and Inferno. If time and money and interest permit, we go to other things, but those are the ones that we budget the dollars and time off for. Last year, we happened to be in NYC during Folsom East, so we made a point to check that out. We've been able to make it to Olympia, Keelhaul, and Aida over the last few years... mostly depends upon the scheduling.

 

[ericbear]

...IML was more of a circuit party...

There are sort of two parts to IML. There are a number of parties that do attract the circuit boy crowd, both IML sanctioned events and otherwise. Some people go the event just for that, and ignore the contest, etc. Although the package has tickets to those events, I don't go, as it is not at all my thing, and just give them away.

However, in the hotel (lobby, bar, and various other locations...), the leather bars, and other kinds of outside play parties, the scene is quite different. Yes, a certain number of the circuit party boys do infiltrate the hotel, but I just ignore them-- there are plenty of others.

 

[Lex]

GrrrRRRrr...I am totally a hang out at the hotel lobby or levi-leather bar for the weekend kind of guy. I will talk with the BF and keep you and DC in the loop about our plans.

 

[B_DoubleMeatWhopper]

..........

 

[DC_DEEP]

GrrrRRRrr...I am totally a hang out at the hotel lobby or levi-leather bar for the weekend kind of guy. I will talk with the BF and keep you and DC in the loop about our plans.

The Chicago Eagle is a lot of fun... and if you are very good, I can get you an invitiation to the Chicago Hellfire Clubhouse - I'm an associate member. I, too, tend to skip the circuit-type parties and the pageants, but that's just me. The only reason I went to the pageant at MAL was because I wanted to support my friend who was a contestant.

IML - International Mr. Leather is a corporation, owned by an individual. It is produced accordingly. MAL is an event sponsored by a local club, the Centaur Motorcycle Club, and is produced accordingly. That's where most of the differences are - MAL is entirely planned and manned by volunteers, IML is professionally planned and subcontracted by the corporation. Aside from the size of the event, the difference in the feel of each event is due, in great part, to the origins of each event.

Yes, please keep in touch. Tawse and I will probably be there, but we have not made the plans yet.

 

[ericbear]

...MAL is entirely planned and manned by volunteers, IML is professionally planned and subcontracted by the corporation...

That's not quite true. It is true that Chuck owns IML and is executive producer, that the event is to some extent operated as a business and is expected to make money. However, he delegates a lot of responsibility, and many of the decisions are made by people motivated by community contribution far beyond any compensation they may receive.

Almost all of the actual work is done by a large number of volunteers (outside of the professional contractors providing facilities services, catering, busses, etc.). Three or four of my friends volunteer for various special jobs every year. Anyone who wants to volunteer for general jobs can sign up at:

http://www.imrl.com/forms/Vol-letter-jan-06.pdf

You'll receive access to all official events, as well as a chance to see some unusual aspects of the event.

In addition to the jobs you see listed on the public applications form, there are lots of special volunteer jobs (Judge's Boy, Den Daddy/Mamma, etc.) filled by dedicated and respected members of the leather community.

 

[DC_DEEP]

That's not quite true. It is true that Chuck owns IML and is executive producer, that the event is to some extent operated as a business and is expected to make money. However, he delegates a lot of responsibility, and many of the decisions are made by people motivated by community contribution far beyond any compensation they may receive.

Sorry I was not a little more verbose in my previous post, ericbear. I did not intend to say that there was no volunteer work involved in IML, nor that Chuck handled every aspect by himself, or that any of the features of the event were simply cash cows... just that the whole event is approached from a different point of view, therefore the whole "flavor" of the event is different. I should have added also that the vendors' area is many many times larger than that at MAL, so those who enjoy the vendors have a much larger selection. The point of my post was simply that it was a little misleading to say that IML was "MAL experience times 100"... yes, it is much larger, but it is a different event, so the character of the event is different.

 

[B_caneadea]

I attended IML for the first time in 2002. Just walking into the lobby and seeing many hundreds of men in leather is an incredible sight! And the entire weekend, the guys are in leather at breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as at the gigantic leather mart and at the parties at night. There's no need to ever leave the host hotel.

For me, besides the sight of so many hot men in leather in one place, I was impressed by how friendly and approachable the men were. And, there's np lack of opportunities to "hook up".

So many times, nothing compares to the first time. However, I returned to IML in 2003, and I had an even better time. The best part? I met my partner there!

Lex, if you liked MAL that much, you'll LOVE IML. Go and decide for yourself.
I haven't yet made plans for this year.

 

[Lex]

There is NOTHING quite like a hot, rugged looking man in some leather. WOOOF.

Caneadea--I'll take your and everyone else's advice under advisement. grRRRrrr


Also--Can we have the chest avatar back please?

 

[headbang8]

Caneadea--I'll take your and everyone else's advice under advisement. grRRRrrr...Also--Can we have the chest avatar back please?

Technically, I think that IS a chest avatar,