CLAW XIV will be held April 24-27 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel in Leather-friendly Cleveland, Ohio. Shuttle buses will meet every CLAW air-travel attendee — day or night — for their one-minute ride to the lobby door.
Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) has seen a growth rate of about 15 percent each of the past several years. CLAW’s biggest Vendor Mart will feature more than 25 merchants, including CLAW sponsors Leatherwerks, Mr. S Leather, Leatherman NYC, Torso, and Stompers Boots; three Recon Reflex dungeon parties in the warehouse attached to FLEX Spas in downtown Cleveland; and more than 40 skills workshops and other educational offerings, including 25 Years Later, a discussion featuring Guy Baldwin and Brian Dawson, the renowned and groundbreaking Leather titleholders who were International Mr. Leather and International Mr. Drummer, respectively, in 1989.
Avatar Club Los Angeles and its guests were delighted with the presentation Dynamics of BDSM Encounters by Brian Dawson on February 19 at MCC in the Valley.
63 Leatherfolk attended the first public club meeting of 2014.
Topics included understanding how very different we are as sexual beings, what makes us hard (physically, emotionally and spiritually), and whether we consider our play to be sport or control born out of Dominance and submission.
A huge and impressive Avatar banner created by Nick Drance provided the backdrop for the meeting.
The men of Avatar and the Bullet Bar, 10522 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, will kick off LA Leather Pride Week with the official start of LA Leather Pride 2014, Odyssey: The Road to Mr. LA Leather 2014. The Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2014 contestants will draw their numbers.
Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2014 is Greg Menzel of Minneapolis, MN.
Twin Cities Leather and Latte presented the Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2014 Contest held the weekend of February 14-16 at The Saloon in downtown Minneapolis.
The weekend included a Kink U event on Saturday hosted by the Titans of the Midwest and Victory Party by DJMF.
The judges were Leathrati.com contributor Tynan Fox, International Leather Sir 2012 Jack Duke, Mr. Twin Cities Leather 2011 Daniel Henniger, Mr. Leatherman of Color 2011 Onyx Rod, Atons of Minneapolis President Andrew Bertke, and Saloon General Manager Tim Balfanz. The tallymaster was Mr. DC Eagle 2011 Michael Kramer and the den daddy was Bud Ingram-Lile.
The contestants were Tim Holden, Cody Marino and Greg Menzel.
Event Sponsors included The Saloon, TCL&L, Lavender Media, CLAW Nation, UberLube, Oxballs, and Little Pig Design.
Greg Menzel will compete at IML in Chicago, IL in May.
The stage was set for the Mr. LA Leather 2014 Contest when Matthew Mullins was named Mr. Bullet Leather 2014 at the time last call was announced at the Bullet Bar in North Hollywood, Ca on Saturday night, February 15. The runner-up was Eric Gilfand and there were three contestants.
10 men will vie for the coveted Mr. Los Angles Leather title which has produced one International Mr. Leather titleholder, Mike Gerle in 2007, and usually places in the IML Top 20. Mr. Los Angles Leather 20124 will be at Circus Dance Club on March 29 and is the huge diamond on the ring that will be LA Leather Pride Week which will run from March 23-30.
Past Mr. Sister Leather Robert Blackmon was the emcee. Robert has worked the Bullet stage before and was right at home.
The Bullet Bar has had major renovations over the past year with three main sections to the bar - the front main barroom, back patio and an outer area behind that with a small gift shop in an alcove between the patio and back. High tech has taken over as there are several flat television screens.
The judging panel included Mr. Los Angelws Leather 2011 Leo Iriarte, Mr. Bullet Leather 2011 Joey Tarin, Kevin Cowger, Payosos LA president Esteban Jimenez and Mr. San Diego Eagle Leather 2013 Eli Corea.
Displaying excellent command of the stage during his speech, Bobby Allen was declared Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2014 at that venerable bar in Studio City, CA on Sunday night, February 9. Gareth Chen was the runner-up and David Taylor also competed.
A tribute video to all of he past Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather titleholders prepared by Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2008 Randy Carmenaty entertained.
Sister Buffy was the emcee who handled the contestants quite well - and often. The crowd ate it up.The judges were Bullet Bar owner Michael Lara, International Mr. Leather 2007 and Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2007 Mike Gerle, Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2006 Tim Stake, Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2005 Lou Romano, Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2004 Mark Diamond and Mr. Oil Can Harry's Leather 2013 Jeremy Ranceros. The tally master was Kris Larson.
The audience was blown away by Ranceros step down speech. One Leather community elder was heard afterward saying, "I think we are in good hands with this new generation.
Back by popular demand the world famous Circus Nightclub has been selected as the venue for Mr. Los Angeles Leather 2014. March 29, 2014 at 7: PM wher Emmy award winning stage and screen star Leslie Jordan will be the lead entertainer. This year’s theme, Brethern = Blood, Building the Bonds of Brotherhood, will feature all of the muscle, sweat and competitive spirit that LA’s 10 hot contestants have to offer. Hot men in gladiator attire will have attendees wanting to climb on top of that Trojan horse.
The evening's show will be elevated to an even higher level by the comedy of Emmy award winning stage and screen star Leslie Jordan. The Will & Grace and Sordid Lives star will delight the packed crowd with his gay antics and irreverent humor that is sure bring out the ‘Brother Boy’ in everyone.
Immediately following the contest, the beats take over as Justin David and Hunter Fox, from the team that brought Meat Rack Off the Hook, present LEGION with legendary DJ Paulo.
LA Leather Pride Week will kickoff with Odyssey: The Road to Mr. LA Leather 2014 the Bullet Bar in North Hollywood on Sunday, March 23. This will be the contestants' number draw and it will be sponsored by Avatar Club Los Angeles. LA's motorcycle clubs have a ride planned earlier which will wind up at the Bullet Bar before Odyssey: The Road to Mr. LA Leather 2014 begins.
Snowbound VII blows in to Provincetown the weekend of February 21-23. Need a winter getaway with a twist. Discounted accommodations and discounted meals, Beer Blast, White-out thermal underwear party, Educational Workshops by Full Kit Gear Shop, Chaps and Straps, Leather Dance, and hot and horny men await.
Northeast Community BootBlack 2011 and International Community Bootblack 2012 first runner-up Jay Falcon, will be on hand to shine boots throughout the weekend.
Friday's Beer Blast will start at 6 PM at the Watership Inn, 7 Winthrop Street. Check out the men vying for Mr. Snowbound 2014 and vote for your favorite with a $5 donation to the ASGCC. The dude with the most money raised will gain the title, a cash prize and be featured in all Snowbound promotions for 2015.
The White Out and “C*CK Party in thermal shirts and johns at Paramount in The Crown & Anchor, 247 Commercial Street, starting at 9:30 PM.
The Bolt Bar in Sacramento will host Sacramento Leather Weekend, Friday, February 14 through Sunday, February 16. The Bolt is located at 2560 Boxwood Street in Sacramento. Sacramento Leather Weekend will feature a Cigar Social, formal Leather Dinner at a popular Sacramento restaurant, and Leather activities and demonstrations.
A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit Shriners Hospital and Mama’s Family, the largest Leather family in the world with 1,700 members. Founded in San Francisco by Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt, a stalwart advocate for the LGBT Leather community, Mama's boys and girls each year raise hundreds of thousands for numerous charities, including toy drives to supply holiday presents for needy or sick children. As Mama always says, "Ask yourself, 'What can I do to make a difference?' Then do it from your heart!"
Funds raised will also help send Mr. Bolt Leather 2014 Matt Bunch to represent Sacramento's Leather community at International Mr. Leather in Chicago this May.
The Leather Journal was founded in May, 1987. The Leather community was hungry for news magazine that covered clubs, organizations and events. TLJ has successfully met that need for 34 years. We have adapted to change more than once and when the Internet came about we were there by adding www.TheLeatherJournal.com
