Catching Up and Pride Happenings

Sorry for goofing off so much recently. Had some issues that interferred with my blogging, as well as some other things. I'll try to post more in the next couple of weeks.

Had a pretty good (if unspetactular) Memorial Day Weekend. Stayed at my parents's place in Ocean City Maryland. My youngest sister, her husband and three kids were staying there as well. I drove up to Rehoboth Beach on Saturday and did usual stops (Lambda Rising, Double L Bar).

Finally got around to picking up the Pet Shop Boys' most recent album Fundemental, after having friends rave about this for months. It's a really good effort. My favorite track would have to be "The Sodom And Gomorrah Show."

One year ago this month drag performer and singer Kevin Aviance was gay-bashed in New York. (Ironicly I first heard the news on my way to Philly Gay Pride.) Here's a new interview where he talks about the incident.


It's Gay Pride weekend here in Philly, so I've been prepping myself for that. This coming Saturday night (June 9), the Philadelphians MC will be holding their Pre-Pride Bar Social on the main floor of the Bike Stop, from 8PM to midnight. 50/50 raffle tickets (which I will be helping sell), Jello shots and lots of guys in leather. And on Sunday is the Philly Gay Pride Parade and Festival, where I will be marching with the Philadelphians as well. The parade kicks off at noon, and the festival will be held again at the Great Plaza section of Penn's Landing. Happy Gay Pride! (And thanks to Ryan for designing the above flyer.)

Mr. Double L 2006 contest

This past Saturday afternoon I went down to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to attend the Mr. Double L 2006 contest. Had to work at my day job that morning until 1pm. I arrived at Rehoboth at 6pm after a three hour drive, had dinner and walked around downtown until 8:30, which I then headed over to the Double L Bar. Ran into a couple of Philly-area peeps there. Contest was supposed to start at 9:30pm but it didn't on until after ten.

Here are some photos that I took. I would have posted them up on here earlier this week but I had a little problem with the CD they were on, but that's fixed for now.

Me (center) with Mid-Atlantic Leatherboy Justin (left) and Maryland LeatherSIR Chris (right).

The three contestants for Mr. Double L 2006: Paul, Neil and Gary.

A picture of the judges and crowd from the stage. I took a quick photo when I went up onstage for the Parade of Colors featuring members of various leather fraternities; I represented the Philadelphians MC.

Titleholders gather up on stage while host Frank Nowicki (Mr. Mid-Alantic Leather 1993) emcees.

Mr. Double L 2005 Scott Harris gives his stepping-down speech. After winning the title last year he would go on to become Mr Mid-Atlantic Leather 2006.

Gary Samuels from Washington DC wins the title of Mr. Double L 2006. He was the crowd favorite, getting the most applause.

The contest was over a little after midnight. Stayed at the bar until a quarter of one, where I then drove down to Ocean City MD (half an hour frive) and crashed at my parents's summer place. Lots of bikers in the area that weekend, being that it was Delmarva Bike Week. Funny that both Mr. Double L (gay) and Bike Week (straight) are held on the same weekend. The weather during drove back home on Sunday was very sunny, with a high around 80 degrees F; too bad there's not going to be many more of those type of days with fall coming around the corner.