Sir Andy Liu
Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR 2008

02.26.10 – Wow… As the professional challenges in my life continue, an unwitting victim or casualty is this Column. As things change so does my ability to travel and attend Events, the coverage of which makes up the bulk of this Column. So I am going to ask for your patience as I try to see how this Column will evolve. Will it become more Op/Ed? Will I have Correspondents and Roving Field Reporters fill in? Will I hang up my “pen” for a breather and have someone write it completely? I have no idea. But this Column has always been about my Journey, what I’ve seen, done, attended… And to not talk about the changes in my professional life now would be unfair to you, my faithful readers. 

As we roar into March we are staring down the barrel of the first ever Chesapeake Leather Awareness Pride (C.L.A.P.) Weekend!! Bookending the Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR / Leatherboy / Leather Woman / Community Bootblack 2010 Contests, the weekend will feature a Fetish Ball / Dance, a Kinky Karnival, and plenty of surprises! With the involvement of all the local Leather / Levi Clubs, this weekend is not one to be missed! Come see who gets sashed as our new Regional Titleholders, and come celebrate the Title years that Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR 2009 – Sir Ky Eaton, Mid-Atlantic Leatherboy 2009 – boy Eddie Ortiz, Mid-Atlantic Leather Woman 2009 – Cowboi Jen, and Mid-Atlantic Community Bootblack 2009 – Brandon Riley have had. So mark your calendars for March 26^th – 28^th, rip off the back cover of this issue of Gay Life, and I will see you there (go to www.hookerandboys.org for all the details and an application if you are interested in being one of our next Regional Titleholders!)!

Roving Field Reporter Rik “Sir Hooker” Newton-Treadway - Mr. Maryland Leather 2009, hit 2 Events the weekend of February 20^th. 1^st up on Saturday night was Bootlust II in Philadelphia, PA at the Bike Stop (www.thebikestop.com). Thrown by the Keystone boys of Leather (KboL – www.keystoneboysofleather.org), it was a rousing success with boygrant bootblacking, and the Keystone boys making sure everyone was having an awesome time. 

Next up on Sunday was the 5^th Annual Chili Cook Off in Asbury Park, NJ!! Put together by the New Jersey Leather Family to benefit the Center in Asbury Park, the Cook Off has become an Event not to be missed! This year’s affair was hosted by Mr. New Jersey Leather 2010 – Damian, and Ms. New Jersey Leather 2010 – Morgaine. It was standing room only at Georgie’s Bar (www.georgiesbar.com) where everyone could taste samples of the chilies entered, get their Leathers done by Mid-Atlantic Community Bootblack 2009 – Brandon Riley, and bid on items in the Chinese Auction! The Judges were Mr. Connecticut Leather 2010 – James Botelho, Mr. Maryland Leather 2010 – Justin B. Terry-Smith, Mr. Eagle NYC 2010 – Preacher Cassadine, Rascal Bottoms – Ms. Capital Pride Leather 2007, and Hilary Naploeone-Williams – Den Goddess. Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2010 – Matt Bamford made a surprise appearance and was warmly received by those in attendance. Leatherman of Color 2010 – Jay Lee was also in attendance. With prize packages generously donated by local businesses, the chili Contestants were competing in Taste, Aroma, Spice, Heat, and Best Overall. And the Best Overall Winner? None other than our very own Sir Hooker! So congratulations to Dad! And to the New Jersey Leather Family for raising $1525.00 for the Center in Asbury Park (helping people with HIV / AIDS), and involving everyone from Connecticut all the way down to Washington, DC. Bravo!!

 And with all of this goodness, please look at the Calendar of Upcoming Events, and I hope to see all of you soon, in Leather, out and about, and having an awesome time. With all of that, be kind to yourselves, each other, and practice random acts of kindness!! 

Congratulations Grandpa Hunter!!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Every Sunday – WOOF! Philly / LAID – (www.laidsaturdays.com or www.woofphilly.com) – 1416 Chancellor St – Philadelphia, PA – 5PM to 2AM - $5.00

03/06/10 – CODE DC (www.codedc.com) – EFN Lounge (www.efnlounge.com) – Washington, DC – 9PM to 3AM

03/06/10 – The Liberty Bears of Philadelphia (www.libertybears.net) Mad Bears Tea Party – the Bike Stop (www.thebikestop.com) – Philadelphia, PA – 7PM to 10PM

03/06/10 – Mr. & Miss Leon’s 2010 – A Brother Help Thyself (www.brotherhelpthyself.org) Benefit – Leon’s / Nadds – Baltimore, MD – 9PM to 2AM

03/15/10 – The ShipMates Club of Baltimore (www.shipmatesclub.com) Bar Night – Baltimore Eagle (www.thebaltimoreeagle.com) – Baltimore, MD – 9PM to ?

03/20/10 – Centaur, MC (www.centaurmc.org) Bar Night – DC Eagle (www.dceagle.com) – Washington, DC – 9PM to ?

03/26/10 – 03/28/10 – C.L.A.P (Chesapeake Leather Awareness Pride) – Mid-Atlantic LeatherSIR / Leatherboy / Leather Woman / Community Bootblack 2010 Contests + Black & Blue Ball + Kinky Karnival – go to www.hookerandboys.org for details and an application!!

03/27/10 – C.O.M.M.A.ND., M.C. (www.commandmc.org) Bar Night – Baltimore Eagle (www.thebaltimoreeagle.com) – Baltimore, MD – 9PM to ?

03/27/10 – The ShipMates Club of Baltimore (www.shipmatesclub.com) Bar Night – DC Eagle (www.dceagle.com) – Washington, DC – 9PM to ?

03/27/10 – DC boys of Leather (www.dcboysofleather.org) Bar Night – DC Eagle (www.dceagle.com) – Washington, DC – 9PM to ?

03/28/10 – 3^rd Annual North Jersey Leather / Bear Meet & Greet – The Cage – Hoboken, NJ – 3PM to 7PM

04/10/10 – Philadelphians, MC (www.philadelphiansmc.org) Bar Night – the Bike Stop (www.thebikestop.com) – Philadelphia, PA – 9PM to ?

04/15/10 – 04/18/10 – International Ms. Leather 2010 (IMsL – www.imsl.org) – San Francisco, CA – Go to www.imsl.org for details, volunteering, times and venue

04/22/10 – 04/25/10 – Cleveland Leather Awareness Pride (CLAW – www.clawinfo.org) – Cleveland, OH – check website for Registration info, Volunteer Shifts, time and venues

05/28/10 – 05/31/10 – International Mr. Leather 2010 – (IML – www.imrl.com) – Chicago, IL – check website for details, time and venues