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It was a mid-summer delight in San Francisco last weekend as the Dore Alley (Up Your Alley) Street Fair unfolded on Sunday, July 29. The event was preceded by myriad private parties, cha-cha parties, and two leather title contests. The cigar guys, the boots and breeches guys, the 15 Association play party plus the SF Leather Daddy XXV contest and the Northern California Leather Sir/boy/Bootblack competition dominated the weekend, to almost everyone's delight. The SF chapter of the Men of Discipline even joined in the festivities with its party on Friday night.
The weather was cool-ish and somewhat windy, but the sun shone bright and clear as thousands descended on Folsom Street at Dore Alley on Sunday. And not all the attendees were local. Leather men from Germany, Australia, Holland, and Canada were among the revelers that came to celebrate the "home town" party that ran from 1100 to 1800 and it was body to body with various booths offering with leather goods, accoutrements, toys and information for the choosing. The Powerhouse bar, smack dab in the middle of the whole scene, was jam-packed with long lines of men and women wanting to get in. It was the same at the Eagle Tavern and the Lone Star Saloon, both in close proximity of the fair.
Those world-famous fuzzy buns belonging to former Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Steve Ranger "came out" again for the Dore Alley (Up Your Alley) Street Fair last Sunday, July 29 in San Francisco. Early Sunday morning, booths, power cables, and merchandise magically appeared. Truckloads of beer and ice were unloaded on the site and merchandise of every stripe was laid out. Volunteers were on hand throughout the entire day and the motels, hotels, and other hostelries were booked solid with out-of-town visitors as early as Wednesday of last week.
Friday night, a huge crowd was on hand at the Eagle Tavern as one of San Francisco's long-running title contests took place to pick the 25th Leather Daddy winner. Jason Ladd and Warren William shared the MC duties and managed a few barbs to various personalities. All in fun!
A whopping six men tossed their hats and boots into the ring and faced judges Scott Peterson, Tom Rodgers, Tony Koester, Steve Gaynes, and Dirk Burns. Peter Fiske was the alternate judge. The candidates (Brett Brockschmidt, Matt Prather, Larry Rivera, John Ryan, "Tag" Taglieri, and Glen Tanking) were interviewed, gave speeches, answered on-stage questions, and were obliged to sell raffle tickets for dynamic door prizes.
Of course, Donna Sachet administered the
Advancing to compete for the International Title in Dallas in October (L. to R.): Brian Kurtely, No. Calif. Leather boy, Will Hutchison, No. Calif. Leather Sir and boy Jean (she's the Community Boot Black) at the Eagle Tavern in San Francisco last Saturday, July 28th.
ritualistic rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" to outgoing Daddy Warren Williams followed by his 8-minute step aside speech.
When all was said and done, the tally master delivered the judges' decisions to the stage. Brockschmidt was the first runner-up and San Francisco's 25th Leather Daddy is Tanking, former Mr. Daddy's Leather 2003. And then it was over. Another edition of one San Francisco's long-running traditions. Good show, to all concerned.
Saturday evening, there was only one Leather Sir contestant, no leather boys, and two community bootblack contestants. The sir was Will Hutchison and the bootblack candidates were Will Bruner and boy Jean.
The MC, Karen Ultra Domme, managed to ruffle a few feathers with some acerbic arrows aimed at a select few personalities, and Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt awarded the Omar Moseley Community Service Award to Don "Ho" Tse to much applause. Former Empress Snatch managed to electrify the crowd with another hot number.
The new International Leather Sir Randal Kinnear was on hand as a judge, as was the International Leather boy Marshall. Several former ILSb's and Mr. Drummers were on hand as well as Rik Newton-Treadway, who will be producing the finals in Dallas in October.
When Dan Alexander finished the tally count, it was determined that Will Hutchison will be Northern California Leather Sir. Since no boys were in the competition, the producers selected Brian Kurtela of Fresno as the Northern California Leather boy. Both advance to the finals in Dallas in October as will boy Jean, a well-liked woman, as the 2007 Community Boot Black.
Meanwhile, up in Seattle, the Washington State Leather Sir/boy competition was taking place and not all the details were available to me at my deadline, but know that Michael Heaston is Washington Leather Sir and David Caldwell is Washington Leather boy 2007. There were no bootblack contestants so Henry Brown (last year's winner) will serve another year. The winners will compete for the Northwest Regional Leather Sir/boy titles next month.
Washington State Leather Sir/boy/BB chosen at the Cuff in Seattle last Saturday night (L. to R.): kneeling David Caldwell, WA. Leather boy, Michael Heaston, WA. Leather Sir and Henry Brown, WA. Boot Black. They advance to compete at the NW Regional LS/b/BB contest later this year. All of the above and a splendid street fair made it a weekend to remember. If anyone didn't have a good time, it was their own fault. The friends of Stompers Boots were invited to a cook-out in the back yard of the store and the boots on hand made it a definite delight for booted man and their admirers. Mike McNamee really knows how to throw a party!
So there it was; great efforts, money raised for the Folsom Street Events beneficiaries, four more sashes, success at every turn all weekend. You really ought to try to make next year!
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