I'm very sad about losing George Wong as a friend, as a peer and as a leader in our community. George was one of the people who shifted Los Angeles's leather community into the present booming age of successes. I never really got to be close friends with him (too many miles apart), but I treasured every chance to attend his Dim Sum brunches, or to see him in action. That man was universally loved, and he spent massive amounts of his life making the world a better place. He got to see huge, beneficial changes in his community while he was still alive, so that makes me very happy.

San Diego Pride 2011 is coming up, and plans are in place for marching in the Pride Parade as a group, and for the Leather Realm at the festival. More info as it comes in…

The Waterboys would like to remind you that Wet 'n Hot 2011 in Palm Springs is about a month away…

Yes,  the IML 2011 contest is over now, but more and more pictures and videos are still being posted.  Post-production takes time!  Thanks to Leatherati, here is a very well-written recap of the experience of attending, and here is the list of Top Twenty contestants.

-=-=-=-=- Anthony's Welcome Home Party

I thoroughly enjoyed the party at the Eagle on June 4th to show love for Mr. SD Leather 2010 Anthony, who came in Second Runner-Up at IML.  Anthony was presented with a cake, and the Eagle provided a sandwich buffet.

My favorite part was when it was time for Anthony to speak to the crowd.  The bar was very crowded, yet the place went SILENT to the point where Anthony could talk in a normal voice, without a microphone, without having to screech over the sound of drunken, indifferent rowdies.

This is a symptom of how far we've come as a community.  Imagine a San Diego leather bar, in 2011, that is thoroughly packed, diverse, wildly happy, unified and respectful of local community-leaders when it came to be time to listen up.  My comment to several people afterward was "NOW, THAT'S A LEATHER BAR!"  

This is the first time that I'm aware of in San Diego's entire history that one of our representatives has been sent to an international titleholder contest and had every single expense covered by donations from the community. This is huge, and just one more symptom of how far we've progressed together. 

-=-=-=-=-=-=- Miles' Cigars & Boots Event

I really need to stay longer at this monthly event (rather than running home to host dinner parties), because the patio at the Redwing gets good and busy with cigar-smoking men as the afternoon continues onward.  I know that I keep harping on about how wonderfully congenial the crowd is, but it's true - I'm continually thrilled with how everyone is so warm, welcoming and relaxed. The usual pattern applies: We have new faces at each of our events, but they tend to return in the following months, and they get even more relaxed as the months go by, and they bring their friends. It's a low-pressure, mellow gathering of fetishmen. Obviously, there's a need for something like that. I do't smoke, but I never miss one of these gatherings.