Mid Atlantic Leather A New Decade

Like the words from a Broadway Musical, another opening another show. The leather community of Washington, DC kicked off the new decade January 14-17 with Mid Atlantic Leather weekend. There were many surprises, The first being a new host hotel. The Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill was where the fun took place. With the exception of the Reaction Dance, all events were held under one roof this year

The vendor market featured dozens of booth featuring leather clothing, accessories, jewelry, and adult toys. Whatever was your thing, you could find it or order it. The Centaur MC, sponsors of this yearly event gave the attendees what they were looking for, a good time.

Saturday featured bootblacks  applying their trade to the hundreds of pairs of boots. The announcement of the judges for IML 2011 in Chicago include Tyler McCormick. IML 2010, Nikitas Chondroyannos, Vancouver, BC, Massimo Fusillo, Rome, Italy, Bill Hoeppner, Ft Lauderdale, FL, Sarah Humble, Arvada, CO, Adam Latham, San Diego, CA, Trooper Long, Detroit, MI, Dan Savage, Seattle, WA. Vern Stewart, Washington, DC.

Saturday evening, gave everyone the first of the two “High Cow” events. Leather Cocktails is and always has been the grand formal leather event consisting  of  a impressive buffet display and a three hour open bar. The introduction of the 2011 contestants and judges followed.  The fashion police were out in full force. In some instances the phrase less is more is not entirely the case.

Sunday morning brunch was served prior to the contest, and the second High Cow event. Centaur Fraternal member and former MAL 93 titleholder Frank Nowicki, emceed the event. Frank, known for his prompt starting of events, did not let the audience down. The introduction of the new executive members of the Centaurs ran smoothly Judges MAL 2011 were, Matt Bamford, MAL 2010, Ron Gurney, Utica, NY, Mollena Williams, IMsL 2010, Tyler McCormick, IML 2010, R J Chapin, IML Coordinator, Ray Lamb, Frankfurt, Germany, Randy Schulman, Editor in Chief, Metro Weekly.

Seven contestants were competing for the title, Frank King, Brian Harrison, Doug Pamplin, Theo Storm, Tim White, Larry Johnson, First Sgt. The guys were put through their paces and when all was said and done, the announcement was made that Doug Pamplin, Pittsburgh, PA had been chosen MAL 2011. First runner up title went to First Sgt, from Florida and second runner up was Frank King, Rehoboth, DE.  Mr Pamplin will represent the Mid Atlantic region in Chicago Memorial Day weekend at IML.

Another nearly unheard of  shocker occurred when the amazed audience looked at their watches and discovered the time the contest ended was 3:30 PM  EST with an on time start of 1:00 PM. Truly incredible. A sound out goes to emcee Frank Nowicki. In the past the contest has run until nearly 6 PM with fewer contestants,

MAL DISH 2011

It is well known  when new venues are tested there are bound to be a few difficulties the first time out. However, when you are in the nations capital one would think all of the staff at a large hotel such as the Hyatt would have been well instructed as to the type of event and the type of people that would be attending. Therefore, it was totally unacceptable and discriminatory for a bartender to tell two men sitting at the bar that there would be no kissing or affection at that bar. It was more than enough to have to share the hotel with some wheat growers/farmers from Kansas. let alone hear a bartenders insulting remarks.

Especially when several months previously the District of Columbia passed a same sex marriage law. INDEED!  Fortunately, the front desk staff, did not bat an eye at anything and were extreamly courteous and helpfull.

Some guests are still figuring out what to make of the letter from the hotel which informed them they would not be permitted to be in the lobby without a shirt covering their bare body and good lord no exposed rear ends. Obviously, having been at the Washington Plaza for the past few years as the host hotel, this did not set well with many. Many ignored the edict Saturday night.

The fashion police nearly had a stroke as did many in attendance upon focusing on one MAL judge who saw fit, to appear the entire weekend in white pants and white tennis shoes!  Even Helen Keller would have known better and so should he.

Evidently, things became rather heated during the closed interview portion of the contest, One contestant did not appreciate a question asked of him, and that it was inappropriate. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. but what was inappropriate, was to hear the contestant  discussing  the question with quite a few outsiders before the contest was over. tsk, tsk.

The general consensus of a large majority of  those in attendance, hope that next year, any changes in admission such as the charge for attending the vendor market be done when advertising for MAL  starts, not just weeks before. the economy is tight and so is money.

Meetings for the 2013 MAL are going to be getting underway in the not too distant future. What to do,  MLK Jr holiday falls on Jan 21st, and we know a new president is sworn in on January 20th, oh dear. But knowing that club they will handle it.

Shame on the Connecticut leather community. One would have thought at least one former title holder would have attended MAL to lend support to their current title holder.

On a positive note, every contestant who entered MAL this year were familiar with the word Kiwi, Esquire, or Shinola or knew someone who did,  Gentlemen, your boots were spectacular! In the really great guy department, A special thank you shout out goes to Carlos, of CJ Leather in Denver,  who helped to avert a fashion disaster with several contestants with a quick repair, and never charged them a dime.

As for the entertainment this fingernails scraping across a school blackboard would have  had the same effect had someone awakened the audience. At least they had clean white tennis shoes. Fire Island must love them.