From Issue 4.0 - September/October 1997
San Francisco is once again preparing to host the world's largest leather-S/M celebration. Leather Week 1997 will run September 21-28.
The week kicks off with the annual Leather Walk, a fund-raiser for the AIDS Emergency Fund. The walk begins at 2p (registration at 1pm) at Daddy's (440 Castro) and ends at the SF Eagle (398 12th Street) with a beer bust at 3pm. For info call 863-2758. The nearby Hole in the Wall Saloon (289 8th Street) also hosts a beer bust.
Monday is the first Grey Hankie Night social for bondage enthusiasts sponsored by Lou Duff. The pansexual event (open to all genders and orientations) takes place from 8-10pm at the Lexington Club (Lexington and 19th). The evening will include a rope bondage demo. For more information contact loubear@netcom.com.
On Tuesday, sex radical author Pat Califia reads from and signs her new book, "Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism" at 8pm at Good Vibrations (1210 Valencia Street). For information call 974-8980.
Wednesday is Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap, a special benefit for Cuir Underground. The evening of visual and spoken word pornography features John Abrahamson, David Aaron Clark, Thea Hillman, Hank Hyena, Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Michelle Tea, and more. The event will take place at 8pm at 848 Divisadero. Donation $7-15. Help support the all-volunteer paper you hold in your hands!
Also on Wednesday is the International Mr. Drummer kick-off party at the Eagle and the *God Damn Independents beer bust* at Daddy's. Meet the Drummer contestants.
Starting on Thursday, events really start to overlap. September 25 is the Leather Art Auction at the SF Eagle at 8pm. This fundraising auction is a relatively new addition to the list of annual Leather Week events.
Also on Thursday and also at 8pm, the International Mr. Drummer contestants' basket auction will be held at the Powerhouse (1347 Folsom Street). Come help the contestants raise money for the winner's travel fund.
Finally on Thursday is the book release party and benefit for "Whores and Other Feminists", a collection of writings by feminists in the sex industry. Not a leather event, but various Cuir Underground staff and writers are among the contributors. Performers include Annie Sprinkle, Nina Hartley, Carol Queen, Jade Blue Eclipse, Red Jordan Arobateau, Scarlot Harlot, and more. Fund-raiser press/VIP reception at 6:30pm ($65 with advance RSVP/$75 walk-in); main program at 7:30pm ($20 with advance RSVP/$30 walk-in). The event will be held at the Great American Music Hall on O'Farrell near Van Ness. Call 541-5618 for information or to RSVP.
On Friday is the Drummer Last Supper, a fund-raiser honoring the outgoing International Mr. Drummer Kyle Brandon and Drummer Boy Mike DeNisco. The event is sponsored by the Northern California Leather Association of the Deaf and hosted by International Mr. Deaf Leather Patrick Richardson and IMsL Genelle Moore. The evening will feature entertainment, fantasies, and a leather/slave auction. 8-11pm. $8 admission includes light supper and beer bust. ASL/voice interpreted. For more information see the website.
Also Friday is the Fetish and Fantasy Ball at Club Townsend (177 Townsend Street). Always a highlight of Leather Week, this year's ball is produced by Audrey Joseph and will feature a variety of entertainment and fantasies. Tickets are $12 in advance/$15 at the door. Sponsors have worked together this year to coordinate the Friday events, and shuttles will run from Daddy's to the Eagle to the ball until 3am. For information call 974-1156.
Friday also features another literary event, a book signing party for Michael Manning's "Cathexis" and "Hydrophidian." Come meet the erotic comic artist at Good Vibrations at 8pm. Finally, there will be a Rubber Corps play party. Contact RbbrCorps@aol.com for information and RSVP.
Saturday kicks off with another Rubber Corps event, a beer bust at Daddy's from 11am-3pm. This is an early bust to give people time to get over to one of the weekend's major events.
The International Mr. Drummer contest finals begin at 3pm at Club Townsend. Tickets are still available at press time for $25. Following the contest is a victory party at 9pm at Daddy's, as well as a slew of private and special interest parties around town. For information about the Drummer events contact DrummHq@slip.net or call 252-1195.
Also on Saturday, from 9pm to 6am, will be a new event in the Leather Week line-up. Magnitude is a circuit-style pre-fair dance party at the Concourse Exhibition Center. Tickets are $25 in advance/$30 at the door. For those who haven't had enough, the Short Circuit dance party will take place from 6-11am at 715 Harrison, bringing you right up to fair time. Call 552-5900 for more info."
On Sunday is the famed Folsom Street Fair, which is expected to draw 30,000-40,000 leatherfolk and admirers. The fair runs from 11am through early evening on Folsom Street between 7th and 12th. As always, expect entertainment, food and drinks, lots of booths -- selling everything from leatherwear to piercings to spankings -- and lots of leather-clad (and unclad) bodies. The fair is sponsored by SMMILE. See the website or call 861-FAIR for more information.
The week winds down with a street party at the Eagle at 11pm and a "Different Drummer" party at the Trocadero on 4th Street.
Those with energy left after the fair can attend the Real Bad IX: Resurgence dance party, Sunday evening from 7pm-2am at 1015 Folsom Street. Admission is $15 in advance/$20 at the door. Call 273-1330 for more information."
Last but not least is the OuchFest, a post-fair party at the DNA Lounge (11th and Harrison). Sponsored by the Power Exchange and pthers, the event will feature demos and performances by Lou Duff, mistress Midori, and Mistress Ilsa Strix.
Until October 12, Mark I. Chester presents SEXART 5: an
east/west radical sex photo slam, a group exhibition featuring
radical sex photographers from New York City and San Francisco,
including Chester, this month's featured CU artist Tala
Brandeis, Katrina del Mar, Barbara Nitke, Michele Serchuk, and Ves
Pitts. Showing weekends from 1-6pm or by appointment ($2
donation). 1229 Folsom St. (between 8th & 9th). For info call
415-292-3223.