Inaugurating the leather weekend
Leading up to Tuesday's swearing in of the next president, D.C. will become so crowded and noisy, it threatens to resemble a barnyard. Sheep, bah. Bring on the cowhide! That's right, it's time for Centaur Motorcycle Club's 25th Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend.
It's going to be bitterly cold at least until Saturday, looks like. So why not pick up some leather garb either at the always-reliable Leather Rack or at the Leather Exhibit Hall, which opens at 4 p.m. Friday at the Washington Plaza Hotel. Leather keeps you warm! Stick around for drinks after in the host hotel's expansive lobby — the place where everyone comes and goes at least once during the weekend. That's entertainment! Later tonight, Friday, January 16, comes the first of two weekend dance parties at Apex. The online fetish site Recon brings its second annual Full Fetish Party with Provincetown DJ Leslie III. Nearly 1,000 Recon members have RSVP'd that they'll attend, so it should be good. Don't forget to dress up (or down, depending on your proclivities). The second leather event at Apex is Sunday's MAL Reaction Dance, with another P'Town regular, DJ David "A House's A Rod" LaSalle, and lights by Nation's former guru John "Living Under Your Spotlight" Niederhauser.
When you're not carousing the Washington Plaza and dancing at Apex, you can hit Almas Temple. The Shriner's grand hall is the site of Saturday night's signature Leather Cocktails reception from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., complete with a parade of states — that is, a parade of leather organizations attending this year's MAL. Then, Sunday afternoon, January 18, brings the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest at the Temple, where actress, comedian and gay rights activist Kathy "Peggy Hill is My Bitch" Najimy will entertain as the judges deliberate about who is this year's leading leather daddy.
But wait, there's more! Unofficial events include Blowoff, Saturday night at the 9:30 Club. Sunday, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Green Lantern hosts the monthly PAKT Underwear Party. And then any night of the weekend you'll do just fine looking for leather lovers at The Eagle — duh! — Green Lantern, Remington's and Omega. And, of course, eating at Annie's. Annie's is open 24 hours through Wednesday morning, while most of the other venues in town will stay open as late as 4 a.m., courtesy of Inauguration excitement. Thanks Obama!
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