Life After IML - May 2005

Interviewing the winning contestant onstage at Mr Belfast Leather, April 2005 Photo credit: www.MenoftheNorth.com

I was the Master of Ceremonies for two leather contests in April: Mr Belfast Leather in Northern Ireland and Mr Midwest Leather in Dubuque, Iowa. I had been the MC for Mr Belfast Leather in December 2003, so it was great fun to return to the city and meet friends again. Irish men are very hospitable and quite furry! Mr Midwest Leather was my first trip to Iowa. The contest organisers put a huge amount of effort into the weekend and if that wasn't enough, Dubuque also boasts the world's shortest scenic railway.

Looking ahead, there are lots of great leather events happening across Europe this summer. Here's a list of some of the ones I've heard about. Please don't think that this is my travel calendar! Apart from the two events in London I don't think I'll be able to attend any of the others. This list is for publicity purposes only:

• VALHALL 2005 and "TOP OF EUROPE" CLUB AGM
  Held in Oslo, Norway
  From Friday 13th May to Sunday 15th May 2005
  Website http://www.slm-oslo.no/index.php
  Dresscode is leather, rubber, uniforms, industrial, masks, sneakers and sportswear.
  Friday 13th (11pm - 3am): Sauna Party at My Friend Club.
  Saturday 14th (10pm - 3am): "VALHALL 2005" Top of Europe Party at SLM Oslo. Special guests: Björn Are Hultman (Mr Leather Norway 2004) and Miriam M'Kebab (Drag Queen).
  Sunday 15th (10pm - 3 am): Leather Bar, SLM Oslo.

  
  

• First ever MR FETISH CHAPS 2005 CONTEST
  Held in Liege, Belgium
  On Saturday 14th May 2005
  Website http://www.thechaps.be
  The winner will receive 700 Euros. Special guests include Jason Hendrix (International Mr Leather 2004), Roberto Menichetti (Mr Leather Europe 2004) and Daniel Dumont (President of MSC Belgium and one of the judges at this year's IML contest in Chicago).

  
  

• R(H)EINFETISCH and MR LEATHER & FETISH NRW 2005 CONTEST
  Held in Cologne, Germany
  From Friday 13th May to Sunday 15th May 2005
  Website http://www.lfcologne.de/events.htm
  Special guests: Roberto Menichetti (Mr Leather Europe 2004) - Sunday only, Georges Schott (German Mr Leather 2005), Philipp Tanzer (German Mr Leather 2004), Thomas Schoch (Mr Fetish Switzerland 2004), Hans (Mr Leather Cologne 2004) and others.

  
  

• SLM FETISH PARTY and MR LEATHER NORWAY 2005 CONTEST
  Held in Oslo, Norway
  On Friday 24th June 2005
  Website http://www.slm-oslo.no/parties/ep2005.php
  This event takes place during EuroPride 2005, which is from 17 - 27 June 2005 in Oslo, Norway.
  On Saturday 25th June join SLM Oslo in the EuroPride Parade, starting at 3pm in the Pride Village.

  Interviewing all three contestants onstage at Mr Midwest Leather, Dubuque, Iowa, April 2005 Photo credit: Phil Nickerson

  
  

• PRIDE LONDON
  Held in London, UK
  On Saturday 2nd July 2005
  Website http://www.prideinthepark.com
  Leathermen will be scattered throughout the Pride Parade, which starts in Hyde Park at 1pm and finishes at Victoria Embankment. In the afternoon there will be a Pride Rally in Trafalgar Square and cabaret in Leicester Square.
  Many leather and fetish clubs will be holding special events that weekend, including a party for BLUF members at The HOIST on Friday 1st July.

  
  

• KINKFEST2
  Held at SeOne in London, UK
  On Saturday 30th July 2005
  Website http://www.unfettered.co.uk/kinkfest2.htm
  Predominantly hetero/ bisexual SM event.
  11am to 7pm - stalls, speeches and SM workshops. (The Spanner Trust will be there.)
  7.30pm to 9pm - buffet food, open to ticketholders for either the day or the party.
  9.30pm to 5am - the After Party.

  
  

• HAMBURG LEATHER PARTY '05
  Held in Hamburg, Germany
  From Wednesday 10th August until Monday 15th August 2005
  Website http://www.spike-hamburg.de
  Billed as the biggest leatherparty in Europe, including the HOT AND HORNY PARTY on Friday 12th August in the Markthalle and a BOAT PARTY on Saturday 13th August on the Cap San Diego.
  Plus special guests: Roberto Menichetti (Mr Leather Europe 2004), Georges Schott (German Mr Leather 2005), Axel Teschke (German Mr Leather 2001), DJ Jack Chang (London) and DJ Mike Kelly (Sydney).

  
  

• Second annual FOLSOM EUROPE Street Fair
  Held in Berlin, Germany
  On Saturday 3rd September 2005
  Website http://www.folsomeurope.com
  Special Parties: PERVERT FOLSOM EUROPE (Friday 2nd September 2005) and PROJECT PIG (Saturday 3rd September 2005).
  Plus special guests: Jason Hendrix (International Mr Leather 2004), Roberto Menichetti (Mr Leather Europe 2004), Georges Schott (German Mr Leather 2005), Philipp Tanzer (German Mr Leather 2004), Axel Teschke (German Mr Leather 2001), Thomas Schoch (Mr Fetish Switzerland 2004), Frank Bug (International Mr Rubber 2005), Alan Tunstall (International Bootblack 2004) and others.

  
  

• 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOTORSPORTCLUB AMSTERDAM (MSA) and MR LEATHER EUROPE 2005 CONTEST
  Held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  From Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September 2005
  Website http://www.msamsterdam.org
  Friday 16th: Mr Leather Europe contest during the XXXLeather Party
  Saturday 17th: Annual General Meeting of the European Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (ECMC). Followed by Twisted dinner and Twisted Tulips party.
  Sunday 18th: Farewell brunch.
  Present this weekend: MSA president.

  
  

• LEATHER PRIDE NEDERLAND
  Held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  During October 2005 (dates to be announced)
  Website http://www.leatherpride.nl

  
  

• You can also see a list of the EUROPEAN CONFEDERATION OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS (ECMC) main events in 2005 by clicking here or here.

Have fun and play safe.

Best wishes,

John Pendal
International Mr Leather 2003