Hot Town! Summer in the City: IML and the Grabbys take over Chicago Memorial Day Weekend
Thu. May 16, 2013 10:21 AM by Anthony Morgano
chi chi larue co-hosts the 2013 grabby awards
photo credit // facebook
Chicago, IL -
While the cold and snow of upper Midwest winters often send transplants to the Windy City packing, true Chicagoans know that our city comes to life in the summertime. Festivals, street fairs, markets and more fill the city with a flurry activity and excitement, all kicking off over Memorial Day weekend.
While the rest of the city enjoys the resuming fireworks at Navy Pier or jams out at the Belmont-Sheffield music festival, gay Chicago will be welcoming kinksters, fetishists and some of the biggest names in gay porn to really get the start of summer heated up.
This year marks the 35th annual International Mister Leather conference and competition, more commonly known by its acronym IML. Not limited to leather only, IML welcomes rubbermen, sports gear enthusiasts, pups and their handlers and a whole host of other fetish folk for a long weekend of conferences, competitions and parties celebrating a shared sexual deviance.
Men clad in little but jockstraps and leather harnesses will take over this year's host hotel, The Chicago Marriott Downtown/Magnificent Mile, which has already sold out all its rooms for the weekend. The hotel will play host to the infamous Leather Market, which last year featured more than 120 leather and fetish vendors, clubs and organizations and welcomed up to 6,000 curious visitors each day.
The market, which is open to the public, is a great place to get a glimpse into the world of IML and always a fun people-watching opportunity. You must be at least 21 years old to enter, with a suggested donation of $5 for a day pass or $10 for a weekend pass. All proceeds go to the Leather Archives and Museum.
The competition itself kicks off with the IML Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 24, at 9 p.m. at the world-famous Vic Theater located at 3145 N Sheffield, just on the edge of Boystown. The Vic will also host Saturday's "Pecs and Personality" contest at 9, when Mr. International Leather hopefuls will strut their stuff to show off their physiques as well as their stage presence and public speaking abilities. The winner will be determined at the final competition, which takes place on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph, on the northern border of Millenium Park.
Sunday's contest will also feature a performance by Beverly McLellan, who recently made the final four on NBC's "The Voice."
After Mr. International Leather 2012 Woody Woodruff passes on his title at Sunday's competition, the House of Blues at 329 N Dearborn will host The Victory Party, presented by Circuit MOM Productions' REVOLUTION. This is the annual, officially sanctioned IML main event dance party celebrating the newly chosen Mr. International Leather. This year's dance will feature the Chicago debut of international DJ and remixer Dani Toro of Barcelona. (Interview with DJ Dani Toro)
(View photos from the 2012 Victory Party)
IML's official closing party, The Black and Blue Ball, returns on Monday night to the newly remodeled Excalibur, now dubbed Castle Nightclub, at 640 N. Dearborn. With 20,000 square feet of party space on four levels and beats spun by returning DJ Matthew Harvat as well as Chicago's legendary Grammy-nominated DJ, producer and remixer Ralphi Rosario, it's a party you won't want to miss.
(View photos from the 2012 Black and Blue Ball)
This year also marks the beginning of a judged component to the International Mr. Bootback competition. In addition to being judged by popular vote, contestants will be scrutinized for their bootblacking skills, personality and an interview with the newly formed judges panel, which includes last year's winner Nick Elliott. Other events taking place over the weekend include the People of Color Leather Caucus, cocktail receptions, book signings and late-night parties like Gear Blast 2013 on Friday night and Onyx Party on Saturday night. For a complete list of events and details, visit www.imrl.com/visitorguide/schedule.php.
Memorial Day Weekend will also play host to annual Grabby Awards, better known as the Grabbys, when Chicago's own Grab Magazine honors the best of the best in the gay adult industry. Renowned adult film director and drag queen Chi Chi LaRue returns along with Chicago favorite Honey West to host this year's award show, along with nine other co-hosts, all gay adult stars: Austin Wilde, Christopher Daniels, Matthew Rush, Trenton Ducati, Rod Daily, Max Ryder, Jimmy Durano, Tommy Defendi and this year's annually chosen fan-favorite Brent Corrigan.
"I think it's very exciting to have the new venue and the new format of the nine co-hosts to share the stage with the fabulous Honey West and I," LaRue told ChicagoPride.com, adding: "Grab ahold of your zippers and pull 'em down, because it's time for the Grabby Awards again, and I'm coming to town!"
(View photos from the 2012 Grabby Awards: Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three)
The Grabbys are coming back to Boystown this year, with the awards themselves taking place Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Center on Halsted. Platinum level tickets have already sold out, but those eager to rub elbows with their favorite adult stars (and meet some new ones) can still purchase reserved seats on the main floor at the Gold or Silver levels for $60 or $50, respectively, or unreserved seats on the ground floor for $25. Group packages are also available. Tickets can be purchased at www.chicagonettech.com/orders/clients/grabbys/2013grabbytix.asp.
A whole host of pre and post parties surrounding the Grabbys pervade Boystown bars over the weekend. On Thursday, May 23, Hydrate hosts official Grabbys kickoff party, Skin Trade, featuring hostess Chi Chi LaRue and the sexy men of Fabscout. Friday's party at the Lucky Horse Shoe, 3169 N Halsted, is presented by CameraBoys.com and features cocktails with the nominees, hosted by Scotty B and featuring the men of Colt, Hot House and Jet Set Men. The event runs from 9 p.m. until midnight, with a $5 cover.
After the awards themselves, the Grabby crowd flocks to Charlie's, 3726 N Broadway, for Debauchery, the official Grabbys after party, featuring Chi Chi LaRue herself playing DJ as well as adult star gogo dancers all night. Tickets are available for $10 in advanced and can be purchased online, or for $15 at the door. If you managed to survive all that, The North End hosts the annual Naked Sword post Grabby recovery brunch on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., for a chance to eat, drink and recap the award show with your favorite adult stars, including two of this year's most popular nominees, Cockyboys Jake Bass and Max Ryder. Advance tickets are available at the North End for $10, or $15 at the door.
"The fans get to meet their favorite stars and the porn stars are so excited to be here," Stacy Bridges, the man behind Grab Magazine and the Grabbys, told ChicagoPride.com. "If you see one of your favorites feel free to ask for a photo with them, they all are really sweet guys."
Several bars around town will also host parties related to IML over the weekend. Hydrate will be hosting two IML-themed parties, Confined on Friday night, featuring DJ circuit superstar Alyson Calagna, and Strapped on Saturday, featuring a battle of the DJs between San Diego's Shane Stiel and Chicago's Ted Eiel. Farther north bars Sofo Tap and Touche are both featuring Gear Fetish Night on Saturday, when Boystown club Spin is also hosting its Fetish night. Of course, the influx of kinksters and adult stars also means that Steamworks features various live shows throughout the weekend.
For details on those and more goings-on over Memorial Day weekend, please visit CalendarQ, gay Chicago's community calendar from ChicagoPride.com and Windy City Times.
While the rest of the city enjoys the resuming fireworks at Navy Pier or jams out at the Belmont-Sheffield music festival, gay Chicago will be welcoming kinksters, fetishists and some of the biggest names in gay porn to really get the start of summer heated up.
This year marks the 35th annual International Mister Leather conference and competition, more commonly known by its acronym IML. Not limited to leather only, IML welcomes rubbermen, sports gear enthusiasts, pups and their handlers and a whole host of other fetish folk for a long weekend of conferences, competitions and parties celebrating a shared sexual deviance.
Men clad in little but jockstraps and leather harnesses will take over this year's host hotel, The Chicago Marriott Downtown/Magnificent Mile, which has already sold out all its rooms for the weekend. The hotel will play host to the infamous Leather Market, which last year featured more than 120 leather and fetish vendors, clubs and organizations and welcomed up to 6,000 curious visitors each day.
The market, which is open to the public, is a great place to get a glimpse into the world of IML and always a fun people-watching opportunity. You must be at least 21 years old to enter, with a suggested donation of $5 for a day pass or $10 for a weekend pass. All proceeds go to the Leather Archives and Museum.
The competition itself kicks off with the IML Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 24, at 9 p.m. at the world-famous Vic Theater located at 3145 N Sheffield, just on the edge of Boystown. The Vic will also host Saturday's "Pecs and Personality" contest at 9, when Mr. International Leather hopefuls will strut their stuff to show off their physiques as well as their stage presence and public speaking abilities. The winner will be determined at the final competition, which takes place on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph, on the northern border of Millenium Park.
Sunday's contest will also feature a performance by Beverly McLellan, who recently made the final four on NBC's "The Voice."
After Mr. International Leather 2012 Woody Woodruff passes on his title at Sunday's competition, the House of Blues at 329 N Dearborn will host The Victory Party, presented by Circuit MOM Productions' REVOLUTION. This is the annual, officially sanctioned IML main event dance party celebrating the newly chosen Mr. International Leather. This year's dance will feature the Chicago debut of international DJ and remixer Dani Toro of Barcelona. (Interview with DJ Dani Toro)
(View photos from the 2012 Victory Party)
IML's official closing party, The Black and Blue Ball, returns on Monday night to the newly remodeled Excalibur, now dubbed Castle Nightclub, at 640 N. Dearborn. With 20,000 square feet of party space on four levels and beats spun by returning DJ Matthew Harvat as well as Chicago's legendary Grammy-nominated DJ, producer and remixer Ralphi Rosario, it's a party you won't want to miss.
(View photos from the 2012 Black and Blue Ball)
This year also marks the beginning of a judged component to the International Mr. Bootback competition. In addition to being judged by popular vote, contestants will be scrutinized for their bootblacking skills, personality and an interview with the newly formed judges panel, which includes last year's winner Nick Elliott. Other events taking place over the weekend include the People of Color Leather Caucus, cocktail receptions, book signings and late-night parties like Gear Blast 2013 on Friday night and Onyx Party on Saturday night. For a complete list of events and details, visit www.imrl.com/visitorguide/schedule.php.
Memorial Day Weekend will also play host to annual Grabby Awards, better known as the Grabbys, when Chicago's own Grab Magazine honors the best of the best in the gay adult industry. Renowned adult film director and drag queen Chi Chi LaRue returns along with Chicago favorite Honey West to host this year's award show, along with nine other co-hosts, all gay adult stars: Austin Wilde, Christopher Daniels, Matthew Rush, Trenton Ducati, Rod Daily, Max Ryder, Jimmy Durano, Tommy Defendi and this year's annually chosen fan-favorite Brent Corrigan.
"I think it's very exciting to have the new venue and the new format of the nine co-hosts to share the stage with the fabulous Honey West and I," LaRue told ChicagoPride.com, adding: "Grab ahold of your zippers and pull 'em down, because it's time for the Grabby Awards again, and I'm coming to town!"
(View photos from the 2012 Grabby Awards: Gallery One | Gallery Two | Gallery Three)
The Grabbys are coming back to Boystown this year, with the awards themselves taking place Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Center on Halsted. Platinum level tickets have already sold out, but those eager to rub elbows with their favorite adult stars (and meet some new ones) can still purchase reserved seats on the main floor at the Gold or Silver levels for $60 or $50, respectively, or unreserved seats on the ground floor for $25. Group packages are also available. Tickets can be purchased at www.chicagonettech.com/orders/clients/grabbys/2013grabbytix.asp.
A whole host of pre and post parties surrounding the Grabbys pervade Boystown bars over the weekend. On Thursday, May 23, Hydrate hosts official Grabbys kickoff party, Skin Trade, featuring hostess Chi Chi LaRue and the sexy men of Fabscout. Friday's party at the Lucky Horse Shoe, 3169 N Halsted, is presented by CameraBoys.com and features cocktails with the nominees, hosted by Scotty B and featuring the men of Colt, Hot House and Jet Set Men. The event runs from 9 p.m. until midnight, with a $5 cover.
After the awards themselves, the Grabby crowd flocks to Charlie's, 3726 N Broadway, for Debauchery, the official Grabbys after party, featuring Chi Chi LaRue herself playing DJ as well as adult star gogo dancers all night. Tickets are available for $10 in advanced and can be purchased online, or for $15 at the door. If you managed to survive all that, The North End hosts the annual Naked Sword post Grabby recovery brunch on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m., for a chance to eat, drink and recap the award show with your favorite adult stars, including two of this year's most popular nominees, Cockyboys Jake Bass and Max Ryder. Advance tickets are available at the North End for $10, or $15 at the door.
"The fans get to meet their favorite stars and the porn stars are so excited to be here," Stacy Bridges, the man behind Grab Magazine and the Grabbys, told ChicagoPride.com. "If you see one of your favorites feel free to ask for a photo with them, they all are really sweet guys."
Several bars around town will also host parties related to IML over the weekend. Hydrate will be hosting two IML-themed parties, Confined on Friday night, featuring DJ circuit superstar Alyson Calagna, and Strapped on Saturday, featuring a battle of the DJs between San Diego's Shane Stiel and Chicago's Ted Eiel. Farther north bars Sofo Tap and Touche are both featuring Gear Fetish Night on Saturday, when Boystown club Spin is also hosting its Fetish night. Of course, the influx of kinksters and adult stars also means that Steamworks features various live shows throughout the weekend.
For details on those and more goings-on over Memorial Day weekend, please visit CalendarQ, gay Chicago's community calendar from ChicagoPride.com and Windy City Times.