Rick Storer’s Farewell Speech at IML 2017

The Leather Archives & Museum announced today that Executive Director Rick Storer will resign to pursue new opportunities. The resignation will take effect June 11th, 2017.

Jon Krongaard, President of the LA&M said, “When Rick called to share the news with me, I was very surprised. And while I am saddened by his leaving for a new role in the Chicago LGBTQ Community, I am also grateful for his 15 years of amazing service to the LA&M. Under his leadership, we have grown in ways very few thought possible. We are well positioned for what I know to be an exciting and vibrant future. The Board of Directors will be announcing the formation of a search committee for a new Executive Director in very short order along with the naming of an interim Executive Director.”

Rick Storer joined the Board of the Leather Archives & Museum in 2001 and joined the staff as Executive Director in 2002. During his tenure the organization saw growth in the size of the collection and its accessibility. Rick worked with the Board of Directors to successfully complete a capital campaign in 2004. His guidance and leadership over the past 15 years leave the LA&M poised to collect and provide access to Leather / kink / BDSM / fetish history and culture for years to come. “I am grateful for the privilege to have worked so closely with the amazing history at the LA&M. I am excited for the bright future of of the Leather Archives,” Rick added.

Upcoming BLUF Chicago Events

Bluf Chicago

Join us for these upcoming

BLUF Chicago events:

Sat. Sept. 27 – SOFO Gear Night

Get into gear, you could be a winner!

Join us as we host our first gear night at The SOFO Tap. The fun begins at 9 pm.

• Upon arrival be sure to get your special BLUF Chicago wristband and when you buy a Miller Lite Draft or Absolut Vodka drink SOFO will donate $1.00 to BLUFChicago.
• Enjoy a cigar or pipe on the SOFO patio
• Enter our raffle to win some valuable prizes.
• Music by DJ Aaron prime
• Dress Code: Wear what you like but we encourage leather uniforms, motorcycle leather, fabric uniforms, Levi/leather, rubber, western or sports gear.

 

 

Sat & Sun Oct. 4 -5 Cinekink: The kinky film festival

… comes to Chicago at the LA&M

BLUF Chicago is sponsoring the concessions table featuring classic movie snacks along with, kinky, gourmet, sweet & savory fest favorites such as Pizza Popcorn, Spicy & Savory “Hot Chocolate” on a stick, Ginger(leather)men cookies, and more. The items are made by BLUF Chicago members for this “bake sale” event. Fund raised will help support BLUF Chicago. So be sure to stop by and pick up a snack and see a movie or get a snack to go.

Find out show times at Cinekink

… or the Leather Archives & Museum

THIS WEEKEND in Chicago….

   Join Illinois Leather Puppy 2014 – Pup Torkup Tork, Mr. Chicago Leather 2014 Miguel Torres and Howard Brown Health Center for an informative evening regarding PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) & PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)!

This Town Hall event is meant to be a safe space for Puppies, Handlers, and Kinksters a like to learn about and engage in open and honest conversation about this topic in a safe space and place with kinksters specifically in mind.

Gear is welcomed and encouraged, though please be “street legal” in your attire.  

 

Saturday, July 26at 7:00pm

At the CELL BLOCK Bar

 

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

 

CHICAGO: PrEP / PEP Town Hall

  Join Illinois Leather Puppy 2014 – Pup Torkup Tork, Mr. Chicago Leather 2014 Miguel Torres and Howard Brown Health Center for an informative evening regarding PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) & PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)!

This Town Hall event is meant to be a safe space for Puppies, Handlers, and Kinksters a like to learn about and engage in open and honest conversation about this topic in a safe space and place with kinksters specifically in mind.

Gear is welcomed and encouraged, though please be “street legal” in your attire.

Saturday, July 26at 7:00pm

At the CELL BLOCK Bar

 

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

 

CHICAGO: Leather Sex, Social Networking and Community Archives in the 21st-century

I sure wish I was going to be in town for this.  Sounds fascinating.

 

Cruising the Archive: Leather sex, social networking, and community archives in the 21st-century

Join us for a presentation on Friday, July 25th where our intern, Jean Hardy, will be discussing his research on Leather sex and digital cruising, his work this summer doing archival processing for the Women’s Leather History Project, and what the future holds for community archives and participatory archiving.

$5 suggested donation at the door

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

CHICAGO: “Out in the Park” at 6 Flags

Originally called GAY DAY, OUT IN THE PARK at Six Flags is now a Private Night at Six Flags in Gurnee, IL. Held every September. Organized by BestGayChicago.com, it brings together the whole community for a night of fun and charity and giving back! It is done with the help of Community Partners who donate advertising, money, and time , to make the event a huge success. In 2012 there were 3500 people. 2013 there were almost 5000.

Our goal is to hit 9000 people, then Six Flags will give us an ENTIRE PRIVATE 8 hour day!

**LIKE** the Facebook Page to help extend the party!

IML 2014: Meet Pablo Greene at IML and Win A FREE Limited Edition T-Shirt!

Meet Pablo Greene at IML and Win A FREE Limited Edition T-Shirt!

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10  winners get a limited edition t-shirt at IML 2014

We are proud to announce that Pablo Greene will be signing copies of the runaway hit How to Kill a Superhero at this year’s International Mr. Leather in Chicago. IML is one of the longest-running kink and fetish events in the world.

WHERE:
THE LEATHER ARCHIVES & MUSEUM BOOTH IN THE VENDOR MART
CHICAGO MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN
540 N. MICHIGAN AVE.
CHICAGO, IL 60611

WHEN:
MAY 24, 2014, 3-5 PM

HOW TO GET THE SHIRT:
WE’LL HAVE BOOKS FOR SALE AT THE TABLE, BUT ONLY THOSE READERS WHO BOUGHT THEIR BOOK ON AMAZON BEFORE THAT DAY GET THE LIMITED EDITION SHIRT. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST!

BUY HOW TO KILL A SUPERHERO NOW ON PAPERBACK OR KINDLE

Do you love the Gold Apocalypse books and How to Kill a Superhero?

Leave us a review on Amazon.

 

RUFF THOUGHTS: “Keep Em’ Guessing”

People are fascinating.

Last saturday night, I was making my way to the exit of Jackhammer bar where I ran into an old co-worker where we proceeded to catch up and leave the bar together.  A very sexy built Ginger who we’ll call “Bubba”… just because when he reads this he’ll have a good laugh.  “Bubba” is a very sweet man that I don’t see often because we run in different “circles” of friends and both have odd hours with jobs.  A long while back, when we were co-workers, we had an incident happen where we saved a man’s life in a very crazy situation. So, needless to say, that was a bonding experience for us.

As we started to leave, we both keep getting stopped by friends.  Mind you, the music in Jackhammer is L-O-U-D… but I can still hear his friends.  “Who the hell is that guy you’re leaving with?  Is he gonna tie your down and pound your Ass into oblivion?” was one of the many comments (and looks) I overheard in the bar along with “Bubba’s” giggle saying “That’s not the case“.   As we walked out of the bar onto the sidewalk, another group started commenting to “Bubba” with “You are definitely not making it to Church tomorrow!“.   He jokingly shouts “BYE NOW!!!“.    He can see that I’ve overheard all of it.

So, I grabbed his hand and we proceeded to skip down the street in full leather and tall Wesco Boots with 15+ people just staring at is… their lusty fantasies of two masculine Men leaving the Leather bar totally ruined.

At times, people project how they want to see in people. The Leather Scene can be sooooo serrrrious at times.  It doesn’t need to be.  The laughter that followed our romp down Clark Street made my entire weekend.

CHICAGO

  • Mr. Fetish Jackhammer 2014

    Preliminary Listing of Events
    (Subject To Change)

    FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014
    -Registration
    -Closet/Gear Sale
    -Meet and Greet
    -Introduction of Contestants and Judges
    -Dance Party

    SATURDAY MAY 3, 2014
    -Registration
    -Closet/Gear Sale
    -Contestant Interviews
    -Mr. Fetish Jackhammer Contest
    -Victory Dance

    SUNDAY MAY 4, 2014
    -Closet/Gear Sale
    -Closing BBQ & Beer Blast
    -Tea Dance

    FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

CHICAGO: Fireside Chat with Joey McDonald

Screen Shot 2014-01-15 at 6.00.25 AM.pngCome hear Chicago’s own Joey McDonald live-on-stage! Kicking off the 2014 Center’s Fireside Chat series Joey McDonald will be interviewed live-on-stage. Chat host Douglas OKeeffe will talk with Joey about his community history, his life history, ad his community work. Following the formal interview the floor will open for audience questions. Come hear a slice of Chicago history! The Chats are free as a public service. A $5 donation to the Center on Halsted at the door, to cover its expenses, is appreciated.

Wednesday Jan 29th 7:30pm

Facebook Event Page (with Directions)

* This is a Fireside Chat that I’m really looking forward to.  Our history as Gay Leathermen (& women) is something that always moves me.  Joey’s also a sweetheart with a great sense of humor. I hope he doesn’t hold back any.

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO: Rugby boys in Drag

Our annual drag show fundraiser is back at Sidetrack on November 16! Join the Dragons to help raise money to get to Sydney, Australia to participate in the 2014 Bingham Cup! Come out to support us and #GetYourDragOn

Tickets are $20 and include two drink tickets, available at the door or online at rucknmaul2013.bpt.me. Doors open at 5pm.

FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE

C.A.G.E. in Chicago

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About

Leather, rubber, bondage, role play, pup, boy, slave, sub, Sir, Daddy, Dom, Master, all are welcome at C.A.G.E. events!
Description

We are a loose organization that is here to bring together and educate anyone interested in any and all aspects of the kink community. Sirs, Daddies, Doms, Masters, pups, boys, slaves, subs, rubbermen, leathermen, bondage, sports gear, or any other kind of gear I may have missed, all are welcome! Our events are non-judgmental, open, and accepting of all in the community. They will be educational, social, and play oriented (not always all three at the same time though!). So come out and join us at the Chicago Area Gear Enthusiasts (aka CAGE)!!!

Please *LIKE* and share with your friends in (and outside of) Chicago.