Tomorrow, I leave very early in the morning with “ChicagoKink” for a road trip out to DC for MAL aka Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend. If you are a kinky BDSM/Gear pig who has heard about MAL and hasn’t gone yet… you need to have your head examined. 😉 I HIGHLY recommend the event.

It’s the same concept as IML. Basically, it’s a huge gay bar held in a hotel for 4 days with a leather market. A very laid back, social, friendly/playful atmosphere makes MAL a GREAT place for guys new to the Leather (Fetish/BDSM) Scene to meet others. The majority of people are there to play and socialize. This is the next big kink event since MIR so it’s like a big (incestuous) family reunion for many. Everyone’s happy to see each other and make new friends.

The only big difference between MAL and IML that I see is that it does not attract the druggy circuit boy crowd. Which is a major plus for those of us that go to events to play… and not destroy brain cells. (Yeah, I’m very much an Anti-Party guy). Not that IML is an event that encourages drug use, at all.

The leather market vendors are very friendly and encourage you to try on gear or test out BDSM gear. They know that if you try it, the chances of you buying it are much greater. I certainly have a shopping list of things to try myself… and on my boy… this year.

As a reminder, here are some events happening over the weekend that I recommend. I’ll be at all three and most likely doing a demo at the Recon “Dance” Party. There has been some mixed feelings about Recon hosting a “DANCE” party during a major BDSM/Leather event but the Centaurs are trying to make things more interesting at the party by having demos. I know $25 isn’t exactly a great admission price (for those not interested in dance parties) but consider coming to the event to show support for the Centaurs.

Saturday January 19th from 10pm – 4am at Apex Night Club.

Gear Blast 08- Friday 18th 6-10pm at the “Green Lantern”

Boots and Leather Social- Saturday Jan 19 2-4 at the “Green Lantern”.