Friday, December 19, 2008

Leather Holiday Traditions

(Leather Life column published in Lavender Magazine, Issue #354, December 19, 2008)

It was a festive holiday weekend as members of the leather/BDSM/fetish community gathered—twice—at Rumours/Innuendo in St. Paul.

MSDB’s annual Bizarre Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 6 filled two rooms and a balcony with local leather and fetish vendors, eye-popping entertainment, and a silent auction benefiting the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.

The very next day the Atons of Minneapolis took over the same space with their annual Holiday Fundraiser benefiting The Aliveness Project and Open Arms of Minnesota. As in years past, the event featured a food drive and a huge silent auction. But this year the Atons and their guests took the “photos with leather Santa” thing to new and amazing heights—those were not photos, they were tableaux.

Here’s wishing everyone a safe, sane and merry holiday season.

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The daring Tina, one of the entertainers at the Bizarre Bazaar. Why “daring”? She danced while balancing a four-foot sword—on edge—on top of her head.

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Happy shoppers at the Bizarre Bazaar. From left: John, Brie and Paul.

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Merchandise at the Bizarre Bazaar, Gray’s Leather booth.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Bertke

Members of the Atons of Minneapolis in a holiday mood.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Andrew Bertke

A Christmas tableaux: Kevin Winge (Executive Director, Open Arms of Minnesota) and Jonesey (Leather Santa).

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Nothing says “Holidays” like an elf (B.D. Chambers) in a pillory.

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Revelers at the Atons Holiday Fundraiser: Ken and John; Rick and Mark; David, Robert and David; John and Tom.

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Portrait of an auction winner: David and his new chain-mail vest.

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