San Diego has come alive the past few months. All over town, businesses have started to recognize and meet the needs of the growing leather and bear communities.

The fourth Saturday of each month is Underwear Night at the San Diego Eagle with a $100 prize awarded at midnight. This month’s contest is on Saturday, March 22, so if you wear drawers you may wanna wash them (or not) and get over there. March has a fifth Saturday, so the Eagle will turn off the lights on March 29 for its version of a Black Out Party. For a $10 charity donation, the Eagle gives you darkness, flashlights and a raffle ticket.

If you’re not heading to the Eagle there’s no other place to be than Backroom Reloaded at Bourbon Street on March 29. You must be in leather or shirtless to enter. Shirtless means barechested. It does NOT mean you wear a tank top, wife-beater or bra. No flip flops or open toed shoes! Get some boots for god’s sake!

Rich’s steps to the dark side with Bear Blackout featuring popular DJ, Bryan Pruett, the first Friday of the month, April 4. It’s a backroom style party with dark lighting, a cruising area and plenty of hot sweaty men. Leather or black attire is suggested and it’s free before 11 p.m. with a gym or military ID (otherwise it’s a $7 cover). Hear that? FREE!

The action continues as Bacchus House joins the leather/bear feeding frenzy with Bear Night on the first Saturday of the month, April 5.

Two weeks later Rich’s throws the daddy of the hair and hide dances, L.L. Bear. Before you start moaning and groaning about the music, I was there in March after the Mr. Leather contest and the place was packed tighter than I’ve ever seen it before (and not because it was full of bears). The music was great and most of us stayed until they threw us out. It’s time to give L.L. Bear another shot and quit griping about the past.

With all this going on there’s no reason to complain about “nothing happening in San Diego.” If you can’t find something fun to do then stay home while the rest of us have a hot and hairy good time.

On Saturday, March 15 a panel of judges chose Sidney McFadden as Mr. San Diego Leather 2008. Sidney, who was sponsored by Urban Body Gym, was selected from a quartet of contestants that also included local leather man, Gus, Mr. San Diego Eagle Mr. Mike, and Rob, also sponsored by Urban Body Gym. Urban Body Gym contestants came in at winner and runner-up. It was great that staff and gym members were there to offer their support. They were the big, hot ones and hard to miss. Obviously, working out at Urban Body builds confidence and muscles, and with International Mr. Leather (IML) coming up, I suggest some of us make it over there more often.

The Master of Ceremonies for the contest, Lenny Broberg, has been a friend of mine since the mid-80s, and proved he’s the best emcee in the worldwide leather community. Some of you may be too young to remember Lenny as International Mr. Leather 1992 but Lenny has continued to raise money for charity and work in the leather community. The judges for the evening were the current International Mr. Leather Mike Gerle, Mr. San Diego Leather 2007, Buster, International Master, Master Larry, event producer Big Tom, community judge Cobi, Stepping Stone Board Vice-President Rich Ahrendt and Great Lakes Leather Sir 2002, Daddy Don Leach, who was head judge.

The week before Mr. Leather, Donna Tello was awarded the title of Ms. San Diego Leather. Congratulations to Donna, and to you Sidney, who, through perseverance and personal growth is now able to lead the San Diego Leather Community during the next year. If you wish to contact Sidney regarding his new title please e-mail him at sidney2008@mrsandiegoleather.net

Congratulations to the San Diego Leather Pride Week committee on another phenomenal job! Please take a look at www.mrsandiegoleather.net to check out some of the businesses and organizations that made Leather Pride Week possible.

Write me at inthepitsd@aol.com. See ya’ in the pit.