January is the perfect month to head over to Pleasures & Treasures for their New Year Clearance Sale. All “Green-tagged” merchandise will be 10-60 percent off. There are so many leather and bear events happening this year that you simply must update your leather wardrobe and there’s no better time to do it. You’ll want to get something on the heavier side if you plan to jet off to Chocolate City in a few weeks to attend Mid-Atlantic Leather (MAL).

The Centaur MC continue to host one of the premier leather event/contest weekends in the country and this year they’ve raised the bar with the addition of the Code Party. While most good Americans will be celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend and/or Robert E. Lee Day, the rest of us will be in the nation’s capital with 2000 of our closest leather friends and family to wish the Centaurs a Happy 40th Anniversary. Mid-Atlantic Leather has long been a favorite of leather people because it continues to keep its small event feeling although it’s the second largest leather contest weekend in the world.

Mid-Atlantic Leather begins on Friday, Jan. 15, with registration and the Leather Exhibit hall at the Washington Plaza Hotel which is also the host hotel. The Washington Plaza is currently sold out but there are rooms available two blocks away at the Doubletree Hotel. The real fun kicks off the next day if you’re not counting Friday evening’s hallway and stairwell adventures. Saturday we’ll all attend the most anticipated and traditional event of the weekend, Leather Cocktails. This “High Leather Formal” has a new surprise location this year and will include food with an open bar, which is part of the reason it’s so popular. Admission to Leather Cocktails is included in the full weekend package but separate tickets are not available.

Later that evening is a new addition to the MAL Weekend lineup: Code. This gear/rubber/skin/ uniform/leather party will have a dress code that is strictly enforced. To get the ball rolling Code will have an open bar from 9-10 p.m. They will have two barbers and three bootblacks to make sure your hair and footwear is also up to code. The evening will also feature hot bondage and S/m demos with some of the hottest and most skilled men in the country. The DJ for the evening will be Frank Wild who also spins at the Folsom Street Fair and the Folsom Europe Pig Party. Just to make sure you have a safe and pleasurable experience, Fuk!t will provide free condoms and safe sex packets.

Code will last until 3 a.m. but you’ll want to drag yourself out of your newest friend’s bed sometime between 8 a.m. and noon for Leather Brunch which is served at the Washington Plaza. Be sure to arrive early since it’s a hotel brunch with hotel food that always seems to run low. Shortly after brunch will be the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest and the step down of current Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather, Kip Hollar. Judging the contest with Kip will be the current International Mr. Leather, Jeffrey Payne; the current International Ms. Leather, Lamalani; Mr. Hoist Leather 2009, Steven Dwyer; Mr. Gulf Coast Leather 2005, Roger Alford; Mr. Drummer 1994, Keith Hunt and DC boy of leather, boy ky.

Once the new Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather is announced we’ll all be bussing, cabbing or running back to the hotel so that we can eat, shower and get dressed in our easiest-to-get-off leather wear. Some will skip the eating and some will skip the shower but we’ll all want to wear something easy to get off. Then its time for the Reaction Dance. DJ, David LaSalle will return to MAL this year to spin for Reaction. The musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by Myke Lowe from Berlin, Germany. Myke was a headliner at Berlin Pride and his newest CD First has been released to critical acclaim. The Reaction Dance is the closing party of the weekend and tickets are available in the full weekend packets and individual tickets are also on sale.

If you’re looking for something to do in San Diego this weekend, the San Diego Eagle is having Torn Levi Saturday on Jan. 16. Also on Saturday, Jan. 16 is L.L. Bear at Rich’s, featuring DJ Bill Bennett of the Bigmuscle.com tour. Have a great 2010 and remember this is the year for progress and improvement.

See ya in the pit.