If you’re going to San Francisco be sure to wear leather to Folsom Street Fair. Two months after Dore Alley Fair, leather folk from all over the globe are making their trek back to “Fagdad-By-The-Bay” for the second leather week of the year. Folsom Street Fair is the largest leather event in the world and is now being duplicated in cities such as New York and Berlin. Leather Street fairs are becoming more common and are a great addition to contest or leather educational weekends. Isn’t there an alley, parking lot or street close to the Eagle that would be a suitable location for a daytime leather fair? Just asking!

Still, there is nothing quite like the granddaddy of them all and if you have never been to Folsom Street Fair, now’s the time to throw that cow hide in the trunk and make your way north. If you have the time, plan a two week vacation that will run from September 19th through October 2nd. Hotels are scarce but if you work it right I’m sure you won’t have any problem ending up in someone’s bed for an evening or perhaps the two weeks.

The official kick-off to leather week is the Leather Walk which was founded by Art Tomaszewski back in the day and is now produced by Sandy “Mama” Reinhardt. It begins in the Castro on September 19th at 1:00 p.m. and works its way to the Eagle Tavern, south of Market. You’ll want to wear your more comfortable boots or heels since it’s a two mile walk and there are too many events during the week to start out with sore feet. After the “walk” come back to 440 Castro for a special edition of Sunday-Furry-Sunday presented by our good friend Harry ‘Lazy Bear” Lit which goes until 10:00 p.m.. On Tuesday night you want to start off at 440 Castro for $2 beer night and move over to Truck Bar on Folsom and 15th for their “fun” time which begins around 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night, of course, is Leather Buddies which happens at 933 Harrison (Blow Buddies).

We have to put our clothes back on for the Annual Formal Leather Dinner on Thursday, September 23rd at the incredibly chic Supperclub San Francisco. Tickets are a steep $75 but include: a specially crafted, three-course meal, a limited open bar and musical performance by the hilarious Sherry Vine. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with finger food and dinner at 7:00 p.m. You can buy tickets at FolsomStreetEvents.org. Don’t worry; we’ll be back to our piggy selves on Friday night with Bearracuda at the Cat Club at 1190 Folsom Street. The bears and leather boys will be bumping and grinding fur and hide with lots of skin. There’s an optional clothes check if you don’t want to get your nice outfit all sweaty and covered in some trick’s DNA.

Oh yes, I said there would be two weeks worth of activities. The following Sunday is the Castro Street Fair. It’s not as fun or decadent as Folsom but at least it’ll be our turn to point and giggle at the “trendy” queens! See ya in a couple of weeks!