“Tie the Knot” at Minnesota Leather Pride

“Tie the Knot” is the theme of Minnesota Leather Pride 2008. A full schedule of Minnesota Leather Pride events starts June 7, and obtains simultaneous climax with the Twin Cities GLBT Pride Festival on June 28-29. This year’s Pride Parade will introduce a brand-new giant Leather Pride flag.

The 2008 collectible “Tie the Knot” Leather Pride dog tag gets you discounts at some of this year’s Minnesota Leather Pride events. Get yours for $5 (before June 28) at Cockpit Project, Dreamhaven, Gray’s Leather, Midwest Triple X, Rainbow Road, or Smitten Kitten. Or, buy your dog tag from members of the Minnesota Leather Pride Committee at upcoming club meetings and munches, plus at all 2008 Minnesota Leather Pride events. After June 28, dog tags will be available for $7 at the Minnesota Leather Pride booth in Loring Park during the Pride Festival.

Organizational sponsors for this year’s Minnesota Leather Pride celebration are Athenor; The Atons of Minneapolis; Erotic Deviance; Knights of Leather; Masters And slaves Together (MAsT)-Twin Cities; MinKY (Minnesota Kinky Youth); MN Bondage; Minnesota Storm Patrol; MPX (Minnesota Power Exchange); MSDB (Minnesota Stocks, Debentures & Bonds); PEPRMNT (People Exchanging Power Respectfully in Minnesota Together); and Twin Cities Pride.

Information listed below is subject to change—updates will be posted at www.MNLeatherPride.org.

Sat., June 7
Minnesota Storm Patrol Beer Bust. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. 5-8 PM. Free admission. $5 for beer/soda bust.

Fri.-Sun., June 13-15
Dark Ages Faire III. This rustic getaway pairs the romantic feel of the Renaissance Festival with the dark kink of the BDSM community. Presented by Athenor. Weekend admission $40 ($10 discount with 2008 Minnesota Leather Pride dog tag). More info: <athenorlodge.com> (from home page, click on “Dark Ages Faire III” at bottom of page).

Thursday, June 19
PEPRMNT Munch/Discussion. Topic: “What Does Leather Pride Mean to You?” Grumpy’s Bar & Grill, 2801 N. Snelling Ave., Roseville. Dinner 6:30 PM (order off the menu). Discussion 8-9 PM.

Friday, June 20
Dog and Pony Show (Human Division). Meet the human animals and their trainers. Pi Bar. 2532 25th Ave. S., Mpls. 8-10 PM. No admission charge.

Saturday, June 21
Radical Ecstasy. Featuring best-selling authors Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy (aka Catherine Liszt). Explore the joining of spirituality and sexuality. Presented by MSDB. More info: <msdb-mn.org>.

The Atons Leather/Levi Dinner. Surabhi, 517 W. 98th St., Bloomington. 6:30 PM. Reservations strongly encouraged. Reserve at <atons.net>.

The Atons Club Night. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. 9 PM-2 AM.

Sunday, June 22
Workshop: Knotty Intentions. Minnesota’s first-ever Bondage Slam is presented in two parts: a Bondage Showcase, followed by a Bondage Contest complete with judged events and prizes. Patrick’s Cabaret, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S., Mpls. 2-5 PM. $5 admission ($3 with 2008 Minnesota Leather Pride dog tag). More info, or to be part of either the Bondage Showcase or Contest: <msdb-mn.org>.

Monday, June 23
BDSM Creative Collective 2008 (1st Annual) Anthology of Poetry, Art and Short Fiction. Reading and art show. Smitten Kitten. 3010 Lyndale Ave. S., Mpls. 7 PM. Free admission, but space is limited, and only those on the guest list will be admitted. RSVP at (612) 721-6088.

Thursday, June 26
Smoke Out Cigar Party. Cigar/pipe social on the patio. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. 9 PM-Midnight. Free admission.

Friday, June 27
Scorch Fireball IX: Ignition. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. Parking Lot. Floggapalooza. 8-10 PM. Free admission.

Saturday, June 28
GLBT Pride Festival, Loring Park. Visit, or hang out at, the Leather Pride booth. 10 AM-6 PM. Free admission. Buy your dog tag at the booth if you don’t have one yet ($7).

Scorch Fireball IX: Blaze. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S. Mpls. Parking Lot. 4 PM. Bear Night. 7-10 PM. Chi-Chi LaRue Plus Porn Stars Josh West and Josh Vaughn. 10 PM-2 AM.

Sunday, June 29
Leather Flag Decommissioning/Initiation Ceremony. There won’t be a dry eye in the bleachers, as we say thanks and good-bye to the existing Leather Pride flag, and welcome the new one. 9:45-10 AM. Parade Grandstand, 8th and Hennepin, Mpls.

Pride Parade. Help carry the new giant Leather Pride flag on its maiden voyage up Hennepin Avenue and to Loring Park. Gather at 2nd St. and Hennepin Ave. after the flag ceremony. Parade steps off at 11 AM. Then, spend the day in Loring Park, and be sure to drop by the Leather Pride booth. Free admission.

Scorch Fireball IX: Afterburn. Minneapolis Eagle. 515 Washington Ave. S., Mpls. Parking Lot. Live music by Boogie Wonderland at 6 PM.

MinKY Munch. Perkin’s in Golden Valley. 5 PM.

The Minneapolis Eagle is operating this year’s Pride Festival Beer Garden at Loring Park.

As a wrap-up to this year’s Leather Pride festivities, “Frayed Ends,” a community roundtable discussion on possible future directions for the Minnesota Leather Pride celebration, is scheduled for August 22 (time and location to be announced).