The midwest converges on Chicago this weekend to witness the choosing of Mr. Chicago Leather 2017, who will go on to represent the Windy City in this year's International Mr. Leather contest, also held in Chicago over Memorial Day weekend.
The packed MCL weekend kicks off Friday, January 27, with a party to welcome the contestants and judges, and a roast of Mr. Chicago Leather 2016 Todd Harris at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St. The party starts at 10 p.,. and Todd gets raked over the coals at midnight, lead by Roastmaster Thib Guicherd-Callin.
The contest to choose MCL '17 goes down the following night, Saturday, January 28, at Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview Ave. Judges include MCL '16 Todd Harris, International Mr. Leather 38 David "Tigger" Bailey, International Ms. Bootblack 1999 Leslie Anderson, Mr. 501 Eagle 2016 Eric Masters and Mr. Midwest Rubber 2016 Pup Icarus. International Mr. Leather 2003 John Pendal will emcee the event for the 14th consecutive year.
Once the winner is chosen, the crowd moves back to Touche for the Pure Victory Dance.
The community then gets some hair of the dog the next morning, Sunday, January 29, at the Leather Brunch, held at Andersonville Brewing Co., 5402 N. Clark St., 11 am - 2 pm. For those with some steam left in them, The Call at 1547 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. hosts a Leather Showtunes event from 4-9 pm.