I know, I know, the jokes about Manhole's "opening" are getting old. Kind of low-hanging fruit, joke-wise. I can do better. However, Mark, Sean, AK, and all the LKH team could not have done better than the star-studded ( a stud-starred ) opening weekend. Everyone was welcome in the Manhole, as the community got its first lick of The Den and the Manhole itself. Proper homage is paid to leather history with the installation of classic leather artwork, including old IML posters and ads for leather bars gone by. And by some of the stories I heard, it's just like the madness of the original Manhole. For those of us lucky enough to remember those shirtless blackout days, that's pretty mad. Great job, guys!
And while we're on the leather tip, great joy to see Mark now manning the taps at Touche. I stopped in for Gear Night and, as he was wearing his purple Kirkland onesie, we recreated a stupid photo we took years ago. A brief trip back to Kirkland. Very renewing to one's spirit.
Last Monday, I ventured down to Beauty Bar to see Salonathon: Lex-i-ca and was blown away by the range of sheer, unafraid talent on hand. Event organizers Jane Beachy and Joe Varisco really have an eye and ear for cutting-edge performance. And look at that cover boy! To quote the inimitable Ms. Streisand, "Houcha magoucha!"
A special thanks to Jaime, who, after having to spend a weekend night at his mom's in Hammond, posted a photo of himself in front of the unmistakably ghey mural outside of Dick's R U Crazee? I asked him to snap me some shots. Thanks, Jaime. I owe you the equivalent of the gas money I would have spent on driving out there myself.
Such a tasty Otter this month at The Sofo Tap, celebrating the birthday of Mr. Andrew Thanos. And thanks to the bag of 50 dildoes they found in the garbage out back, fun was had by all.
So, I'm hitting the road for a week, an endeavor which is long overdue. Arkansas won't know what hit it. If I'm feeling work-ish, you might see photos from exotic locales such as Kansas City, St. Louis, or Texarkana in the next issue. Or maybe I'll just sit by the pool.
After my trip to Kirkland, I return in force, starting my new Tuesday trivia night at Shaker's On Clark in Boystown, Oct. 7. Join me, won't you?
kirk@windycitymediagroup.com .
MAIN COVER IMAGE: Erik at Salonathon. Photo by Kirk