What Have I Done?!?

I do love the smell of leather. It gives me a little nether-stirring every time it wafts gently toward my olfactories. Maybe it has something to do with the time I was molested by a Holstein in middle school. Bessie will always be with me. Well, Bessie beware, cuz this is the leatheriest weekend on Earth, International Mr. Leather and Bear Pride X. Look for my flas h to be going off all over this great berg the whole four days. Some highlights include: The Leather Market at the Hyatt, JumpStart’s Leather Rites party at The Metro, Jackhammer’s Leather Hell Dance Party, Touché’s Spit and Shine Uniform Night, The Chicago Kings show at Circuit, and approxiamtely eleventy billion other events touting the arrival of the Leather-clad. See just about every ad in the paper for more info, or consult our comprehensive calendar on page 54.

Congrats to Frankie Knuckles on the new resolution handed down from the city. He better get some recognition for the 30 years he’s put in to the business. Stay tuned to Nightspots for info on his upcoming yearly July 4 party at House of Blues, courtesy of the good folks at D/E Entertainment.

So I ask Michael at Bobby Love’s who was hot enough to photograph last week and he quickly turned me on to two very young and pretty boys sitting right at his very table. When they told us they were both 24, I immediately felt like Chicken Tonight.

I know Danny at Scot’s is going to kill me for printing that picture on page 62, but I couldn’t resist. I’ll die knowing I did not compromise my artisitic integrity.

What’s this new bar on Balmoral opening up? Joie de Vine is a laid back, very chill wine bar staffed by none other than former Nightspot-er Kelly Belmont, who is a breath of fresh air. Stop in to see her at 1744 W. Balmoral.

Here’s a summer treat – naked men. And where do you sit to enjoy some of the finest flesh around? Pick a bar with a great window up front. A short list would be Bobby Love’s, Hydrate, @mosphere, Bucks, and of course, Cocktail. Check out page 26 and watch out, you might get caught ‘people watching.’

BTW— This is my first IML issue as editor of Nightspots and if I don’t drop dead of a massive coronary in the next week I’ll be lucky. Whew, a lotta work. But I would also like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of all the photographers, designers, bar owners, readers, salespersons, proofreaders, pizza joints and top shelf liquors that have made this dream a reality. I’m fuckin’ going to bed now.

kirk@windycitytimes.com