Brace yourself for higher-than-average ass-cheek sightings this weekend. The third annual Philadelphia Leather Pride Night (plpn.org) kicks off with three days of leather, fetish and kink events that executive producer Cowboi Jen says draws gays, straights, townies and tourists alike. Here are some haps we're sliding into our sex sling for.
Leather Blender Fri., Nov. 4, 6 p.m., $10 donation, William Way Center, 1315 Spruce St., 215-732-2220 This social not only marks the start of the festival, but the grand opening of the expansive Carter/Johnson Leather Library. Open through Sunday, the traveling gallery showcases a 14,000-piece collection of periodicals, books and memorabilia that traces the history of the leather community back to the 1700s. And thanks to the ginormous William Way Center ballroom, says Cowboi Jen, "We're the only city in the country that can house the entire exhibit."
Philadelphia Leather Pride Night Sat., Nov. 5, 7 p.m., $20-$25, Woody's, 202 S. 13th St., 215-545-1893 The apex of the weekend activities, this annual party/fundraiser has garnered $25,000 for Philly Leather Pride's beneficiaries, including the Mazzoni Center and Chicago's Leather Archives and Museum. The five-hour itinerary includes performances by NYC baritone Bruce-Michael Gelbert and the Liberty City Kings, but the real magic happens when celebrity auctioneer Jo Amone takes to the mic for bid-calling.
Day of Education Sun., Nov. 6, 11 a.m., $5 donation, William Way Center One of the most fascinating sectors of the leather community is the ultra-regimented Master/slave relationship. To get a glimpse of what happens in these dens of tame, MAsT: Wilmington Delaware has organized an afternoon of informative discussions, including "Bringing Harmony Back to Disharmony" by Master Griffin and slave ann. Now stop reading.
