On May 18, at the Ice Palace, at the 13th annual Mr. Fire Island Leather contest, which took place during the Connecticut-based Twilight Guard’s first-ever AMCC (Atlantic Motorcycle Coordinating Council)-sanctioned leather run, Candido Soares, who was born in Madeira, Portugal, lives in Boston, and works at Cherry Grove’s Belvedere Guest House for men, the run’s host hotel, was chosen, from among four contestants, by a panel of five judges that included four Messrs. Fire Island Leather, as Mr. Fire Island Leather 2013 and, as audience favorite, also won the title of Mr. Meat Rack for the second consecutive year.
Dashing co-hosts for the contest were Ariel Sinclair, Miss Fire Island 2002, and Peter B(oruchowitz), Mr. FI Leather 2002. DJ Chuck McTague was responsible for music. Messrs. FI 2001, the first, this writer; 2004 Jeff Goodman; 2007 Diego Vargas; and passing along the title that night, 2012 Mark Nayden; and Custom Leatherwear Designer David Samuel Menkes, who made all our sashes and awarded Candido the new one, were the judges. Contestants beside Candido were blue-skinned ‘Uncle Spooky’ (Paul Short), “a gay ghoul from Queens;” Dustin, Joshua Potter’s Buff Maid cleaning service partner, from Wisconsin and Fire Island; and Peter, from Hell’s Kitchen and Fire Island, formerly a server at Island Breeze restaurant.
Contestants were judged on Presentation and Leather—the image they presented and their appearance in their leather; Question and Answer; and Meat Rack fantasy. Asked why he entered the Mr. FI Leather 2013 contest, Candido commented, “The cohesiveness of the community is amazing … and the guys are just fantastic!” Asked what drew him to the Leather Community, Uncle Spooky’s response was “the hot musky smell … of a stud.” Dustin’s observation about the Leather Community was “There’s no pretension … Everybody is so full of love … and accepting.” Asked about his favorite fetish, Peter deadpanned “I don’t know what a fetish is.” Queried further about their favorite pieces of leather, Candido answered, “My fitted jockstrap; Uncle Spooky said, “The jacket I’m wearing … tonight—my first piece of leather;” Dustin offered, “My biggest paddle—and it’s my birthday and I’m 600—anybody want to spank me?” and Peter, who wore a rubber gladiator skirt, quipped quizzically, to Ariel, “Your liver.”
In their fantasy scenes, a naked Candido danced to strains of “Personal Jesus” and “Let’s play Masters and servants,” was collared, accoutered, dressed, and spanked by a couple of his Belvedere colleagues and, in turn, played with them in the sling; Uncle Spooky found “that special someone in the Meat Rack,” worked him over and bit him on the neck, spewing stage blood all over the stage floor, which DJ Chuck was called upon to mop up; Dustin had a scene with a boy in white; and Peter advised, “Keep smiling and keep voting.”
During the evening, Victor Skolnik, Treasurer of the 38-year-old, New York City-based Excelsior Motorcycle Club, brought Island Breeze Manager John Doyle to the stage; announced Excelsior’s $3,800 contribution to LIGALY (Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth), John’s charity of choice, with proceeds raised at the previous night’s Master and slave auction, the previous year’s Master and slave auction, and a benefit in New York City in between, plus singer Porsche’s tips from night before; and presented John with Excelsior’s sixth Ever Upward Award since 1991. Victor also gave Sal Piro, former Grove Hotel and Ice Palace General Manager, who came out of retirement to coordinate this contest, Excelsior’s Appreciation Award, prompting Sal to say, “This has always been one of my favorite weekends of the summer.”
Providing entertainment were Ariel, whose numbers were a medley of raucous parodies of “Like a Prayer,” “On the Disco Line” in Wendy Ho’s version, and ABBA’s “Fernando” and “Waterloo,” and “Wizard of Oz” takeoff “(If I only had a) Snatch;” this writer and baritone’s “I Am What I Am,” from “La Cage aux Folles;” and androgynous Miss Carriage (Ken Woodhouse) singing “Sweet Transvestite,” from “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Hosting the May 17 benefit auction were Porsche and Mark Nayden. Twilight Guard Vice-President Sean Campbell introduced the parade of colors of North Eastern and other clubs represented at the run, its 85 attendees hailing from as far away as California and Canada, with many attending the next afternoon’s 173rd AMCC meeting. Excelsior MC President Gabriel Rivas then introduced Twilight Guard associates and members. Porsche sang “Rhythm of the Night” and, Shirley Bassey-style, “Big Spender” to kick off the fundraiser.
Bids were in ‘Daddy Dollars,’ with one actual dollar worth $10 in Daddy Dollars. Up for auction were Johnny, bottom from Belvedere, with “Kinky Boots” inscribed on his butt, wearing high-heeled black boots, thong, and motorcycle cap and jacket, who was sold for $500 to Jim from Syosset, Long Island; Troy, new bartender from Cherry’s, versatile, and wearing black fishnet underwear, who went to the M&Ms, Michael Moran and Matthew George, for $1,000; Steven, new Ice Palace bartender, and top, for $600 to someone at the bar; Mark, server from Cherry’s, versatile, and buff, for $1,000 to Leo; Adam, new Ice Palace bartender, identified by Mark Nayden as “a proud bottom,” for $800 to Joanne from the Pennsmen; Mr. New Jersey Will, who bartends at Cherry’s, for $1,100; John Doyle, top, for $900; Adam and Steven as a pair, demonstrating their abilities at the sling, a scene Ariel had them repeat the following night, for $1,000; Mr. FI Leather 2012 Mark, for $1,300; and John Doyle’s jockstrap, for $900, to Tony from Excelsior. Porsche continued by singing “Pretty Woman” and, again as Bassey, “Diamonds Are Forever.”
During the weekend, those in attendance enjoyed meals at or brought in from Cherry Grove Pizzeria, Island Breeze, and Floyd’s. From May 16 to 18, 2014 Excelsior MC will host its 39th anniversary Lust for Life Fire Island run, billed as “Uranus Needs Men!” a “heart-pumping science fiction adventure.”