Bear Bones

We asked Thom over at Bearly Edible to whip us up a good summer recipe and here's what we got.

Yummm, bears like burgers!!  

Two key ingredients are the J-O that makes this burger stand out in the crowd. A cup of Jack Daniels whiskey gives it a distinctive flavor that most people can not identify. Vidalia onions add that sweet southern oniony taste that can’t be beat. Be sure to use a 90% lean ground chuck that has just enough fat to keep the burger from drying out on the grill. This is a perfect recipe for summer grilling while Vidalia onions are plentiful and you can sip the Jack in the shade while you grill the burgers.

• 2 lbs. 90% lean fresh ground chuck
• 2 Large Vidalia onions
• 1 egg white
• 1cup Jack Daniels whiskey
• 2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
• 1 TBS molasses   
• 1 TBS A-1 Sauce  
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Montreal Steak Seasoning
• Tomatoes, lettuce
• 6 Bakery hamburger buns

Cut ½ of one Vidalia onion into a fine dice. Gently mix the chopped onions in a bowl with the ground chuck, egg white, whiskey, Worcestershire sauce, molasses, A-1 Sauce and garlic. Add Montreal Steak Seasoning to taste. Shape into 6 patties.

Cut the remaining Vidalia onion into 6 thick slices, about 3/8 inch thick. Run a bamboo skewer through the onion to keep the slices together as you grill them. Rub a drizzle of olive oil over both sides of the onion slices. Sprinkle generously with Montreal Steak Seasoning.

Grill the burgers until done to your liking. Grill the skewered onions at the same time, turning frequently. Remove from the heat after they have caramelized and browned on both sides.

Lightly butter fresh bakery buns. Grill buns, cut sides down, until light brown. Serve burgers topped with a caramelized Vidalia onion slice, a thick slice of fresh tomato and leaf lettuce. You can top this with your favorite hamburger condiments, but the sweet caramelized Vidalia onion and Jack Daniels taste can stand on its own.

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Recently, we headed off to IML XXX, but somehow we never quite made it out of the dungeon.

 WOOF! Indeed!

 
We did a photo shoot at IML for our new bear leathers.  Check them out

Bear friendly leathers 

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Bearing in Mind by Kevin Thomas

So now you're ready to go to Broadway. If a show is very, very popular - usually happens when it first opens to rave reviews and tons of Tony nominations - you will likely have to pay full price - over $100 for a good seat. I assume the recent Off Broadway transfer to Broadway "In the Heights" will not have tickets at the half-priced ticket booth for a while as it just received 13 Tony nominations. If it loses most of the awards (it won't), then it's likely that tickets will be at the half-priced booth. But if there is a popular show you really must see, you should buy tickets in advance.

For a show to remain on Broadway, it really needs to fill the house. Musicals cost a lot more than plays. And, unlike a movie, if a Broadway show is a flop it loses money for the producers every week. Shows stay on Broadway due to good word of mouth and awards but more importantly than movies, the critics opinion. A recent show "Glory Days" closed on opening night due to poor reviews. I even remember a musical from several years ago, "Steel Pier," that was struggling but stayed on the boards for an additional month hoping it would win one of the awards from its numerous Tony nominations. I think it came up with zero wins and closed the next day.

There are rare occasions that the audience keeps a show running. This is usually with a non-cutting edge, middle-of-the-road show that they can sell and market to teens who will see it 20 thousand times or tour operators who will package a show for their tour group and they need a show name they can sell. Currently, "Grease" is doing very well. Wasn't well received by critics but it is a show everyone knows and doesn't hurt they had a TV reality show to find its stars. So a show like "Grease" can be easily marketed to a tour group for Iowa more than the current rock-with-an-edge show "Passing Strange" or the under-appreciated Boy George musical "Taboo" from a few years ago. I mean, how many senior old ladies from Iowa are going to come to New York to see a show about gender bending Boy George?

So that's enough of the background. Let's get our tickets.

The number one source for half priced tickets is TKTS. And while it's the best discount, it's not the only one.

The TKTS booth is temporarily on the 46th Street side of the Marriott Marquis near Broadway before it returns to its Broadway and 47th location. "Temporary" is quite a long time as it's been there almost a year now. There's two other things you should know about TKTS - neither are commonly known. First of all, there's a second TKTS booth at South Street Seaport, on the corner of Front and Johns Street. A plus about this one is it is open  continuous all day (the Times Square booth isn't open during the day when there is no matinee). And, I promised myself I would never share this secret, so please don't tell everyone! But since we're bears, this will really help. Here goes: You don't have to settle for any seat they give you at the booth. I ask for an aisle seat so I can overflow into the aisle instead of on the people next to me. I think about 80% of the time I get it! It's not always as good as a seat in the middle, but if I am sitting there for sometimes a three hour production, my comfort is paramount.

And besides TKTS, you can also sign up at theatremania.com, broadwaybox.com or goldstarevents.com and check for discounted tickets.They are free to sign up and Gold Star also features shows in other cities. And you American Express Gold Card holders, membership does have its rewards. You can check with Amex about getting discounts for shows.

Kevin Thomas of San Francisco's Hotel Mark Twain offers tidbits and tips on restaurant, shows, hotels and travels - all from the bear's point of view.

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Summer is for trashy novels.  You know the kind your mom used to keep buried in the nightstand. Well, this isn’t your mom’s Jackie Collins novel!!  Here’s to a little one handed reading this summer.    

Combing the love of detective fiction with kink is a pretty tricky balancing act, but Markus Larsen does just that with "The Sex Club Murders." It's just the first story in this hot and clever set of hard-handed reading. From there, you'll run the gamut from "Surviving Master's Hell" to "The Purification."

Markus Larsen, the kinky cub has been in the leather community close to three decades. He is a co-founder of the nations premiere Leather Boys Clubs and is a member of organizations as diverse as Mystery Writers of America and the Chicago Hellfire Club.

A reader’s review -  

The debut collection of stories from Markus Larsen contains some really creative kink. He mixes a fondness for Mystery Lit with his SM, making the title track one of the more interesting fetish stories to hit the racks for some time. Oddly enough, it's also the story with the least amount of bump-n-grind. It's followed by "Dick Strong and the Case of The Missing Slave," which puts the Queen back in Ellery Queen. And the sex, too.

The remaining stories are solid fantasy reads, with particular imaginative plots in "Surviving Master's Hell" and "Black Cross New Mexico" being the strongest. Bushy faced leathermen doing dirty things to each other lurk all through "The Sex Club Murders and Other Kinky Tales." This is good, highly recommended bed-stand reading.

The Sex Club Murders

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Sometimes, you just gotta get away.  So, husbear and I commenced our annual pilgrimage to the Motherland.  We love Berlin, a bear has adorned the city seal since 1280 – so we feel right at home.  And the Turkish men?  Dark and hairy - WOOF!

In addition to our regular Berlin excursions – sex shops, fetish parties – you know the usual vacation agenda – we ventured north to Rugen.  Rugen is located on the Baltic Sea on the reunified side of East Germany.  Rolling country sides with mustard fields and cows. 

Jet lagged, I’ve landed in Chicago to attend IML and Bear Pride.  It’s always a great time to catch up with friends, check out the beef on the hotel lobby and of course The Complete Bear and The Twisted Bear will be at the Leather Market.  So, we hope to return with lots of sordid stories and pictures – lots of pictures.

It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

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Bearing in Mind by Kevin Thomas 

As one who keeps up with Broadway musicals, I thought I'd share some opinions on the current season, especially since the Tony nominations were recently announced.

I travel to New York a couple times of year to catch up on my Broadway (and Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway) musicals. Guess you can say I majored in Broadway at Gay University. Since ticket prices are so expensive, I thought I'd share some information about what you should see and how to get the best price for your tickets.

First of all, the difference between Broadway and Off Broadway, is not location - it's number of seats in the theatre. And while most of the big theatres are near Times Square, you don't need to look puzzled when you see that "Perfect Crime" isn't a Broadway show, yet it's near Times Square. It's just a smaller theatre.

And then when you see a great show like "Wit" or "Violet" from a few years ago and wonder why they never received Tony Award nominations, it's because the Tony Awards are for Broadway only.

The Drama Desk and Outer Critics League Awards include both Broadway and Off Broadway productions.

Kevin Thomas of San Francisco's Hotel Mark Twain offers tidbits and tips on restaurant, shows, hotels and travels - all from the bear's point of view.

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by Buzzed Beef

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In a 4-3 decision, the justices rule that people have a fundamental 'right to marry' the person of their choice and that gender restrictions violate the state Constitution's equal protection guarantee

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by Buzzed Beef

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As the leather season kicks into high gear - This belt buckle is the perfect accent to your leather wardrobe.

3.5 inches x 3 inches Hand Cuff Pewter Buckle

Over the next few weeks look for us at IML and Bear Pride in Chicago, and of course Dore Alley in San Francisco. Come up and say hello - you can also pay respects to the Mistress.

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1. Before clipping the end of a cigar, prior to smoking it - place it in your mouth and moisten it first then cut it. The end being clipped don't seem to crumble as much.
2. Use the cutter to just lightly cut off the rounded tip instead of taking a chunk out of it. Then slightly squeeze it to open of the air draw.
3. If you are just starting out - For the majority of men, I usually had them start with Dominican cigars. If they didn't smoke at all, I would have them try Macanudo as one of the first. It has a tight draw / low smoke output, to not overwhelm them.
4. If you find that you've purchased more cigars than your humidor can handle, store them in your freezer in a plastic bag or container with a lid. Two to three days before the planned smoke move them to your refrigerator's crisper bin.
5. To insure your cigars are kept fresh...keep a corner of a sponge moist with distilled water in the bag with the cigars, but not touching the cigars.

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Do you identify with main stream gay society? Are you more at home in the bear brotherhood without all the trappings of the muscle boys and A listers? Or are you a square peg trying to find a hole?

Here's what you told us -

"A square peg trying to find a hole" - classic. While not desperately seeking that hole, this square peg has been so distant from mainstream society (gay and otherwise) that I wouldn't know Will or Grace if either asked me to dance (yes, I know referencing W&G is five years ago, but I am at a loss for what is mainstream today).

Don't want ot be a peg (round or square) in anyones preconceived hole (although I love to be in a hole as much as possible). Enjoy the closeness of Bears in general, but not necessarily the organized Bear scene. Like it one on one, or with a smaller group of trusted friends where fraternity and a nonjudgmental attitude prevail. Give me a couple of good friends I can be myself with, sunshine on my naked skin, and a big cigar to smoke and I'm a happy camper.

I am definitely more at home with the Bear Brotherhood, or at least the ideal of the Bear Brotherhood, which fortunately, is what I have experienced for the last few years being in a gay/bear/social atmosphere for the first time in my life. However, I hate seeing how the mainstream Bear community in some ways has become just another way to exclude others who dont fit yet another ideal look or attitude or amount of masculinity. In my mind, the Bear community IS and SHOULD BE about men existing as they naturally are, because, lets face it...the majority of gay men ARE just 'regular guys', not skinny beautiful hairless young men. I thought the Bear community was started for men who didn't fit into the gay mainstream...I think it should be that and IS that... not who has the perfect beard, chest hair, muscles and/or husky-ness, or amount of masculinity.

I am not a hairy man, but I feel at home with the Bears. Everyone I have met and spent anytime with seems normal and happy. The "Bear Brotherhood" is accepting, not spending time trying to make you look or be a certain image. Too, I enjoy the whole concept of just being men. We sweat, we have hair, we stink etc.... Thats what men are and do. So, lets all get naked and do what men do with some gusto and no apologizing for sweating and stinking while we do it.

Join the discussion 

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Bear Fitness

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We are pleased to announce that our very own Mistress of Procurement was a contestant in this year's International Ms. Leather contest (L to R - Rope, Larry & Liza).

Liza was first runner up to the title.

Congratulations to Hobbit who is the 2008 IMsL titleholder and Q who is the 2008 International Ms Bootblack. And a very special thank you to one and all who made us feel welcome.

The 22nd Annual International Ms Leather contest and the 10th Anniversary of the International Ms Bootblack contest returned to San Francisco this past weekend.

IMsL can boast being the longest running women's leather competition. There is no other contest with its history. No women's contest has continually brought fierce, yet friendly, competition of leather women, educational seminars, one-stop shopping for all kinky needs at the vendors' space, and, of course, hot play parties around the clock.

. . .and Liza's fantasy rocked!!

Next, its off to IML - see ya in Chicago! Ask me about the boot . . .

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As a gay man (or where ever you fall on the spectrum) what role models did you have growing up? How did these role models (or the lack there of) affect you?

Here's what you told us -  

• I don't know about anyone else but I had no male role models growing up who I actually identified with.  I was raised in a small town and felt like I was completely alone, relative to being gay.  The only hint of anything gay was the occasional stereotypical portrayal that was presented as comic relief on a sitcom.
• When I was twelve, my cousin was doing theater and she became best friends with a gay guy from the cast. He was very effeminate and caused a quite a stir with my extended family. But, he was accepted. One day, he complimented my mother's shoes and asked if he could try them on. My mother let him and they were the same size.  His example gave me hope that, one day, I, too, might be accepted by my family.

Tell us your experiences . . .

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Equipping the Larger Paddler by Wes Boyd

Until fairly recently, the opportunities for larger kayakers -- weighing, say, 250 pounds and up -- have been limited due to the lack of boats and gear adequately sized for them. While the "extra-large" kayakers still don't have the selection that's available to their smaller brethren, manufacturers and dealers have started to take notice that it's a growing market. Even so, adequately equipping and training the larger kayaker can have its challenges.

I'm one of those large sized guys. When I first got back into kayaking, after years away from it, I was nearly a hundred pounds larger than I'd been before. There wasn't much gear available for the big guy -- it seemed like all the neat boats and great gear were designed for people half my 300-pound weight, and I was left out in the cold.

Over a period of time, with lots of searching around and trying things out, I discovered that while the situation was bleak, it wasn't impossible. It's been a slow learning process, but I've found out, at least partly from other people that have the same problems, that kayaking is something perfectly reasonable for the bigger person.

Wes Boyd is a country newspaper editor from southern Michigan who's been paddling off and on for 40 years, mostly on inland lakes and the Great Lakes. His non-commercial hobby web site, kayakplace.com, has a lot of resources for the larger kayaker and much besides.

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