This happened Monday, as we were having breakfast at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Chicago. K had a wardrobe crisis in the morning. The new Hot Doug Encased Meat t shirt just wasn't looking good so she changed to the AIDS LifeCycle t shirt, which looked great. At breakfast we were talking about heavy things like politics, education in the US etc. A middle aged guy with his teenage daughter was sort of looking at us. I figured we're going to get the evil eye or something. Finally he asks if we're participating with AIDS LifeCycle. It turns out to be his first time and he was nervous. So we shared as much as we could and celebrated his upcoming journey. Smiles, good will, increased confidence, and a brief connection with strangers. All because of the choice of t-shirts. It's happened before while wearing ALC garb.

= = =

Monday was hot. I scheduled a visit to the Chicago Art Institute during the height of the early summer heat. I love the place. K's first time. We wondered around with no particular agenda.

Found a room with the works by Felix Gonzalez-Torres..

Deeply moving pieces for both of us.
Here's one... "Untitled" (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), 1991.

A pile of brightly wrapped hard candy is piled in the corner. I took a candy and ate it as I considered his other works.
Here's the description.
"Felix González-Torres used ordinary materials to extraordinary ends. From 1986 until his early death in 1996, he produced work of uncompromising beauty and simplicity, transforming the everyday into profound meditations on love and loss. González-Torres’s quiet, elegiac oeuvre comprises serial work including lightbulb strings, candy spills, beaded curtains, language-based works, graph-paper drawings, and stacked paper sculptures. This installation is an allegorical portrait of the artist’s partner, Ross Laycock, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991. The 175 pounds of candy corresponds to Ross's ideal body weight. While on display in our contemporary galleries, viewers are encouraged to help themselves. As the pile diminishes, candies are replaced.

Then I spotted this piece. "Untitled" (Silver Beach), 1990.



Part of the description: "Each viewer is invited to take a sheet from the stack. In 1989 Felix Gonzalez-Torres made the first of his stck sculptures, which are comprised of sheets of paper piled neatly into a cubic form on the gallery floor..." "... The artist thus advanced a kind of subversive generosity tinged, as always, with sadness. As the sheets disappear, they are replenished; the work thereby endures despite its continual dematerialization."



I took a paper and stood for a moment. I didn't so much think as had a gut drive.
I handed my purse to K and asked her, without explaining, to document what was about to happen.
With the artist's huge piece of paper in hand I kneeled down in the middle of gallery floor and began to fold the paper, precisely, repetitively, silently - with each fold executed in long intentional movements.
At first people didn't notice.
Then some stumbled over me.
Then some noticed.
Then someone took a sheet a paper from the stack and started to fold.
I continued to fold.
More people took paper and sat down to fold.
Some knew the intent of Torres' work.
Others did not.
A father came in with a very young son and they sat down and made paper airplanes.
Art students murmurred while folding.
Tourist, laughing, joined in.
I continued to fold
a crane was taking shape.
The room was filled with people folding.
Creating.
Creating from a now dead artists intention.
Keeping art and generosity in motion.
The world changed just a bit.

I left the crane on the floor and walked away silently.
I felt different. Both very light and very heavy.

The security guard smiled a knowing smile at me.

Pretty tulips and flowers everywhere


Inside of G Boutique. Sweet and romantic.



Millennium Park art and play!

Sunday:
Archetecture Foundation's River Cruise with an excellent docent. The weather finally warmed up so it was lovely. Went with RedDevilWolf and a new pal who just moved to SF. I've done this tour before but I always enjoy it. Each docent tells it a bit differently with different focus so it's ever changing. As the river front properties keep changing it's exciting to see the progress.



LUNCH adventure!
Lindsay from LA joined us for the first course of our lunch adventure.
First stop - the "famed" Billy Goat Tavern. You know the one that was parodied by the John Belushi and crew on Saturday night for "cheezeburger cheezeburger no pepsi coke!" I didn't know it was based on a real place - so we had to go. Yup, greasy spoon and a fun stop. (No need for a 2nd visit though, I think.)









SECOND course - from low brow to high brow... Across the street to the Intercontinental Hotel for Eno. A wine - chocolate - cheese tasting bar.
OMG! simply foodgasmic!


Some of what we had...
Cheeses
* Ossau-Iraty A.O.C. Basque France, Sheep(raw) "Increadily smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Creamy and refreshing with undertones of vanilla bean."
* Memoire Truffled Gouda, Noor, Holland; Cow "A semi hard Gouda with morsels of fragrant Italian summer truffles."
* Valdeon, Leon, Spain; Cow and Goat. "A pronounced spiciness characterizes this cheese which is also quite slaty and pungent" (OMG this one blew the backs of our heads off. Very yummy)
* Piave Vecchio "Oro del Tempo" Veneto, Italy; Cow "Firm and dry iwth a sweet nutty flavor."
Chocolate
I loved the honey caramel with sea salt in dark chocolate... Also wonderful was the passion fruit in dark chocolate truffle... mmmm



Having 4 of us there was great, as we each did "flights" (samplings of 3) of cheese and chocolate and some of us did wine as well. It allowed us to try each other's flights...
mmmm such pleasures... and especially great to share with sexy, sensuous and kinky people!

Other foodie note... I forgot to mention that on Friday I stopped by the the CHIC cafe at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago. For $15 I had a really lovely three course lunch of very tasty steamed mussles, delicious fish and a chocolate mousse. Total value for the meal. Unfortunately their service was, while well intentioned, nervous and clumsy. (It's not the CCA or CIA) Still, an interesting yummy and great value lunch.



Other foodie notes...
I get tired of eating hotel food at conferences and events. Never mind asking the front desk or concierge about to where to eat. They'll send you to blandsville. Try asking the other staff. In the elevator we chatted up one of the office workers and asked for good, cheap local eats. She recommended Boston Blackies just 3 blocks from IML. It looks like a dark bar... with decor leftovers from the 30's, 40's, 70's and 80's. The burgers are just world class! I had fried smelt, crispy and greasy and delish. The slaw was crispy and not overly dairy gooy - just right. Cheap. The service was down to earth and genuinely friendly. We went there twice, three days apart and Marsha, the waitress remembered us. We felt very welcome and well fed. I highly recommend it.

Just back in the office... I have tons to do but thought I'd make a few posts about Chicago. It was great!

While I was in town for International Mr. Leather, several local shops had me present classes (Boutique G, The Pleasure Chest and Early To Bed.) They went really well so they've all booked additional classes for my mid September return. I really like the students here. Very eager and quick in learning.

Hotel gripe: ( Read more... )

Food Adventures:
Saturday....
I am on a mission. Not having a car wasn't an issue. I had to get us to Hot Goug's The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium .

Not having a clue about where it is, relative to the trains, and time being a limit, we decided to take a taxi, which was pretty expensive. (Later we find out that the Blue Line would have gotten us out pretty close.) The place is located in the middle of offices and remote businesses... Not easy to get to but worth the trip is you're a foodie. The reason for the determined journey? Fridays and Saturdays are the only days that Duck Fat Fries are available. Yes, French fries fried in duck fat! And their hours? Monday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, closed on Sundays.

When we got there the line was, literally, half way down the block. The customers were patient. Some brought weekend readings and generally socialized with their friends and fellow encased meat lovers.





The people in line were really nice. The guy behind us gave us directions on how to get back on public transit. Another person gave us their transit pass with a few cents left on it so we could just refill it. Met a nice couple, Mona and James, and we chatted about our various cats, their wedding plans, etc. When they asked what brought us to town, we told them "International Mr. Leather" - then a moment a thought and then she chuckled "Oh is that in town? No wonder we've not heard from XXXX, he'll be busy all weekend." Yeah, IML is big here.

The wait was an hour and half. We didn't care.

Here, the interior of the store. A paper plate joint, where you're greeted by the owner with a dry at the counter and the staff are really cheery.







The reason for our sojourn? Can you make out this amazing menu?



We had
* Chardonnay-infused Rattlesnake Sausage with Bacon-garlic Dijonnaise and Mirabo Walnut Cheese
* Brandy-soaked Portuguese Chorizo with Saffron Rouille and Queso Arico Cheese
* Bell Pepper Wild Boar Sausage with Anchovy Goat's Milk Butter and Saint Paulin Cheese
and duck fat fries of course.



ahhhhh mmmmm aaaaaa mmmmm omg mmmmm!

We shared the window perch with Mona and James. Then they gave us a lift to the nearest train station! They were so sweet! (I've noticed that Chicagoans are really nice, unless they're driving and you're a pedestrian.)

The El is really easy and pretty efficient. Chicago's just so huge that as a tourist it's figuring out where you are that's tough.

After the sausage heaven, back to IML and enjoyed half the vendor mart. With 125 major vendors, it's the largest kinky market, and simply the best, in the world. Ok, no much for chickie clothes, but I don't care. Great to see so many friends!

K was "assulted" by an attack-homo! There she was, minding her own business, trying on super sexy and unique moto cop pants by InSeam Clothing, when a hunky fashion fag molested her and then forcibly accessorized her with a hot set of red leather braces. No consent here! LOL.

Saturday night - women's meet and greet...
(Gripe warning)
A rather somber event without any festivity and coming from a rather dower place with attitude of scarcity. A real contrast with the excellent party making festive environment of IML. Made me sad. 'Nuff said.
The new International Ms Leather - Hobbit, and the new International Ms Bootblack, Q - did an awesome job to liven up the party. These two are going to be a couple of great title holders!

OMG, IML has parties everywhere! and hot sexy men everywhere!
Also exciting is that fetish wear is really expanding and getting creative. Lots of sport gear inspired outfits, like moto cross and pro speed moto racing, etc!
Ran in to my favorite male models with Colt and they want to shoot with me again! I'm sooo excited!

The hotel's nice.

Both my classes, one at the elegant G Boutiqe (Easy Sex Bondage), and the super friendly The Pleasure Chest (JoyStick Secrets: Pleasure Him), have been totally sold out and full of new and eager faces. Ton of fun!

Both venues are so thrilled about the classes that they've each had me add a class while I'm back in Chicago in September!

I've had a be a grown up and stay in the hotel and try to get work done... so much do... ack. So I've not been able to enjoy the sights.
Sights = ok so that's not entirely true. I did stop by International Mr. Leather last night and hung out with my pal for dinner and watched all the gorgeous muscle wrapped in leather walk by. Saw lots of friends too!
Today, more futile attempt at productivity. K flies in. Then parties at the IML host hotel. First the Boot Black party and then the San Francisco party.

The weather is beautiful here.

So I head to Chicago on Wednesday to teach a bunch of classes at the local shop and to hang out at International Mr. Leather.

I'll have bits of time to enjoy being a tourist and would love your suggestions. Some of the sort of thing I enjoy doing while traveling are...
Gardens, Museums, Art, Food (markets and street food and unique local dishes), Walks, History, etc.

Also I'm not connected with the event announcement networks... For those of you who are connected in Chicago, would you mind putting the word out on my visit?

~ Wed 5/21 “Wrapped for Pleasure: Sex Bondage” at G Boutique. http://www.boutiqueg.com/ 2131 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647. Tel. 773.235.1234

~ Thr 5/22 “JoyStick Secrets: How to Pleasure Your Man” at The Pleasure Chest. http://www.thepleasurechest.com/ 3436 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657. Tel. 773.525.7151 (I think this class is sold out)

~ Sun 5/25 “Hands-on Japanese Rope Bondage” at Early 2 Bed. http://www.early2bed.com 5232 N. Sheridan Rd, Chicago IL 60640. Tel 773.271.1219

Thanks!

Midori

At the end of June I'm teaching 3 classes in Chicago at the The Pleasure Chest.
I need to find a nice, decently priced hotel for this trip.
Criteria
- Need to be able to get to the shop easily. I will not have a car so I'll be using public transit or taxis.
- Good Internet connectivity is a must! Ideally free WiFi.
- If it's located where I can get to the museum and sights that would be nice.

Here's the store location. I have no idea what the area or neighborhood is called.
3436 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657

Hotel suggestions much appreciated.