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!

A day off!

(Up until 5am trying to wrap up articles...)
The meeting I was to have morphed into a phone meeting... for planning my "secret" return visit to London and the fall salons with Coco De Mer.

With the day generally open but still on hold for a possible meeting, I decided to wonder around the center of town....

So I take you along with me on my day's trip in London... ( Read more... )