Hot yet Warm – Marc

It is amazing what one can find in Wollongong, now persuaded that Sydney is a better place to live. Thx for the pics Marc.

Timetable
Sydney Leather Pride's Inquisition XI party has sold out! Going back to a their format of smaller intimate parties is probably a good idea in these uncertain days of large parties. SLPA offered MEN listees a deal of reserving party tickets proir to general relaese. This was taken up by about 40 of our guys. There was some confusion as to whether we could reserve 1 or 2 tickets. The SLPA policy is offically 1 per non-member from a like-minded organisation but some lack of clarity meant that our guys were told that they could reserve 2. We are assured by the SLPA Presdient that this will be honoured.

Easter Fuck – Easter Friday
Thanks to Matthew Huxtable for the invitation design, Raymond, Matthew, John Dickens, John Moz, Chi-Kan and Grant Margetts for the mail out. Aris, Mark Y, Mikey Kitamura managed the front desk, Kevin and Matt Danks did the clothes check. David Heaps and David Reid, both looked great with shirts off serving drinks. Malcolm did the shopping, Aris, Richard Capuano, Boyd, Mike and Steven B the front door. Phillip R led the clean up. This venue is difficult to bump out of as there are four flights of stairs. The last 17 guys, still fucking in the slings at the end, too many to mention individually, were dragooned into carrying boxes down to the cars. Their good will to pitch in and help is really what makes our MEN group work so well. Special mention to Bill B, Richard B and Graham M who always hang about to clean up. This is a “core group” of guys who help at the grunge end of every party and also thanks to Nigel who was there from 3pm till well after 11pm. They deserve our appreciation. Also we need to thank Paul Fowler of Headquaters for his support in allowing us to use his space. We also congratulate him on the improvements he has made.

Midnight Shift in underwear
Thank you for the wide and varied response to our email about the party in underwear the Midnight Shift put on before Anzac Day. It is pleasing that our group is so level headed about the politics on Oxford St. It is inevitable that commercial venues will try and make money from the many ideas around town and MEN is not exempt from this. We received lots of “where is my invitation” style phone calls, SMS messages and emails as there was some confusion out there, probably because the venue, the DJ line up and the flyer were similar to our previous Underwear Parties. RezErection is our private Underwear Party for MEN and their friends by invitation only. It never has been open to the general public. You will never see us taking out full page advertisements in the gay press for example. It is always a high risk venture and every year we have been successful. In February this year we used the Shift.

Imitation is one of the subtler forms of flattery so let’s keep on doing what we do well, underwear parties included, and not be unduly concerned. Where we will hold next year’s party depends on what venues are available and at what price. We maintain excellent relations with the Shift and other venues as their staff can often be seen in the mêlée of MEN parties. But we all have to make a living and I am sure in a big city like Sydney there is a wide market and room for us all.

So let’s be magnanimous and take pride in the fact that MEN is changing the culture of the city. By the way did anyone notice that one of the saunas is now asking patrons to say yes enthusiastically say no “courteously”?

Two Parties in Two weeks
Next Party is June long weekend
Gluttons for punishment or just plain horny will be those who come to both this Inquisition recovery party and the June long weekend fuckfest. We cannot ask the same guys to staff both so if you can help out let us know by email. Now I just don’t mean the glamour jobs of front desk and bar … we need envelope stuffers and guys who can set up and others who will stay back to clean up!!

Brought to you by the dedicated volunteers of MEN