Choose a whip, any whip.
This last Memorial Day weekend, there were no tourists to be found in any of the 2,019 guestrooms that make up the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Why, you ask? Oh, just because it was that time of the year for the Windy City to host the International Mr. Leather Convention and Competition. If you're wondering what exactly that is, we can only say that it's hard to describe; you've to be there, as we found ourselves last year at this time. Read that crazy recap here. Just to confirm, the Hyatt site showed no availability for the dates, but there were still $375 rooms at the Park Hyatt. Each room was given over to what amounts to the fifth most profitable convention in Chicago.
Now you couldn't exactly go and just watch as fetish and leather fans streamed into the hotel lobby from around the world this evening, but you kinda can. The hotel is closed to the public, but Chicago's (and the world's) gay community were out in full force there all weekend for the leather market, the various raucous parties, more demure book signings, and—of course—the crowning of International Mr. Bootblack and International Mr. Leather.
Ball gags galore.
We actually strolled through the leather market, because what's a better Saturday activity than checking out some $1,200+ thigh-high, lace-up leather work boots? Nothing is the correct answer. Nothing. So mark your calendars for Memorial Day 2012, when the convention rolls back into town (and brings suitcases stuffed with ball gags, too).
[Photos: Jared Hatch]
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