The Krewe de Kinque Leather Brunch at the Edge Bar: A Wild Imaginative Fundraiser

Gary Virginia, Brett Andrews, John Weber, Donna Sachet, and Mark Leno

Excitement and generosity reigned at the Edge Bar in San Francisco’s Castro district for the 14th Annual Holiday Leather Brunch on Dec. 11 that benefited the Positive Resource Center (PRC). Wild entertainment and fantastic food and cocktails were the big draws and the local Mardi Gras organization, the Krewe de Kinque, pulled it all together to let the good times roll.

Diva D and Deana Dawn

Eye-busting colorful finery and makeup on greeters Deana Dawn and her sidekick Diva D was the first sign that this was to be an imaginative event. Stoli Bloody Marys and Mimosas, the popular bottomless kind, were served by the Edge’s attractive bartenders thanks to the generosity of Michael Daniels and Terry Penn. The expansive silent auction had some fine bargains, including leather pants with sharp side spikes to hold back backbar horndogs.

The wonderful smell of fried chicken wafted through the venue and celebrants anxiously awaited sultry host Gary Virginia’s signal to advance on the bountiful buffet. PRC executive director Brett Andrews brought succulent Kickin’ Fried Chicken, a family secret recipe and the toast of gay New Orleans, Saybelline, and her lover Frank Fernandez brought their delicious Southern Fried Chicken. Both chickens got the thumbs up and moaning erupted when provocative Don “Ho” Tse’s amazing Jack Daniels Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie was consumed.

Jim Strano took a break from his Joan Crawford Texas persona to coordinate the food and drinks and hunky Julian Marshburn sauntered through the party and let people know that they could enjoy his lap when he will volunteer as Santa Claus on Dec. 24 at the AIDS Emergency Fund holiday dinner at the Green Room. And the Rainbow World Fund’s Jeff Cotter stopped by to promote his organization’s Tree of Hope event at City Hall on Dec. 15, where the Japanese and LGBT communities will join to honor their cultures and histories.

Donna Sachet stuffed contributions into Diva D's bodice while her tresses were teased by master stylist Cockatelia

The high point of the party was when master stylist Cockatelia teased Diva D’s tresses to incredible heights for contributed money, and again Diva D confounded people who assumed that he is a woman. He is a surprise gender illusionist and there is shocked disbelief when he introduces himself while out of female drag. Diva Donna Sachet MC’ed the event and she also generously sang live, as did tempting Mark Paladini who also bared his arms for guys who fantasize that he will wrap them around them. Former Emperor John Weber sang another excellent live performance, this time with Kitty Tapata. State Senator Mark Leno brought a state proclamation and he and supervisor-elect Scott Wiener extolled the event and its fundraisers.

It was a fine party — a merging of imaginative fundraising, costuming, and fun that brought in a much-needed $1,716 for the PRC.

To see more of my photos of the event, visit flickr.com/rinkfoto.

A Special Mama’s Day Benefit at the Eagle Tavern

Curtis Michael Brown, Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt, Boy Tyler, and Mark Paladini

A huge crush of Levi/Leather people and their friends were pressed against each other for a special Mama’s Day beer bust at San Francisco’s Eagle Tavern on May 16. The day was named for leather icon Sandy "Mama" Reinhardt, who heads a family of over 900 fundraising volunteers who have helped non-profit organizations for more than a decade.

The event was coordinated by Reinhardt and San Francisco Leather Daddy XXVI Ray Middling, with Jay Hemphill and Michael Holeman of the Alameda County Leather Corps working the front counter. The East Bay guys collected $10 for spaghetti dinner and all of the beer or soda that the guests could put away.

One of the most spectacular sights at the Eagle used to be the shirtless and unbuttoned blonde German stud who sauntered through the crowd with two pitchers of beer, pouring with a smile. That was ended by a sour Alcohol Beverage Control bureaucrat a few years back, who demanded that beer be dispensed only by bartenders who could evaluate states of inebriation.

There were lots of provocative men and some women at the beer bust, and the excitement level shot up when raffle sellers knelt and closed in to measure inseams with the tickets that benefited Locks of Love, a charity that provides hairpieces for low-income children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. The organization helps gives self-confidence to youth under 21 who have a medical need.

Reinhardt also coordinates the annual Mama's Family Breast Cancer Emergency Fund Gala with co-producer Mark Paladini. This year’s benefit will be at San Francisco’s City Forest Lodge on August 27. Faith Fancher, a former KTVU reporter helped to found the event with Reinhardt and Paladini. The fundraiser features a silent auction, amazing entertainers, and surprise guests. It is one of those events where the incredibly sexy men on the covers of the erotic DVD’s in the auction can be seen slinking around like hungry panthers.

LeatherWalk, another event coordinated by Reinhardt and Paladini, is the annual fundraising kickoff to San Francisco Leather Month that features hundreds of leather, S&M, and kink enthusiasts walking from the Castro to the Eagle with banners and a huge leather flag behind a truck with singers.

The December holidays are the time of the year for Reinhardt and her annual Mama’s Family Toy Drive. It starts with Reinhardt requesting toys for needy children, then more and more gifts pour into the door of sponsoring bars, and then she bursts into tears because of the outpouring of generosity. There is an intensity to the fundraising that is rarely seen in San Francisco, and the huge horde of volunteers are an inspiration to non-profits and corporations that seek to make a difference in people’s lives.

All of these events are planned months in advance, which results in successful, well-attended parties.