New Year, Old Favorites

Published in the January 2026 Edition
By Rodney Burger

Derek, Mr. Fire Island 2025

For most people the new year begins when they drop the giant ball in Times Square. In the leather community, it begins when the Centaur, MC drop a metal cock ring into a large champagne glass at the end of the Leather Cocktails gala during Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend. Scheduled this year on January 16th – 19th at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Ave. NW), this annual event brings leather folks from all over the world to our nation’s capital. After attending every year for almost thirty years, it has become my family reunion. I was even honored to be asked twice to judge the Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather Contest which takes place on Sunday afternoon. If you are not planning to attend the whole weekend, it is worth the trip to just go for the day and shop the large leather mart and take in the many sights in the hotel lobby. You will hear all about MAL 2026 in the next Leather Line.

Also in January, is a much smaller event that I’ve really enjoyed the last few years. The Northeast Person of Leather Contest produced by Twisting Culture will be held in Saturday, January 31st at 2pm at Metro Baltimore (1700 N. Charles St.) New this year is a meet and greet on Friday, January 30th from 7pm – 10 pm at Peabody Heights Brewing Co. (401 E. 30th St.)

For decades, the Mid-Atlantic Leather community has gathered in DC around Valentine’s Day for a live auction of bake goods to raise money for local charities. This event was called Scarlet’s Bake Sale. I was even on the board of Scarlet’s many years ago to make sure some of the money went to a charity in the Baltimore area. Unfortunately, like so many things, Scarlet’s went away. I am happy to report that three years ago this event was resurrected as Violet’s Bake Sale and is scheduled for February 15th from noon until 5 pm at The Crucible, 412 V St. NE, DC.

Although it is only January, I find that it always helps my mental health if I look forward to spring. I love the excitement of New York City, but it can be a bit much. What if there was a place near NYC that did not have streets and cars? What if it just had beaches and what if it was a LGBTQ+ Mecca? There is such a place and I’m often surprised how most people in the Mid-Atlantic area have never been there. Make 2026 the year you discover Fire Island. New York is too expensive? Come to Fire Island Leather Weekend on May 15th – 17th and food and drinks will be included in the price. I’ve been several times and have so many happy memories of this magical place that should be on any LGBTQ+ person’s bucket list. Make your reservations now at excelsiormc.com.

Other fun weekend get aways are New Jersey Leather Weekend on March 27th – 29th at The Empress Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey and CLAW. Known as Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend, CLAW has left its namesake city and is scheduled for April 2nd – 5th in Columbus, Ohio (clawinfo.org).

Don’t have time to get away? There are always lots of leather events right here in the Baltimore area. You can join COMMAND, MC as they toast Valentine’s Day on February 13th from 7pm – 10pm at Spirits of Mt. Vernon and the ShipMates Club of Baltimore have a bar night every 4th Saturday of the month starting at 9pm at the Baltimore Eagle.

As the new year begins and the news continues to be filled with really depressing stories, I’m thankful that I can escape for an evening or two and have a little fun. These are just a few leather events scheduled for 2026. It may be a new year, but I’m thankful for my old favorites.