[Magdalen] home from Chicago

[Scott Knitter]

Imagine the Palmer House filled with (mainly) men in various configurations
of leather outfits, from elaborate to quite minimalist, and you're
imagining IML, Mr Leather International, an annual gathering over Memorial
Day weekend. Someone urged me to check it out one year, and I was amazed
and amused, although the leather community is not something I'm a member
of. Pity the poor innocent folks who walk into the lobby for a look at the
ornate ceiling! Escalators packed with leather-clad men, the main floor
packed with leather-clad men, bars and restaurants all packed with
leather-clad men...bare torsos and the occasional bum on display. They used
to alternate years between the Palmer House and the Hyatt Regency, but
lately I think they've been at the huge (but rough-around-the-edges)
Congress Plaza. I did go to the IML at the Hyatt one year in a black kilt
and black t-shirt (the belt being my only leather garment) but still felt
like an outsider. A unique experience, especially the exhibit area (Scott
fans himself furiously), which one must sign a waiver and pay a fee in
order to enter. Rather mind-expanding, I must say. Not in a bad way, but I
also didn't feel pulled into the community. Me and my sheltered Midwestern
upbringing! We do have the Leather Archive & Museum up here, just down the
street, in a former synagogue, a block from two leather bars and a leather
B&B.

On Tue, Jul 11, 2017 at 3:43 PM, Judy Fleener <fleenerj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Bill and I are home from a great trip to Chicago.  We navigated the CTA red
> line for 2 round trips. We enjoyed the pandemonium of Taste of Chicago, a
> really cheap way to eat if you don't mind huge crowds or messy fingers.  I
> ate Thai food and Bill had a deep dish pizza slice, we both had Eli's
> cheese cake covered with chocolate ad crunchies.  We spent 2 nights in the
> Palmer House. what a beautiful hotel!  Went to church at a loft space kind
> of minimalist church decorating but well done furnishings and liturgy.
> Grace Church on south Dearborn.  The preacher was a 20 something lay woman
> who preached about the difficulties of "come to me all you....and you shall
> find rest."   It was a very good sermon.
>
> We took the el to Wrigley Field and watched the Cubs play like they did in
> the 50s and 60s..(Badly)
>
> On Monday I got to check one more thing off my bucket list, we toured
> Wrigley Field.
>
> Today I am resting!
>
> Judy
>
> --
> Judy Fleener, ObJN,SSH
> Western Michigan
>



-- 
Scott R. Knitter
Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA