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For our leather crowd of course it’s all about International Mr Leather, headquartered at the Marriott Hotel on Michigan Avenue. You will want to check out the Leather Market that opens on Friday and runs thru Monday.  Then there’s the three nights of the contest itself, Friday and Saturday at the Vic and the main event on Sunday at the Harris Theater. Over 50 leathermen will be competing for the title of IML2013 and while you can check them out onstage during these events, we have a better idea. Come meet them here at Touché.

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The insanity begins on Wednesday when our own Mr Chicago Leather 2013 Nick Zuko welcomes his fellow competitors to our Best of Chicago Welcome Party.  Here at Touché we like to show off our hometown pride and let everyone know that while they are here for IML this weekend, that there are many other reasons to visit Chicago. The Bud Boys will be on hand with giveaways and to offer up tastings of the fine brews from Goose Island Brewery, Chicago’s hometown beers.  You can check out info on local sites and events, get transit info so you can get around town and all our out-of town guests will receive a little gift bag of Chicago treats (we always like to put good things in your mouth)  Speaking putting things in your mouth, we will also serve up Chicago Red Hots – don’t even think about putting ketchup on that dog!

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Another “Best” to be found in Chicago – the Chicago Hellfire Club has been bringing together men for hot S&M action for longer that Touché has been here (that’s quite some time, too)  Touché has been a proud supporter of CHC from the get go, from hosting bar nights and McAdory fundraisers here to their annual Inferno gatherings and more.  While CHC is one of Chicago’s best, their members come from around the world.  The Club will be hosting several events at their clubhouse for visiting members and guests and are joining us tonight to present one of their infamous demos.  

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You can expect to see most of the contestants that are in town to join  us.  Let’s be honest, they spend most of this weekend getting grilled in interviews, lining up for photos, rehearsing for the staged contest events and in general just tied up contest stuff for most of the weekend. So this night is one where they can get out and have some fun and you can get a chance to meet them face-to-face.  We will give them all a chance to introduce themselves.  Out of town contestants usually have a big send off party back home where their locals can show their support.  Since Nick is the one contestant that didn’t leave town for IML, we couldn’t plan a “send off” party for him  But you can show him your support by joining him for this big hometown bash and help him welcome IML 2013 to Chicago.

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Then on Thursday it’s time to welcome Bear Pride 2013 with their Early Bird Party beginning at 9pm.  Hundreds of hears will be hitting Chicago for 5 non-stop days and nights of bear lovin’ fun, all hosted by the Great Lakes Bears.  GLB hosts their monthly Bear Night at the bar on the first Saturday of each month and since the first of the year, they have been urging you to sign up for this big bearfest. If you didn’t (shame on you) you can still join the party this night at Touché and check out the bears that are invading Chicago.  Bear hunting season is on!

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Making sure the party rocks, we have Mark Vallese form the Dunes Resort in Douglas back as our guest DJ for this party.  Mark is a legendary DJ here in Chicago for many years before the Dunes stole him away to pump their resort season after season.  While Mark plays the great music, there will be a BEAR Magazine Model Search going on at the party.  BEAR is always on the hunt for hot hairy, beefy studs to appear in print and online.  There will be a professional photographer on hand to snap a few photos that will be sent off to BEAR. 

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It wouldn’t be much of a party without some great raffle prizes and eats.  Hang on to your tickets for chances to win BEAR DVDs, t-shirts and other cool prizes.  This is not Jellystone Park we DO feed the bears here.  We will offer up more of our Chicago Red Hots during the night so the Bear crowd can get a taste of Chicago’s meat! 

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While we are hosting this party on Thursday, over at the Leather Archives & Museum, IML will be roasting International Mr Leather 2012 Woody Woodruff.   Check the IML website for ticket info.  We expect a lot of that crowd to head over to join us.  That coupled with the Bear Pride buses will be leaving their hotel for the bar at 9pm means this party will kick in early and run late into the night. Bears & leather, I’m in pig heaven!

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This should be a crazy weekend and it just may get over the top.  For years Touché has hosted parties on nights when the moon is full. It’s no silly notion, folks just get hornier and crazier when there is a full moon in the sky.  As luck would have it, the moon will be nice and full on Friday night which can only mean this weekend will be off the charts! 

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So let’s just get wild and crazy on Friday for our Full Moon Party & Contest.  You can expect a few surprise shot specials to help loosen up the crowd – with tons of bears and leathermen in town, that should be easy.  Scope out the full moons in the house, smooth, hairy, tanned, like a melon give ;em a squeeze.  I will have $100 in cash to hand over to the “hottest full moon in the house” during our Full Moon Contest.  You could claim the cash if you are willing to put your ass on the line.  That’s besides all the offers you may get once the crowd checks it out. Keeping the music wild and festive will be our guest DJ Freddie Bain.

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Catch your breath, there’s still our big GEAR Night on Saturday. On Sunday after the big IML contest come get DIRTY with porn stud Chad Brock.  Monday afternoon kickback for our Beer Bust and cookout when we wrap up our Spring Bike Raffle and pull out the name of the winner of that Budweiser tandem bike that has been above the bar.  Then be ready to do it one more night for our Survivor party. 

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Look for more news from me on Friday to fill you in on the weekend’s events and any last minute news.  I had better make sure we have enough beer  (and Jager)  on hand so let me run.  I will look for you to help us welcome the world on Wednesday!

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David