Undaunted by the torched rainbow flag incident, just three days earlier-see article elsewhere in these pages and join Center and other community members outside the Center, at 208 West 13th Street, on April 21 at 5 p.m. for the unfurling of a new, 20-foot rainbow flag-a huge, probably capacity crowd of bears and leatherfolk filled Manhattan's LGBT Community Center for the spring edition of Center Dance:208's immensely popular, twice yearly Fur Ball on April 17. Dance:208 producer Joe Fiore estimated near midnight, four hours into the dance and with an hour to go, that attendance was between 800 and 1,000. The figures are easy to believe, for just about "every bear that ever there was" seemed to be there, enjoying the dance floors and bars on the first and third floors. DJ Pete Savas was responsible for music on the main floor and DJ Johnny Dynell, for music in the third floor 'mustache ballroom.'
A partial list of who was there to be seen, kissed, felt and/or photographed would have to include: the Center's Ector, Lou, and many more; Rollerena, looking forward to hosting Dance:208's 33rd anniversary of Studio 54 celebration on May 8; former Mr. Eagle Robert Valin, promoting Urban Bear Weekend, May 13 to 16, which includes the first New York City Bear Fair on Little West 12th Street on the 16th from 2 to 7 p.m.; Wolfgang Busch, anticipating his documentary film "Flow Affair," about flag, fan and 'floguing'-there's a fundraiser for the film at the Center on April 23; photographers Abnel Rodriguez, Peter Lau, Mike Prestia, and Matthew Baker; muralist David Aviles, who has been putting his efforts into starting a farm in Puerto Rico; Mr. Fire Island Leather 2007 Diego Vargas; the current and first-ever Mr. Rawhide; various bear titleholders; sexy musclebears Jase Woodruff, Kenn Graziano and Jonny Mack; the Imperial Court of New York's Prince Royal Josef Boner-Parte; "Under the Pink Carpet" television show's Clover Honey, incognito; Mark Hardison; singer Blake Evan Sherman; David Ranada; bear Robert; leathery David; Al; Phil; Anthony; Kevin and Tommy; and so many, many more.
Beside the Center, A Bear's Life, New York Bear Den, Max Scott Events, bearwww.us, Metrobears New York, bear411.com; Mark Nelson Events; Will Clark World, Next Magazine, and the complete bear were sponsors of the Fur Ball.
Visit www.gaycenter.org to find out about future Dance:208 and other Center events.
