The Bucks Motorcycle Club’s 40th annual Santa Saturday®, the registered trademarked name of which belongs exclusively to Bucks MC, took place at the Paradise nightclub, at the Empress hotel, in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on November 30. The Atlantic Motorcycle Coordinating Council(AMCC)-sanctioned leather and bear event raised about $18,000, according to Bucks MC Treasurer Theodore (Teyd) Jamison, Jr., for such New Jersey and Pennsylvania charities as the Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, NJ; the County of Bucks Area Agency on Aging, in PA; and Fighting AIDS Continuously Together (FACT), in PA. Over the past four decades, “we have raised over one-half million dollars for charities in our area,” commented Emcee John Rivera-Ramos (JR), Mr. NJ Leather 2001 (the first).
On behalf of Bucks MC, JR presented plaques to the Paradise and Empress, for donating the space for the event and asking no percentage of the take, and to entertainer Gary Christ, who, portraying Liza Minnelli and others, has performed at Santa Saturday® for all 40 years. Santa Saturday® official photographer Mike Prestia gave ‘million dollar’ auctioneer extraordinaire Jo Arnone a framed photo that he took of her sitting on the lavender line, down the middle of Fifth Avenue, at Pride 2013 in New York City, as well as a CD of the many years of pictures that he has taken of her. Entertainer Maxine Chambers presented Mike with a gift on behalf of all of the performers at Santa Saturday® 2013.
The centerpiece of the afternoon was a benefit auction, conducted by Jo, of such items as leather clothing and accoutrements, artwork, gift baskets, and gift certificates. The Paradise contributed a Jack Daniel’s acoustic guitar and a Miller Lite bicycle to be bid on. The climax of the auction was the sale of items of clothing worn by comely young Mr. NJ Leather 2014 Keith Govert and the privilege of stripping them off him. One of the coveted pieces was his leather jockstrap, made by Ernie Rivera-Ramos, JR’s spouse, which brought in $205. The ritual of stuffing the jock with cash, before it was auctioned off, raised further funds. Assisting in this part of the auction were Ms. NJ Leather 2014 Nikki Wireman, JR, and Maxine.
Providing entertainment during the afternoon were Gary and Sasha James, doing “That’s Life,” looking much like “Nashville’s” Rayna James (Connie Britton) and Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), and substituting “queen” for “king” in the list of what they’d been, and “For Good,” from “Wicked;” Maxine, performing several numbers as Cher; Gary, as Liza, offering “God Bless the Child” and “(You’ve) Let Yourself Go;” Pumpkin, from New Hope PA, cavorting to the “Christmas Conga,” reminding us that “I’m Still Here,” and roasting and toasting retiring colleague Gary; the original Miss Paradise, Lady Marisa; Mary DeKnight as Lady Gaga; and newcomer Candi Cane. There were, as well, performances by singers Teyd, delivering zesty renditions of “Once in a Lifetime” and Judy Garland numbers “Zing Went the Strings of My Heart” and “The Trolley Song;” Marshall, proffering fervent accounts of “Our Prayer” and “Finally I believe;” Josh Zuckerman, doing an original song; and this writer, Mr. Fire Island Leather 2001 (the first), with “South Pacific” songs “This Nearly Was Mine” and “Some Enchanted Evening.”
The winner of a 50-50 raffle came away with $290. Bootblacks on duty contributed $130 raised by their labors. There were a leather marketplace and an opportunity to be photographed sitting on the lap of a leather bear Santa Ron Smith.