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A Day On DuPont Circle
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Subject: A Day on DuPont Circle
The weekend before CunFURence, the 16th, I decided there was some shopping
I definitely needed to do. Aside for some art supplies (I discovered an
incredibly cheap art supply store south of Alexandria), I decided I needed to
go into town to get some books, a sticker, and some clothes. I knew exactly
what I wanted and where to get it.
Hey, I'm a guy, we shop like that.
So, I hopped on the Metro and went up to DuPont Circle. I'm sure you know
that Dupont Circle is the hub of Gay and Lesbian activity (or at least
shopping) in Washington DC. What was a het whiteboy like me doing there? I
had some plans to do something about that.
I first ought to comment on the atmosphere. It was cold, crisp, slightly
overcast. Okay, okay. It seemed like just any other section of town. I'm
sure all the tourists in for the Inauguration had no idea what they were in
the middle of, but I do have some tenuous connection to the community thanks
to being in the Black Rose. When you see three guys in black leather jackets
walking together, the pink triangle pins tell you they aren't biker
wannabees. There was an atmosphere, probably just my imagination, that this
neighborhood was gay space, and I could feel just how tenuous my connection
to it all was. I didn't feel entirely like an outsider or an invader, but
because I knew where I was and who these people were, I couldn't be
blissfully ignorant like the Clinton supporters all around me. It was
probably all in my head though.
My first stop was the Lambda Rising bookstore. I had two books to buy.
Number 1 was the Leatherman's Handbook (now in its second edition) and the
other was the Lesbian SM Safety Guide. I figure if I'm going to be playing
with men and women, I should get the best information there is on each. It
strikes me as funny that the heterosexual side of the fence isn't honest
enough with itself to have books like these.
I also had decided that if they had Leather Pride Flag stickers there, I
was going to get one and put it on the back bumper of my car. They did and I
got one (But I need to wash my car before I stick it on if I want it to
stay). Don't ask me what it cost, I didn't get a receipt. By the way, the
Leatherman's Handbook is much thicker and cheaper than the Lesbian SM Safety
Guide. Don't ask me why.
would be afraid to go into a place like that. Frat Boys who go into gay b
ars on a dare or something. But it was just like any store, the salespe
ople were nice, nobody hit on me (although some enjoyed squeezing by :-) and
I didn't need any help finding what I was looking for, it was well organize
d. There was even an entire bookcase of Gay/Lesbian Science Fiction, which
I browsed for
a while.
After getting my greedly little mitts on my books, the next sto
p was the infamous "Leather Rack". And yes, it does help to know the address
and that the entrance is inside an entryway (restaurant downstairs, and s
ome other store at ground level). (1723 Connecticut Ave, for those w
ho care).
Actually, I was kind of disappointed. It was mostly clothes. In
fact, it was mostly black denim jeans. But I wasn't looking for fancy harne
sswork or anything. I wanted a leather vest, and they did have a bunch of th
ose. The salesman was very helpful here too. I still think I should have got
ten a 42, but I think once I finish my diet, the 40 should be perfect. I don'
t know if it was the leather pride flag on my beret, or the Lambda Rising bag
under my arm, or if they were having a sale, but they gave me 10% off
too. My beautiful, side-lacing vest only set me back a bit
I was feeling pretty good. It had been a long time since I'd gone out and
spent money on myself (Well, unless you count finally getting myself a stereo
on my birthday). I stopped at Burrito Brothers and got a chicken burrito
(Huge! but bland) and even gave my change to the homeless man outside, who
considering how close I'd come to being in his place, I felt sympathy for.
Cab driving in Philly hadn't extinguished my heart completely.
When I got home I started reading the Leatherman's Handbook. I'm still
working on it. I also had fun reading it on the plane to Los Angeles for
ConFURence, even though nobody noticed.
Maybe later I'll post and tell you WHY I felt I needed to get these books
at the time I did. Even though having them in your library is a good idea
period.
- Mauser - for now, let's just say I had plans for someone who was going to
be there.
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