Part 1: Leather Pride - Kinky Hotels - Gear Shopping
I can guarantee that Palm Springs is not your Dad's Palm Springs but it might be your Daddy's.
You bet you can still find acres of Sansabelt slacks and Barcaloungers but when you scratch the surface you'll find a fun, vibrant, and yes, kinky, scene at our favorite desert destination.
The center piece of the kink scene in Palm Springs is the annual Palm Springs Leather Pride, which is conveniently going on this weekend. Produced by the Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert (PSLOD), a large and active leather fraternal group, Pride weekend is a 3 day leather fest that celebrates all the really good hot stuff. And they select a new Mr Palm Springs Leather who goes on to compete at IML the following May. Details at www.desertleatherpride.com
There are about 35 gay and lesbian resorts in the Palm Springs area and scads of "friendly" resorts. But while most gay resorts won't necessarily bat an eye when you haul the sling out of the trunk, there are a couple of places that cater explicitly, and in one case exclusively, to us pervs.
Chaps Inn is the place to go for the full on leather experience. With hooks in the ceiling for your sling and shower shot attachments in the bathrooms, Chaps is fully equipped for your adventures. Plus they've got an outdoor sling and since they have a large group of locals that like to drop in on occasion you're not always limited to the current stock of guests on hand.
Our other favorite is the Helios Resort. Not as explicitly leather as Chaps, it is better equipped for a rollicking good time with a huge and nicely equipped indoor playroom as well as a couple of well set up outdoor play spaces including an outdoor sling. With it's massive hot tub and higher-than-average porn stud quotient, the Helios is lots of fun.
Word (and the emails announcements I receive) has it that there are a couple of resorts that do regular play parties. You can probably find out details at either of the two leather shops that ply the market in Palm Springs.
Tuff Stuff Leathers is the haven for us deal hunters and for custom work. The have a huge consignment collection of leather, military and rubber gear at reasonable prices, which are often negotiable so be sure to ask Jim the awesome manager about it. Jim also offers pretty comprehensive custom leather service as well and does a super job on your repairs. It's also a great destination for your lube and "cleaner" supplies.
Down the street is Gear, a beautifully put together leather shop that showcases leather, neoprene and toys from the top names in the business. Gear's selection tends toward new guard and new design rather than the more traditional designs and the gear is definitely designed to maximize your assets. Be sure to check out their amazing collection of insertables!
Need a double zero? Head over to Palm Springs Piercing and let the guys there hook you up with anything from a nipple ring to a Price Albert. And believe me they can get way more esoteric than that. Roger and David have been in the business since the early days of the original Gauntlet in SF and have probably forgotten more about piercing than most guys know.
There's one more shop I want to point out that's not strictly on the kink scene but it's worth a mention for the selection and prices. I love uniforms and Guys and Gals Uniforms is a great store. The selection is huge and the prices are reasonable. Like all uniform shops there will probably be an ID check for purchasing certain law enforcement items so use your own discretion.
Next time - ya gotta eat, drink and be merry and Palm Springs is full of places where you can gear up in your finest and indulge.
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