On May 20, to help kick off Leather Weekend in Cherry Grove and the New York City-based Excelsior Motorcycle Club’s 36th anniversary “Lust for Life” run, provocatively entitled “The Good, the Bad and the HORrny” and given a cowboys in the Wild West theme, singer Porsche and bar manager Johnny Doyle hosted a lively benefit Master-and-slave auction, which raised $940 for Excelsior, which will donate it to a Grove organization to be determined. DJ Chuck McTague was responsible for music and sound.

Figuratively putting themselves on the auction block were topmen East Village Stud Jeff, Mr. Fire Island Leather 2004; his housemate Dirty Coach; Doug Starr; Carl; and Long Islanders Michael Jones and another Jeff; and bottoms Andy, Candy (Candido), Grey, and young bear Chris, another member of EVS Jeff’s household. Comely muscular couple Carl and Andy, who come from upstate New York, have a share in Fire Island Pines, and are associated with the Connecticut-based Twilight Guard, which played a prominent part in the Excelsior weekend, brought in the highest bids, with Excelsior Treasurer Victor Skolnik, Tim AKA Miss Fire Island Sabel Scities, and Don “Ann Phetamine” Verteramo leading the highly competitive bidding.

Fifty leathermen, hailing from East Coast locales from Ontario to Virginia, attended the Excelsior run. Beside the Grove Hotel and Ice Palace, Grove businesses Belvedere, the clothing-optional host hotel; restaurants Grove Pizza, catering the Friday night buffet at the Ice Palace; Floyd’s, hosting Saturday morning’s breakfast and catering the afternoon’s grilled lunch on Belvedere’s deck on the bay; and Island Breeze, where the Saturday night dinner and Sunday closing-ceremonies-and-awards brunch took place; and the Grove Market, which provided hero sandwiches, helped to make it an enjoyable weekend. Hosting cocktail parties at Belvedere were Twilight Guard, Fire Dancers L&L Club, the GDIs and, for the first time, eight of the now 11 Mr. Fire Island Leather titleholders.

Excelsior MC’s 2012 “Lust for Life” run in the Grove is already set for May 18 through 20.