Altabear's Place

It’s final – the selection of bars in Edmonton has declined to near disastrous levels!

When I first came out back in 1981, there were several to choose from:

Boots ‘n Saddles – the more manly “stand up” bar frequented by bears, and the leather group that I helped found called “Northern Chaps”.

The Roost – a “men’s only” private club which eventually opened up to women and then opened up it’s top level as well.

FlashBack: the closest thing to Studio 54 that Edmonton has had.  Multi-level dance floor, changing rooms for the draq queens (Imperial Sovereign Court of the Wild Rose) and great music.

Since then, Flash has closed, the Roost has closed, and now with the recent passing of Jim Schafer – Boots has closed!

Strange when the places you “grew up gay” in have closed.  Anyway, there’s a newer bar called Buddy’s but it’s just not the same.

Another bar called “Play” opened, but it’s more trying to be “something for everyone”, catering to straight people as well.

Recently a couple of people had the gall to open a club called “Flash” – but they have some very very large shoes to fill trying to do that.  It’s located in a  building where several clubs have come and gone, and has always been kind of dive-ish.  Haven’t been there yet – out of principal – but might have to check it out.

Boots was where most of the bears tended to go, so now it will be interesting to see what happens. 

Bears and Bars.  Bears don’t change much, but I guess the bars do.

HAHAHAHAHA!

LOL My good friend Heather sent me this (apparently she thinks I’m a bit of an oddball (of course, she has known me for years).

I’ve been playing World of Warcraft for about 5 years now, and have a few level 80 toons, which I play with.

My main ones are members of a guild called Royal Knights, on the North American Zul’Jin server.

It’s pretty fun, but sometimes I find it taking up a bit too much of my time.  Particularly with summer finally arriving, and it’s time to work on the garden.

I do, however, realize that it’s the only major “guilty pleasure” that I have, so I don’t mind.

After 12 years with the same wonderful guy I’m finally married!

Doesn’t really “feel” different, but it was interesting learning about some unforseen bits of my own “issues” coming up.

Having been “out” in Edmonton for many years I didn’t expect that when I would be saying “we’re here to get flowers for our wedding” – that I still had some unexplored homophobia.

Aside from the amazing people we are/were surrounded with, and the lovely day (and the Tahitian coral ’58 Caddilac we arrived in) it was an interesting learning experience.