Memorial Day Weekend Recap ­
Well the summer got off to a fine start with tons of people in town for the International Mr. Leather, Grabby Awards, and Bear Pride confabs over the Memorial Day weekend. Me and my peeps noted the following highlights: Everyone at IML ­ at the hotel, at the Leather Mart, everywhere really ­ seemed extra friendly this year. That's actually code for "flirty and horny" Most of the vendors at Leather Mart had broad smiles as they reported brisk sales throughout the entire weekend The Bear Pride Dance Party at Metro with Chicago DJ Ted Eiel was a smashing success with a packed dance floor on Saturday night Chi Chi LaRue's guest DJing at the Military Ball on Saturday night was greeted with mixed reviews. Some really liked the wide variety of pop and old-school tracks she played - "a refreshing change of pace" one party-goer was overheard saying ­ while others were chomping at the bit as they waited for DJ Oskar to get back to delivering high energy club beats The annual Onyx Dance Party, with its rainbow coalition of attendees, is typically the highlight dance event at the IML host hotel. This year was no different with record numbers in attendance.

Porn superstar Chad Hunt, along with that 11-inch appendage he packs, was spotted late Sunday afternoon casually walking by himself near the intersection of Lawrence and Western Avenues, far away from Boystown, downtown, or any other neighborhood you might expect him to be in. Of all the out-of-the-ordinary things witnessed ­ and experienced - in the city over the weekend, this sighting was actually the strangest and most unexpected Mikel Gerle of Los Angeles was named Mr. IML 2007. OMG! What a STUD! "WOOF!" Once again DJ Matthew Harvat was in fine form at the Back & Blue Ball at Excalibur on Monday Night. His annual musical stewardship of this party is becoming legendary.

Singles Life --
I don't typically write about dance single remixes, but for those of you looking to add to your iPod playlist here are few that have come my way in recent weeks. First up are the remixes for Enrique Iglesias' "Do You Know (The Ping Pong Song)" (Interscope Records). I found the big room vocal mix by Ralphi Rosario & Craig CJS and the harder edged DJ Dan Remix schizophrenically unsatisfying: both had good rhythm tracks, but the interesting aspects of the electronic music presentations were jarringly interrupted by the strumming of an acoustic guitar. Kind of like a Kaskade or Bob Sinclar song gone wrong. However, all is not lost with this maxi-single as the three Dub mixes provide a pleasing musical consistency the vocal versions lack.

Next for your consideration is the lovely Rihanna and the remixes for "Umbrella." This single is the first off of her new album, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Def Jam), and features label head honcho Jay-Z. The set of remixes provide four distinctive styles: the fairly commercial big room sound of the Seamus Haji & Paul Emanuel Club Mix; the soaring and trancey Jody den Broeder Lush Mix; the electro-ish and filtered Deconstruction Mix, also by den Broeder; and the tea-dance sounding Lindbergh Palace Mix. While these mixes may not be as strong as the superlative "Unfaithful" and "S.O.S." remixes, they should prove popular with many throughout the summer.

Finally, the very first American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, is back with exceptional remixes of "Never Again" (RCA Records) by Dave Aude and Jason Nevins. First and foremost, Clarkson delivers a strong vocal performance with this song, giving the two remixers great material to work with. Nevins presents a full-bodied, big room energetic anthem while Aude's treatment is a bit more understated and nuanced. While I personally prefer the lush electro sound that Aude produces, both of these remixes are top-notch and deserve heavy rotation on your mp3 player.