San Diego has a new leather store! Everyone knows by now that our beloved Ringold Alley and ReBar are no more. Sadly, the store and bar went the same route as the store’s namesake street in “Fagdad-by-the-Bay,” also known as San Francisco. What was once a haven for leather-clad perverts and our admirers is now a corner for young breeder debauchery. There goes the neighborhood!

Luckily, they can’t keep us down forever – unless you’re the ultimate insatiable bottom. We should have a contest for that!

Bill Freyer, who you may remember was a judge at our recent Mr. San Diego Leather Contest, has opened Pleasures & Treasures. The new store is located at 2228 University Ave. next door to the 2200 Club. If you don’t want to admit ever trolling the 2200 Club, the new store is across the street from Albertsons – which, by the way, can also be extremely cruisey (I am told “cruisey” is not actually a word, but who cares). The point is that you can get everything you need for a day of frolic and fun right in North Park. It all makes sense when you think about it. Go to Pleasures & Treasures and get your leather, cock ring, lube and condoms. Walk across the street to Albertsons and pick up a fresh or slightly used piece of meat. Check into the 2200 Club and have your way with the piece of meat. Shower – or maybe not – and head down to Pecs for an after-play cocktail to clear your conscience. You’ll be home in time for dinner with your lover. Everybody wins!

Pleasures & Treasures is open weekdays from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 2:00 a.m. and Sunday until 6:00 p.m. Don’t go on Tuesdays because it’s closed, and then you’ll have to spend the whole day at 2200 Club – which may not be a bad thing if you work it right.

Thanks to a couple of local guys, San Diego has a new Water Sports Club. Still, no flip-flops! The founders of the club are interested in getting everyone’s “ideas, thoughts, fantasies, dreams and twisted points of view.” You can probably get more information by hanging out at the San Diego Eagle, which again means you’ll have to leave the flip-flops at home. Sorry, guys. Opt for rubber boots instead! Tall, tall rubber boots!

This weekend is BondageFest in San Diego! Yes, we can add “Fest” to anything and create a new word. Being gay or kinky means we can create words whenever we want. Sort of like “cruisey.”

BondageFest begins Saturday, June 24, at 4:00 p.m. with “Sticking to Your Sub,” a duct tape workshop with Jason. Once your sub is adequately secured, you can head over to the Exploratorium and Vendor Faire to get more bondage stuff. It all continues on Sunday with a workshop in Shibari (incredibly beautiful rope bondage) with Cadenas, who regularly demonstrates his skills at San Diego’s Club X. You don’t want to miss this one. It takes place at the Art & Entertainment Center, located at 3026 University Ave. For more information, visit www.clubxsd.org.

We’ve all been feeling the “pride” lately, and I’m certainly glad San Diego Pride has a reasonable price. Sure, Long Beach had India.Arie, but for $20 I expected sunshine, hotter men and someone to be proud for me so I can just sit back and munch on meat-on-a-stick. Does anyone actually know what that meat really is? At least L.A. Pride has pretty people. They may have a lot of attitude and may not speak to you if you’re over 25 and haven’t had cosmetic surgery, but at least they’re pretty to look at. Hmm… maybe going to L.A. Pride is just an excuse to head over to SLAMMER for head. I wonder…

Speaking of San Diego Pride, Raw Limited, located at 2528 University Ave., has advance Pride tickets. If you’re not going to Dore Alley Street Fair up in “Fagdad,” get your Pride tickets at Raw to avoid the lines. You know how bitchy you get when you have to wait in line without a cocktail. San Diego’s leather community will host the Leather Realm once again for adults only. Single-day Pride tickets are $12 and weekend passes are $20.

See you out and about this summer! Send party and event info to inthepit@aol.com and we’ll have ourselves a real good time.