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Presidents' Day weekend and hundreds of bears can only mean one thing -- International Bear Rendezvous 2000,
sponsored by the
Bears of San Francisco, February 18-21.
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No trip to San Francicso is complete without a ride on the cable car
My partner and I decided to go a week early this year to take in the character, culture and cusine of
this gayest of American cities.
We were not disappointed.
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The Ramada Plaza International
The host hotel was again the historic Ramada Plaza Hotel International. The hotel, which was once used as a temporary
city hall after the 1906 earthquake, is within walking distance of the Lone Star, Eagle Tavern, BEAR Store, Mr. S, Davies Symphony Hall,
the Opera, City Hall,
and the Powell Street Cable Car stop, which connects to Ghirardelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf, and right at a subway station and bus/trolly stop for transportation to the Castro.
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Bear display in the BOSF Store
The IBR festivites started with a pre-event party at the Lone Star on Thursday, February 17. Despite its being
a work-week night for the locals, and early for those traveling, the Lone Star was packed.
Friday began with optional activites (all the optionals at IBR this year sold out early) such as the
Alcatraz tour.
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Bears line up for registration
Registration opened at 6:00 p.m., and hundreds of bears rushed first to the ballroom to pick up their packets, then
across the hall to the BOSF store to get their t-shirts,
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T-shirt pickup
and perhaps purchase some other goodies on sale there.
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Caps, posters, pins, etc. at the BOSF Store
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Checking out at the BOSF Store
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Entrance to the Vendor Mall
Also at 6:00, the Hospitality Suite and Vendor Mall (Maul?) opened, giving additional places for the rapidly
increasing numbers of bears to explore.
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One of the more interesting items for sale
The Pub Crawl began at 9:00 p.m., with crowds of bears at the Lone Star and Eagle Tavern, and others visiting the
Hole in the Wall, My Place, Powerhouse and Loading Dock.
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Massage at the Vendor Mall
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Cake furnished by the Front Range Bears in the Hospitality Suite
Many just hung out at the Hospitality Suite, manned by the
hospitable guys from BEAR magazine.
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The line for beer
Saturday afternoon, bears packed the 20 Tank Brewery for the On-Line Party.
There were no 'mailboxes' (envelopes), no 'You've got mail!' announcements,
and no internet connections -- just plenty of bears finding old and new online
friends.
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Photo op at the On-Line Party
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Great bear watching from upstairs
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The view from upstairs
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I have no idea, but looks like fun
Immediately following the On-Line Party at 4:00 was a Beer Bust at the Eagle Tavern, and a chance to meet the contestants
as they sold raffle tickets.
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'ing' performs at Celebrate San Francisco
Saturday evening brought the 'Celebrate San Francisco' party, in the hotel ballroom.
Local food items and beer and wine were provided, with entertainment from the local group 'ing.'
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Hot, sweaty dancing bears
DJ Rob Doughty kept the bears dancing for the rest of the evening.
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The landmark Castro Theatre
Sunday started with many optional activites, such as the 'Wok Wiz Tour' of Chinatown.
This was also a good time
for bears to 'Invade the Castro', San Francisco's gay neighborhood filled with eclectic shops and restaurants.
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A sea of tables filled with bears at the Giftcenter
IBR takes its contest very seriously; the titleholders are considered Bear Ambassadors. The contestants
are put through their paces all weekend, and this culminates in the Buffet Dinner and Competition at the San Francisco
Giftcenter on Sunday evening.
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Bird's eye view of the buffet
A fine spread of roast beef and turkey, various potatoes, vegetables and salads
was provided, along with sinful apple pie and cheesecake desserts.
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Healthy portions of Bear Food
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The inimitable Lurch
The evening was, as usual, humorously emceed by 'Lurch', whose wit is unique to IBR,
and included an opening number, introduction of the contestants,
selection of the finalists, entertainment segments, speeches by the finalists,
farewell speech by the outgoing Mr. International Bear, and announcement of the titleholders.
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The contestants in the opening number
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Carol Metcalf as Cher
Comedienne Carol Metcalf caused quite a controversy with her tasteless, ear-grating, and generally inappropriate
performance.
While an unfortunate choice, her performance in no way diminishes the Herculian effort expended by the Bears of San Francisco
to plan an otherwise wonderful weekend.
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Mr. International Bear 1999 Craig Byrnes gives a moving farewell speech.
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Finalists await the judges' decision
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Mr. International Cub, Grizzly, Daddy and Mr. International Bear
After the judges' votes were tallied, the titleholders (they aren't called winners,
all the contestants are winners) for 2000 are: Mr. International Bear Cub,
Brad Bivvins from Tucson, AZ; Mr. International Grizzly Bear, Robert Kenny from
St. Johns, Newfoundland; Mr. International Daddy Bear, Crag McCauslan from
Huntington Beach, CA; and Mr. International Bear, Heath McKay from Boston MA.
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'Jeannie' displays a Kenny doll up for auction.
IBR winds down on Monday morning with a Continental Breakfast and Charity Auction.
Items varied from magnums of Raymond Burr wine to original Frisch art, which brought
in thousands of dollars for charity.
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Old and new friends say goodbye in the Ramada lobby
A steady stream of bears checks out of the hotel. The din that was once the
greetings and hugs and gropes of hundreds of bears in the lobby slowly becomes
the whisper of foreign tourists.
A final crowded good-bye party at the Lone Star signals the end of another
IBR. The Bears of San Francisco can relax and enjoy their success briefly;
planning for IBR 2001 will start soon. Now that all the colors in the Gay Pride
flag are used, what color will next year's pin be?
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RfB admins Denny Colvin, Mike Ramsey and Chris Griffith met for the first time at IBR 2000
dwc
For more pictures of IBR 2000,
see Lynn Ludwig's Site
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