DF III Run Book

Your guide book
to Erie’s Premier
Bear Run
March 30 - April 1, 2007
Erie, Pennsylvania
Drenched Fur III is here!
Meet The Committee
Let me be the first to extend arms of
welcome and gratitude to all of you that
have turned out for our ‘little bear run that
could’ here in Erie, PA. Over the past year
folks have asked me quite a few times;
“What is this bear thing called Drenched
Fur?” I simply sum it up like this: Drenched
Fur means to me is ‘home’.
Home is the place where you feel the
most comfortable with yourself. It’s the
place where friends gather to enjoy each
other’s company. Home is the place you
rest and relax. It’s where conversation and
food intersect. Home is the place that you
welcome new guests and old friends. It’s
the one place that you always feel happy.
Drenched Fur is home for me because
it’s the time and place that I am truly
surrounded by men I adore, love and
interact with that are my type of men. I
have enjoyed the bear community ever
since I was introduced back in 2000. DFIII is
my way of saying ‘Thanks’. So here’s to
you, to me and to us.
Welcome home.
During the course of the weekend,
you might just see the fuzzy faces below
working in front or behind the scenes. These
are the men that have helped make DFIII
what it is today for all of us to enjoy. When
you see them, please feel free to take a
moment show them your appreciation for
the work they’ve accomplished - just a
simple thank you can go a long way and is
always welcome. :)
Jack aka
LeatherJack
Michael aka
UberGeek to
the Stars
Gary aka GarBear73,
Run Coordinator
Contents
Drenched Fur III is here! ................................. 2
Meet The Committee ...................................... 2
DFIII FAQs ........................................................ 3
Saturday’s Bears Being Wine-ohs Tour .......... 5
Saturday Afternoon’s Splash Lagoon Info ..... 6
Driving to Splash Lagoon: ............................... 6
Tips and Reminders for our afternoon at
Splash Lagoon: ................................................ 7
Drenched Fur III Events Schedule ................. 8
DFIII Points of Interest Map ........................... 14
Weekend Directions ..................................... 15
2
Chris aka
NWPABearCub
Nick aka
JabberJaws
Peter aka
BerryBearOne
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
www.drenchedfur.com
DFIII FAQs
After months of planning, e-mails and committee meetings, we’re here: Drenched
Fur III. So let’s kick back, relax and have some fun while we’re together. And just in
case you’re wondering, here are a few questions you might have about the run:
Where do I get supplies?
Feel free to check out our map we’ve
included on page 14 for info on locations to do some shopping for things like
necessities as well as alcohol. Also
included in your run bag is a map of
downtown Erie with establishments
listed that you are welcome to visit.
Where the heck is everything?
Well, on Page 14 we have a map of
local points of interest in the city of Erie
for those who care to go out adventuring. Inside the back cover you will also
find directions for driving around in the
city to get yourself to/from each run
activity place. The majority of places are
in the main city itself.
How do we get around?
During your weekend with us, shuttle
service will be provided for attendees to
get from the main points back and
forth. As an example, for Friday’s bar
night folks can hop on our shuttle bus
out front of the Avalon lobby and come
and go as much as they like. Keep in
mind that the shuttle will only be running
until 2:30 AM however. The Saturday
afternoon winery outing will be provided
transportation for the tour. There will also
be a constant shuttle service on Saturday afternoon for Splash Lagoon as well.
Can I drive myself?
The Winery Tour is only with the shuttle
service provided. As for Splash Lagoon,
guests are welcome to drive themselves
(814) 384-0463
if they like. Please be sure to read over
the information pg. 15 for this part of the
run weekend.
What’s included again?
Paid registrants will be receiving their
DFIII dogtag along with their name
badge and goodie bag. Please remember to wear your dogtag as it gives you
access to Friday night’s bar crawl at
both The Zone Dance Club and Trance
Dance Club. For Saturday afternoon,
folks also can wear their dogtag while
at Splash Lagoon or on the Winery Tour.
Not to mention your dogtag also gets
you into the Greet ‘n Grope and After
Hours parties; which leads us to the next
item; food.
What about meals?
To help enhance this year’s run, some
meals during the weekend are being
provided. Starting off with Saturday
morning, continental breakfast items will
be available in the hospitality room for
run registrants. During the afternoon
Winery Tour, a stop will be made for folks
to enjoy a lunch at their expense. And
for those going to Splash Lagoon, the
Laguna Grill has various items to choose
from for your enjoyment. Later on for
Saturday evening, we will enjoy a
cocktail hour and buffet dinner service
taking place in the Niagara Ballroom in
the Avalon Hotel. And finally, on Sunday
morning we have added on something
else, a Silent Charity Auction and Breakfast Buffet before everyone leaves.
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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4
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
www.drenchedfur.com
Saturday’s Bears Being
Wine-ohs Tour
This year we’re excited at the new
addition for an option that folks can enjoy
during Drenched Fur III. We decided to try a
different mid-run activity with a visit to
wine country. The run registrants who are
enjoying this option will be stopping at four
local wineries in the Northeast, PA and
Westfield, NY areas as well as a little time
spent enjoying lunch along the way. In
addition to the tour, registrants will also
receive a souvenir Drenched Fur III wine
glass.
The winery tour bus will be leaving
promptly from in front of the Avalon Hotel
at 10:30 AM. Each destination will allow for
some time to taste and/or the operation
as well as making purchases and returning
to the Avalon at approximately 5 PM.
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Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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Saturday Afternoon’s Splash Lagoon Info
After two years of invading Erie’s
premier indoor water park, Splash Lagoon, for water slides, soaks, some
relaxing and smiles, we’re BACK to have
even more fun! There’s a couple of things
we’d like to go over prior to our afternoon of fun this year. As a contracted
group, we’ve been given some reminders
about wristbands, what, where, lockers,
and more which we’ve listed on page 7.
Splash Lagoon is a family-fun facility,
which means that it’s geared towards to
everyone, kids and adults too! It goes
without saying that our track record from
the last two years has allowed us to return
and enjoy all that Splash Lagoon has to
offer its guests. We know how we all love
to have fun, especially with the bears
getting wet ‘cause that’s what Drenched
Fur is all about! Please keep in mind that
we need to behave appropriately for the
environment we will be guests in.
It makes sense that we show our
appreciation for each other when we
have the chance. ‘Woof’-ing aside, let’s
not get carried away while we’re there
with our public displays of affection. We
would love to return again next year and
you can help us insure our future admittance. In other words, we’re not in a bath
house guys, so please keep your weiner in
your trunks. ; ) And don’t forget to wear
your Drenched Fur dogtag while you’re in
the waterpark.
Driving to Splash Lagoon:
There will be shuttle service provided
for all paid run attendees. Please check the
run guide timeline for times and places on
page 8.
Those that choose to drive themselves to Splash Lagoon need to be aware
of the following information. Parking for
the facility is typically packed in the front
and to the right side of the Holiday Inn with
more parking around back of the building.
Entrance to the park for our group is NOT
at the main entrance. Entering and Exiting
the facility will take place at the doors
where Splash Lagoon and Boston’s Pizza
join together on the Peach Street side of
the facility, to the left of the front main
entrance. Please check your Splash Map for
the groups’ entrance location.
Fun Facts About Splash Lagoon:
* It’s the only Indoor Water Park featuring 2 Pro-Slides-Extreme Bowl Rides under one roof
* The $20 million complex is 102,000 sq. ft. w/ 55,000 sq. ft. dedicated to aquatic space
* Operated by 27 water pumps pushing 3,000 gallons of H2O per minute = 81,000 g./min.
* 400,000 gallons of water are maintained year-round at a comfortably warm 84 degrees
* 110 game arcade with state-of-the-art games and prize redemption center
* Over 1,000 guests visit Splash Lagoon everyday!
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Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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Tips and Reminders for our afternoon at Splash Lagoon:
Wristbands will be distributed on the shuttle bus for each person attending Splash
Lagoon. The wristbands are your ‘access’ pass for the entire water park and the nonwater areas such as the arcade, bar, and mezzanine.
How do we get to Splash Lagoon?
There will be non-stop shuttle service
on Saturday from in front of the Avalon
Lobby (10th Street) looping up and back to
Splash from 11 AM til 6 PM. Our group pickup and drop off location will take place at
the corner of where Splash Lagoon and
Boston’s Pizza’s Buildings join next to the
Frog Pond inside the water park. This area
has been indicated on your Splash Lagoon
Map enclosed with your registration materials. For those wishing to drive themselves,
please be advised that you must enter
Splash Lagoon from the groups’ entrance,
not the main entrance.
What should I bring?
Your Drenched Fur III Beach Towel,
personal items such as shampoo, soap,
hairdryers, money etc. Towels are not
provided by Splash Lagoon. DFIII Beach
Towels are distributed at check-in for use at
Splash Lagoon. Towels are the individual
attendees’ responsibility to bring with them
to Splash.
Where do I put my stuff? (New Item!)
This year to help enhance our Splash
Lagoon experience, we’ve rented a large
group party room exclusively for our use
during the day! The party room is located
just inside the groups entrance on the left
across from the little hoppers frog pond.
The private room will have DFIII committee
members staffing it throughout the afternoon to monitor traffic and limit access to
only run attendees with their dog tags.
Folks are welcome to leave their items
here, however everyone is responsible on
(814) 384-0463
their own for all of the items they bring.
The private party room allows for us to
have a place to congregate, eat/drink
and relax without being lost amongst the
crowds or trying to reserve our own groups
tables together in one specific area.
A second option is to place your
personal items in a secure locker on site at
Splash. Lockers are available to all guests
for a rate of $8/small and $10/large including a returnable $5 deposit. (i.e. when
done, the cost comes out to $3 for a
small,& a large =$5). Lockers are limited
and first come first serve. General seating is
available on the Upper Mezzanine Level, as
well as around the food court.
How do I shower/change?
Changing in the private room may be
an option or there is a men’s changing
area with shower facilities located on the
lower level near the lockers. Please do not
leave any personal belongings in this area.
What about food & drink?
Outside food and beverages are not
permitted in the park. Guests can purchase
items from the Laguna Grill Food Court or
the Island Oasis Bar and Patio.
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
7
Drenched Fur III Events Schedule
Friday
12 PM til 12 AM ........... Run Registration/Check-In - Second floor, Avalon Hotel.
7 PM til 11 PM .............. Greet ‘n Grope & Vendor Mini-Mall - Sponsored by Bear Stop.com,
Hospitality Room. $5 Cover for all non-run attendees.
9 PM til 2:30 AM .......... Bear Bar Crawl Shuttle Service - Constantly running between the
Avalon Hotel, Trance Dance Club and The Zone Dance Club.
1:30 AM til 4 AM ......... After Hours I - BYOB Sponsored by the Burgh Bears, Hospitality
Room. $5 Cover for all non-run attendees.
Saturday
8 AM til 11 AM ............ Late Mornin’ Grazing Continental Breakfast - Hospitality Room.
8 AM til 12 PM ............. Run Registration/Check-In - Second floor, Avalon Hotel.
10:30 AM til 5 PM ........ Bears Being Wine-ohs Tour - Lobby, Avalon Hotel. Departure at
10:30 AM sharp. A lunch stop will take place during the tour. See
page 5 for more details.
11 PM til 6 PM .............. Splash Lagoon Constant Shuttle Service - Lobby, Avalon Hotel.
Bring your dog tag and towel! Also see page 6 for more details.
6 PM til 7 PM ................ Cocktail Hour Social & Vendor Mini-Mall - Niagara Ballroom,
Avalon Lobby.
7 PM til 8 PM ................ Buffet Dinner Service - Niagara Ballroom, Avalon Lobby.
8:30 PM til 9:30 PM ...... Entertainment Event: Bobaloo - Niagara Ballroom, Avalon Lobby.
$10 Cover for all non-run attendees also includes DJ dance.
10 PM til 2 AM ............. Black ‘n Blue Dance with DJBC - Niagara Ballroom, Avalon Lobby.
$5 Cover for all non-run attendees.
1:30 AM til ? ................ After Hours II - BYOB Sponsored by the Buffalo Bears & Empire Bears.
$5 Cover for all non-run attendees.
Sunday
8 AM til 11 AM ............ Goodbye Belly Rubs Breakfast Buffet & Silent Charity Auction Niagara Ballroom, Avalon Lobby.
8
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
www.drenchedfur.com
(814) 384-0463
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
www.drenchedfur.com
Saturday Evening’s Entertainment Events
They say that the third time’s a
charm. And here we are, back for round
three and bigger than ever. After last year’s
successful run, the committee decided to
enhance things a bit with the convenience
of an in-house all-in-one event evening.
We’re bringing together some of the things
everyone enjoys best; food, laughs and
music. In continuing with the compliments
on the convenience of our run, this year
we’ve enhanced our Saturday Evening to
provide more overall. We’re proud to have
a great cocktail hour starting at 6 PM,
followed by the buffet dinner service.
In supporting our focus on bringing to
Erie enjoyable gay entertainment, we’ve
employed for this year a rising star in the
bear community, the one and only Bobaloo. Bobaloo has been lighting up the
national gay comedy scene for the past 5
years, playing sold out shows in cities
across the US, and
recently abroad at
the New Bears' Eve
celebration in Berlin!
Not only will Bobaloo
be at DFIII in 2007, he
also will be popping
up at some of the
biggest bear runs
around including Bear Pride! Feel free to
check out his website at bobaloorox.com.
During the run Bobaloo will also be making
available his much anticipated FULL
RELEASE CD and DVD!
After the laughs, it’s onto enjoying
some music the way we like to - dancing
to the beats of a DJ who is known
throughout the country, DJ BearCub.
DJBearCub (aka DJBC) has been making
the Bear Community dance since 2001.
Dance music is his passion, and he has
been traveling the nation sharing his love
of dance music with
Bears everywhere. He
has worked in Chicago,
Orlando, Detroit, St.
Louis, and Indianapolis
spinning retro tunes,
and bear friendly hits. So
let’s go boogie!
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Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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11
Sunday Morning’s Silent Charity Auction
In helping support our own bear
community, this year DFIII has decided to
raise money in the name of one of our own
bear family members. On October 24th,
2006, the local bear community was
suddenly changed forever. Drenched Fur
II’s entertainer, Elijah Black, lost his partner
Sammy Schwartz unexpectedly. Both
Sammy and Elijah have been a part of
Drenched Fur since our humble beginning.
It has been challenging for us in some ways
to enjoy the preparations for this year’s run
knowing that one of the shining lights from
the past will not be with us.
Sammy has always been described as
a man who enjoyed life for all it had to
give with the bear community as one part
he immensely enjoyed.
12
He also enjoyed life was thru giving
back in his occupation as the Culinary Arts
Instructor at a community vocational
school near his home town in Ohio. It is
here that Sammy’s love of life and good
food was passed on to his students. For
those students carrying on his legacy, the
committee has decided to raise money to
donate for the Sam Schwartz Memorial
Scholarship Fund. These scholarship recipients in the culinary arts
field will be supported in
their pursuit of the work
that Sammy loved so
much. Please help us
with this worthy cause in
memory of Sammy.
Thank You.
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
www.drenchedfur.com
(814) 384-0463
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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DFIII Points of Interest Map
Map Legend
‹A - Avalon Hotel ................................. 16 W 10th St ............... 814.459.2220
‹B - Modern News (Adult Bookstore) ........ 1113 State St .............. 814.453.6932
‹C - Eastern Books (Adult Bookstore) ........ 1313 State St .............. 814.459.7014
‹C - Paper Moon (Restaurant/Lounge) ..... 1325 State St .............. 814.455.7766
‹D - Wine & Spirits Liquor Store ............. 105 W 18th St .............. 814.871.4785
‹D - The Zone Dance Club .................. 133 W 18th St .............. 814.452.0125
‹E - Trance Dance Club ....................... 1607 Raspberry St ..... 814.456.3027
‹F - Uncle Pete’s Kitchen (Takeout) ......... 2829 Raspberry St ..... 814.868.7412
‹G - Millcreek Mall (Shopping) ................. Interchange Rd and Peach St
‹H - Splash Lagoon Water Park ........... 8091 Peach St ........... 814.217.1111
‹I - Presque Isle Downs (Slots Casino) .... 8199 Perry Hwy ......... 866.374.3386
14
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
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Weekend Directions
‹D):
From The Avalon Hotel(‹A) to The Zone Dance Club(‹
Head south on State Street (which runs along the Avalon on the left/west side) to
the intersection at 18th Street. Take a right onto 18th go through the next intersection at
Peach and 18th (Erie Downtown Motel will be on the right). Get in the immediate left
lane to turn left into the plaza parking lot. The Zone has the large black and white
marquee.
‹D) to The Avalon Hotel(‹
‹A):
From The Zone Dance Club(‹
Head out of The Zone’s parking lot and take a right onto 18th Street. At the first
intersection at the corner of 18th and Peach (Erie Downtown Motel will be on the intersection far left corner), follow Peach Street North all the way down to 10th Street. Peach
St. goes past the Avalon Hotel on the West side of the facility. The Avalon’s underground
parking garage can be entered from 9th St. behind the building. To get to the parking
garage, take a right onto 9th St. from Peach St.
‹A) to Splash Lagoon (‹
‹H):
From The Avalon Hotel(‹
Head south on State St. to the intersection at 26th (Country Fair will be on your left).
Take a right onto 26th St. get in the immediate left lane to turn left at the next intersection. This intersection is Peach and 26th. On the angle, you will head south on Peach St.
Follow it all the way up past I-90 (approx 5 miles up Peach St). Splash Lagoon will be on
the left.
‹H) to The Avalon Hotel(‹
‹A):
From Splash Lagoon(‹
Head out of Splash’s parking lot and take a right onto Peach St. Follow Peach St.
North (approximately 6 miles) all the way down into the city proper. Peach St. goes past
the Avalon Hotel on the West side of the facility.
‹A) to Trance Dance Club(‹
‹E):
From The Avalon Hotel(‹
Head south on State St. to the intersection at 12th. Take a right onto 12th St. and
travel for 11 blocks (approximately 1.2 miles). As you approach the traffic light at the
Raspberry and 12th Streets intersection, get in the left lane to turn left (south) onto Raspberry. Follow Raspberry over the railroad tracks. Trance will be on the left. Parking is on
the right across the street as well as behind the building itself.
‹D) to The Avalon Hotel(‹
‹A):
From Trance Dance Club(‹
Head North on Raspberry back to the light at 12th Street. Turn right and travel for 10
blocks to the light at the corner of 12th and Peach. (Arby’s will be on the right.) Get in
the left lane prior the intersection and turn left following Peach St. North. Peach goes
past the Avalon on the West side of the facility.
ERIE YELLOW CAB
(814) 384-0463
24
HRS/365 DAYS
814-455-4441
Drenched Fur III Run Booklet
15
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING
BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS FOR MAKING
THIS WEEKEND SUCH A SUCCESS:
The Avalon Hotel and Conference Center
Splash Lagoon Water Park Resort
The Zone Dance Club Trance Dance Club
Erie Gay News Uncle Pete’s Kitchen Zodiac Dinor
The Oil City Movie Stop CBandC Tours Grise A/V
Laidlaw Educational Services Dog Tags Inc.com SportIt.com CorporateCasuals.com LanyardFactory.com
Scott Enterprises
PayPal Inc. Erie Federal Credit Union
Yahoo Groups Bear 411 BearGuide.net
Gaudenzia/Shout Outreach The Erie County Health Dept.
Buffalo Bears Burgh Bears Empire Bears
St. Louis Show Me Bears
BearStop.com ButchBear CyberBears
TheBearOutpost.com
Norm Zymm Michael Mahler
The Drenched Fur III Committee
and all of the bear clubs whose members
are represented here this weekend!