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Spring is when bears awaken from their winter's hibernation, trek down mountains and out of forests, and gather in packs in urban areas to frolic. Well, not Ursus americanus, maybe, but Ursus homosexualis for sure. The Great Lakes Bears, a Midwestern-based den of the latter, is­ true to a species that sometimes gets its heads stuck in honey jars­ being opportunist.

The last weekend in May, Chicago always sees a large swarm of pig- and calf- and maybe even bull-skin covered creatures converging for the annual International Mr. Leather. So that's when the Great Lakes ursinistas­ taking advantage of the fraternity that exists between fur and leather­ are holding their own Bear Pride 2006, from Thursday May 25th to Monday May 29th.

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Among the festivities will be­ on Saturday, May 27th­ a "Leather Party" at Chicago's Cell Block noon-to-5, then a "Boxer Party" at Buck's Saloon, wherein attendees are invited to "Show off your stuff, be it cute, be it sexy, be it virtually see-through." Then on Sunday, May 28th, there's a "Nutts to Butts Bear Dance" at Vision from 10pm, and on Monday, May 29th, some "Farewell Showtunes" from 1 to 7pm on at Sidetrack. These bears can sing, dance, and maybe even skate!

For more info, browse to www.bearpride.org/events.html, e-mail p@bearpride.org, or write Great Lakes Bears-Chicago, PO Box 5727 Villa Park, Illinois 60181.