The 420 Earth Day party bloomed over the weekend and we have photos

San Francisco's core characteristics of queer pride, environmentalism, and cannabis cross-pollinated with the blossoming of the Bloom party.

Apr 25, 2024 - 20:00
 0  0
The 420 Earth Day party bloomed over the weekend and we have photos
Members of the queer Burning Man tribe The Glamcocks flaunting their floral  fashion at this weekend's Bloom party in San Francisco.
Members of the queer Burning Man tribe The Glamcocks flaunting their floral fashion at this weekend’s Bloom party in San Francisco.

Over the weekend, San Francisco’s core characteristics of queer pride, environmentalism, and cannabis culture cross-pollinated with the blossoming of the Bloom party. Cultivated by the LGBTQ+ Burning Man tribe The GlamCocks on the eve of the stoner high holiday of 4/20, this bucolic bacchanal transformed the Roccapulco nightclub into a garden of earthly delights featuring flowery decor, Poison Ivy-themed stage shows, and fierce floral fashion. For Joey McGrath, the regional lead of SF’s GoldenCocks, Bloom was a tribute to the weekend’s twin holidays of 4/20 and Earth Day – and his hometown as well.

Glamcock BFFs Chris
Glamcock BFFs Chris “Doctor” Hanner and John “Dare Pacheco” embrace Bloom’s nature theme by pairing flower petals with 6-pack abs.

“I think Bloom definitely expressed a lot of what San Francisco is,” McGrath recounted the next day during a Glamcock 4/20 bonfire party at Ocean Beach, “as well as what Burning Man is. We saw a lot of creativity in looks that people were wearing, we saw a lot of expression, we saw a lot of love. Everything was decorated in amazing spring decor. And the energy was fantastic. So I think everything was reflected exactly like we wanted.” 

LA-based GlamCock BamBam getting geek chic with his Pokemon grass-type trainer ensemble. Gotta Snatch 'Em All!
LA-based GlamCock BamBam getting geek chic with his Pokemon grass-type trainer ensemble. Gotta Snatch ‘Em All!

Producing parties is ingrained in The GlamCocks DNA. For over a decade, their camp has served as a prominent nightlife venue in Burning Man’s gayborhood, hosting a litany of themed events, including the Star Wars-inspired ‘Glampire Strikes Back,’ the feline-fueled ‘Catpocalypse Meow,’ and their annual speedo-clad ‘Baewatch Beach Party.’

With members of the group populating multiple major cities, this legacy extends beyond the borders of the Burn. The Los Angeles-based Glams (aka the AngelCocks) have carved a niche in SoCal nightlife with their yearly Pride parties at the iconic Catch One nightclub, while New York’s GothamCocks dominate Halloween with their City of Gods collaboration with several Manhattan-based Burning Man camps.

Bloom was an opportunity for the GoldenCocks to host an event that exemplifies the spirit of their queer mecca.

GlamCock SF regional lead Joey "GI Joe" McGrath celebrating the success of Bloom at the GlamCock 4/20 Bonfire after party at Ocean Beach.
GlamCock SF regional lead Joey “GI Joe” McGrath celebrating the success of Bloom at the GlamCock 4/20 Bonfire after party at Ocean Beach.

“We were trying to figure out what’s our holiday,” said McGrath, also known by his nom-de-Glam ‘G.I. Joe,’ “How are we going to make our mark? And we realized that around Earth Day, as well as 4/20, there wasn’t anything on the books. And so we decided that why not throw a big spring party. And in spring, everything’s in bloom. We could do a lot of colors and flowers, so we landed on Bloom.”

A group of AngelCocks who flew up to LA to support their SF brethren with their flowery lewks. and
A group of AngelCocks who flew up to LA to support their SF brethren with their flowery lewks

Beyond celebrating Mother Earth and marijuana, Bloom showcased a number of the principles that define Burning Man, including the concepts of radical self-expression, gifting, participation, and inclusion. For McGrath, delivering aspects of the Burn into the normal, or ‘default,’ world is an important purpose for the Burner community.

SF Glamcock sartorialist Badger serving red rose couture.
SF Glamcock sartorialist Badger serving red rose couture.

“A lot of people find the best versions of themselves out at Burning Man,” opined McGrath, “and get a lot from it, and learn so many good qualities about how to be a good citizen, and how to really live life to the fullest, and how to be there for other people. And so with these parties, we try to recreate that experience that people can feel that magic that they feel at Burning Man here in their normal life.”

SF locals embracing the Bloom's floral theme.
SF locals embracing Bloom’s floral theme.

For those who missed the floral festivities this weekend, we’ve snatched some of our favorite images from Bloom to brighten your Earth Day.

Photography by Mike Ciriaco

The Glamcock's resident muscle stud Seth flexing his floral-clad physique.
The Glamcock’s resident muscle stud, Seth, flexing his floral-clad physique.
In addition to the holiday celebrations, Bloom was 
also an opportunity to debut some of the newest Glamily members (known in Burn-speak as 'Virgins'), such as Matt Helton and Nick Walker. Don't let the gayby faces fool you. These boys can bring it just as fiercely as their Veteran Glam-siblings.
In addition to the holiday celebrations, Bloom was also an opportunity to debut some of the newest Glamily members (known in Burn-speak as ‘Virgins’), such as Matt Helton and Nick Walker. Don’t let the gayby faces fool you. These boys can bring it just as fiercely as their Veteran Glam-siblings.
A quartet of GalmCuties.
A quartet of GlamCuties.
Special and Marz
Special and Marz
Kimbo cooling herself off on the dance floor with her animal print fan.
Kimbo cooling herself off on the dance floor with her animal print fan.
Flower power
A partier tapping into SF’s tradition of hippie ‘flower power’
Why be a nice fairy when you can be a naughty fairy?
Joe Waddlington posits, “Why be a nice fairy when you can be a naughty fairy?”
Athen (right) embraces his Burning Man persona of "Stag" with his horny headpiece.
Athen (right) embraces his Burning Man persona of “Stag” with his horny headpiece.
Glam neophyte Pup Io with veteran Burner Dare.
Glam neophyte Pup Io with veteran Burner Dare.
David Bronner and Jenny "Larry" Stinson buzzing in their bumble bee themed attire.
David Bronner and Jenny “Larry” Stinson buzzing in their bumble bee-themed attire.
Greyson and Lotus
Greyson and Lotus
In addition to The GlamCocks, Bloom was supported by a number of SF notables, such as Gem N'aye.
In addition to The GlamCocks, Bloom was supported by a number of SF notables, such as Gem N’aye.
Prominent SF personality Trixie Lamonte.
Prominent SF burner Trixie Lamonte.
The night included a nibber of live performances, including a burlesque number by Victor "Hoops" Tang.
The night included several live performances, including a burlesque number by Victor “Hoops” Tang.
Power couple Logan and Doctor waiting in the wings before Hoop's performance.
Power couple Logan and Doctor waiting in the wings before Hoop’s performance.
Kimbo beating GI Joe's mug before his dance number in the evening's Poison Ivy-themed performance.
Kimbo beating GI Joe’s mug before his dance number in the evening’s Poison Ivy-themed performance.
The diva duo of long time friends Amber Crane and James "Copper" Ward.
The diva duo of long-time friends Amber Crane and James “Copper” Ward.
GlamTwink Nick Walker taking a break from the dance floor in Bloom's cuddle-puddle space.
GlamTwink Nick Walker taking a break from the dance floor in Bloom’s cuddle-puddle space.
A pair of local daddies.
A pair of local daddies.

 

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow