You might think it's a little early to be thinking about 2009, but the guys over at BearFilms love to be ahead of the game and they already have out their 2009 Calendar.

From BearFilms: "Why spend a whole year looking at photos of sunsets or beaches when you can enjoy 12 of the hottest BearFilms models on your 2009 calendar? The BearFilms Bear & Cub Calendar has just arrived and features our steamiest Bears, baring it all for you! No matter whether you like cubs, furry daddies or the big guys, you're sure to enjoy the whole 365 days. Each month features a different model with multiple photos and an inside look at what makes each guy go. As an introductory special, you can get the new 2009 Calendar until July 31st for just $9.95! We know it's early, but heck at that price, you can do your shopping for the year!".

There is this excellent site called El Abrazo Del Oso (which loosely translates to 'The Embrace of the Bear'). The 1st thing you will notice is that the t-shirt designs they have to offer are really nothing like you've seen before - in other words - wow. The 2nd thing you'll notice is just how cool their site is, but let's get back to the designs.

I sent off an email to them and I got a reply from Alejandro González (photo), and he was more than helpful to fill me in about who he is as well as his work. From Alejandro: "I work as a graphic designer illustrator and painter in Monterrey, Mexico. I have participated in several individual exhibitions here in Monterrey and Guadalajara Jalisco - the city in which I was born. I'm 34 years old and I work together with my partner in the diffusion of the illustrations and the site.

I started doing Bear illustrations for Bear events here in the city in 2006. 'El Abrazo del Oso' was originally supposed to be a Bear club and then we decided to make a brand out of it and offer Bear art for the Bear scene. 'El Abrazo del Oso' offers printed t-shirts from illustrations that we received from commissions for personal portraits, drawings and paintings as well as commercial artwork related to the Bear scene, publications and events, among other things".

Honestly, go take a look at their stuff and even commission them to do something for you. Their artwork is #1, and their site is just so breezy cool. 

The following is from BearParty Magazine: "Some 25,000 copies of the latest issue of BearParty Magazine should be hitting local Bear bars and events around the world starting this weekend. You can also read it online for free with a free membership at BearParty.com.

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, BearParty Magazine is a convenient, digest-sized, bi-monthly print publication distributed for free at hundreds of bear bars, clubs, and events across the United States and around the world. Each glossy, full-color issue includes Bear comics, Bear galleries, features on Bear-friendly events, celebrities, trends, products, and news.

In case you were wondering about that sexy daddy on the cover, we met Matty at the Mr. San Francisco Leather contest this year, where he passed on his 2007 title as Mr. San Francisco Leather Daddy. You can see some pictures from that event in this issue as well. We're also featuring part three of Ken Slater’s tips on hooking up online, an illustrated interview with fine erotic artist Minoru Terada, and a discussion about the history and the future of Bear porn in print with Scott McGillivray of 100 Percent Beef. Or if you just want to relax, why not order a Zombie from the Open Bar, and read the new episode of Frankie & Roque? Woof!".

It was a couple of weeks ago that PlanetBears held an interview with the guys who are bringing back BEAR magazine (article here - interview here). They are part of the Bear Omni Media group that have been branching out in different areas. The following should explain it all:

"House Of Leather (cover) is the first title to be released by Back Rooms Films as part of Bear Omni Media group that includes ButchBear.com and BEAR. For several years Butch Bear has been famous for its videos and calendars that feature muscular men with plenty of body hair. The BEAR name was just re-launched by Bear Omni Media with a new line of videos and magazines for the bear market. Back Room Films joins this line up by focusing on men in leather.

Tober Brandt has established himself as one of the hottest performers this decade with appearances in several top videos from TitanMedia and Raging Stallion Studios. Back Room Films choice of Tober in their first release demonstrates his on screen appeal is strong with fans of gay porn around the world".

There's a new magazine coming out... but it's name is one we all know and love. It's called BEAR magazine and PlanetBears was lucky enough to conduct an interview with the guys who are behind this hot new rag.

Check out the interview here.

Now way back in August 2007, PlanetBears mentioned about the resurgence of 'BEAR Magazine' (article here). At the time of that posting, there was very little known about the mag aside that it was being published by the same guys who give you 'Muscle + Fur = Butch Bear'.

Now for those of you who don't know ~ BEAR Magazine has been considered an important chapter within the history of Bear culture as it was the 1st magazine to truly celebrate the Bearish man. Its roots stem from 1984 as it was initially a flyer created by Richard Bulger in San Francisco who, over time, turned the mag into an internationally known symbol that became one of the staples to recognizing Bear culture, the community and what a Bear man looks like as well as what a Bear man represents. Richard then sold the company 'Brush Creek Media' to Bear-Dog Hoffman who, to make a long story short, ran the business into the ground. Brush Creek went out of business and the last issue of BEAR Mag was sent around the summer of 2001 (more about BEAR Magazine here on Wikipedia).

Ok, so what happened... near the end of BEAR Mag's reign, a lot of people were taken for a ride; models and photographers were not paid; advertisers who bought prepaid spots in their magazine lost their money, and of course; all those who had a subscription... nobody was refunded. Kicker to all this? The Brush Creek website still exists to this day and is still selling stuff. Now I am not going to link it here simply because I don't want someone who is not reading this article and is simply clicking the pretty links to go to that webpage and then decides to buy something since they will be spending their money on things that do not exist.

Once BEAR mag went belly up, there was a lot of online talk about it, especially in the now defunct 'Bear's Mailing List'. However, like all things, the 'BEAR mag buzz' simply buzzed out and nobody cared about the issue any more.

Now fast forward to 2007 and there's a few leaks about BEAR coming back. Since then, the buzz has started all over again - both off and online - however it's mostly been gossip since nobody really knows anything about the new BEAR.

Well I was fortunate enough to get a hold of the guys who are manufacturing the new BEAR mag and they were more than cool to conduct an interview with me. Read the interview here ~ it'll definitely clarify any misconceptions you might have had and it will also enlighten you to this new BEAR mag era which is just upon us.

So... does this new mag interest you? Guess what... they are giving the 1st issue to you free. How? Head on over to bear-magazine.com (you simply pay the postage).

Is the world ready for a new BEAR Mag? I'm more than positive it is. Will it live it up to its name? Time will only tell however the Butch Bear material has always been A level material so I'm also positive that the new BEAR mag experience will simply be better.

Matt from Chubarama has news that readers of his blog are able to get 20% off all orders from Colossal Clothing.

From their site: "Just use the discount code 'Chubarama' when you check out. The quality and philosophy behind Colossal is top-notch, and everyone should take advantage of this whether you're a big man yourself or have a big man in your life. Not only that, but the folks at Colossal Clothing have partnered with the Chubarama team to kickoff a brand new feature that no Chubarama fan will want to miss (hint: it involves getting free stuff just for being a reader). Make sure you are around, make sure you tell your friends, and if you'd like, subscribe so you can get all the latest updates sent right to your favorite reader".

The following was sent in by Mark: "Berlin based film director Edwin Brienen (website - MySpace page) is relatively unknown in the mainstream, but this will soon change with the release of The Edwin Brienen DVD Collection - 5 films, some of them gay themed such as the illustrious 'Lebenspornografie'.

This is art house pur sang, extravagant and over the top, but non film lovers can watch pictures of this woofy film director, whose lamp chops are delicious! This Brienen has kind of a reputation in the darker alleys of gay underground, so you better watch out if you meet him in one of the Berlin bars".

The husky guys over at ButchBear.com, have a new DVD out called Bounty Hunter. From their site: "You can run, but you can't hide from this big-dicked Bounty Hunter - and he's no Dog. Arpad Miklos leads a hairy, big-muscled cast in a sinful caper of passion, betrayal and greed. When a gang of thieves, led by a mysterious mastermind, heists a cool mil, the Bounty Hunter is on the job and ready for action. While prowling the criminal underworld to catch a thief, collect his reward and satisfy a larger-than-life lust, the Bounty Hunter gives, and gets, his just desserts: an orgasmic slice of carnal man-pie topped with a delicious dollop of surprise. Starring: Arpad Miklos, Parker Williams, Matthew Ford, CJ Madison, and introducing Charlie Fabravo, Nick Angelo and Jared Wolfe. DVD includes 90 minutes of hot 'n' hairy muscle in action, a bonus 'Cum Shot Video Review', a bonus shower scene with Parker Williams and a gallery slideshow".

Beef Mag (larger image) is still one of the hottest Bear porn magazines which is available either online by subscribing and receiving it in your snail mailbox, or by hitting your local adult entertainment supplier and grabbing a copy off their rack. Their newest issue #38 is about to be printed out soon for April/May and I'm sure it will be a great issue as they all are.

Want to know who is behind the scenes for Beef Mag? Head on over to editor Scott McGillivray's website - Rustyspot Design. You can also check out his TubeBear profile. Also check out the articles we wrote about Beef Mag in the past.

If you have a magazine you would like have mentioned on PlanetBears and TubeBear, then by all means email us or use the send news form and we will be glad to spread the good word. 

The latest issue of BearParty Magazine is out for March and April. You can find a copy at your local Bear bar and you can also it read it online for free with a membership at BearParty.com. BearParty Mag is associated with CyberBears.

From the introduction to the current issue: "March and April are the start of the mid-year Bear season all around the world, and as usual, they're kicking it off in Europe with Bearcelona. We're doing our best to make BearParty Magazine available for free to attendees of as many events and customers of local Bear businesses as possible. As always, if you don't see BearParty Magazine somewhere you think it should be, ask the folks who run the local event, bar, or club to get in touch with us.

Our hot CoverBear this month, Alfa Bear, was discovered at IBR in San Francisco this year. We've got more pictures of him inside, along with part two of Ken Slater's series on hooking up with Bears online, some sound health advice from Frank Strona, a revealing interview with hottie Thornton Grey of Grey Rose Productions, and a detailed look at the growing Bear scene in hot and friendly Phoenix, Arizona by local reporter Kurt Von Behrman. Or if taxes have got you down, take a sip from our Open Bar column about the Income Tax Cocktail".

I went to my little PO box this morning while walking the pups and guess what I found... the latest issue of 100 Percent Beef (website - TubeBear profile - front cover), the adult magazine for... adults, and the only 'Bearish' magazine out there as of now.

There's 4 models to gawk over - Smoky, Big Ed, Steve and Big Russian Bear. There's some kinky stories, a few comics, a couple of articles and other fun stuff... all in all another great issue from Beef Mag - and this is #35. Now did you go to your PO box today and did not find your own issue? Simple, head on over to their site and subscribe.

CyberBears have a new DVD out called Bear Booty Call. From CyberBears: "Whether you're at home or on the road, It's always a good time for a Bear Booty Call. Fly Bear just got into town, and he's ready for some fun. He calls Matte Masterson and Tucker Cody over, and after a shower, they all go at it. Then Chgo Bears welcomes Erik with a kiss. They get into some serious sucking, rimming, fucking. It ends with a kiss before Erik leaves. But Chgo Beard is still horny, so he invites Leather Bear and Leather Cub in to finish the job - in every possible position! Finally Alouzo Masters and Kevin Cub start out kissing as they undress each other, then they work their way down, until Alouzo tops Kevin Cub passionately. Get the phone. It may be your next Bear Booty Call".

The following is from BearFilms: "Bearfilms is proud to be nominated for a 2008 GAYVN award for its DVD 'Bears in Heat' in the 'Best Specialty Release' (Bear) category. The award will be announced at the 10th Annual GAYVN Award Ceremonies in San Francisco on February 16th. The GAYVN Awards are dedicated to recognizing outstanding movies and talented individuals who have contributed to the advancement of the gay adult entertainment industry. Its broad-based, nation-wide panel of judges, predominantly gay-press-affiliated, has been awarding trophies for 21 years, making the GAYVN Awards the most respected and recognized awards in gay adult entertainment history".

Click here for some pics they sent us of their Bear model Danny Gonzalez.

I remember way back over 5 years ago a now defunct Bear's Mailing List (of QueerNet) was all abuzzed about a certain San Francisco rag going belly up - this mag known as Bear. Some of the guys that were working for this mag decided to get together and wanted to create a new mag by compiling images of what they considered to be good looking men. They wanted to slightly move away from the 'Bear' tag (since the last mag didn't do so well) yet this mag was still all about husky hairy and mature looking men. Thus was born 100% Beef Mag (website ~ TubeBear profile). 5 years later and the magazine is still going strong, publishing their 35th issue (cover) which you can pick up from their website (via subscription) or at your local XxX store. And as of right now, Beef Mag is truly the only real 'Bear' magazine out there, ever since American Bear and American Grizzly went belly up as well a couple of years back (AmaBear - all gone now).

ps - 5 years later and Bear mag 'still' has their website up - Brush Creek Media - and they are 'still' selling stuff like hats and magazines, however there is no store that exists, meaning if you send your money to that site, it's like donating it to some fundamentalist religion... meaning... you're just donating your money to thin air. Instead, go to Beef Mag's site and get yourself a copy of a real subscription.