Monthly Archives: January 2012
Steve Starchild….Has the X Factor
Over the last month, Chicago’s STEVE STARCHILD has been uploading videos on YouTube.
He is 22, a singer and songwriter, and on the road to Rock-Stardom!
This boy can sing! And those abs – wow!
In his newest video,
he is hitting the streets of Chi-city for a middle-of-the-night
CTA adventure!
Check out his own recording and video for one of Gaga’s
greatest, MARRY THE NIGHT! It’s pretty awesome!
GAGAISM says, “Whenever a Lady Gaga single is released, it’s only a matter of time
before fans and musicians take to YouTube to upload their own covers and
parodies. Once in a while, one of these videos catapults a new artist
to fame, as with Greyson Chance and Maria Aragon.
Steve [Starchild] might just be the next person to hit it big after
releasing a Gaga cover. His take on “Marry The Night” is unique and far
less “out-there” than Lady Gaga’s, yet it feels true to the song.
Furthermore, Starchild strongly exhibits a star power and charisma that
is sure to woo the ladies (and gentlemen) who watch his video.”
This guy, is one to watch! It’s just a matter of time until he has a record deal!
Steve Starchild YouTube Channel
The People Speak Live with MATT DAMON Jan 31

Based off of the 2009 documentary, The People Speak, The People Speak, Live!
is a benefit performance that features dramatic readings of written
works from people of the past.
This month’s performance will include
readings of a fifteenth century priest documenting Columbus’ arrival in
the New World, a fugitive slave’s scathing letter to a former master,
the words of pathbreaking Chicago labor organizers, testimony of civil
rights activists and more.
The People Speak, Live! performance has officially added
Academy Award Winner Matt Damon to host the event and compliment a cast
of local talent. The supporting cast includes Robert Breuler and Alana
Arenas of the Steppenwolf Theater, various local poets and Rick Kogan of
the Tribune.
The Chicago premiere will be at the Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., on Jan. 31st.
Tickets are available at $11 to $24. Doors open at 6pm. Performance at 7pm.
Premium tickets available also.
CREW Bar Annual Charity Chilli CookOff Jan 28

NBC 5’S WAYNE JOHNSON RETURNS AS HOST OF CREW’S 2012 CHARITY CHILI COOK OFF
Wayne Johnson, food and lifestyle reporter for NBC Chicago, will return as host of Crew Bar + Grill’s Annual Charity Chili Contest on Saturday, January 28th, from 12PM to 2PM.
The annual chili contest lets patrons sample eight different chili recipes for a $10.00 donation to the Edgewater based non-profit, Care for Real. Organized by the Edgewater Community Council, Care for Real is a volunteer operated food pantry and social services group supported by donations from the community. Prizes will be awarded for the best chili recipe, $100 in cash, and the category for best presentation of your chili, the “Nate Berkus award”, which nets a $50 Crew gift card.
Crew Bar + Grill
4804 N Broadway
Chicago, IL 60640
Crew Bar + Grill, located at Broadway and Lawrence, is Chicago’s premiere, award winning gay sports bar. In 2010, Mike Sullivan and Mark Robertson joined the business as co-owners alongside Steve Milford and Brian Wells. Now well into its seventh year, Crew has become a fixture of the Uptown entertainment district with a mix of big games on over 20 HD, flat screen televisions and great food and drinks.
I Heart Red party – A Pre Red Dress Party Feb 9th

Check this out! $20
Hosted Bar for 3 hours, plus small bites,
plus a raffle drawing, plus fun people!
PLUS, you’re helping a great cause!
Join Chicago Red Dress Party and our host Clive Christian Studios for I {HEART} Red. This design filled event will take place on Thursday February, 9, 2012 from 6:00p-9:00p at Clive Christian Studios, 222 Merchandise Mart, Suite 143.
Registration includes an open bar, small bites, and a “red” raffle.

Check out Facebook for more details.
$20 in advance $25 at the door.
BestGayChicago.com is a proud sponsor
of the 2012 Red Dress Party! 4-21-12
Get Paid! HIV Vaccine Study Needs YOU!

We’re looking for 18-50 year old, HIV-negative men and transwomen who ♥ men to volunteer in a vaccine study.
More than 30,000 people around
the world have volunteered
in an HIV vaccine study. BUT MORE ARE STILL NEEDED.
Every 10 minutes, someone in the United States is infected with HIV. A
preventive vaccine against HIV offers the best long-term hope to end
this worldwide epidemic. Finding a safe and effective HIV vaccine that
will protect people is a huge task. We cannot do it without your help.
Don’t worry…you cannot become infected with HIV
from the vaccine.
You will be compensated for your time.
Call 312-413-5897 Ref. # 0417
From Illinois to Hollywood – Elliot London

Filmmaker Elliot London
is one to watch in Hollywood.
The charismatic director/producer calls himself a dreamer, and now
he’s offering you the opportunity to share his dream of making a movie
that’s very close to his heart.
The 30-year-old London, born in Australia, but raised in America,
says growing up gay was not always easy, especially in Rockford,
Illinois.
With that in mind, his latest short film, The Wedding Dance, tells the story of marriage equality — but he promises, with a twist.
London plans to start shooting in Los Angeles in a few weeks, but
like so many small independent filmmakers, he needs additional funding
to complete the project, so he’s taken the unusual and highly creative
step of using social media to entice investors who can actually receive a
credit on the film.
RadarOnline.com chatted with London about his journey from America’s Heartland to Hollywood — and what it was like to intern for Jerry Springer along the way!
Like most small independent films these days, the filmmaker must raise their own funds. London is currently trying to raise $5,000 – and he already has $4,400! He just needs $600 within the next 16 days, to get things rolling! Stop by his page and find out more, how you can help!
(Did you see his short called 306? Set in Chicago, IL, this 11 minute short film
shows a day in the life of a young man. Without a single word spoken,
‘306’ is full of emotion and shows us exactly how Eric (played by Brian
Estel, from Wisconsin) feels at all times. Beautifully shot and great acting.)
Taverna 750 Big Gay Brunch Club Party Jan 15th

BGBC takes over
Taverna750 JAN 15th!
Taverna750 is Boystown’s newest chic hipster hotspot — that IS NOT overpriced, as one might expect for a cool spot with awesome food and drinks. Taverna 750 is the best of old school Italian with a contemporary flair.
Jan. 15th – Join BGBC from 11-1
$25 (CASH ONLY)
inclusive of tax and gratuity or pizza or entree –
plus soda, tea and coffee in addition to the unlimited mimosas and adult chocolate milk.
LOTS of food choices to pick from!
RSVP on FACEBOOK
1:00 the party will move over to Scarlett, 3320 North Halsted Street
with some champagne, music, dancing and more!
PLUS, we’ll be giving everyone free passes to see
the new Glenn Close Film, ALBERT NOBBS!
PLUS, we’ll be giving everyone $10 gift cards
for UBER BLACK CAR SERVICE!
BestGayChicago.com is a proud sponsor of BGBC!
GLENN CLOSE in ALBERT NOBBS Get Your FREE PASS
FREE MOVIES PASSES!
SEE THE NEW GLENN CLOSE MOVIE ALBERT NOBBS
Glenn Close plays a woman passing as a man in order to work and survive
in 19th century Ireland. Some thirty years after donning men’s clothing,
she finds herself trapped in a prison of her own making.
7:30 pm shgowing Jan. 23rd @ Century Landmark, 2828 N. Clark.
Just right click image, save and PRINT!
Thinning Hair …and Rene Furterer Treatment at Ambra Spa in Chicago

I was getting my hair cut a few weeks ago and my stylist, who has cut my hair for a couple years, mentioned how thin my hair was getting on top. I guess I hadn’t noticed. I am 6’3″ and don’t really see the top of my head in the mirror.
So I called Ambra Salon and Spa – where I had went last year for an amazing facial and the BEST eyebrow shaping in Chicago (by Didi Ayala) I have ever had!
Back to my hair. I knew they had a great salon and wonderful European skin and hair products. So I called and talked with Vicki, a specialist who was trained in Paris under the guidance of the Rene Furterer company. She booked me an appointment to come in.
“It’s never too late to start treating your hair,” she explained. “In France, they have young children, boys and girls start treating their hair at about 8-9 years old! But as long as you have some hair, you can definitely slow down the loss process and possibly still stimulate new growth.”
She analyzed my hair then proceeded to give me a scalp massage and treatment using this amazing Complexe 5, made for thinning hair. The Furterer company use a lot of plant extracts and essential oils. These help stimulate hair growth. It smells and feels amazing! Then I sat under heat for about 10 minutes, and was washed out using Furterer’s Forticea Stimulating Shampoo. More essential oils and plant peptides to help restore hair.

Treatments can be done at home. Of course, it’s not quite the same. But I purchased both the the Complexe 5 oil and Forticea Shampoo- and have been doing the process about once a week. My hair feels amazing afterwords! I have only been using it about 3 weeks- so it is too early to see results. But I am confident – the Furterer company has been around for 50 years. They are known all over Europe for their hair and scalp products. (*sidenote- when my 75 year old Mother was in town for the holidays, I got her hooked on the products and purchased at set also from Ambra.)
Ambra Salon and European Spa has several great product lines from Europe that are hard to find here in Chicago. It’s a cosmetic shoppers paradise! Next on my list to try is Biodroga skin care. From Baden-Baden, Germany, Biodroga has been around since the 1950’s. They have everything from repair formulas to fix skin, to anti time formulas to slow down the aging process. They have a complete line for men and everything is made in Baden-Baden, known for their amazing thermal baths.
A trip to Ambra Salon and European Spa downtown is a MUST!
One West Superior, Second Floor 312.337.5055
Equality Illinois’ 2012 Gala: Justice for All FEB 11

Come
see and be seen!
At one of the most elegant, important and fun LGBT events of the
year.
With over 1,000 guests in attendance, including elected officials,
candidates, and other VIPs, the Gala is one of the most impactful ways
to support full equality for LGBT people.

This is the biggest event of its kind in the Midwest!
The most amazing Silent Auction, I have ever seen!
With over 150 items!
Hilton Chicago
720 South
Michigan Avenue
6pm – Midnight
Learn more and purchase your tickets today.
Simply click above or call 773-477-7173.
Tickets start at $300
We look forward to celebrating with you at the Gala!
Equality Illinois (EQIL) was founded in 1991 to secure, protect and
defend equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people
throughout Illinois. In 2000, the Equality Illinois Education Project,
our 501(c)(3) arm, was created to focus on the educational and
charitable aspects of the mission. EQIL�s initiatives extend throughout
every sector of Illinois life, reaching individuals and organizations
both in the LGBT community and the mainstream, across the private,
public, and nonprofit sectors.
LIKE US on Facebook for Special Stuff
Ok – I don’t get it. We have 7500 friends on Facebook (Michael Snell and Derrick Sorles)
yet only a couple hundred people LIKE US for BEST GAY CHICAGO.
Did you know, if you LIKE US – we won’t bother you. But we will start offering those who LIKE US, special contests and special invitations to parties we host in Chicago! Don’t you want to be special??
So what are you waiting for – LIKE US!!
Chicago House Champagne Wrapture Benefit 2012 at Willis Tower

Champagne Darling, Champagne for Everyone!!
Notorious for its history of innovation! Through the centuries Veuve Clicquot has become known as The Champagne House with cutting edge ideas!
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe. The 1811 comet vintage of Veuve Clicquot is theorized to have been the first truly “modern” Champagne due to the advancements in the méthode champenoise which Veuve Clicquot pioneered through the technique of remuage.

Each year Chicago House hosts a Veuve Clicquot benefit at a different venue. This year the event reaches the highest high!
On the 99th floor of the Willis Tower, high flying treats and bubbly drinks await you!
Artists from around the city present their various interpretations of Clicquot and a fantastic silent auction keeps everyone bidding throughout the evening as bubbly flows.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Time: 6pm
Where: The SkyDeck, Willis Tower
233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL
GET TICKETS
Winter Soup To Warm Your Soul – with Private Chef Tong

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE SOME
HOT SAVORY SOUP ON
THESE COLD CHICAGO WINTER DAYS!
January 21
Soup for a Winter’s day
with My Private Chef
at Bloomingdaleʼs
Home & Furniture Store
Chef Christopher Tong of the Chicago-based private gourmet dining service, My Private Chef,
will present delicious soups from around the world.
This free
cooking demonstration will take place on Saturday, January 21 from 2-4pm Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store at Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago. Demo kitchen on 1.
PHOTO – My Private Chef in the
January 2012 issue of Food Network Magazine. An exuberant photo of Chef
Chris and Sous Chef Manny from their recent Chicago Botanic Garden
appearance will be in the Jan/Feb issue of Food Network Magazine. Look
for it on newsstands now.
What could be more elegant… and memorable… than serving a one of-a-kind meal created by a world-class chef?
My Private Chef takes private dining to a professional level of excellence.
Big Gay Brunch Club Chicago at Taverna750 Jan 15

BGBC dives into the New Year
@ Taverna750 JAN 15th!
Taverna750 is Boystown’s newest chic hipster hotspot — that IS NOT overpriced, as one might expect for a cool spot with awesome food and drinks.
Taverna 750 is the best of old school Italian with a contemporary flair.
Proprietor Paul D. Cannella is bringing back his Grandfather Paul J.
Loverde’s and Uncle Chuckie Abruzzini’s classic Italian recipes from his
restaurant on Grand Avenue in the 50’s.
Jan. 15th – Join BGBC from 11-1
$25 (CASH ONLY)
inclusive of tax and gratuity or pizza or entree –
plus soda, tea and coffee in addition to the unlimited mimosas and adult chocolate milk.
LOTS of food choices to pick from!
BANANA CRESPELLE (crepe)
Caramelized banana, chocolate, sweet ricotta and maple balsamic anglaise
BERRY CRESPELLE (crepe)
Balsamic soaked mixed berries, sweet ricotta and grapefruit anglaise
PINWHEEL
Egg rolled with, Italian sausage, spinach, balsamic red peppers, asiago cheese and basil cream sauce
STUFFED TOMATOES
Warm lump seafood salad, wilted spinach and poached egg
SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE FRITATA
Asiago cheese, seared basil and parmesan polenta cake and red pepper coulis, candied bacon
Pizzas, Pannins and More to choose from!
1:00 the party will move over to Scarlett, 3320 North Halsted Street
with some champagne, music, dancing and more!
RSVP on FACEBOOK
Taverna 750, the latest ZAGAT rated hotspot in Chicago’s East Lakeview / Boystown!
BestGayChicago.com is a proud sponsor of BGBC!
Chicago Photographer Anthony Meade Showcase Jan 6th
A collection of photographs from Chicago’s community photographer Anthony Meade have been selected as part of the artOut program, an ongoing showcase of rising LGBT artists from Chicago.
One of two exciting galleries opening Jan. 6, 7-9pm, Meade’s photography will be displayed on the third floor of the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. $5 suggested donation.
Meade provides a pictorial history evoking a sense of mood and character that is documented weekly in Nightspots, Windy City Times and Grab
magazine. His work is also displayed regularly on ChicagoPride.com,
which is where he first started his journey into community photography.
“Anthony has provided nearly 40,000 photos to ChicagoPride.com. 38,771 to be exact,” said Bill Pritchard, GoPride.com VP of Community Affairs. “The work he brings to the community is invaluable.”
READ MORE AT CHICAGO PRIDE.
Best Plumbers in Chicago That We have Found
BEST GAY CHICAGO RECOMMENDS….

A few months ago we needed a plumber ~ UGH, big sigh, we hate having to find contractors for anything… the drama, the unknown expense and the crazy service charges and fees when you don’t know the lingo and whether or not you’re simply being ripped off. It’s hard to find good honest mechanics and contractors.
We needed and wanted a new kitchen sink installed to replace a really old one we hated and timely enough, our aging toilet was acting up and we decided to replace it as well and we were going to be “green” and get a dual-flush, environmentally-friendly low water usage toilet as a replacement.
We were flooded with memories… unfortunately, BAD MEMORIES of plumbers past! About 10 years ago, we had to hire a plumber to replace a hot water tank in our home. The guy had given us “an estimate” that seemed reasonable compared to 2 other plumbing contractors, but afterward, the job then allegedly “took longer” than he thought, so the final bill was $250 more than the original estimate.
Plus he was messy and we are sort of clean freaks! I had to do some major clean up after he left. Neat and tidy are not two words that are often associated with plumbers, or any contractor for that matter. In fact, many drive trucks up on your driveway leaking oil, leave supply packaging lying around your house, and drag who knows what into your home on their shoes! And can I just say, although it is so stereotypical, most of the time, I really do not care to see a service workers butt crack hanging out of their pants.
Fast forward back to present. Late last summer we had met the Michael J. Goode,the owner from Goode Plumbing at an LGBT Business Expo at The Center on Halsted. Thank goodness we had tossed Mike’s business card in one of our business card piles and easily found it!
We remembered Mike and his colleague, Jeff looked real professional in their uniforms (dark blue oxfords with company logo and khaki pants), were extremely friendly and seemed very knowledgeable in the few minutes we had chatted. So we had Goode Plumbing came out to our condo, give us a price quote, not an estimate, and again they seemed very professional and the type of contractors you could trust and were worth hiring. My partner wanted to get a second estimate, just for comparison, and so we did. The Goode Plumbing quote was better, and we hired them to do the work.

Mike Goode says, “We are really committed to providing the highest quality service in the industry. All of our work is done to a standard that we are consistently raising.
We make sure all of our technicians are polite, educated and complete extensive in-house training. Service and quality are so important. I promise to do my absolute best to ensure that a client’s experience with us is excellent. We don’t just promise you the best – I truly want to deliver that for a client.
Our claim of striving to be the best and to give you the best service in the industry is backed by our commitment to on going training, and by giving the best warranty in the business-if it fails because of the way we installed it, we’ll take care of it for as long as the building we put it in is standing.
We will sell and install only excellent quality parts, products and materials.
We believe in the products that we sell by backing them not only by their own warranty , but ours as well: labor is covered too (not just the parts!) and for a minimum of two years.”
They treat your home and property as if it were their own, leaving nothing behind but an outstanding plumbing job and your complete satisfaction. They even wear shoe covers/footies in your home.
I can honestly bestow the Best Gay Chicago 5 Pink Crowns Award to Goode Plumbing!

My other concern when hiring “contractors” are that many are no more than “handy-men”. They are not specialists or have limited knowledge in specific areas.
Goode Plumbing is not one of these “fix-it” guys who was “handy” and got into plumbing. Owner Mike Goode has 17 years experience and Mike has completed an apprenticeship under a service plumber who owned a plumbing company and had 30 years of experience.
With all the talk about the environment and GREEN, Goode plumbing is a leader in those new technologies and products and Mike is currently going through a state certification process to be licensed as a GREEN plumber here in Illinois.
“At Goode Plumbing, we are continuously working to make our company more ecologically friendly. We have available, and encourage clients to ask about our high efficiency water heaters, on-demand water heaters, on-demand water faucets and dual flush toilets. We now use VOX chemicals, including PVC cement and primer. We recycle all cardboard and plastic packaging and all metals. And, our Sprinter diesel vans and restored Volkswagen Vans (modified with emissions controls!) average 20-25 mpg vs. the typical plumbing truck which averages 8-12 mpg. We continue to make changes to our company that aid in the protection and preservation of the environment.
We offer Rinnai tankless water heaters, Eternal Hybrid water heaters, A.O. Smith Vertex water condensing water heaters, and Bradford White storage water heaters. There are a number of alternatives to large, inefficient units that can save you money, give you more floor space, and cause less damage to the earth. There are also a number of rebates and credits available for the selection of some energy efficient units.”
Take our advice and call GOODE PLUMBING!
They also have an outstanding history of happy customers,
and very high ratings with Angies List!
GOODE PLUMBING and
GOODE PLUMBING TIPS
CONTACT US
Welcome to Best Gay CHICAGO!
If you don’t find what you are looking for, let us know!
This site is dedicated to bringing you fun and exciting photos and the
best gay travel information about exciting Chicago LGBT friendly places and gay
events and gay news.
We have about a dozen sites around gay information and people from around the world call us for potential advertising opportunities. We sell display ad space, text link advertising, and sponsored posts.
Our pink crown and BEST GAY slogan is becoming a widely-recognized brand in LGBT travel and news. Covering travel information as well as local, national and international news.
In 2012 we trademarked the name BEST GAY and officially became BEST GAY INC.
Michael Snell
Derrick Sorles
773-878-5323
BestGayCities (at) gmail dot com
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