Monthly Archives: July 2016
Best Hotels in Boystown and Lakeview
It’s funny, we have lived here about 10 years and have always known about these three hidden gems.
Yet, I talk to people who have lived here their whole life! And they are not familiar with City Suites, The Majestic and The Willows.
Willows and Majestic are tucked away in quiet neighborhoods, where you can blend right in with the locals. While City Suites is right on Belmont amidst the buzzing energy!
Summer and Fall are fantastic times in Chicago! Whether you are a local and have friends traveling that will need rooms or you are a traveler reading this – it’s NEVER TO EARLY TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM. The small inventory of rooms in Boystown and Lakeview always sell out.
IMPORTANT DATES TO KNOW:
Market Days August 13-14, 2016
Halloween in Chicago – October 29-31, 2016
Out in the Park at Six Flags Sept. 10, 2016
(not to mention, every weekend is a great weekend, in Chicago!)
In Boystown/Lakeview you get small, intimate restaurants and a treasure trove of shopping neighborhoods with unique shops and art galleries! Golf courses, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Wrigleyville and the Cubs Stadium, Old Towne, marinas and harbors, Hollywood gay beach, Andersonville, plus endless waterfront walking and bike paths, are all very accessible!
For years, visitors and locals alike have branded The Majestic Hotel the pre-eminent boutique hotel in Chicago. Offering the atmosphere of a well-appointed, upscale English country estate, this 100 percent, non-smoking Hotel offers the perfect haven of relaxation amidst the energetic city life found in the popular Lakeview neighborhood.
Broughton Hotels has 3 properties in the area. The Majestic Hotel, The Willows Hotel & The City Suites – each welcome you with an abundance of personality, style and charm that epitomizes the essence of their environments.
Exuding the charm of historic buildings – circa 1920s – They are a collection of boutique hotels that combine a stylish, unique and alluring atmosphere with a location that is ideal and accessible – just 10 minutes north of downtown Chicago’s business, financial and shopping districts – and brimming with the quintessential qualities of an upscale, city hotel. You can be just steps away from all of the gay events, in a cool neighborhood!
All three properties in Boystown pride themselves on their personalized care, premier service and exceeding the needs of their discriminating leisure and business travelers. The staff is passionate here and ensure an enjoyable and memorable stay – something you don’t often see in the big hotels downtown. These properties boast a welcoming “neighborhood” charm yet with all the luxury boutique services and amenities of a full-service hotel.
Many packages are available depending on your interests. Everything from theatre and dining to comedy and baseball!
Use CODE BGC When Booking!
MAJESTIC HOTEL
The Majestic 773.404.3499
The City Suites 773.404.3400
The Willows 773.528.8400
Market Days Chicago 2016
Northalsted Market Days® is the largest outdoor street festival in the Midwest! Famous for its vast array of national talent, unique vendors, arts, crafts, food and drink, Northalsted Market Days® gathers a crowd of over 180,000 people from across the globe to celebrate right here on Halsted Street. Past performances include En Vogue, Jennifer Holliday, Lynda Carter, Salt n Pepa, Wilson Phillips and David Cassidy.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Northalsted Market Days® is set to be the biggest and best it has ever been!
A $10 suggested donation helps keep our neighborhood safe, beautiful, and fun. Also benefiting from your donation is The Legacy Project, the worlds first outdoor museum, featuring LGBTQ icons throughout history, serving to tell their stories.
Todrick Hall in Chicago August 7 and September 10
Todrick Hall is a self-proclaimed queer, American singer, actor, dancer, director, choreographer, and wildly famous YouTuber!
He auditioned for the ninth season of American Idol, where he made it to the semi-finals. Since then, Hall has been performing on Broadway and YouTube.
As of January 31, 2016, Hall has exceeded 2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel. Videos on his channel have been played over 270 MILLION TIMES!
Videos of note include a flash mob thrown for Ariana Grande, a reinvention of the Wizard of Oz starring Pentatonix which was directed by and also stars Hall, and a Beyoncé themed flash mob performed in the middle of an actual Target store, which has garnered over 14 million views as of January 31, 2016, and which Beyoncé personally, publicly congratulated Hall on.
Todrick’s current North American Tour titled “Straight Outta Oz” is in full swing!
” Straight Outta Oz,” follows the triple threat performer as he embarks on his most ambitious tour yet: a full-length musical with original score by Hall, inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
The tour kicked off last week in Vancouver, and will continue through August. He’ll make a stop in Chicago at Thalia Hall, Sunday August 7th, 2016. GET TICKETS HERE – BEFORE THEY ARE GONE.
Awesomeness Films announced the start of production on their behind the scenes film following Todrick Hall’s upcoming tour and will be filming in Chicago at Thalia Hall!
Directed by Katherine Wright (Call Me Kuchu), the film will go behind-the-scenes as Todrick mounts the musical, which tells the story of his life growing up in small-town Texas, his struggle to come to Hollywood and eventually succeed.
Check out the video style album STRAIGHT OUTTA OZ here!
Get it on iTunes Here.
Then Todrick returns to Chicago Spetember 10th, for the 5th Annual OUT IN THE PARK event at Six Flags Great America! There will be a meet and greet with fans before the gates open at 7:30. Then Todrick will kick off the evening at 8pm with a couple live numbers! www.CelebrateDiversityChicago.com
A Walking Play – NATURE
Here is something really unique and different, in Chicagoland for a limited time!
TigerLion Arts presents Nature, the mythic telling of Emerson and Thoreau’s mutual love affair with the natural world. Grounded in the story of their friendship, this virtuosic production offers a perspective on their lives that is strikingly relevant, richly complex, and yet utterly simple. Nature is performed outdoors as a “walking play.” A professional ensemble of actors takes the audience on a journey through the natural environment as scenes unfold around them. Bagpipes, ancient flutes, drums and rich choral arrangements are intricately woven into the experience.
Nature is an extraordinary, family-friendly journey that co-mingles story, spirit, and nature, as a means to reconnect its audience with the natural world. This original work is collaboratively created with writer/actor Tyson Forbes, a direct descendant of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In today’s world, we are so estranged from our natural environment, and at TigerLion Arts, we feel that humankind must reconnect with nature in order to survive.
As oil spills into our oceans, as we race through our lives, as we look further and further outside ourselves for the answers, it is our hope that Nature can be a catalyst for our collective healing.
The 2016 tour of NATURE is currently making it’s stop at the 1,700 acre Morton Arboretum in Lisle – about 45 minutes west of Chicago.
Here through July 31st!
Thursdays through Sundays at 6:00 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m.
Thornhill Shelter at Parking Lot P21
How long is the show?
90 mins/No Intermission
Come early for a 30-minute pre-show performance that includes bagpiping and choral music to enjoy! If possible, plan your trip so you can spend some time on the grounds. Bring a picnic to enjoy before or after the show.
BUY TICKETS HERE!
More details about the show HERE!
Avatar Meets Cirque Du Soleil
THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!
The new Cirque du Soleil touring arena show inspired by James Cameron’s record-breaking movie AVATAR, TORUK – The First Flight, will be presented at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St, on August 3-7, as part of a global tour in arenas. The show is presented by Visa Signature® in association with United MileagePlus®.
The show
Inspired by James Cameron’s AVATAR, TORUK – The First Flight transports you to the world of Pandora in a visually stunning live setting. Experience a storytelling odyssey through a new world of imagination, discovery, and possibility.
Through a riveting fusion of cutting-edge visuals, puppetry and stagecraft buoyed by a soaring cinematic score, Cirque du Soleil applies its unique signature style to James Cameron’s imaginary world and “makes the bond” between two kindred artistic visions that capture the imagination.
This live immersive experience also bears the distinct signature of directors and multimedia innovators Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon. It is a living ode to the Na’vi’s symbiotic coexistence with nature and their belief in the basic interconnectedness of all living things.
Narrated by a “Na’vi Storyteller” and populated by unforgettable characters, TORUK – The First Flight is a mythical tale set thousands of years before the events depicted in the film AVATAR, and before any humans ever set foot on Pandora.
When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy the sacred Tree of Souls, Ralu and Entu, two Omaticaya boys on the brink of adulthood, fearlessly decide to take matters into their own hands. Upon learning that Toruk can help them save the Tree of Souls, they set out, together with their newfound friend Tsyal, on a quest high up in the Floating Mountains to find the mighty red and orange predator that rules the Pandoran sky. Prophecy is fulfilled when a pure soul rises among the clans to ride Toruk for the first time and save the Na’vi from a terrible fate.
tickets start at $38 !
https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/toruk
Six Flags Private Night September 10
Out In The Park at Six Flags Great America
Returns in 2016 for Year 5!
A Private Night in the Park to Celebrate Diversity
Presented by MINI Cooper Chicago & Fireball
That Will Help Benefit TPAN’s Ride For Aids
Saturday, September 10th, 2016 from 7:30PM to 12AM
Singer, actor, director, choreographer and YouTuber TODRICK HALL performs live this for this year’s fifth annual Out In The Park Celebration of Diversity!
All night, attendees can follow the bass to the Hometown Square dance area where The DJ’s of SCARLET Bar Chicago/Honolulu, hostess Khloe and some dancers will keep the party jumping.
Out In The Park is an annual private diversity fundraising event featuring unlimited riding of ALL Six Flags Great America’s amazing THRILL rides (with much shorter than usual lines!) with a portion of all ticket sales each year help benefit various non-profits. “One of the best elements of this event is that it is closed to the general public and this year our event piggy-backs a daytime corporate buyout so our attendees will be entering an EMPTY PARK!” explains Michael Snell, co-owner of BestGayChicago.com. “The LGBTQ community, their family, friends and supporters can enjoy the park with little to short lines and without homophobic hassles from anyone. It’s like a Fall Gay Pride Celebration with even MORE amusement and entertainment!”
In an interview with ChicagoPride.com: “We are very excited that this private night for charity continues to grow every year and we have gifted over $35,000 to various groups,” said Derrick Sorles, Snell’s husband of 17 years and business partner, “We are more than thrilled that the amazing Todrick Hall has signed on to be with us this year. He is in the middle of his “Straight Outta Oz” tour and took a break to be with us and perform!”
“We are honored that some of our peers including GRAB Magazine, ChicagoPride.com and QUEST Magazine in Wisconsin also help us by donating advertising space for this event! It’s truly a community event where everyone comes together for the greater good!” says Derrick Sorles.
Advance $41 tickets can be purchased NOW at www.CelebrateDiversityChicago.com
Attendees get FREE parking for this special event! September 5th the price goes up to $46. $51 at the gate, IF AVAILABLE. This event is capped at only 5,000 tickets, to enure lines stay short for the rides. All ages event. Drinks are available for purchase to those 21+
Hotels –if you are coming to Chicago for the weekend, we have 3 hotel choices in the heart of Boystown! CITY SUITES, WILLOWS HOTEL and MAJESTIC HOTEL. All the hotels are on our website GaySixFlagsChicago.com
BestGayChicago.com
Since 2007, BestGayChicago.com has been providing the best of everything gay and gay-friendly in the greater Chicago area. Owned and operated by Best Gay Inc., their sites provide news, information, travel tips and entertainment for the LGBT community.
Garden Chefs July 24th
JULY 24-CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN GARDEN CHEF SERIES
Chef Tong will appear again this year at the Garden Chef Series sponsored by the Colorado Tourism Board and Food Network Magazine.
Chef Tong will show how to make a delicious dish featuring Colorado bison.
Bison Steak with Ancho Chile Blueberry Sauce and Sweet Mashed Potatoes
Chef Chris will appear on Sunday, July 24, 2016 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. in the
Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois.
Chef Tong will give tips on ingredients, and serving. And, everyone gets to have a taste! Seating is limited and on a first-come, first served basis.
Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden and Garden Chef Series is free.
For more information about this Garden Chef Series event and parking fees, please call 847.835.5440 or visit www.chicagobotanic.org.
My Private Chef is enjoying popularity as ne of Chicago’s favorite private gourmet dining services.Trained in European-style fine cuisine, Chef Tong established his reputation at fine restaurants and hotels in Florida, California, and Chicago. Now he has adapted his impressive skillsto the world of private entertaining. My Private Chef offers enticing
cuisine for a wide range of events, from intimate dinners to weddings to corporate parties.
Chef Chris says: “Every event is different and I’ve met some wonderful people including many celebrities. Being part of very special occasions makes my work worthwhile. I also love conducting cooking demonstrations where I get the feeling that audience members will go home and try some new
dishes!”
For more information about My Private Chef, contact Event Services at 773.370.8131 or visit our web site: www.myprivatechef.net
Kenosha Pride July 15-17
3 days of pride in Kenosha!
Join us for the best Kenosha Pride yet!
The Pride March will begin organizing at Library Park in downtown Kenosha. We will begin around Noon with the March stepping off around 12:30 PM.
The Pride Party will begin at 1:00 PM with music by DJ Lomax. Entertainment for the day will include comedians, drag performances, and a band. There will be a Children’s Area with face painting and a bounce house. The Pride Party will be at Harbor Park Parcel A, the green space across from Trolley Dogs Restaurant on 6th Ave and 55th St. Facebook page HERE.
