Author Archives: Gay Lesbian LGBT Travel
Annual Spring Brunch for Chicago House HALF SOLD OUT ALREADY
Spring Brunch and Fashion Show.
Enjoy a delicious Sunday Brunch while getting a view into the new spring fashions, featuring the Mark Shale spring line atop the Harold Washington.
Do not miss out on this annual SOLD OUT event!
Tickets are half sold out already!
In addition RSVP Vacations returns as the EXCLUSIVE LIVE AUCTION SPONSOR with a fantastic new cruise to the best of the Mediterranean! Visit Barcelona, Tunisia, Sicily, Florence, and Marseille on an 8 night RSVP cruise!
Sunday, May 1, 2011 11:30 am – 3:00 pm
Harold Washington Library, Winter Garden Ballroom 400 South State Street
GET TICKETS ONLINE!
Please call (773) 248-5200 x303 for more information.
BestGayChicago.com
SISTER SPIT Next Generation CHICAGO April 18
RADAR Productions, a San Francisco-based queer literary arts non-profit organization, presents the Sister Spit Next Generation’s 5th annual North American Tour. Featuring literary luminary Michelle Tea, (Best Music Writing 2010, Chelsea Whistle, Valencia, Rent Girl), writer and provocative performance artist Kirk Read (How I Learned To Snap), graphic novelist and visual artist MariNaomi (Kiss & Tell), award-winning poet laureate of the obsessed and tormented Ali Liebegott (The IHOP Papers, The Beautifully Worthless), novelist and film fodder Blake Nelson (Girl, Paranoid Park, Recovery Road), photographer and Original Plumbing transmale quarterly publisher Amos Mac, and award-winning transmitter-writer of brilliantly terrifying fairy tales Myriam Gurba (Dahlia Season).
This vanload of magnificent underground feminist-centric, queer-influenced brilliance blazes across the land and into your town. The latest in the tradition of rowdy, raucous literary adventures stretching all the way back to 1997 featuring your new favorite performers!
The Chicago show features special guest poet Lenelle Moïse!
Sister Spit- Next Generation CHICAGO
A multimedia literary explosion of zinesters, fashion plates, novelists, performance artists, poets and fancy scribblers. Special guest poet Lenelle Moïse!
WHEN: Monday, April 18, 2011 Doors 7/ Show 8
WHERE: Subterranean 2011 W. North Ave.
TICKETS: $10 at the door SISTER SPIT online
Johnny Weir April 30th Discount Tickets for BestGayChicago.com Readers
ICE DREAMS TOUR
with Johnny Weir
comes back to Chicago April 30th!
Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville
735 East Jefferson
Bensenville, IL 60106
an exclusive offer for Best Gay Chicago readers, if you type in promo code “johnnyweir” you can receive half off the ticket price!
There is also VIP seating available which will provide on-ice seating and access to Johnny’s intimate after party where they can meet him!
ICE DREAMS TOUR
$1 from every ticket sale goes to American Red Cross: Japanese Disaster Relief fund.
Johnny has even created a special t-shirt to help raise needed monies for Japan.
BestGayChicago.com
Cocktail Bar Chicago Celebrates 15 years! And Patio Opening
The temps are on the rise and
patios across the city are opening!
There is nothing like sitting outside dining
and sipping cocktails in Chicago summer!
Cocktail introduced us to The Gardens at the end of last season, and even though we could dine in all winter, it is with great anticipation they bring back their beautiful outdoor space, in just a couple weeks!
The gardens are lined with lush green box hedges, furnished by Chicago’s own Orange Skin you will find our Jasper Morrison Furniture as comfortable as Air! Plenty of golden shaded seating under the posh cover of our distinctive Veuve Clicquot umbrellas.
Join your host geNo & the Cocktail Family as they celebrate 15 years!
The Return of the gardens! Outside Dinning.
DJ’s Freddie Bain, Uncle Milty, Sadie Woods, Psycho Bitch & Carla Starla
Plus Sexy Go Go Boys Dancing up a Storm.
Cocktail Bar and the gardens Cocktail on Facebook
bestgaychicago.com
FREE TICKETS Dov Davidoff In Chicago with Bryan Callen April 14th
Dov Davidoff grew up in a junkyard,
lost his virginity at the age of twelve
with a prostitute in Mexico,
outed his gay cousin over a turkey leg
and he is incredibly funny (all true).
Combining hyper A.D.D. with an amusingly and acute take on things, Davidoff puts on one of the most high intensity shows in standup making him an audience favorite. It’s Davidoff’s impeccable ability to find common ground with EVERYONE that makes him a truly great comedian. He dissects the irony and problems of the world in a way that makes funny what otherwise isn’t. Dov’s material makes people think and look at themselves, but laugh hysterically while doing so.
Growing up splitting time between a hippie mom’s world travel and his dad’s New Jersey junkyard inspired comedy … and confusion. “I always felt outside the box as a person,” says Dov. “My mother was wrapped up with this commune/cult. I was in India as a kid. You’re around these people with these ethereal ideas … then I’d go back to the junkyard. It was a strange dichotomy. It left me with the desire to figure stuff out.”
He jokes about the largeness of Magnum condoms and how he sort of outed his gay cousin over a game of Pictionary and a Turkey leg!
“We hang out, we’re very close, me and Billy, everyone loves him. But every year my aunt ask’s the same the question…have you met any nice girls? Are you dating?? HE’S WEAR CAPRI PANTS! HE’S GAY! He’s not a little gay! He’s GAY GAY! I love the gay men! I never understood people who don’t like gay people.”
In addition to performing regularly in clubs and colleges throughout the country, Davidoff was recently named as one of VARIETY’S top 10 TO WATCH. Dov has most notably starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in the film “Invincible,” is seen on any number of TV shows, and co-starred with Jeff Goldblum in the NBC drama “Raines.” He is a regular fixture on COMEDY CENTRAL, and a frequent round table co-host on Chelsea Lately.
His hour comedy special aired on COMEDY CENTRAL to great reviews. “Filthy Operation” is coming out soon to DVD. There’s no doubt that Davidoff has established himself as one of the “MUST-SEE” acts on the scene today.
BEST GAY CHICAGO HAS FREE TICKETS!
CALL US at 773-878-5323 – if you want to go!
Catch him in Chicago, at the Congress Theater, April 14th.
Bryan Callen & Dov Davidoff HOLLYWOOD TAKEOVER
2135 North Milwaukee Chicago IL Dov Live
LGBT Archery in Chicago April 16th FREE Event
The Chicago Archery Center is having a free Rainbow Family Fun Shoot on April 16th from 1-3 PM. It’s the new game in town! Come and see how much fun archery can be for the entire family. All equipment is provided. The address is 1529 W. Armitage (just east of Ashland/Elston), Chicago, IL 60642. There is plenty of free street parking. Chicago Archerycom
Crew Bar + Grill Hosts Proud to run Race benefit April 10th
Chicago’s award winning gay sports bar, will host a benefit for the 30th Annual Proud to Run Race on Sunday, April 10th, from 1pm to 4pm.
The Proud to Run Race celebrates gay and lesbian pride and is held on the same weekend in June as the Chicago Gay Pride Parade. This year’s race will be Saturday, June 25th.
For a $20 donation, attendees to the benefit at Crew will take part in an all you can drink beer bust and raffle for various prizes, including a Blu-Ray DVD player and two pairs of tickets to an upcoming Chicago Cubs game.
“One of the things that attracted us to the Proud to Run event is that it’s not just a race. It’s also a fundraiser to benefit a couple of charities in the Chicago Area,” said Crew co-owner Steve Milford. This year Proud to run will benefit Pride Youth Services, a North Shore Health Service program for LGBT youth, and the Gerber/Hart Library, a non-profit library focused on Chicago LGBT history and archival materials. “We love doing these kinds of charitable events that benefit the community, and this particular event is also a sporting event, which is right up our alley,” added Mr. Milford.
Last year, the race had over 1,100 participants, and organizers hope to boost attendance by almost 20% to 1,300. Holding events and benefits, like the April 10th beer bust at Crew is one way the organizers hope to reach out to more people in the community. “I’ve run the Proud to Run race every year since I moved to Chicago almost a decade ago. It’s a great way to kick off Pride weekend with friends,” said Dave Davila, a manager at Crew Bar + Grill. “I hope this year to get some more of my co-workers running with me.”
Crew Bar + Grill, located at the intersection of Broadway and Lawrence, is Chicago’s premiere 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 sixth 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.
Crew Bar + Grill 4804 N Broadway Chicago, IL 60640
PROUD TO RUN race
BestGayChicago.com
Mass Civil Union Ceremony and Reception June 3rd in Chicago
an Illinois statewide LGBTQ
advocacy and political organization,
will be hosting a mass civil union
ceremony to celebrate the enactment
of civil unions in Illinois and the
beginning of Pride Month in Chicago.
Unite with Pride:
A Community Celebration
June 3rd at 5:00pm at
The Chicago History Museum.
Unite with Pride will provide couples an opportunity to be civilly united in an historic outdoor community civil ceremony on the picturesque “Uihlein Plaza” just days after the civil union law takes effect. The festivities will continue as couples, family, friends, and the community attend a black-tie optional cocktail reception with entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and desserts provided by various vendors from the event planning industry.
In addition to the ceremony and reception, guests will be granted access to the newly opened Chicago History Museum exhibit “Out in Chicago”. The “Out in Chicago” exhibit will explore how the evolution of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community mirrors broader changes throughout the city over the past 150 years.
(Top photo – Life.com)
“Recognizing the historic significance of civil unions beginning in Illinois, we thought it most fitting to have Unite With Pride at the Chicago History Museum, which also happens to be one of the most beautiful venues in the City for couples who wish to celebrate their union,” said Derrick Taylor, Event Director for Unite With Pride and President of Taylor & Co. “The couples who are participating have so many different reasons for taking part. Some couples don’t have the funds to do their own event so they are participating in this and inviting their friends and family. Other couples have already solemnized their relationship in Iowa or elsewhere so this is a great way for them to take part in recognizing their Civil Union here in Illinois. Others still just want to assist an organization that helped pass the law and is fighting for LGBTQ families across Illinois.”
Jayson Bernard and Roberto Rosario are one of the couples that are taking part in the ceremony. “Roberto and I met eight years ago and it was love at first sight,” stated Jayson.”It’s nice to know we can finally show the world that our love deserves to be recognized by laws and society.” “This is a huge step for our community and we are honored to be a part of this event and help TCRA,” said Roberto.
Unite with Pride: A Community Celebration is a fundraiser for The Civil Rights Agenda which continues the fight to establish equality for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. All proceeds of the event will benefit the Families United Project. The Families United Project is an exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer families in Illinois through the use of social media, political advocacy and by building community.
“The goal of the Families United Project is to gain equality for every family in Illinois. We hope to build a community of families that are made up of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people,” said Anthony Martinez, Executive Director of The Civil Rights Agenda. “We will help to empower this community to seek justice and equality for their families.”
Tickets for the event can be purchased at Joint CRA. Tickets for community guests are $50 and couples are asked to make a suggested donation of $75, but no couple will be turned away from participating due to financial capability.
*NOTE- Couples can apply for their actual Union license on June 1st or 2nd with Cook County – you will want to get your application in BEFORE 5pm on the 2nd, so that you can technically participate in the mass ceremony and have everything be legal.
more info email info (at) jointcra.com
BestGayChicago.com
Chicago Red Dress Party Tickets Discount
On-line ticket sales close April 12th at 5pm for the upcoming CHICAGO RED DRESS PARTY benefit.
General Admission: $80.00 ($130.00 at the door)
- Open Bar Featured Drinks
- Light Food Stations
- Featured Dessert by Specialty’s Bakery
VIP: $150.00 ($200.00 at the door)
- Premium Open Bar
- VIP lounge
- Early Admission
- Premium Hors D’oeuvres
- Passed Champagne Toast w/ Dessert pairing
- Goodie Bags by Kenneth Cole
GO ONLINE NOW
Chicago RED DRESS PARTY ! April 16th, 2011 525 W Monroe
BestGayChicago.com
Rosie O’Donnell Returns to Daytime Talk At Harpo Studios in Chicago
“I’m delighted to welcome Rosie to the studio I’ve called home for so many years,” Winfrey said in a statement.
The network announced last summer that O’Donnell would return to television with a one-hour talk show to air on OWN. Originally they had said at the time that the show would be based in New York. But O’Donnell was convinced to move to Chicago for taping.
“I can’t wait to do my show from Chicago,” O’Donnell said in a statement. “It’s a dream come true … beyond the beyond.”
The final original episode of Winfrey’s show, which has been on the air for 25 years, is scheduled to air May 25.
Chicago Area Lesbian Student Wins Right to Wear Tux to Prom
Proviso East High School student , Belinda Sanchez hopes to one day become a civil rights attorney. On Thursday, the 18-year-old got her first taste of victory, winning the right to wear a tuxedo to her upcoming senior prom.
Sanchez was initially told by the Maywood school’s principal, Milton Patch, that she could not wear a tuxedo to her prom and needed to wear a dress.
“I was just shocked,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez, a lesbian, said has been open about her sexuality since freshman year. She said the school has an active gay-straight alliance and it is very supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.
She wound up contacting the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois over the prom situation. On Wednesday, the group sent a letter to the school district backing her position.
“This sends a negative message to other students that they can’t express who they are,” said John Knight, director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Project at the ACLU. “It’s a First Amendment right, a free speech right, and that includes her right to send a message through wearing male clothing that she doesn’t think women should be restricted to traditional female clothing.”
In a quick 24 hour response – the Proviso Township school district sent a response to Knight saying that Sanchez will be allowed to wear a tuxedo to the prom, on April 22.
High school lesbians wearing tuxes in school has foolishly been an issue all over the country. You would think this would be an a non-issue. Come on, a Chicago suburb pulling this? A reminder conservatives are everywhere.
A school district spokeswoman wrote an email to the Tribune about how the incident involving Sanchez has been a learning experience for the school: “(Sanchez has opened) up a new, very interesting and healthy dialogue in terms of our prom review procedures. We support our students in all of their differences and we encourage them to express themselves in various ways as long as it is not disruptive to the school environment. The principal gave his initial determination based on his interpretation of the policy, and the student asked that it be reconsidered. After looking into the policy — it was.”
Financial Impact of the Illinois Civil Unions Act FREE Seminar April 5th
begins this week in Chicago
with a series of about 100 educational free seminars around the city.
On April 5th, one is being held downtown specifically for the LGBTQ community and the
Financial Impact of the Illinois Civil Unions Act
How will this affect us financially?
Come find out at the FREE event!
Tuesday Arpil 5, 2011 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 230 LaSalle street
The featured speakers are from Metx and Associates and Equality Illinois. The event is free and open to the public, so feel free to share with family, friends and colleagues.
Best Gay Chicago.com
Latin Star Elvis Crespo in Chicago April 6th-7th
International Merengue star
Elvis Crespo proudly joins
the LGBT Community in their fight against discrimination and in support of equal rights, with the “Indestructible” promotional tour.
The singer will perform songs from his latest release “Indestructible” as well as his classic hits. The tour will include shows at Gay clubs as well as the biggest LGBT Pride celebrations in the US.
“All Humans are created equal and should be entitled to the same inalienable rights, and among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the Declaration of Independence of the United States,” said Grammy Winner Elvis.
The tour, presented by Granda Entertainment and Club Papi, will also include a Meet & Greet for his fans where they will be able to take pictures and get signed autographs.
Tour Dates:
Wed, April 6th – Chicago – Press and Media interviews throughout Chicago
Thursday, April 7th – Club Papi @ Circuit Nightclub, Chicago, IL
Then to Texas, Miami, Hollywood and more. GET TICKETS ONLINE.
Best Gay Chicago.com
Spring into Fitness with Deals at World Gym Chicago
ONE DAY ONLY
UNBEATBALE PRICES!
Only $1 to enroll for
ALL NEW MEMBERS
Half off memberships
Free months for members who renew
APRIL 6th – One Day Only
Personal Training Discounts – Food and Cocktails –
Free Tanning for a year and $2 off all Smoothies!
World Gym Chicago 909 W Montrose St @ Sheridan Chicago, Illinois 60613
Equality Illinois Womens Social April 9th
Women’s Social are going fast!
To purchase your tickets to this hot event, visit EQIL.org, or call 773-477-7173.
Presenting Sponsors include Olivia Cruises and CNA, Silver Sponsors include Dalila Fridi and Elizabeth McKnight, and food and cocktails are provided by Carnival Foods and Sidetrack.
We look foward to seeing you at Flourish Studios on April 9!
New Theater Classes from Center on Halsted
PRIDE FILMS AND PLAYS
and CENTER ON HALSTED
Announce New Co-operative
Venture in LGBT Acting
and Writing Classes
New theater classes will explore LGBT issues on stage. The acting class on Mondays is for working actors regardless of their sexual orientation who are interested in exploring great same-sex scenes in LGBT literature. The class on Tuesday is for LGBT writers, performers, and community members interested in creating performance pieces that tell their own story. The classes are a part of Center on Halsted’s ActOUT program
Honesty and Authenticity in Same-Sex Scene Study
This class is for working actors of all ages and types regardless of their sexual orientation who are interested in exploring great same-sex scenes from both classic and new LGBT theater. Work for honesty and authenticity through great scenes from The Children’s Hour, Boys in the Band, Angels in America, and great contemporary scripts. The cost is $300 for an 8-week session that runs from Monday, April 18 to Monday, June 6, from 6:30 to 9 pm. The class will culminate in a free, open performance on Monday, June 13 in the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted. The class is taught by PFP’s Executive Director David Zak, and will have a maximum of 12 students.
Tell Your Own Story And Shape It For Performance
This class is for LGBT performers, writers, and community members who are interested in creating theatrical work meant for performance. These works could be audition-length or longer works, and could be performed by the author or another performer. Students will work on developing their own written material in their unique “voice,” and then shape it for performance. The cost is $300 for an 8-week session that runs from Tuesday, April 19 through Tuesday, June 7, from 6:30 to 9 pm. The class will culminate in a free, open performance on Monday, June 13 in the Hoover-Leppen Theater at Center on Halsted. The class is taught by PFP’s Executive Director David Zak, and will have a maximum of 14 students.
All classes are at Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted.
Register on line. For further information email PrideClasses @ gmail.com
BestGayChicago.com
Dining out For Life Chicago April 28th
With such a big heart, Chicago also has a big stomach to fill. So, on Thursday, April 28th, EdgeAlliance will present its 18th annual Dining Out For Life fundraiser to fight HIV/AIDS.
To join us in the fight, dine out at one of Chicago’s participating restaurants and be a part of the solution. With more than 100 participating restaurants in 30 neighborhoods, Dining Out For Life is a true-to-Chicago tradition. Each participating restaurant will donate a heaping portion of their revenue that day to EdgeAlliance and its mission to provide affordable housing and supportive services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Participating restaurants in Chicago include Atwood Cafe, Peninsula Hotel, Carnivale, Club Lucky, Mia Francesca, Signature Room, South Water Kitchen and More can be found at DiningOutforLife.com
Along with raising funds, Dining Out For Life seeks to raise awareness for the importance of its cause. The Chicago LGBT community is still being affected heavily by HIV/AIDS. Approximately 22,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Chicago alone. Last year 76% of all Chicago men who contracted HIV/AIDS were members of the gay community. By participating in Dining Out For Life, supporting the fight against HIV/AIDS has never been so fun! A donation of $10 or more enrolls you in a raffle with five desirable grand prizes, and special menus on the date of the event added with festive décor will make this night truly memorable. Gather your family, friends and co-workers for this city-wide event! Find a participating restaurant in your city at
Dining out for Life.com or join the conversation at Facebook.com/DineOut4Life and Twitter.com/DineOut4Life.
Equality Illinois Baseball Social March 31
Join Equality Illinois and our friends at Sluggers Sports Bar on Thursday, March 31 from 6 to 9pm for a casual social to celebrate Opening Day 2011!
Come meet White Sox great Minnie Minoso (stay tuned for other names to be added!) and enjoy cocktails and the chance to win door prizes. Tickets, which include 2 complimentary cocktails and a drawing ticket are $10 at the door. Come meet some new friends and let’s celebrate the beginning of the 2011 baseball season!
EQIL 2011 Baseball Season Opening Social
Thursday, March 31 6 to 9pm
Sluggers Sports Bar 3540 N. Clark Street in Chicago
Tickets $10 at the door (2 complimentary cocktails and a drawing ticket)
Best Gay Chicago.com
Chicago’s Disco Diva Loleatta Holloway Dies
Disco Diva Loleatta Holloway died this week on March 21, 2011 from heart failure. The same day as Liz Taylor’s death. But there was so much buzz around Liz, most people didn’t even hear about Loleatta’s passing.
She was 64 years old. She is survived by her four children.
She was very well known for her disco songs such as “Hit and Run” and “Love Sensation“, both of which have been sampled extensively.
She had a rough time in the 80’s and 90’s.
In the late 1980s, her vocals from “Love Sensation” were used in the hit “Ride on Time” by Black Box. Holloway, however, was uncredited for her vocals, and both Holloway and her attorneys successfully sued the group, which lead to an undisclosed court settlement in Holloway’s favor. (You may remeber Martha Wash also had sue Black Box.)
Holloway’s fortunes dramatically improved, however, when she had her first US #1 hit when Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch featured her vocals in the chart-topping “Good Vibrations” (1991). Holloway also performed with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch to promote the single, and she received full vocal credit and a share of the royalties.
HEAR and SEE some of her hits at this Chicago Dj site.
Rest in Peace dear Loleatta. Your voice will be missed.
