Category Archives: Boystown
National Gay & Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame August 2nd
announce the inaugural induction class, which will be the largest induction class of the NGLSHOF.
allies, former pro sports officials, activists, journalists, retired athletes
and current athletes. The inductees are Gay Games,
Outsports.com, Chicago Cubs, International Gay Rodeo Association (IGRA),
Anheuser Busch, Chris Kluwe, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Ben Cohen, Dave Pallone,
Justin Fashanu, LZ Granderson, Christina Kahrl, Dr. Tom Waddell, Chuck Dima,
Jerry Pritikin, Dave Kopay, Glenn Burke, Renee Richards, Billie, Jean King,
Martina Navratilova, Greg Louganis, Patty Sheehan, Andrew Goldstein, Jason
Collins, Orlando Cruz and Johnny Weir.
first honorees will happen on August 2, 2013 through a ceremony at the
Center on Halsted. Tickets are available at www.gayandlesbiansports.com. There
will be two ticket types, VIP and General Admission. VIP $50,
will include a seat in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre and a VIP meet and greet
reception. The General Admission $25, will include a reception and viewing on
TV’s outside the theater. Both tickets will include a hosted bar and food. The VIP meet and greet
reception is 5:00pm-6:00pm. The
general reception is 6:00pm-7:00pm. The Induction
Ceremony is 7:00pm-8:30pm.
with Out at Wrigley on August 3, 2013 – the nation’s largest “Gay Day” at
a major league sporting event. Tickets for Out at Wrigley
can be purchased at www.outatwrigley.com
Scarlet Bar Chicago – Always Improving Party Machine
DID YOU KNOW HOW SCARLET BAR GOT ITS NAME?
theme starting with its name. In the 1920’s, members of the GLBT
community wore a piece of scarlet colored clothing to signal their
affiliation to others. Traditionally, scarlet is the color of flame.
Further inspiration came from the “pansy craze” of the early 1930s.
Gay life in Chicago, New York, and other cities was more visible and
accepted. Lesbian salons attracted sightseers to Towertown (now known
as the Magnificent Mile), while drag entertainers were a feature at
South Side clubs.
It would take close to 50 years before the seeds of the GLBT
community were planted in Lakeview. Today, it isn’t necessary to wear a
small piece of scarlet, we can display it proudly across the top of our
door.”
There is also new drink menu designed by famed mixologist Ben Newby
Come in and experience a piece of Chicago history and Chicago history in the making at Scarlet.
also visit….
Taverna 750
Chicago Pride Parade will be Broadcast on ABC 7
ABC 7 Chicago will
be the only station in the city to broadcast “The 44th Annual Pride Parade” on Sunday, June 30th from midnight
to 1 am. Hosted by ABC 7’s Janet Davies, this is the tenth year ABC 7
Chicago has covered the parade. Terri
Hemmert, from WXRT Radio Chicago, will once again join Davies in the
broadcast booth to help co-host the parade. The actual parade will take place on
Sunday, June 30, starting at noon.
“I am
always proud of the fact that ABC 7 is the first and only television station to
broadcast the Pride Parade,” said Janet Davies, host of the event. “This is an
important event to showcase the contributions of Chicago’s LGBT community and
one of my favorite events to host.”
This year, ABC
7’s Ben Bradley, Ryan Chiaverini, Jessica D’Onofrio, Michelle Gallardo, Evelyn Holmes, Leah Hope, Eric Horng, Ron Magers, Karen Meyer, Hosea
Sanders, Rafer Weigel and Linda Yu are scheduled to appear in the parade via ABC 7 Chicago’s float.
Wade Davis, a former NFL football player and
nationally recognized speaker, activist, writer and educator will be this
year’s Grand Marshal.
The 44th Annual Pride Parade kicks off from Broadway and Montrose on
Chicago’s North Side and will
end near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road in Lincoln Park.
The parade originally started to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall
Riots, the most important event in the history of the gay rights movement.
The parade ends a weekend of fun and
entertainment with various bands and singers performing on stage, great food
and drinks. The Pride Parade festivities support the gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender communities.
The “Pride Parade” is Chicago’s second
largest parade with streets lined 12 people deep and 750,000 spectators.
“The 44th Annual Pride Parade” will be
available on-demand at www.abc7chicago.com.
“The 44th Annual Pride Parade” is produced by
Christopher Bowen.
Pride and Joy Rooftop Dance Party June 28th
Halsted hosts a Pride Dance Party on our fabulous rooftop deck
overlooking the skyline from 5:30-9:30 pm. We host over 250 community
members and allies to dance in celebration of the advancement of the
LGBTQ movement while listening to music provided by DJ Marc “Moose”
Moder and the evening’s host, Cyon Flare. In what has become one of
Boystown’s most celebrated parties, it is sure to be an evening of
celebrating community as we look to the years ahead.
$20 admission includes 4 drink tickets that include Full-Bar Service.
21 and up 3656 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois 60613
Purchase tickets here:
Sasha Gradiva June 22 – NOT TO BE MISSED
SATURDAY June 22nd, 8pm on the NORTH Stage of Pride Fest – you do not want to miss SASHA GRADIVA.
Nightlife
used to be ruled by the mandate of the velvet rope where only a select few were
granted entry into the exclusive party. The late nineties and the first decade
of the millennium were the V.I.P era, when clubs thrived on celebrating those
deemed privileged – usually due to money or good looks – by sectioning them off
into special roped off areas. Sure,
these practices still exist at some haunts, but they’ve become passé,
overshadowed by an emerging movement that shuns the exclusivity of yesteryear. It’s a movement being led by club artists
like Lady Gaga, Sasha Gradiva, and Ke$ha whose anthems (“Born this Way”, “We R
Who We R” and “Come with Us”) promote inclusiveness and make it cool to welcome everyone to the party.
“The club world has changed,” confirms Sasha
Gradiva, who is currently touring the country on her “Lovers Wanted” club
tour. Her new song, “Come with Us”,
written by Gradiva and Justin Tranter and produced by Axident and platinum hit
maker Tricky Stewart (who produced Rihanna’s “Umbrella” and Beyoncé’s “Single
Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”, invites the disenfranchised
to join her posse. “Old club tracks used
to intimidate. They heralded glitz and bling, and were very
surface. I’d rather my music be inclusive. More over, music should have
substance.”
According to Gradiva, marching to your own drum is
acceptable today. “It means that you are
different from others. Our differences
are what make us unique and special. Trying to be someone else – or trying to
fit in with the status quo – will only dim your light,” she says.
She admits that growing up, she was an
outsider. “I was the kid with the wild
hair, wearing crazy outfits. I loved
fashion but not the pretty pashminas and floral dresses all the other girls
were wearing. I was always experimenting
with avant-garde styles that made me seem a bit freakish to other kids.”
The point of “Come With Us” is to make all who listen to it feel
understood, embraced and loved. She says
it carries a special relevance to her gay fans.
“My message to the gay community is be true you. When
you fearlessly fight for what you believe in and remain hopelessly optimistic
about life, love and the future, you create connection with all in your path,
most importantly with yourself.”
“Not everyone is going to appreciate you
for the real you,” she continues, “but that’s not your problem. That’s on them.”
Not everyone appreciated the real Sasha
Gradiva when she arrived at last year’s Grammy Awards wearing a pink dress and
a costumed (but very real looking) semi automatic assault rifle. In addition to getting her in big trouble
with event security, she was
lambasted by the press and featured on several worst-dressed lists.
“The
outfit wasn’t a random choice,” she explains. “I wanted to get people to think
about the absurd amount of guns and weapons that are on streets today. We need to get rid of them.”
Referring
to the recent Sandy Hook massacre, she says, “People shouldn’t be expressing
how sorry they are for one week and then forget about it the next. That’s what bothers me the most. Do something
about it!”
In Come
with Us, there’s a line that says “when you’re ready, come with us”.
“It simply means when you are ready to make change, you will. When you’re ready to get off your ass, you
will.”
And Sasha
Gradiva will be there waiting for you with open arms.
Don’t miss her at Chicago Pride Fest!
Sasha Gradiva website
Sasha on SoundCloud
Boystown Business Owner says SHAME SHAME to Illinois Lawmakers
Replay says “Shame, Shame!” to politicians who let gay marriage in
Illinois fall through the cracks.
expectations that I felt were warranted given that we have a
Democratically controlled House and the majority of citizens in this
state are in favor of legalizing gay marriage,” said Mark Liberson, who
owns Elixer, Halsted’s Bar and Grill, Hydrate Nightclub and Replay.
Star Studded Night at SCARLET June 5th Summer Launch Event
Scarlet Bar Chicago and Ketel One present Scarlet Summer Launch Event
RE.STOCK Shopping and Fashion Show June 6th
..
From 5pm-7pm we’ll be joined at our new storefront (3519 N. Halsted) by our hosts Michael and Derrick of Best Gay Chicago and FIAT of Chicago for an exclusive shopping event full of special discounts, VIP goody bags and more!
And just in case you’re late joining the party, we invite you to join
us for an after hours party back at the shop, where we’ll have special
in-store specials until 11pm!
Gay Chicago Couple Told to GET OUT of Taxi Cab After Innocent Kiss
A gay couple from Chicago allegedly were ejected from a taxi cab onto a busy expressway after a quick kiss.
Steven White and his boyfriend Matt McCrea tell CBS 2 that they were
returning from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport at around 11:30
p.m. on May 30 when their cab driver forced them out of the car after
what they’ve described as a quick peck on the lips.
“He indicated that it was a public mode of transportation and we shouldn’t kiss in his cab,” White recalled. WATCH
Gay Marriage Battle is About to Heat up in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.— Despite urging from President Barack Obama in his
home state and fierce on-the-ground campaigning, a legislative measure
that would have made Illinois the 13th state to allow same-sex couples
to marry didn’t rally enough support from lawmakers in the House.
The
bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Greg Harris, gave an emotional
testimony before lawmakers, explaining that he simply didn’t have the 60
votes the measure needed to pass and wouldn’t be calling it for a vote.
For weeks, he’d been furiously lobbying his colleagues, including
members of the House Black Caucus.
(I know that artwork depicts California – but I thought it was fitting)
“Several of my colleagues have indicated they would not be willing to
cast a vote on this legislation today … and I’ve never been sadder to
accept such request,” he said. “They asked me for time to go back to
their districts and reach out to their minds and hearts.”
After a string of marriage equality victories across the
country, the legislature in Illinois has failed to deliver. With earlier
passage of the bill in the Senate, active support from the Governor, and
enthusiasm and energy from supporters in the House — same-sex couples in
Illinois were ready to celebrate their love and equality.
But today, the House let us down.
On May 30, 2012, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Illinois each
filed lawsuits on behalf of same-sex couples seeking the freedom to marry.
Lambda Legal represents 16 same-sex couples and their children from across the
state. The couples have been together between 6 and 48 years, and 10 of the
couples are raising children. Barring same-sex couples and their children from
marriage is a violation of the Illinois Constitution’s guarantee of equal
protection and due process.
Denouncing what they
are calling the “Epic Fail / Epic Betrayal” of Illinois Democrats
failure to pass SB 10, the state’s equal marriage rights bill last night, gay
activists and their allies are calling an emergency response protest for 8 PM,
Saturday, June 1 beginning at the corner of Halsted and Roscoe Streets in
Chicago.
Crain’s
poll showing Illinoisans favoring the equal marriage rights bill by a
nearly two-to-one margin, and Democrats holding a huge majority in the Illinois
General Assembly, the usual excuses of pro-LGBT legislation being held up by
Republican conservatives didn’t hold water.
have been a cakewalk instead became an epic fail. Activists are denouncing what they say was a
consistent failure by the bill’s sponsors to reach out to other minority
communities and involve the LGBT community itself in messaging, and instead ran
a top-down corporate campaign such as has been responsible for previous epic
failures, such as California’s Proposition 8.
Speaker Mike Madigan, the de facto
leader of the Illinois Democratic Party, is responsible for this abject
betrayal,” said Andy Thayer, long-time equal marriage rights activist and
co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network.
“Anyone who knows anything about Illinois politics knows that
Speaker Mike Madigan owns the House – if he had insisted on a positive vote
from his caucus, it would have passed.
Madigan has repeatedly shoveled millions of tax dollars to his wealthy cronies,
leaving the state’s finances in a total mess, but when it comes to passing
civil rights legislation, he refused to spend any political capital.”
protest is sponsored by the Gay Liberation Network and the Civil Rights
Agenda. For more information, contact
the Gay Liberation Network at 773.209.1187 or email LGBTliberation@aol.com
Boystown Senior LGBT Housing Will Break Ground Any Day on Halsted
100-year-old police station and Whole Foods will also be used in
construction of the new building.
and Heartland Housing will build Midwest’s first
LGBT-friendly affordable senior housing facility.
associate director of real estate development at Heartland Housing,
especially considering the complications that arose from adaptive reuse
regarding the historic police station. The project will preserve the
station’s exterior along with certain interior details, she said.
Memorial Day brunch at Revolucion Mexican Steakhouse
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REPLAY bar Gives Us a Sneak Peak Inside
REPLAY is opening this weekend!
The new bar will feature more than 25
craft beers on tap and a cocktail menu designed by Elixir’s mixologist,
Danny Quinn, and a limited food menu from Halsted’s.
Gay Porn Stars in Chicago this Weekend
May 23rd, 2013 –
Grabby Official Kickoff Party with
Chi Chi LaRue
and the Men
for Fabscout
Hydrate 3458 N. Halsted from 9pm till
? $5 Cover.
Friday
May 24th, 2013 –
Lucky Horse Shoe
3169 N. Halsted
CameraBoys.com presents Cocktails with the Stars
w/Scotty B and the men of Colt, Hot House & Jet Set Men
9pm-till Midnight $5 Cover
Saturday
May 25th, 2013
The
2013 Grabbys! NEW LOCATION!!
Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted
Red carpet / doors open at 6:00
PM. Show stars at 8:00 PM.
GET TICKETS
GRABBY
OFFICIAL AFTERPARTY
Charlies
3726 N. Broadway – 10pm till Close…
$10 Advance….$15 at the Door
Tickets now on sale
CLICK
HERE
The finale!
Sunday May 26th, 2013
Naked Sword Post
Grabby Recovery Brunch at North
End
3733 N Halsted from 1
– 4:00 PM
$10 Cover. $15 at the door.
For the first time ever
hear from the Porn Stars what took place before, during and after the
Grabbys.
* this event has sold
out
early in
the past so
get your tickets early space is
limited! Tickets are available at North End.
The OUT Chicago Hotel Still Working Hard to Please Neighbors
WHY are people afraid of change?
vibrancy,” Reisner said. “… So I feel like I’m bringing a resort to
your community that will be a luxury, a benefit. … How about jobs? How
about tax revenues? When you say, ‘What am I doing here?’ I feel like
you’re attacking me. Would you like me not to bring a business here?”
People at last nights meeting had in their mind this was going to be a gay flop house. I don’t think a gay flop house could possibly made Fodors list of the top 100 hotels in the world. At $200-$225 a night, I think this hotel will bring an educated, savvy consumer to Boystown.
People expressed concerns about the “hostel” element. It’s not a hostel. The OUT NYC has a couple 4 person sleep/share rooms, which goes for about $90 a night, per person. People are able to enjoy all the amenities of the hotel but don’t get their own room per se’ and it’s co-ed.
Sleep Shares have a bathroom, a cubby to stash your stuff, and a
full-sized bed with personal 22’ TV and privacy curtains. You can travel with
your friends and get the whole place to yourselves, or come alone and
meet new people. These rooms are the answer to experiencing the pleasure
of New York without the pain of high-priced lodging. So it’s hardly a hostel or sex den.
More people on the streets brings vibrancy and consumer dollars to the neighborhood. We should welcome THE OUT CHICAGO with open arms, as they will surely give a huge boost to the neighborhood.
Jim Ludwig, owner a Roscoes and President of Triangle Neighbors said he believes all parties involved are working together, for the best possible outcome for all.
Taverna 750 Gives to Ride For Aids as this months Late Night Charity
Taverna 750 is proud to announce that the entire month of May they have joined forces with four incredible teams; Team
Bike Sharing in Lakeview in Boystown
When I was Paris a couple years ago, I thought their bike rental program was pretty cool, with rental stations all over the city. Now, Chicago launches DIVVY bike sharing program , that will allow people to use bikes for $75 a year! By 2014, they want to have 400 stations all over the city.
where Lake View neighbors can pick up bicycles. The new cycles will
also be painted the iconic “Chicago Blue” to “provide a high level of
visibility on the street,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. Divvy is expected to launch downtown around Bike to Work Day on June 14, with about 75 stations.
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance FIERCE and FABULOUS benefit May 4th
FIERCE!
Fierce & Fabulous Fashion Show with fashions from MODA Boutique and
in partnership with Halsted Vodka, to benefit the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance.
from 7 – 9pm @ minibar.
for giveaways that include certificates to MODA Boutique,
Halsted Vodka, along with some Illinois Safe Schools Alliance gift packages as well!
Ticket Price $25 – includes 1 drink!
(21+ Event – ID required)
At
minibar 3341 N Halsted, Chicago
Buy your ticket(s)
here.
The Alliance envisions a world in which
youth develop to their fullest potential, learning in safe and nurturing
schools, living in communities that accept and honor differences, where
everyone has the freedom to express their sexual orientation and gender
identity.
Dine at Taverna 750 for Earth Day Weekend
Earth Day is an annual day, celebrated on April 22nd each year on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
