Category Archives: Chicago Information

  Chicago Information, Community, Outside the City

Open Door Clinic in Elgin and Aurora

We talk so much about the city of Chicago and everything going on here, we sometimes forget about the suburbs and the LGBT communities and organizations there.

When AIDS was recognized in the early 1980’s as being a sexually transmitted disease, the Board of Directors of Open Door Clinic (ODC) felt it was important for the STD Clinic to extend its diagnostic, treatment and prevention services to include HIV/AIDS.

ODC was one of the first HIV Antibody testing sites in the State of Illinois, a service still offered today. In 1988, ODC became the first Illinois testing site to offer one-week results and can now provide results within a few days. The Clinic also offers the antigen test, which reduces the window period. In January 1993, they initiated a pilot project of a broad spectrum “early intervention” HIV Clinic (hereafter named HIV Clinic).

Among the services provided are

  • laboratory testing (CD4, viral loads, etc.)
  • primary physician service.
  • specialist referrals.
  • nutrition Counseling & supplements.
  • substance abuse referrals.
  • mental health referrals
  • information, forms and applications for federal, state and local assistance programs
  • along with professional, compassion, caring  & support.

“Most significantly, we have been able to offer our clients the assurance that the clinic, its services and staff remain available throughout the illness.”

2    Clinic Locations

Elgin, IL
Open Door Clinic      164 Division Street,  Suite 607    Elgin, IL 60120   Phone: 847 695-1093

Aurora, IL
Open Door Clinic      157 S. Lincoln Avenue,  Room K ,  Aurora, IL 60505     Phone: 630 264-1819

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  Chicago Information, Community, News and Happenings, Political

James Cappleman to Take on Helen Shiller in Uptown!

“I’ve always been a grassroots activist,” says Uptown resident James Cappleman. No kidding: The social worker’s résumé is about a mile long and includes cofounding a homeless shelter, receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, working with HIV service organizations and presiding over the Uptown Chicago Commission.
 
But his latest endeavor—running for alderman of the highly polarized 46th Ward—could lead to big changes in Uptown. That’s because Cappleman is taking on Helen Shiller, the ward’s alderman for the past 20 years. Her supporters say she’s a strong advocate for the poor, but critics say the neighborhood’s high crime rate and large homeless population mean it’s time for a change (check out What The Helen for some of their complaints). I can attest to that, we live in the hood of Uptown and frequently witness drug deals out in the open and hear random gun shots!  WE  DESERVE  BETTER!

This past Saturday, June 19 on one of the most beautiful blocks in Uptown – Sunnyside Garden Mall at 4500 N. Malden St. – James Cappleman kicked off his second bid to win election as alderman of Chicago’s 46th Ward.

“This is a community that wants to have some say in how decisions are made,” Cappleman says. “They feel left out. There’s a lot of anger.” Although Shiller has trounced challengers in the past, Cappleman feels confident. “We’re using the two areas where Shiller has always based a lot of her support: the poor and the gay community,” he says. “And here I am an advocate for the poor, and I’m an openly gay man.”

VOTE FOR CAPPLEMAN!  James for Change

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  Chicago Information, Community, News and Happenings, Political

James Cappleman to Take on Helen Shiller in Uptown!

“I’ve always been a grassroots activist,” says Uptown resident James Cappleman. No kidding: The social worker’s résumé is about a mile long and includes cofounding a homeless shelter, receiving the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, working with HIV service organizations and presiding over the Uptown Chicago Commission.
 
But his latest endeavor—running for alderman of the highly polarized 46th Ward—could lead to big changes in Uptown. That’s because Cappleman is taking on Helen Shiller, the ward’s alderman for the past 20 years. Her supporters say she’s a strong advocate for the poor, but critics say the neighborhood’s high crime rate and large homeless population mean it’s time for a change (check out What The Helen for some of their complaints). I can attest to that, we live in the hood of Uptown and frequently witness drug deals out in the open and hear random gun shots!  WE  DESERVE  BETTER!

This past Saturday, June 19 on one of the most beautiful blocks in Uptown – Sunnyside Garden Mall at 4500 N. Malden St. – James Cappleman kicked off his second bid to win election as alderman of Chicago’s 46th Ward.

“This is a community that wants to have some say in how decisions are made,” Cappleman says. “They feel left out. There’s a lot of anger.” Although Shiller has trounced challengers in the past, Cappleman feels confident. “We’re using the two areas where Shiller has always based a lot of her support: the poor and the gay community,” he says. “And here I am an advocate for the poor, and I’m an openly gay man.”

VOTE FOR CAPPLEMAN!  James for Change

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

International Lesbian and Gay Police Conference in Chicago this Week!

GOAL  CHICAGO   more  details  @    EVENTS  AND  INFORMATION  PAGE

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

International Lesbian and Gay Police Conference in Chicago this Week!

GOAL  CHICAGO   more  details  @    EVENTS  AND  INFORMATION  PAGE

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  Benefits, Boystown, Chicago Information, Political

Pride and Joy LGBT Hall of Fame Party Monday June 21


Chicago is the only known municipality that so honors its LGBT residents.

The Hall of Fame not only pays tribute to individuals and organizations but also documents the communities’ heritage and diversity through its annual publication and its Web site  GL HALL OF FAME .

On Monday, June 21, the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame will host its annual Pride and Joy Reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Circuit Night Club, 3641 N. Halsted Street. Tickets are $10, available at the door.
 
The evening will feature a fabulous buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres. Entertainment will be provided by the supremely talented Circuit Night Club cast.

The Hall of Fame recognizes the volunteer and professional achievements of lesbians and gay men, their organizations, and their friends, as well as their contributions to the lesbian and gay community and to the City of Chicago. This is a unique tribute to dedicated individuals and organizations whose services have improved the quality of life for all of Chicago’s citizens.

Induction into the Hall of Fame symbolizes that the recipient either has made a contribution with far-reaching effects on the quality of life for Chicago’s lesbian and gay community or the city of Chicago, or has made a significant long-term contribution to the well-being of Chicago’s lesbian and gay community.

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  Benefits, Boystown, Chicago Information, Political

Pride and Joy LGBT Hall of Fame Party Monday June 21


Chicago is the only known municipality that so honors its LGBT residents.

The Hall of Fame not only pays tribute to individuals and organizations but also documents the communities’ heritage and diversity through its annual publication and its Web site  GL HALL OF FAME .

On Monday, June 21, the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame will host its annual Pride and Joy Reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Circuit Night Club, 3641 N. Halsted Street. Tickets are $10, available at the door.
 
The evening will feature a fabulous buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres. Entertainment will be provided by the supremely talented Circuit Night Club cast.

The Hall of Fame recognizes the volunteer and professional achievements of lesbians and gay men, their organizations, and their friends, as well as their contributions to the lesbian and gay community and to the City of Chicago. This is a unique tribute to dedicated individuals and organizations whose services have improved the quality of life for all of Chicago’s citizens.

Induction into the Hall of Fame symbolizes that the recipient either has made a contribution with far-reaching effects on the quality of life for Chicago’s lesbian and gay community or the city of Chicago, or has made a significant long-term contribution to the well-being of Chicago’s lesbian and gay community.

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

St Patricks Day in Chicago and the Green River

A modern day miracle occurs each year as part of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration when the Chicago River turns an incredible shade of Irish green.

For the past 40+ years the Chicago River turns green for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration. One would ask how this is different from the rest of the year when the river is always a murky shade of green. The difference is both significant and breathtaking because the color green is identical to the greens of Ireland from where it got its name “The Emerald Isle.”

In 1961  Stephen Baily was approached by a plumber who was wearing some white coveralls, they knew this only because they could see some of the original color. These coveralls had been mostly stained or dyed a perfect shade of green, an Irish green to better describe it.

It was when Stephen Bailey asked how the coveralls got this way, that they discovered that the dye used to detect leaks into the river turned green, not just any color green, but the perfect color green.  Baily said“Why couldn’t we dye the whole river for St. Patrick’s Day?”

A green tradition was born in Chicago.

And they actually use an orange dye, not green!

Where and When

10:30 – 10:45am: Saturday March 13th.

This is scheduled  around 10:30-10:45, Saturday March 13th and can be best viewed from the East side of the bridge at Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.

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  Andersonville, Boystown, Chicago Information

Moving To Gay Chicago

Chicago is somewhat of a Midwest melting pot. And the jewel of the Midwest!

A lot of people born in small Midwest towns seem to gravitate to the big city. Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa….boys and girls looking to escape their small town blues, head to Chicago!

Especially in the Spring. May 1st is the busiest moving week of the year here in Chicago! The Chicago tradition of moving on the first day of May can be traced back to English and Dutch practices that were passed on by immigrants. In 1911  rules were enacted to allow leases to be made at any time of the year – however,  May continues to be the most popular month to move. With an average temperature of 69 degrees, it makes sense that Chicagoans would want to move in May, before the heat of summer sets in.

“I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I think Chicago is a better city for gay people. It’s not as politicized as SF, people are more open and relaxed here. If you want to be really “out” go to BoysTown,  (Lakeview) centering on Halsted Street.  If you just want to be yourself and be comfortable, people are very friendly, open and accepting just about anywhere in town. There is a quieter, but growing gay community in the Edgewater, East Rogers Park areas too. ”  –  Bob

“I like Oak Park. It  has the highest gay population of any suburb in Chicago. Don’t be afraid by the word suburb. It’s a very urban suburb and only 11 miles from downtown Chicago. The Green line L (subway) train has 2 stops in Oak Park and will take you into the city in 24 minutes. My husband uses it daily and it’s great. Oak Park is a beautiful suburb with lots to offer, great old architecture and a very accepting and liberal population. It’s not cheap but you can easily live there without a car and may find it a bit more reasonable than Chicago. It’s very diverse. There are people of all colors, sexual orientations, ages, etc. It’s a very accepting community.”  – Marcus

“I was born and raised in a small town in Ohio. There were no other gay people that I knew of near me and only one gay bar, which was 30 miles away. I ran to Chicago when I turned 21, and never looked back! It’s amazing here! The whole city is very gay-friendly, for the most part. I feel I can just relax and be ME. “  – Susan

“Andersonville isn’t nearly as “out” as Boystown is. Boystown is to RuPaul as Andersonville is to Ellen Degeneres. Boystown revels in it and shouts, “look how gay I am!” whereas Andersonville keeps to itself without keeping it a secret.”  –  Drover

Besides the gay bars and nightclubs, Chicago offers gay churches, gay sports teams, gay men’s chorus, gay square dancing, theatre, and lots of dining choices. For the newly transplanted,  Chicago offers many exciting choices and the opportunity to feel like part of a community and be welcomed by a very accepting city!

The Best of Gay Chicago

 

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings, Theater in Chicago

Best Broadway Theatre in Chicago

  

Over the last two years  Broadway In Chicago, a leading Chicago-based presenter of live theatre and a joint entertainment venture between Live Nation and the Nederlander Organization, has seen breakthrough results, with  vitality and prosperity of Chicago’s Downtown Theatre District. 

A significant finding is Broadway In Chicago’s position as a premiere destination for the city’s many tourists and visitors.  With an annual attendance figure of 1.5 million theater patrons, over 42% of audiences are traveling to Chicago from out-of-state to see long-running shows like Wicked. Theatre patrons occupy over 500,000 hotel room nights per year, more than the top ten city conventions combined and  theatre patrons spend more than $75 million at local restaurants while visiting the area.

“The record-breaking success of Wicked combined with the growth of the Downtown Theatre District has changed the way Broadway producers view Chicago.  It is no longer simply a stop on the touring road.  It has become, instead, a place where long running success can be sustained with the support of the City of Chicago and Mayor Daley.  The future for Chicago as a national center for theatre looks very bright and everyone with Wicked is proud to be a part of the impressive results of this study,” explains Wicked producer David Stone.

And gay theatre blossoms as well. Since 1995, Bailiwick Repertory has made its home in the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont. The 150-seat Mainstage, 90-seat studio, and 40-seat loft contained in the Bailiwick building have allowed Bailiwick to further explore its art with staged readings, performance pieces, and workshops of new work.

And right next door is theTheatre Building Chicago. Celebrating 30 years in Chicago, they are an incubator to develop original musical works and emerging theatre companies and artists.

For more “Off-Broadway” shows, visit Theatre in Chicago, the most comprehensive listings, news, reviews, and pre-theatre dining suggestions for the shows that are currently playing in the Chicago area as well as future productions of shows. 

 

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  Chicago Information, News and Happenings

Santiago Calatrava and the Chicago Spire


The Chicago Spire! The presentation at their site is AMAZING! The Chicago Spire is a supertall skyscraper that will stand taller than Chicago’s Sears Tower and New York‘s upcoming Freedom Tower, as well as Toronto‘s CN Tower, to become North America‘s tallest free-standing structure and the world’s tallest all-residential building.

Inspired by nature – Imagined by Calatrava! The building was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. The Chicago Spire is scheduled to be completed in 2010/2011  with 150 floors – a unique collection of 1200 residences overlooking Lake Michigan. No two residences  the same!

Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company, the project was supported by many Chicagoans and city officials. After several months of development, Carley failed to acquire necessary financing and the project was taken over by Garrett Kelleher of the Shelbourne Development Group. Since that time, three major revisions were made to the design.

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