Category Archives: News and Happenings
Best Chicago Hotel Pools
We love the site THRILLIST! They are obsessed with everything that’s worth caring about in food, drink, and travel.
In a recent article, they visited 14 top hotel pools around Chicago to see which were easily diveable and which were just plain impenetrable. You would be surprised how easy it is to get into some of the pool areas for FREE!
Out in the Park Six Flags Chicago
Out In The Park at Six Flags Great America
Returns in 2015 BIGGER Than EVER!
A Spectacular Night of Amusement and Entertainment
Presented by MINI Cooper Chicago & Ketel One Vodka
That Will Help Benefit Northalsted Business Alliance
Saturday, September 12th, 2015 from 7PM to 12AM
Hosted by Amanda Lepore AND Pablo Hernandez this year! Attendees for this year’s fourth annual Out In The Park Celebration are in for a night of EPIC proportions.
All night, attendees can follow the bass to the Hometown Square dance area where The DJ’s of SCARLET Bar Chicago and Hostess Trannika Rex and some adorable go go’s well keep the party jumping.
Andrew Christian supermodel and “king of selfies” Pablo Hernandez will be riding rides with guests all night and taking photos. Then at 11:00 he will debut 2 of his new songs, followed by the Queen of New York nightlife, Amanda Lepore, with the worlds most expensive body!
Out In The Park is an annual private LGBT Saturday night fundraising event featuring unlimited riding of ALL Six Flags Great America’s amazing THRILL rides 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 LGBT community, their family, friends and supporters can enjoy the park with little to no 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 16 years and business partner, “We are more than thrilled that Amanda Lepore is flying in from New York and the handsome Pablo Hernandez (from Los Angeles) will debut his new music at our event this year!”
Advance $40 tickets can be purchased NOW at www.GaySixFlagsChicago.com
FREE parking for this special event! In September the price goes up to $45. $50 the day of the event. 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
Harrison Scott in Chicago July 9th
1575 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 227-7990 |
Dance For Life Chicago August 15th
Dance for Life: Dancers Unite to Inspire Chicago from Center Stage
Chicago’s Top Dance Troupes Raise Funds and Awareness for HIV/AIDS on Aug. 15
Experience a night of breathtaking performances as seven of Chicago’s top dance companies come together for one evening at Dance for Life. With thought provoking choreography and poignant music, this highly anticipated event is held annually to support organizations and dance community professionals dealing with critical health issues, including, but not limited to HIV/AIDS, through the art of dance. Since 1992, Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars to support the cause.
This year, the funny and talented Joey Bland and Tim Mason from The Second City will emcee the night. Choreographer Randy Duncan will bring his highly acclaimed work STAND BY ME with special music arrangement by Ira Antelis to the Auditorium Theatre as Dance for Life’s finale. Performing group C5 will also present a show stopping world premiere.
Dance for Life believes in cultivating young talent in the Chicago dance community and giving them the opportunity to shine. That’s why for the first time ever, the finale will feature local professional dancers that were selected through a special audition.
Funds raised through this year’s Dance for Life benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and The Dancers’ Fund.
Participating Companies Include:
• Giordano Dance Chicago
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Joffrey Ballet
• River North Dance Chicago
• C5
• Chicago Human Rhythm Project
• Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre
Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015
5:00 p.m. – Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
7:30 p.m. – Dance for Life Performance – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E. Congress Pkwy.)
*Complimentary shuttle bus service provided between the two venues.
COST: $15-$75 (performance only)
$250- $600 (includes admission to 5:00 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-922-5812 or visit www.danceforlifechicago.org
Connect with Dance for Life on Facebook!
Gerber House is 2nd National LGBT Landmark
The Henry Gerber House is a house at 1710 North Crilly Court in the Old Town Triangle Chicago Landmark District of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The house was built in 1885. In the 1920s it housed the apartment occupied by Henry Gerber, founder of the short-lived Society for Human Rights, which was incorporated in Illinois as the first American organization working for gay rights. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 6, 2001. This month, it was designated a United States’ National Historic Landmark.
The Gerber House is only the second LGBT-related property in the country to receive the recognition. The iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City is the other building listed primarily for its impact in LGBT history, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Carrie Barnett, board president of the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, said the spotlight on Gerber and his home helps to fill in the historical narrative of the gay rights movement. The library in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood is named for Gerber and Pearl M. Hart, an attorney who also fought for the rights of gays and lesbians.
“Given the often hidden and erased nature of gay and lesbian history, and the frequent difficulty of finding even basic documents pertaining to such history, it is doubly fortunate that this house has remained so well preserved,” the landmark application states.
The recognition of the Gerber House is part of an effort by the Interior Department to document a more complete story of the gay rights movement. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced the initiative in May 2014.
Italian Cooking Demo June 20th
CHEF CHRISTOPHER TONG OF MY PRIVATE CHEF SHARES AN ITALIAN MENU AT BLOOMINGDALE’S HOME STORE, MEDINAH TEMPLE
Chef Christopher Tong of the upscale Chicago-based private gourmet dining service, My Private Chef, is enthusiastic about European flavors and cuisine. He has been invited back to present an Italian-themed menu inspired by his travels.
A favorite with Bloomingdale’s shoppers, Chef Tong will prepare: Saffron Farfalle;
Sicilian-Style Tuna Steaks; and Nutella-Mascarpone Mousse with Strawberries.
People who are casual cooks or lovers of gourmet food get to ask questions, discuss preparation, and come away with fabulous recipes that you can try at home. Chef Tong will give tips on shopping, ingredients, and serving. And, everyone gets to have a taste!
The cooking demonstration will take place on Saturday, June 20, from 2-4 pm, at the Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store at Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago. Demo Kitchen on 1.
For more information about this Bloomingdale’s event, contact at 312-324-7678
My Private Chef is now established as one of Chicago’s favorite resources for private gourmet dining. Using his many years of experience at fine restaurants and hotels, Chef Tong offers the finest cuisine for a wide range of events, from intimate dinners to weddings to corporate parties.
For more information about My Private Chef, contact Event Services at 773.370.8131 or visit our web site: www.myprivatechef.net
Cazwell at Chicago PrideFest
HE’S BACK! CAZWELL!
The seventh single from Cazwell’s Hard 2 B Fresh album is a head-to-toe ratchet trap club banger with hard twerk beats, raunchy, sex-fueled lyrics and a killer drop.
Produced by Richie Beretta, “Downtown” was originally composed for Major Lazer, the electronic music project comprising of record producing DJ Diplo and DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. Cazwell admits he begged Beretta for the opportunity to write lyrics to and record the single as he felt it was the one crucial sound missing from his album. “I needed this vibe for Hard 2 B Fresh,” he explains. “I can be pretty convincing when I want to be.” Cazwell’s “Downtown” is available on iTunes and at all major online music retailers now.
“To take it “downtown” means you’re gonna turn up and not give two fucks about the repercussions,” explains Cazwell from his Manhattan home. The term has become something of a mantra for the party-going rapper whose songs defy convention by mixing gay themes with sharp-edged east coast Hip Hop. He’s even adopted Hip Hop’s large-living lifestyle, something he raps about it in his song.
“I have the money now but there was a time I was ‘downtown’ bougie,” he admits. “That’s when you spend way more money than you can actually afford on dumb shit, not caring about what happens next. If you spend the last of your savings on a bottle of Goose at the club so you can impress your friends, you’re just dead wrong bougie.”
He traces his attraction for lavish street flash to a youth spent listening to classic nineties rap. “I remember the legendary MC Lyte singing how she was ‘funky fresh, dressed to impress, ready to party’. That line always resonated with me.”
It’s even echoed in “Downtown” when Cazwell raps how he is ‘pressed fresh and I don’t give a fuck’. “It essentially means the same thing,” he acknowledges. “I’m squeaky clean, I’m dressed fly as all hell, I’m moisturized, my clothes are wrinkle free and my kicks are crispy. I’m about to show off and nobody can tell me nothin’.”
It’s not the song’s only throwback to pre-millennium fabulousness. There’s also a nod to nineties supermodels Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, and Naomi Campbell. “You know I had to give a little old school shout out to the ladies,” he laughs. “If you’re sitting pretty that’s one thing, but if you’re sitting pretty with the original supermodels than you must be fresh and pressed.”
The larger than life downtown fantasy is carried into the song’s music video, directed by 19-year-old first-time music video directors, Bob Bottle and Ben Evans. It’s a style of video fans will likely view as atypical for Cazwell, harkening back to the homegrown (and initially banned) feel of his first hit, “All Over Your Face”.
“We were inspired by the films “Spring Breakers” and “Clockwork Orange”, and the new generation of gay teenagers on Tumblr who are curating sexy boy pics like they’re some kind of world renowned art collection,” explains Cazwell. “We bring their digital fantasy to life by submerging gay porn stars, models, and go-go boys in a surreal New York City house party overloaded with Tumblr-inspired imagery.”
When conceiving the video, they paid close attention to creating shots they thought would make great GIFS and still frames. Many contain pop culture references, including a cameo from New York nightlife icon, Amanda Lepore, who truly embodies the magic of Downtown. “Amanda is the extra something special with any video she has a cameo in, and since the song is very New York, it made a lot of sense to have her included,” says Cazwell.
“I thought it would be especially funny if she showed up when the party was over and was basically like ‘where is everybody?’”
A Massachusetts native, Cazwell has been described as what would have happened if Eminem had grown up on Madonna’s front lawn. He became a You Tube sensation after a million people viewed his ‘Ice Cream Truck’ music video in a single week. He has since earned hipster credibility with a steady flow of danceable hip hop tracks that impressively showcase his hypomanic take on pop culture.
Earlier this year, Cazwell released his first full-length album in four years, “Hard 2 B Fresh” on Brooklyn indie, Peace Bisquit. The new batch of Hip Hop comedy gems features seventeen tracks including his latest that is currently tearing up dance floors, “Dance Like You Got Good Credit,” “Spicy”, “The Biscuit” and “Don’t Get It Twisted.”
WATCH THE NEW VIDEO DOWNTOWN
Catch Cazwell in Chicago at PrideFest Sunday June 21st at 5pm!
For more information, visit Cazwell.com and PeaceBisquit.com. The “Downtown” Tumblr page is at: http://downtowncazwell.tumblr.com/
Chicago pride Week new Events
Now that PrideFest and the Parade have been pushed apart on 2 different weekends, promoters are filling in the week, to make Chicago a real destination for out of towners visiting the city!
6 new events this year!
Monday June 22nd – From the producers of OUT IN THE PARK @ Six Flags Great America, comes a brand new exclusive LGBTQ Event; OUT IN THE HARBOR @ Hurricane Harbor! Hosted by Andrew Christian! SPLASH, DRINK AND DANCE! 5pm – 10pm
Music by the DJs of Scarlet and DJ Jalil Z from Miami. GO GO GODS! and Costumes by NVRLND!
Hostess with the Mostess Trannika Rex! Lots of food and drink choices available for purchase. Tickets $33 and FREE Parking (TAXES INCLUDED) SEASON PASSES ARE NOT VALID FOR PRIVATE EVENTS.
A portion of ticket price will benefit Northalsted Business Alliance this year! Transportation to and from Boystown $30! All ages welcome – must be 21+ to drink.
Get Tickets and Info @ www.PrideSplashChicago.com
Thursday, June 25th –
Zoo Pride @ Brookfield Zoo
Brookfield Zoo celebrates LGBTQ Pride! Brookfield Zoo becomes the 2nd Zoo in the country to recognize and celebrate PRIDE!
2 Events: Daytime and Evening:
During the day from 10am-5pm, the Zoo will be open to the public but with an Officially sanctioned PRIDE Day at the Zoo. Rainbow flags will be flying and there will be entertainment in the afternoon! During the day there will a LGBTQ vendor expo with gay and gay-friendly businesses showcasing their business and /or products. – There will also be a short program with inspirational speakers and some entertainment. $15 Advance Tickets and transportation info @ www.ZooPrideChicago.com
Then From 7-10pm, a very special exclusive evening cocktail party will take place in the Pavilions area. TALK TO THE ANIMALS! Only a portion of the zoo will open from 7-10; Curators and docents will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the exhibits.
Most of the excitement will happen in the Pavilions area! We’ll be able to sip cocktails and taste delicious lite snacks and sweets. Here, we will Lounge with the Animals and Talk to them! As curators create a very special experience for us, by bringing out numerous animals for us to have an up close and personal meet and greet, and learn more about them. Lounge music will set the tone with the Dj’s of Scarlet. Silent Auction with cool animal items from artists and local businesses. Tickets are $60 includes open bar, food and the experience. Tickets and transportation info @ www.ZooPrideChicago.com
Chicago pride Week Events
June 27th 2 parties by Neverland
June 28th Parade day with another evening party by Neverland!
The brilliant boys of Neverland Anthony DiFiore and Martin Luna are delivering 3 new events for Chicago Pride Weekend!
Known for their high-concept themed dance parties, they are ready to up to ante with a series of three fabulous, high-end Pride weekend parties designed to bring Chicago into the running with the other major cities holding Pride celebrations the last weekend in June.
On the Saturday before and Sunday of the Chicago Pride Parade (June 27 and 28, respectively), Neverland is hosting a daytime Pride Pool Party at Deuce’s & Diamonds on Clark Street, a fabulous all-night “Bougie Ball” themed dance party at the Metro and a post-parade Pride Closing Party Sunday night at The MID.
Tickets for all events are available online, both individually and as a “weekend pass” deal, and at Egoist Underwear at 3526 N Halsted in Boystown (for those who want to avoid paying the online service fee).
Ty Herndon at Chicago Pride Parade
Country singer Ty Herndon hopes that the support he received after coming out last year is indicative of a progressive Nashville, one that’s becoming more tolerant toward the LGBT community than in years past.
“One of the biggest fears I had in coming out and being authentic was that I wouldn’t get to continue doing what I do for a living, and that’s country music,” he told The Huffington Post in an interview. “How great is it that I have the opportunity, for the first time in my life, to sing about truth? That makes me a very happy man.”
Herndon, 53, sees his latest project as a prime opportunity for him to pay that happiness forward. On June 12, he’ll take the stage at the first Concert For Love and Acceptance at Nashville’s City Winery, which he is co-hosting with Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights.
PRIDEChicago, the organizers of Chicago’s annual gay pride parade, announced Monday that out country star Ty Herndon will be the Grand Marshal for the 46th Annual Chicago Pride Parade.
“I have struggled with being gay my entire career and life,” Herndon told ChicagoPride.com just days after that interview. “Of course, I’ve had so much support from my friends and close family that supported me, that knew I was gay. But it’s been so freeing for the fans to know; the fans in country music, especially. They have really been supportive and awesome.”
AIDS Foundation Chicago
IN THIS MOMENT
Learn how the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) has worked to change the HIV epidemic over the past 30 years — and how together we can change the future of HIV through breakthrough resources like PrEP, the Affordable Care Act and Treatment as Prevention.
MAKE THIS MOMENT MATTER
This moment in the history of HIV relies on your support. Make a donation to AFC today.
Help us share this pivotal moment by using #30YearsofAction.
WATCH THE VIDEO
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) commemorated its 30th year of action in the HIV/AIDS community with a celebratory gala on Saturday, May 16, at the Hilton Chicago. The milestone event hosted 680 guests and raised significant funds for ongoing prevention, care and advocacy services in the fight against HIV epidemic nationwide. Actress Amy Landecker, of the Golden Globe award-winning series Transparent, served as the master of ceremonies for the event.
President/CEO John Peller set the tone for the evening with powerful remarks about the evolution of the HIV/AIDS community.
“New cases have been cut by 40 percent in the past decade, but with that progress came apathy. We have made great strides over the years but AIDS is still a problem and we must not lose this moment to continue the fight,” Peller stated.
Memorial Day brunch Mexican Style
BONUS BRUNCH DAY!
MONDAY, Memorial Day ! Brunch & $5 House Margaritas
Experience some of the hottest brunch spots in the
East Lakeview neighborhood.
Great places to enjoy with family & friends. An amazing expansive brunch menu. Brunch Done With A Mexican Twist!!!
Serving Brunch From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Dinner from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill (773) 549-2932
www.elmariachitequilabar.com
and –
Revolucion Mexican Steakhouse (773) 661-9893
www.revolucionsteakhouse.com
***THURSDAY COOKING/EATING CLASS – ALMOST SOLD OUT!