Category Archives: News and Happenings
PRIDE North June 24th, After The Parade
Last year, 1000 people were expected
for The Glenwood’s post parade block party, and they got nearly 5000 to
see DJ Voxbox spin and 16 Candles perform.
Pride North is the block of Glenwood between Morse and Lunt. Take the
Red Line, get off at Morse (just 10 min from boystown) and it’s RIGHT
THERE at the bottom of the stairs.
Hosted by Moose
4-6pm DJ Voxbox spins T-Dance disco, retro, pop…all happy
6-8pm 16 Candles
Party continues inside the Glenwood till 2am with DJ’s Moose and Voxbox spinning dance favorites.
Non Profit Social Media Learning Coming to Chicago – With Your Help
Chase and LivingSocial are awarding 12 individual grants of $250,000 to 12 small businesses. And a peer of ours is in the running but needs your vote!
Melissa G Wilson lives here in Chicago. She wants to use the grant to launch a non-profit organization to provide affordable ongoing, high quality social media training and book publishing support to all–especially entrepreneurs, small businesses, seniors and students.
Over the past 25 years she has donated thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to help professionals, entrepreneurs and young people from 12 to 29 get affordable social media and networking training. She has donated time and money to help groups like: the YMCA, YWCA, United Way, Scholarship Chicago, University of Dreams and dozens of young professionals.
Will you please help? It takes less than 30 seconds!
To be chosen as a finalist for it she must have 250 votes by June 30th 11:59pm EST.
Here are four easy steps to follow:
1. Go to: https://www.
2. Go to the bottom on the right side and click on Sign in with Facebook if you have a Facebook account and if you don’t, click on LOGIN and SUPPORT
3. In the window that appears where it says business name type in: Networlding Publishing. Please be sure to capitalize “N” in Networlding and the “P” in Publishing. You should not need to enter the state and city – but it is Illinois, Chicago.
And then click VOTE!
Pride Fest Chicago 2012, June 22-23
| Date: | Friday & Saturday, June 22-23, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Time: | Friday: 4pm-10pm | Saturday: 11am-10pm |
| Location: | Halsted & Waveland | Chicago |
2 days of fun and music before the big Pride Parade Day!
Festive … Jubilant … Fun … are just a few of the words to
describe this two day-long gathering that’s a non-stop, early-summer
party.
Hosted by (and benefiting) the Northalsted Business Alliance — the same
group behind the wildly popular Northalsted Market Days (set for the
weekend of August 11-12) — this equally crowd-pleasing gay and lesbian
celebration of community pride will be back bigger than ever in its 10th
year!
Pride Fest showcases an eclectic lineup of arts & crafts, food and
other vendors. It also features entertainment on two stages including
one dedicated to some of Chicago’s finest GLBT performers.
Entertainment
|
Friday, June 22 South Stage 6:00pm – The Personnel 7:30pm – Chicago Spirit Brigade 8:00pm – Sixteen Candles Saturday, June 23 |
North Stage 5:00pm – Drag Show featuring Chicago’s Best Female Impersonators 7:00pm – JoJo 7:30pm – Drag Show featuring Chciago’s Best Female Impersonators 9:00pm – Inaya Day North Stage 12:00pm – Miss Foozie’s Pet Parade 1:30pm – Drag Show featuring Chicago’s Best Female Impersonators 2:30pm – Thea Austin 3:00pm – Drag Show featuring Chicago’s Best Female Impersonators 4:30pm – Martha Wash 5:30pm – Drag Show featuring Chicago’s Best Female Impersonators 6:30pm – Simone Denny 7:00pm – Guinevere 8:00pm – Frenchie Davis 8:30pm – Janice Robinson 9:00pm – Sandy B |
Magic Mike Movie Night at Kit Kat June 19
“Magic Mike” Night at
Kit Kat Lounge
Magic Mike Movie Tickets,
Merchandise and Themed Martinis
Tuesday, June 19
8 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Free to attend
Magic Mike is set to hit theaters on Friday, June 29. In advance of the hotly anticipated male stripper-themed film, Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club will hold a movie promotion event on Tuesday, June 19. Starting at 8 p.m., dancers from “SinZation,” Chicago’s sexiest male revue show, will put on a high-energy, provocative performance. Kit Kat Diva Kathryn Cole will perform throughout the evening as well.
The Lakeview/Boystown restaurant and lounge will hold a “Magic Mike” raffle with prizes including passes to the advance screening of Magic Mike on Tuesday, June 26, along with Magic Mike merchandise (t-shirts, hats, gym bags, dog tag necklaces and more). Gift certificates to Kit Kat and tickets to SinZation will also be given away.
In addition to shakin’ up half-priced martinis all night, the movie premiere party will feature three specialty drinks: “The Big Cucumber Richie” martini, “Magic Mike” martini and “Dallas” cocktail ($6 each).
See you all there!
Gay Comedy Show on Southport at SOPO June 21
A night of Comedy!
$5 Donation $5 Martinis and $5 Wraps and Appetizers!
Thursday June 21 at Sopo Lounge 3418 N. Southport
$5 donation will be benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation!
Real Housewives New Jersey Gay Wedding in Chicago June 10
It’s Gay Pride Week on “Real Housewives of New Jersey”. Rosie
has an emotional discussion about her sexuality with her niece and
nephew at a crowded pizza parlor — that’s how we roll in Jersey — and
the Manzos, Lauritas and Giudices head to Chicago for the gay wedding of Caroline Manzo and Chris Laurita‘s sibling Jaime and his partner Rich.
But guess what? Jaime Laurita and Rich Lane are hosting a viewing party at SPIN this Sunday, June 10th at 8pm, and it will benefit EQIL!
And – brace yourself……..We JUST LEARNED some exciting news about our upcoming Real Housewives of
New Jersey Viewing Party this Sunday night at 8 p.m. at SPIN (800 W.
Belmont St.) benefiting Equality Illinois.
The party hosts, Jaime Laurita and Rich Lane, are giving
you the chance to win up to 4 tickets in a raffle to see Madonna live in
concert, including BACKSTAGE hospitality passes.
Reserve your $10 ticket now to our party and you will also receive one free drink ticket at the door.
Keep in mind your $10 ticket purchase will be doubled by our
generous supporter this month, so your $10 donation will provide us
with $20 to fight for full marriage equality.
In addition to the tickets, there will be other amazing
raffle prizes and you will get to watch the special Bravo TV episode of
their Illinois wedding on a super big TV screen.
Spoiler alert: if you just can’t wait to see what happens, the beans are spilled at NJ.com
Andersonville Midsommarfest June 8 – 10
To me, Andersonville’s Midsommarfest is the real kick off for the Chicago festival season.
Midsommarfest is Andersonville’s annual summer street festival, now
entering its 47th year. Each year, nearly 50,000 people throng Clark
Street from Foster to Catalpa for two days of music, dancing, kids’
entertainment, and delicious food. Vendors from around the region sell
their wares to passers-by, while ethnic dance troupes and cutting-edge
bands keep the party going.
We are very excited to announce that this year’s 47th annual Midsommarfest street festival will kick off on Friday evening, June 8th with a special performance by 16 Candles!
This opening night celebration will take place on Clark Street between
Balmoral and Catalpa Avenues beginning at 5:00 pm, and will also feature
food from some of your favorite local restaurants and of course cold
beer and sangria.
More details and show schedules online.
Circuit Mom and Ben Cohen Present NEON PRIDE
THE PRIDE PARTY NOT TO BE MISSED!!
Another amazing REVOLUTION party produced by Circuit Mom Productions!
Hosted by Rugby Superstar BEN COHEN – and benefitting his amazing STAND UP FOUNDATION.
LIMITED Early bird $40 tickets are only available NOW at Cram Boystown Lakeview-As
an added bonus, save 10% on your CRAM Fashion purchase when you buy a
Neon ticket, so hurry before they are gone.
Tix available online for
the regular price of $50 now ETIX.com
Pride Deconstructed Art Auction and Cocktail Party June 21
The early bird…gets the discount!
Join Co-Chairs Jerry Sanfilippo, Spyros Petros, Denise Antonucci,
Erik Retzer, and Jim Josephson for the Chicago House Summer event EVERYONE is tweeting
about!
The 2012 Birdhouse Art Auction & Cocktail Party
Pride: Deconstructed.
It’s your annual chance to bring home the funkiest of artwork, plus
function, and fantastical birdhouses created by Chicago’s most unique
group of designers! Cocktails, food and art!
Date: Thursday, June 21, 2012
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Where: Room & Board, Chicago
55 East Ohio Street, Chicago, IL
Tickets: Advanced Tickets NOW – $70 Door Tickets – $80
Featuring work from over 50 contributing artists: Jonathan Adler, Jen Banys, Georgina Basta, Ben and Alexander (the Champions), Joanne Bennett, Nourhy Chiriboga, Deana Cizek, Tone Connors, Kass Copeland , Cowtan & Tout , Susanna Craib-Cox, Lili Cross, David Csicsko, Brian Cyr, Juan De La Mora, Justin DeGroff, Lynda Dossey, Jean Dufresne, Tim England, Shannon Favia, Abi Gonzales, Bret Grafton, Brian Graves, Lina Grigaitis, Ben Holiday, Michael Jewula, Nancie
King Mertz, Don Klinger, Rhiannon Klinger, Todd Mack, Heather
Merckle, Jason Messinger, Michael Del Piero, Mark Munson, Alice Olive,
Pagoda Red, Bernice Pink, Julia Robles, Tina Mari , Scrafano Architects,
Wyatt Sheeder, Norbert Shimkus, Mandi Siegel, Skeeter Siegel, Matthew Skudlarek, James C. Smith, Brian Sparks, Randy Stearns, Carl Taylor, Victoria Troshina, Susan Volk, Amy Wagner, Tess Wiler, Joey Wozniak, Greg Zayia
BREAKING NEWS! Illinois Attorney General will Join The Fight for Gay Marriage
When a state’s
Attorney General intervenes in a lawsuit challenging the legality of
that state’s laws, the Attorney General usually sides with the defense.
Not so in the cases of the Darby v. Orr and Lazaro v. Orr, the two lawsuits filed last week in Illinois, which challenge the state’s civil unions law.
From MetroWeekly:
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) will be joining Lambda
Legal and the ACLU in arguing that Illinois’s civil unions law does not
meet the state’s constitutional guarantees of equal
protection, raising the question of what the Cook County clerk of
courts — the named defendant — will do in its response to the
lawsuits.The move came just two days after Lambda Legal and the ACLU each filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the civil union law.
In a pair of June 1 filings in Darby v. Orr and Lazaro v. Orr, which were reviewed by Metro Weekly,
the attorney general’s office has requested to intervene in the cases
… In the requests, Madigan writes, “Petitioner respectfully requests
the right to intervene in this case to present the Court with arguments
that explain why the challenged statutory provisions do not satisfy the
guarantee of equality under the Illinois Constitution.”On June 25, the Attorney General’s Office will make the request to intervene in Darby, which was brought by Lambda Legal. On June 26, the office will make the intervention request in Lazaro, which was brought by the ACLU.
Ru Pauls DRAG RACE Tour at Roscoes June 14
One Night. One Stage. Eight Queens!
Thursday, June 14, 2012 8:00pm
The event that Chicago has been waiting for…
Roscoe’s Presents: Logo’s Drag Race Tour
Featuring performances by Season One’s Jade, The Princess, Jiggly Caliente, Dida Ritz, Willam, Latrice Royale, Phi Phi O’Hara, Chad MIchaels and Sharon Needles!!!
$15 General Admission Doors Open at 8:00pm
Sponsored by Absolut OUTrageous
Dance for Life Chicago August 18, 2012
ONE STAGE… ONE CAUSE: DANCE FOR LIFE
Chicago’s Leading Dance Troupes Unite to Raise Funds for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Services on Aug. 18
Experience the best dance Chicago has to offer as six of the city’s top dance companies join together for one spectacular night on stage in this year’s Dance for Life. With electrifying and poignant choreography, Dance for Life is the Midwest’s largest performing arts fundraiser for HIV/AIDS, having raised more than $4 million to support care, education, and prevention in the Chicagoland area.
This year, Dance for Life hosts two exciting, world-premiere performances by renowned choreographers Randy Duncan and Harrison McEldowney.
A silent auction and raffle will also be held.
Funds raised through Dance for Life benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the Dancers’ Fund and the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project.
Participating Companies Include:
- The Joffrey Ballet
- Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
- River North Chicago Dance Company
- Luna Negra Dance Theater
- Ron de Jesus Dance
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012
5:00 p.m. – Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago Grand Ball Room (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
8:00 p.m. – Dance for Life Performance – Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Congress Pkwy.)
*Complimentary shuttle bus service provided between the two venues.
COST: $50-$75 (performance only)
$175-$500 (includes admission to 5:00 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-431-2357 or visit Danceforlifechicago.com
Fortune Feimster Kicks off Gay Pride Weekend for Back Lot Bash
Back Lot Bash is an outdoor live music and
entertainment festival started in 2004 by three Chicago women. Back Lot
Bash is now one of the most highly anticipated and attended pride weekend
events for lesbians in the country.
Showcasing local and emerging musicians as well as established
performers of different genres, Back Lot Bash highlights unity, equality
and inclusiveness in an environment that is festive and celebratory of
everyone in our community.
Thursday’s Comedy Kickoff event will be held at Mayne Stage Theater
1328 W. Morse Ave in Chicago.
Fri/Sat/Sun will be in the heart of
Chicago’s diverse Andersonville neighborhood at 5238 N. Clark St.,
Chicago 60640. Back Lot Bash is easily accessible by both of Chicago’s
major north side highways and by public transportation.
This years line up is awesome! With 4 days of events!
Lesbian comedian from the Chelsea Lately show, Fortune Feimster makes her Chicago debut on Thursday 21st with a night of comedy.
Get ticket info and complete details at Back Lot Bash Chicago
The Abbey of West Hollywood Buys Property on Halsted in Chicago Boystown
I have been told by a very reliable source – that the owners of the world famous ABBEY in West Hollywood have purchased the Pink Parking lot at 3514 N Halsted St. for something like $10 million plus! And they will be bringing something quite fantastic to Chicago’s Boystown!!
The Abbey Food and Bar has been voted #1 gay bar in North America and the World, time and time again, by many magazines and sites including Best Gay Cities, Best Gay Travel Guide and Logo’s Trip Out Awards.
David Cooley is the master at the art of work and
play. Over the past 20+ years, his creation, The Abbey Food and Bar,
has grown from a small, West Hollywood coffeehouse to one of the most
popular hotspots in the country. Locals, tourists and celebrities
alike all flock to The Abbey for its famous Martinis as well as its
stunning, open-air ambiance and truly relaxed elegance.
“Over the past 22 years, The Abbey
has been a place that accepts everyone, gay, straight, lesbian,
transgender, bisexual and everything in between. We love our straight
girlfriends and they are welcome here, just not for bachelorette
parties.”
It has long been a policy at The Abbey
to deny admission to groups in costume, including bachelorette regalia.
Bachelorette parties had previously been allowed inside if they removed
their costumes.
The Abbey’s
recent Bachelorette Ban comes on the heels of a ban on gay marriage in North
Carolina and a number of other states across the south. The Abbey
encourages other gay-owned and operated establishments to institute
their own bans as a sign of solidarity until marriage is legal
everywhere for everyone.
“The girls are completely unaware that the people around them are
legally prohibited from getting married,” said David Cooley, founder of
The Abbey. “We love our straight girlfriends…just not for bachelorette
parties anymore.”
Founded in 2002, Los Angeles-based sbe
brings exquisite balance to the worlds of hospitality, real estate
development and entertainment. As a privately-held company founded and
helmed by Chairman and CEO Sam Nazarian, sbe acquires, develops and
manages exceptional projects through its divisions – Hotels,
Restaurants, Nightlife and Real Estate.
With a mission to
redefine the standards of excellence in hospitality, sbe has harnessed
the creativity and innovation of the best minds in the business,
including design visionary Philippe Starck, with whom the company has an
exclusive agreement for the creation of hotels, restaurants and lounges
in North America.
20th Anniversary Production of The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me!
In June 1992, David Drake opened his one-man show The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me, which went on to make theatrical history as one of the longest running one-man shows in New York. The New York Times
called the writing “angry, occasionally ferocious… Every line is
spare, quick, complex, as it chronicles an important time of change for
gay men in America.”
Now, 20 years later, Chicago actor Chad Ryan will perform a 20th anniversary edition with new material penned by David Drake. The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me will be performed at Luna Central, 3914 North Clark Street.
There is one preview
performance on Wednesday June 20th at 7:30; tickets for this preview are
$15.
Opening night is Thursday, June 21 at 7:30. Performances
thereafter are Friday, June 22 at 7:30; Saturday, June 23 at 7:00 and
9:30; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, June 26 through 29 at
7:30; Saturday, June 30 at 7:00 and 9:00, and the closing performance on
Sunday, July 1 at 3:00.
Tickets for all regular performances are $20.
For tickets call 1 800 838 3006, or reserve on line at Brownpapertickets.com.
Second City to offer Writing GLBT Comedy June 25-29
The Second City Training Center
Puts the “Funny” In
“Funny That Way”
Building on the traditional week-long immersions in Improv, Comedy Writing, and Acting held each summer, The Second City Training Center is piloting a new course titled ‘Writing GLBT Comedy’, set to run June 25-29.
Students will explore comedy where ‘gay’ is the given, not the punchline. They will discover their comedic point of view while creating memorable characters, scenes and songs that go beyond easy stereotypes.
From budding writers to experienced performers to working writers, students will take on assignments customized to their interests and experience.
No matter where students fall in the LBGTQIA alphabet, this course will give them the tools to strengthen their comedic voice and take on topics both personal and political.
Taught by Andy Eninger. Monday June 25 to Friday, June 29.
10am-1pm each day.About Andy Eninger:
Andy is the Head of the Writing Program at Second City’s Training Center, and was a founding member of Chicago’s GayCo Productions. This Summer, he will appear in “Steamworks! The Musical” for the Annoyance Theater and, hopefully, finish a screenplay about assassins.
About The Second City:
For fifty years The Second City has created a wealth of comedic material from a legendary group of performers. The Training Center follows the traditions developed by these groundbreaking and innovative men and women while encouraging the continued growth and development of the art forms of comedy and improvisation. Today, The Second City Training Center is the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world, offerings courses for all ages and experience levels.
Margaritas on Memorial Day at El Mariachi
Memorial Day! May 28th!
Experience one of the hottest up and coming brunch spots in
the boys town/east Lakeview neighborhoods.
Great place to enjoy with family & friends. An amazing expansive brunch menu.
Secluded and Private patio with no buses zooming by your table!
Brunch Done With A Mexican Twist!!! Saturdays and Sundays
We Will Be Open From 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Memorial Day Monday with 1/2 price margaritas all day long!
El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Grill
3906 N. Broad
GRABBY Weekend May 24 -27
6 Parties and a hundred gay porn stars!
Started in 1991 with humble beginnings, the Grabby Awards have know grown to attract international attention. The real turning point was in 2004 when the awards moved to the Park West, the well-known professional concert / event venue. This
was evidence of the growing prominence of the Grabbys and their
significance within the gay porn industry. Each year they seem to get bigger and better, with more porn stars and studios coming to town!
There is red carpet greeting as porn stars and adult entertainment movers and shakers arrive in limousines. It’s very Hollywood. But for gay porn!
Thursday May 24th, 2012 –
Grabby Official Kickoff Party with Chi Chi LaRue and lots of gay porn stars!
Hydrate 3458 N. Halsted from 10pm till ? $5 Cover.
Friday May 25th, 2012 – NakedSwords Tim & Roma Show –
Charlies 3726 N. Broadway. 6:00 – 9:00 PM Over
30 pornstars up close and personal. $5 Cover
Friday May 25th, 2012 –
Lucky HorseShoe 3169 N. Halsted 9pm-till ? $5 Cover
Saturday May 26th, 2012 -The Main Event The 2012 Grabbys!
Park West Theatre 322 W Armitage. Red carpet / doors open at 6:00 PM. Show stars at 7:30 PM.
GET TICKETS ONLINE
GRABBY AFTERPARTY – SPIN Nightclub Belmont/Halsted – 10pm till Close…
BUY TICKETS HERE!
Sunday May 27, 2012
Post Grabby Party at North End 3733 N Halsted from 12 – 6:00 PM $10 Cover. $15 at the door.
With a list of pornstars that will make you gag !!!!! Auctions for charity all day long.
* this event has sold out early in the past so get your tickets early space is limited! Tickets are available at North End.
A Beautiful Day in the neighborhood with Justin Hayford May 20th
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
Wit and Wisdom from
Children’s Public Television
Two of the most influential television programs in history – Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood – produced some of the wittiest and most endearing songs in the American popular songbook.
Chicago cabaret performer Justin Hayford has put them together for this special program, along with the fascinating stories behind their creation. This one-night-only show is an encore performance!
The songs may have been written for children, but their cleverness, insight and poignancy resonate at any age. This special encore performance will include additional songs not heard in the original show.
Admission: YOU SET THE ADMISSION PRICE!
Every dollar goes to benefit AIDS Legal Council of Chicago.
Reservations strongly recommended!
Make your reservation at Davenportspianobar.com or call 773-278-1830.
Sunday May 20 at 7 pm.Davenport’s Cabaret & Piano Bar
1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue at Honore
