Category Archives: News and Happenings
LOVE SUCKS on stage at Hydrate in Chicago
Pride Films and Plays
presents the award-winning play
LOVE SUCKS, the company’s first fully staged production – at HYDRATE.
Love Sucks by Rob Mersola, a not-so-romantic comedy of bad manners, opened this week and we got a sneak peak a couple nights ago.
Love Sucks, follows six romantically challenged philanderers through a 48-hour maze of the bars, back seats, and bathroom stalls of New York’s Lower East Side.
Love Sucks was recently named Best Production of a Comedy by the L.A. Scenie Awards, and Backstage Magazine hailed it as “90 minutes of down and dirty fun!”
PFP Artistic Associate John Nasca directs the comedy, which features PFP Artistic Ensemble members Valerie Heckman, Cyra K. Polizzi, Chad Ryan, Kevin Webb,(Chad and Ryan are pictured) and guest artists Edward Fraim and Adam Habben. The acting is top notch and the space at Hydrate provides a great room for the play.
Love Sucks will be performed at Hydrate, 3458 North Halsted. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8 pm through November 26. All tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets, or by calling 1 800 838 3006. It’s a great deal for 90 minutes of fun!
Director John Nasca is an Artistic Associate of PFP and co-founder and Artistic Director of Glitterati Productions. His directing credits include Gypsy, Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood, Beautiful Thing, The Ritz, and Moon Over Buffalo. He is also a 3-time Jeff-recommended costumer and the proud recipient of an After Dark Award. His costume work includes Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (Hartzell Productions), Anyone Can Whistle (Pegasus Players), Noises Off for producer/director Michael Leavitt, the Midwest premiere of Metropolis for Academy Award-winner Joseph Brooks, and Phantom (Porchlight). For Hell in a Handbag Productions, he designed Pussy on the House, Die! Mommie, Die!, Poseidon: An Upside-Down Musical, and Lady Ex. Other favorites include Follies, The Miracle Worker, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Me and My Gal, The Little Foxes, Rigoletto, Annie, The Great White Hope, Tintypes, The Women, On the Waterfront, and at Drury Lane, Something’s Afoot.
About Pride Films and Plays
Pride Films and Plays, based in Chicago, links an international network of writers with professionals working in film and theater. PFP fosters excellent writing for the stage and screen that speaks not only to the LGBT community, but is essential viewing for our friends, family, and co-workers. Using stories with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters or themes, Pride Films and Plays develops human stories that become a cultural bridge to understanding. Through readings, contests, classes, screenings, and full theater productions, PFP engages artists and audiences in the full developmental process needed to make great artistic experiences. For more information, visit Pridefilmsandplays.com.
Let My Private Chef Help You with your Holiday Party
Getting ready for holiday entertaining? Chef Tong will prepare: Crab, Coconut and Coriander Soup; Maple Soy glazed Salmon and Edamame. Watch Chef Chris prepare these wonderful recipes. There will be time for questions and answers about shopping, ingredients and preparation and then share in tasting the delicious results! For more information about this free Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store event, contact James Bordoshuk at 630.974.4377. NOVEMBER, 29, 2011 The popular appearances of Chef Christopher Tong of the upscale private gourmet dining service, My Private Chef, continue with some wonderful menu ideas emphasizing healthy eating so essential for Gilda’s Club members and their families. People living with cancer know that healthy eating is important for the body and the spirit. The meals in this cooking series are designed to inspire people living with cancer to eat well, serve beautiful food and stay healthy. For more information about this event, contact Gildaʼs Club Chicago at 312.464.9900 or visit Gildasclubchicago.org
Looking for some new cooking ideas for fall?
Let My Private Chef Help!
My Private Chef is enjoying popularity as one of Chicago’s favorite private gourmet dining services.
Need help during the holidays with your holiday cooking? Impress your friends with a dinner spread by Chef Tong and My Private Chef!
Trained in European-style fine cuisine, Chef Tong established his reputation at fine restaurants and hotels in Florida, California, and Chicago. Now he has adapted his impressive skills to the world of private entertaining. My Private Chef offers enticing cuisine for a wide range of events, from intimate dinners to weddings to corporate parties.
This month, Join Chef Tong
at Bloomingdale’s Home and Furniture Store
in Oakbrook, IL and Gilda’s Club Chicago
NOVEMBER 5, 2011
MY PRIVATE CHEF SHARES SOME DELICIOUS RECIPES FOR FALL ENTERTAINING AT BLOOMINGDALE’S HOME & FURNITURE STORE IN OAKBROOK CENTER
I know you will certainly enjoy attending the cooking demonstration by Chef Christopher Tong. He has been invited back to present some delicious recipes perfect for Fall entertaining. He will conduct the cooking demonstration on Saturday, November 5 at 1pm at the Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store in Oakbrook Center. 4 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL, Demo Kitchen on the 2nd Floor.
JOIN CHEF TONG FOR A HEALTHY MENU AT GILDA’S CLUB CHICAGO
Mark your calendar for this fun and infirmative event. This healthy cooking demonstration is on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 6pm at Gilda’s Club Chicago. The club is located at 537 North Wells Street, Chicago.
Gilda’s Club provides a place where men, women and children with cancer, and families and friends, join with others to build social and emotional support
in addition to medical care. Gilda’s Club is named in honor of the late comedian Gilda Radner.
My Private Chef has been a strong supporter of Gilda’s Club by providing this series of cooking demonstrations and conversations with Chef Tong.
For more information about My Private Chef, contact Event Services at 773.981.8131
or visit our web site: Myprivatechef.net
BAR lesque IV – Let the Stripper Fundraising Begin
During the month of November, contestants representing 15 community
businesses vie for the title of “Chicago’s Sexiest” to raise money for Test
Positive Aware Network (TPAN) in its month-long, online strip-a-thon
fundraiser “Barlesque IV”.
As people visit the Barlesque Web site and donate money, the contestants
appear in various stages of undress. Over the course of 5 donation levels,
contestants go from fully dressed to “nature’s best.”
The Barlesque competition officially runs through Wednesday, November 30,
11:59:00 p.m. Donations received beyond that time will not be counted toward the
winner of the Barlesque competition, but will be posted on the Bar-lesque Web
site. All money
raised through Barlesque goes directly to the work of TPAN.
Barlesque is part of TPAN’s annual burlesque event, Chicago Takes Off, which
will take place March 3, 2012, at the Park West. WHICH IS AN AMAZING MUST-SEE SHOW! Last year was a sell-out!
Beyond the 30 day online fundraising, most all the competing “strippers” will be hosting fundraising parties all over the city. Many feature entertainment, some will have open bars, etc. Check out this list of cool fundraising events!
NOV 11th Mini Bar Party – Art Auction
NOV 16th Debonair Social Club $20 donation/ 2 hour hosted bar
NOV 16th Lucky Horseshow
NOV 17th ELIXER & DS Tequila
NOV 18th North End $5 donation, prizes, and lube wrestling
NOV 20th Y BAR 8pm-2am. 5 djs, Fantasy Philanthropy Fetish Party
MEET THE CONTESTANTS ONLINE and follow their fundraising efforts and make donations.
LAST NIGHT the contestants gave us a little strip show!
Check out BEST GAY CHICAGO on FACEBOOK and LIKE US to see all the hot photos!!
TPAN
BAR-LESQUE
Annual World of Chocolate benefit Returns Dec. 1
Chocolate lovers can satisfy their sweet tooth and commemorate World AIDS Day at World of Chocolate, AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s (AFC) 10th annual winter soiree to be held on Dec. 1 at the Hilton Chicago.
At the one-of-a-kind event, guests are invited to indulge on sweet and savory morsels from more than 30 of Chicago’s finest chocolatiers, restaurants and caterers, while raising funds for the fight against HIV/AIDS.
This annual holiday fundraising event, is
The most anticipated holiday event of the year!
Thursday, December 1 – VIP Reception, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.; General Admission, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Hilton Chicago – 720 S. Michigan Avenue – International Ballroom –
Cocktail Attire/Business Casual
Ticket Information
Tickets range from $100 to $1,500. Click here for ticket details and pricing.
Guests will also enjoy a light buffet, specialty cocktails, a raffle with lavish prizes and music.
AND CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE AND MORE CHOCOLATE!
Tickets purchased on or before Nov. 11 will be mailed;
all other tickets will be held at will-call at the event.
For tickets and more information, please visit A World of Chocolate online at Aidschicago.org/chocolate.
Chocolatiers…
You’ll sample unique chocolate savories and sweets created by chefs and chocolatiers from Chicago’s finest, including:
Argo Tea
Blommer Chocolate Store
Canady de Chocolatier
Confection Diva
Das Foods LLC
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
The Hearty Boys
Hilton Chicago
Illinois Nut & Candy
Just Like U Like It Catering
Kay’s Candies
Kendall College School of Culinary Arts
La Parisianne du Chocolat Company
La Taberna Tapas
Macy’s Culinary Council
Palmer House Hilton
The Peninsula Chicago
Renee’s Raw Chocolate
Sixteen at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago
Sterling Tea
Terry’s Toffee
University Club Chicago
Wow Bao–Hot Asian buns
To mark the 30th year of the AIDS epidemic, a memorial wall will provide guests with the opportunity to honor and support loved ones diagnosed with the disease.
Best Food and Wine Chicago
Best Gay Chicago.com
Michael Leppen to Host Benefit Nov. 14th
Monday, November 14 · 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Michael A. Leppen Hosts A Benefit for Pride Films and Plays That Is
SIMPLY SENSATIONAL!
Pride Films and Plays is pleased to announce that Michael A. Leppen is hosting a benefit on November 14, 2011, featuring the best talent in Chicago in music, dance, comedy, and theater!
Tickets for the evening – which includes appetizers, a complimentary beer and wine bar, desserts, and the program – are $50 for VIP, and $25 for General Admission.
VIP tickets include reserved seats, program recognition, and one ticket to PFP’s current comedy Love Sucks! (running through November 26). Tickets may be purchased online at Brown Paper Tickets or calling 1 800 838 3006.
The evening begins with cocktails and appetizers from 6:30 to 7:30, when the performance begins.
Desserts will be featured at intermission.
Performers for the evening include singers Tom Michael, Natalie Myre, and Honey West, comedy from ThoraBurch, opera from Daina Fisher, dance from the Crush Dance Collective, performances by Pride Films and Plays Artistic Ensemble, and a scene from Rob Mersola’s Love Sucks! For the most complete line-up, visit our Facebook Page.
Michael A. Leppen is a philanthropist, fund-raiser, and he has provided leadership and financial support for a large variety of nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area and elsewhere, many of them serving sexual-minority communities with regard to concerns such as HIV/AIDS, lesbian health, youth work and mass media. For years, Michael has given leadership and financial support to a large variety of non-profit organizations in the Chicago area and elsewhere, many of them serving sexual-minority communities. His contributions have been made unselfishly, without regard to faction, and with a focus on the positive effects of actual work being done.
——————————————————————————–
Location Hoover-Leppen Theater of Center on Halsted
3656 N Halsted Chicago, IL
Pride Films and Plays, based in Chicago, links an international network of writers with professionals working in film and theater.
PFP fosters excellent writing for the stage and screen that speaks not only to the LGBT community, but is essential viewing for our friends, family, and co-workers. Using stories with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender characters or themes, Pride Films and Plays develops human stories that become a cultural bridge to understanding.
Through readings, contests, classes, screenings, and full theater productions, PFP engages artists and audiences in the full developmental process needed to make great artistic experiences.
For more information visit Pridefilmsandplays.com.
IN THE JUNGLE – A very cool Play in the Round at Brown Elephant in Andersonville
In the Jungle
is a play about a fight between two men, George Garga and C Shlink.
Edward Eberwine III plays George Garga. Written in Germany in 1921 but set in Chicago, 1912, In the Jungle portrays the arbitrary duel of a lumber merchant and a poor book clerk. It takes place in the form of a boxing match, with each scene representing one round. Shlink is a wealthy lumber merchant at the start of the play and Garga is only a clerk in a book lending library.
The setting was partially inspired by Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, but contains Brecht’s unique imagination and mistaken assumptions about America. Among the many themes of the play are communism, capitalism, animalism, love, hate and human isolation. It is a dense, nihilistic portrayal of the human condition.
The show is currently in rehearsals and will open at the Brown Elephant Thrift Store in Andersonville on November 17th, 2011.
How cool is that?!
Wakadoo Productions and the Howard Brown Health Organization are pleased to present Wallace Dirge’s adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s In the Jungle of Cities, directed by Emmy-nominee Keaton Wooden. As part of an ongoing mission of Wakadoo Productions to use Art to serve the community in tangible ways, half of all ticket proceeds will go to the Howard Brown Health Organization to help promote sexual wellness in Chicago for the LGBT community.
Dirges’ In the Jungle, an adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s In the Jungle of Cities, is an allegorical story of the epic battle between a wealthy businessman and a poor bookseller in 1912 Chicago. The production will run from Nov. 17th-20th and Nov. 30th-Dec. 18th (16 shows) at Brown Elephant, 5404 N Clark, at the site of the historic Calo Theatre in Andersonville. Each evening the thrift store will be transformed into a 1912 makeshift boxing ring, with set designed by the talented Shaun Renfro.
“We want to make a powerful, memorable event that will not only affect Chicago emotionally, but also physically,” explains director Wooden. “This piece is a tale of the senseless power of hatred, its devilish intimacy and its ultimate destruction, how easily we resort to it and how painful the results are. The danger and perhaps even the draw of this story is its acknowledgment that we all have thought to resort to the vulgar actions made by these characters. I am thrilled to bring this haunting story to the Chicago community.”
Tickets for $30 are on sale to the public and may be
purchased by visiting Brownpapertickets.com/event/207296.
For more information, please visit InTheJungleChicago.com
and facebook.com/inthejunglechicago
Matthew Harvat and Circuit Mom Productions 4th Installment Revolution Parties was AMAZING
(Top photos Chadwick Cipiti – see more on Picassa)
WOW!
Amazing, Awesome, Beautiful, Spectacular, Eye-Popping, Rad, First Rate, Remarkable, Wonderful….these were just some of the adjectives people were saying last Saturday at House of Blues.
Matthew Harvat and Circuit Mom Productions did their 4th and final installment of Revolution for 2011 with ZOMBIE REVOLUTION. Amazing costumes, staging, production numbers and music – THE BAR HAS BEEN RAISED, Chicago. The Saturday night Main Event we all miss, IS BACK!
(Photos Above by Michael Snell – LIKE BestGayChicago on Facebook – and see more!)
Over 700 attendees – A cast on stage of 20+, 2 djs, Lasers, LEDs, professional choreography and staging – For $40, this is like nothing Chicago has ever seen.
Sergio Ceron is responsible for the 4 custom Zombie mask creations. Plaster molds of faces (and Matthews whole head) were made, then he poured silicon, let it cure and carved out the detail work which he detailed out by hand painting. It is the same techniques used for special effects in movies. The Zombie dancers makeup were done by the team of 3 from Kryolan Theatrical Makeup company and their new Chicago boutique located at 2034 N. Halsted. WOW. WOW. WOW.
REVOLUTION will return in 2012. With parties for Gay Prise and Market Days already set. And probably 2 more TBA. If you missed this year, go see what everyone is talking about, next year!
Circuit Mom Productions
Zombie REVOLUTION Oct. 29
Chicago’s biggest and best party promoter returns Saturday, October 29th!
In June of 2011, Matthew Harvat, owner of Circuit Mom Productions, Inc. launched a new 4 part series of high end, large production gay dance parties called “REVOLUTION” at Chicago’s famed House Of Blues.
ZOMBIE REVOLUTION happens this weekend!
This Halloween event will feature a spectacular laser show to accompany the amazing talents of Grammy nominated producer/DJ/remixer Tony Moran, who’s gold record roster includes some of the biggest names in music. Cher, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Sting, Luther Vandross and Deborah Cox are but a few of Tony’s masterful success stories.
Pair this DJ’s brilliance with the set design, laser show, costuming and production numbers produced by Matthew Harvat featuring dancers from Chicago’s internationally successful dancers from the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company and Gus Giordano with choreography by Todd M. Kiech, and you have a night of Halloween Zombie madness you will not soon forget.
Chicago superstar DJ Phil DaBeatz has also come on board to bring his own tribal magic to this amazing party. A jam packed event of visual and aural pleasure in true Halloween and Circuit MOM fashion.
Avoid online fees – Tickets at CRAM now.
3329 N. Broadway
Tickets online now at clubtix.com
Occupy Chicago to Occupy City Hall Today!
RAHM EMANUEL
is making no friends this week.
Peace and social justice activists upset at Chicago police harassment of Occupy Chicago and verbal threats against those planning to protest the May 2012 G8/NATO summits will launch a non-violent action dubbed “Occupy City Hall” beginning at 1:30 PM, Wednesday, October 26 at the intersection of LaSalle and Jackson. The action will include a march on City Hall.
In light of the City’s arrests of peaceful Occupy Chicago protesters exercising their 1st Amendment rights last Saturday night and the Saturday before that, activists will be demanding that the City drop all the charges against the protesters. During and after the arrests, senior CPD officers and other city officials repeatedly remarked that the City’s arrests of over 300 were a dry run for crackdowns on anti-G8/NATO protesters next May.
In addition to dropping the charges against Occupy Chicago participants, we will also be demanding that the City allow a permanent 1st Amendment encampment for the Occupy movement, just as many other major cities now do.
SOFA Chicago Art and Design Show Nov. 4-6
THE ART FAIR COMPANY PRESENTS One Ticket Admits Patrons To Both Fairs
18TH ANNUAL SOFA CHICAGO 2011
+ THE INTUIT SHOW OF FOLK & OUTSIDER ART
SIDE-BY-SIDE IN NAVY PIER’S FESTIVAL HALL NOV. 4 – 6
And Related Lecture Series,
Special Exhibits And Events
Opening Night VIP and
Public Preview Thursday, Nov. 3
SOFA CHICAGO 2011, the critically acclaimed International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair, will share the Pier’s Festival Hall with The Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider Art. SOFA CHICAGO, now in its 18th year, enjoys the prestigious position of being the largest and longest continually running art fair in Chicago, a mainstay of the city’s cultural and social calendar.
The Chicago Sun-Times hails SOFA CHICAGO as “amazing,” and Bradley Lincoln of Chicago Home + Garden raves, “This is one of my favorite art shows in Chicago – I guarantee you will see some flashy, jaw dropping works of…genius.” The SOFA CHICAGO and Intuit Show’s joint Opening Night Preview on Thursday, Nov. 3 will be open to the public from 7 – 9 p.m. with ticket purchase.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sofaexpo.com.
THE Chicago Halloween Party NOT To Miss! Oct. 29th
In the spirit of giving back and sharing their successes, CircuitMOM Productions, Inc. has partnered with The StandUP Foundation, Inc, to stop the bullying of not only LGBT kids, but any child or person worldwide. A portion of each ticket sold goes directly to The StandUP Foundation, Inc, which in turn supports organizations that help combat this universal problem and keep kids safe, strong and builds self confidence.
Chicago’s biggest and best party promoter returns Saturday, October 29th!
In June of 2011, Matthew Harvat, owner of Circuit Mom Productions, Inc. launched a new 4 part series of high end, large production gay dance parties called “REVOLUTION” at Chicago’s famed House Of Blues.
With the audiences growing larger and stronger at each event, the fourth and final party, “ZOMBIE REVOLUTION” being held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 will not only end the eight year absence of a major Saturday night Halloween dance party for the gay community, but also cap off a spectacular first year of new events and only build excitement for the 2012 REVOLUTION series kicking off during next years Gay Pride.
This Halloween event will feature a spectacular laser show to accompany the amazing talents of Grammy nominated producer/DJ/remixer Tony Moran, who’s gold record roster includes some of the biggest names in music. Cher, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Sting, Luther Vandross and Deborah Cox are but a few of Tony’s masterful success stories.
Pair this DJ’s brilliance with the set design, laser show, costuming and production numbers produced by Matthew Harvat featuring dancers from Chicago’s internationally successful dancers from the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company and Gus Giordano with choreography by Todd M. Kiech, and you have a night of Halloween Zombie madness you will not soon forget.
Chicago superstar DJ Phil DaBeatz has also come on board to bring his own tribal magic to this amazing party. A jam packed event of visual and aural pleasure in true Halloween and Circuit MOM fashion.
We are keeping ticket prices very low in comparison to other events of this magnitude. We want to make the event more accessible to the masses, especially in the current economy.
Avoid online fees – Tickets at CRAM now.
3329 N. Broadway
Tickets online now at clubtix.com
CHECK OUT THE ZOMBIE Opera Box giveaway today on Circuitmom.com ! It’s only running for a week!
Rahm is Proposing to Do Away With LGBT Council
Though an influential group of 200 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Chicagoans stood up behind Mayor Rahm Emanuel and endorsed his candidacy earlier this year, many LGBT activists in the Windy City expressed alarmed at the new mayor’s latest move: a proposed budget that eviscerates their community’s city-sponsored advisory council. At the latest meeting of the city’s Advisory Council on LGBT Issues, the Windy City Times reports that many council members are hoping to “go down fighting” against their council being combined with the city’s Women’s Issues Advisory Council under a new name: the advisory council on Gender and Sexuality. Some council members object both that the words “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual” and “transgender” have been removed from the council’s title and that they were not consulted with concerning the change. In a previous story addressing the cuts, the Windy City Times reported that the council’s director, Bill Greaves, will lose his job as of January 1. The council’s chair Beth Kelly said the change “sends a message that Chicago does not care about this community.” Kit Duffy, the first-ever LGBT liaison to the mayor, added that the change “signals a lack of recognition, and I think it signals an ignorance of impact.”
READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON HUFFINGTON POST
OCCUPY CHICAGO resumes tonight 10-22-2011
At Occupy Chicago we understand this as a gross violation of our First Amendment right to peacefully assemble. Free speech and assembly is a 24 hour right. It does not magically disappear at the park’s Curfew. In a world that continues to have its public space privatized, indeed that continues to have all things public stolen from us, it is essential that we reclaim and build a public space to bulwark ourselves against the oncoming tide ofcorporate greed. We are trying erect a public space, one that is not owned or sponsored, where ideas, democracy, and the resistance against the ever increasing cuts that affect all us, can be fostered.
Saturday
Chicago Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine, is an independent literary Upon receipt of a major gift from philanthropist Ruth Lilly, the Poetry Foundation was established in 2003, evolving from the Modern Poetry Association, which was founded in 1941. The Poetry Foundation is one of the largest literary foundations in the world. The Poetry Foundation works to raise poetry to a more visible and influential position in American culture. Rather than celebrating the status quo, the Foundation seeks to be a leader in shaping a receptive climate for poetry by developing new audiences, creating new avenues for delivery, and encouraging new kinds of poetry. In the long term, the Foundation aspires to alter the perception that poetry is a marginal art, and to make it directly relevant to the American public. Building Hours: 11AM – 4PM Garden Hours: 9AM – 5PM Library Hours: See library information for details
organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture. It exists to discover and celebrate the best poetry and to place it before the largest possible audience.
Celebrating nearly 100 YEARS!! When Harriet Monroe founded Poetry magazine in 1912, she wrote that her publication was “a modest effort to give to poetry her own place.” Now, nearly one hundred years later, poetry quite literally has that place. Opened to the public in June 2011, the building houses a public garden, a 30,000-volume library, an exhibition gallery, the Poetry Foundation’s programming offices—including the offices of Poetry magazine—and provides new space for the Foundation’s extensive roster of public programs and events. – Their building on Superior is a MUST SEE.
61 West Superior Street Chicago, IL 60654
Night of 100 Drag Queens Oct 25-26
VIP Reception & Show Includes early admission for a VIP Reception beginning at 7:00p.m. Doors open for General Admission at 8:00pm Door tickets: $25.00 per person General Admission Show Doors open for General Admission at 8:00pm Door tickets: $15.00 per person (IF AVAILABLE)
Advance tickets as low as $10! This event is sure to sell out.
GraveYard Glamour Ball Oct. 28
Civil Rights Agenda
Halloween Fundraiser
Graveyard Glamour Ball and will be held on Friday, October 28 in the Industrial Ballroom of the Ravenswood Event Center.
4011 N Ravenswood Ave
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love Halloween and I cannot wait to join other LGBT civil rights supporters and dance as DJ Bern and DJ Curley spin all night.
The event begins at 8pm and ends at midnight, and for $55 you receive a hosted bar for all four hours, as well as light food.
We will be raffling off amazing prizes and Jayson and I will also be judging a costume contest with prizes, so get your Graveyard Glamour on and join us on the red carpet!
Tickets are $65 at the door, so make sure you purchase your tickets online. See you there!!
New Gay Parties Set To Rock Chicago! Oct. 13
A new party concept is about to take Chicago by storm! Think you’re fearless? Think again. There are an infinite number of phobias (multiplying daily) with over 500 medical related phobias listed online. Some phobias have never been appropriately labeled. There are phobias with tongue-twisting pronunciations that might have been too difficult and fearful for even Einstein to attempt to pronounce. – Hippopotomnstrosesquipedaliophobia – fear of long words. What scares YOU? What do YOU fear? Producer and phobia visionary, Experience the incredible fun and fear of EVENT-A-PHOBIA! Do you dare come to our sneak preview? Be brave — take a deep breath and get ready to be AFRAID.
EVENT-A-PHOBIA™ is a new and exciting concept, which cleverly and uniquely allows people to finally address that serious, and unspoken subject — FEAR via entertainment and merriment.
clowns – coulrophobia
snakes – snakephobia
spiders – aracnophobia
bogeyman – bogyphobia
heights – acrophobia
confined spaces – claustrophobia
Will Harrison aka visuwil® of visuwil LLC.
is known for his creative, whimsical, and edgy theme settings.
To express and bring to life his phobia theme, he incorporates extraordinary costumed artists, extravagantly masked models, 3D props, eye-popping decor, stimulating live music, and, of course, your favorite flow of libations all staged within a selected nightlife or social environment.
Do you dare enter this unusual realm of phobias?
Do you dare attempt to face your own personal fears?
Come experience the EVENT of all EVENTS!!!
DJ Phil DaBeatz
EVENT-A-PHOBIA™ parties make it FUN to play with your fears — “visualize your innermost fear … and play with it”
Thursday, Oct, 13th HYDRATE 11pm-4am 3458 N. Halsted
Rosie O’Donnell NOW PLAYING in Chicago on OWN Gives Interviews Today
The out, proud mom of four is ever funny, packed with high-energy and AUTHENTIC – a talk show with a heart – no two days of THE ROSIE SHOW will be alike. Rosie will cover current events, spotlight hometown heroes and newsmakers, showcase the arts, celebrate kids and families, as well as feature well-known and upcoming talent. All done here in Chicago at Harpo Studios. The other day in Chicago, I went to Millennium Park, to a Broadway concert. I’m acting as if I’m allowed to live like this, and the people in the city are allowing me. It feels good to be here. I even had to wait for a table at Gino’s East. I walked in, and they said, “Name?” I said, “Rosie.” They said, “Hi, Rosie. Welcome to Chicago. Sit down, it’ll be 20 minutes.” It wasn’t like there was a line outside—and there were empty tables, too! I thought, Well, this is going to take some getting used to, but it’s a good lesson!”
AS YOU MUST KNOW BY NOW,
Rosie O’Donnell is bringing her wisdom, talent and brilliant sense of humor (and don’t forget NICE!) to THE ROSIE SHOW. Airing begins October 10th on OWN.
At the heart of the show is Rosie’s genuine desire to entertain, inspire and connect with America. As a down-to-earth mother, passionate advocate for children and all-around inquisitive individual, Rosie will relate to her audience in meaningful ways-touching their hearts, sparking their minds and making them laugh.
I caught up Rosie today in between press meetings. Shows will be taped and aired the same day to be relevant.
“I am very excited to be here in Chicago. I really didn’t know much about Chicago. I had only been here a few times. BUT WOW! Chicago is EPICALLY BEAUTIFUL! I got a Segway tour last week and we covered about 10 miles.
I was stuck in a hotel downtown for my first couple months here, but now have purchased a condo in Lakeview. One of the producers had owned the condo, it was totally redone and I told him I wanted it. Furnished. Leave me a couple night shirts and even some toilet paper. Everything! So I bought it!”
“It’s in a cool neighborhood, I can walk everywhere, walk to restaurants…I love it. Eveveryone keeps warning me about the WINTER. The COLD. My new place has a heated garage and even the roof deck has this melting device – so I think I am ready! I am just very excited to be here. The outpouring of love and support has been truly wonderful!”
Lucky for Chicago, Oprah grabbed Rosie when she did. Rosie had an offer on the table from NBC for a show. “Something kept me from signing on the dotted line. I had the contract on my desk for over week. But network TV didn’t feel right. And then, Oprah and I had a 4 hour meeting, and that was it.”
The Rosie Show is destined for greatness. This is just what OWN needed. The network has gotten off to slow start but the Rosie Show is just the shot in the arm, the network needs. O’Donnell isn’t worried about her new home on OWN. “I have tremendous faith in Oprah’s ability to do almost anything,” she says. “When she puts her mind to anything, it gets down. People ask if I feel pressure. I feel nothing but privilege, really.” She lated added, “If you look at the launch of any cable channel, it takes three years. The people are just waiting for us to fill up the programming. Its going to be a huge hit like everything else Oprah touches.”
OPRAH SAID, “In 25 years of doing my show, only one competitor ever seriously challenged me in the ratings: Rosie O’Donnell. From the day Rosie took her place among the crowded field of talk show hosts, I knew she had that “It” thing: She was as sharp as she was authentic, as forthright as she was funny. During six seasons of NBC’s The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she not only won 11 Emmys—she knew how to use her screen time to truly connect.”
One thing that sounds really great about the new show, is its not about quantity, but quality of guests. Rather than trying to cram in 3 guests a day for 5 minute spots, the show will feature one guest on for several segments.
“Since I’ve been off the air, television has become saturated with celebrities. In America we’re addicted in a way that’s embarrassing. So it’s not going to be all about celebrity. It’ll be a celebration of humanity, of connection, of authenticity and love.
Because it’s on at 7, we’re going to do a hybrid between a late-night show and a daytime show. We’ll incorporate the audience. We’ll use Twitter. We’ll use Facebook. We’ve come up with a new kind of talk show that mixes the old single-topic format with fun and social media. So it will have a reality feel. We’ll have to get the kinks out, but the same way I knew the first one would work, I know this will work.“
Watch for a star studded opening week including a who’s who list of stars! Appearances by Salma Hyek, Lisa Kudrow, Gloria Estefan, Roseanne Barr, Sharon and Kelly Osborne, Ricky Lake, Gloria Steinem, Wanda Sykes, the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Kevin Bacon, Fran Drescher , but she still has a wish list of other stars. “Adele has throat issues but as soon as she’s up and healthy she’ll be on,” she says. “I want to have Melissa McCarthy on. Never seen anyone as funny their first time as host of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Emma Stone… Ryan Gosling I think is an amazing actor. I have a huge wish list.”
“I’m going to come out and do stand-up with a mic. I don’t really tell jokes and my stand-up was always more about stories, so I need a mic and a stand. I felt like Henny Youngman [without it]. I’ll do about ten minutes of stand up, then take questions from the audience like Carol Burnett did. So we’re gonna have a real lengthy sit down interview, not always a celebrity with something to promote. Then we have a human interest segment and we play a game at the end of every show…. This will be more fun than anyone imagined. I cheat, but it’s still fun.”
Whether it’s hilarious comedy and game segments, (Rosie LOVES The Price is Right) a live performance by a major recording artist, a celebrity visit, or a discussion of an issue important to Americans, THE ROSIE SHOW’s candid exploration of a wide variety of subjects will encourage all of us to laugh, love and live our best lives.
JERRY NUNN, freelance writer in Chicago, asked Rosie if we would see her at Sidetrack for Sunday ShowTunes anytime soon. “OH MY GOSH, WHEN? I didn’t know about it!! Will they play THE RINK with Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli?? Very few people know the words to that. I could have a solo. I know all of the words! I could perform it!” – so keep an eye out for Rosie at Sidetracks!
* I have RCN and OWN is part of a news and information package I had to buy, for an additional $5.95 a month. But hey, it’ll be worth it!
BestGayChicago.com
