Beaches, Bars, Socials, Events and More!
Chicago Takes Off – Male and Female Dancers for TPAN Charity
Chicago Takes Off is the annual burlesque revue-style show where talented male and female dancers donate their time and energy to strut their stuff in support of TPAN. Colorful and energetic choreographed performances and entertainment engage audiences in this sexy celebration of life.
Chicago Takes Off: TV Land Outside the Box will expose the finest assets of Chicago’s dance community. As the title signifies, this years theme,TV Land Outside the Box, will showcase burlesque, theatrical and variety acts using classic TV shows as inspiration.
The two shows, sponsored by TPAN, a charity, will be held on Saturday, March 6th at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Park West (322 W. Armitage).
Chicago Takes Off Table Captain Kickoff Party on Sunday, January 17 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Scarlet Bar
(3320 N. Halsted) with a special preview performance.
Only tables will be sold on Sunday. Individual tickets can be purchased beginning Monday, January 18.
Purchase tickets to the 7:30 PM show
Purchase tickets to the 10:00 PM show
Chicago Takes Off Video Clip
The Best of Gay Chicago
Chicago T2 – TEAM TO END AIDS
FEEL GREAT and
GET LUCKY
when you participate in the
AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s
new endurance training program:
TEAM TO END AIDS (T2)!
T2 is our new and exciting program to train YOU to complete a marathon, half marathon or triathlon and raise money to help us triumph over AIDS. We offer comprehensive training programs for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon and the Chicago Half Marathon. And, we are thrilled to add to the line-up this year a training program for the Chicago Triathlon through TriMonster and Fitness Formula Clubs.
Here’s where you get lucky!
As an incentive to find out more AND register with us, we have two “GET LUCKY” raffles you will be included in:
We will draw 20 names from everyone registered for T2 by Noon this Tuesday, 2/23, to win one of 20
T2 slots in the sold-out Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle,
the world’s largest 8K race of over 36,000 runners; and
We will draw one name from the first 250 registered T2 participants to win two $500
tickets to AFC’s 25th Anniversary Gala on May 1st and featuring The Bangles (a $1,000 value).
So, the time to register is NOW!
Visit the T2 website, get more information, and REGISTER for the challenge of your choice.
P.S. We also invite you to become a fan of T2 on our Facebook page.
And, coming soon: an exclusive T2 Facebook Application for registered participants only!
The Best of Gay Chicago
SISSYBOY Comes to CIMM Fest 2010
The Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, CIMM FEST, celebrated its inaugural year with huge press coverage, special guests from all over the globe, an opening night party that included Lech Kowalski’s world premiere event Camera War, photographer Richard Bellia’s first show in the US and much much more. If there were any reservations the staff had leading up to the opening weekend last year, 15,000 attendees ended that pretty quickly. Chicago wanted this thing from the start with the Department of Cultural affairs as presenting sponsor and many other fantastic sponsors like Earhole Studios, Reckless Records, and Starbucks helping the first year to be much more than could have ever been expected.
As a film festival created by filmmakers and musicians, CIMMfest showcases visionaries and innovative works that unify us in ways that only movies and music can. Cimm Fest 2010 takes place March 4 – 7th.
“Provocative, political, and often in poor taste, Portland’s unclassifiable Sissyboy drag troupe raised eyebrows and hackles for three years before disbanding, its members scattering across the country. No topic, from abortion to Matthew Shepard, was off-limits, and first-time filmmaker Katie Turinski followed them through their last year together, documenting the troupe’s tour of the West Coast. This is not your father’s drag show.”
SISSYBOY has been around since July of 2004. SISSYBOY is a punk rock, back-hand slap in the face, explosive reaction to the ever prevalent need to bend gender roles until they break. Taking the torch from our sisters before us, SISSYBOY has transcended traditional drag by welcoming all gender queer and radical thinkers into a world where anything and everything goes. No longer hiding their complex sexual identities behind the make-up; SISSYBOYs radiate their energy as vulnerable men, fierce women and sadistic shamans, working out our demons on stage.
Theatrically, SISSYBOY is a monthly drag experience of hairspray, duct tape, eyelash adhesive, and stage vomit–all safety-pinned into an unforgetably glamorous show. Tied together by common threads, SISSYBOYs are a progressive drag ensemble, who are at the forefront of the current cultural revolution–entertaining and enlightening their audience while bridging the gap between conventional and unconventional gender roles. They are basically gay white trash who don’t fit into the “normal” gay stereotypes!
Watch the SISSYBOY movie trailer.
Sissyboy will be at BERLIN March 5th, 954 W. Belmont
Movie Showing: Sat. March 6th, 4:30pm, St Paul’s Cultural Center
2215 W. North Ave., Chicago BUY TICKETS ONLINE
Thee Majesty featuring Genesis Breyer P-Orridge (formerly of Throbbing Gristle) is another of gay interest. “Thee Majesty began in 1998 as a spoken word project, originally founded by Genesis Breyer P-Orridge of Psychic TV and Bryin Dall of 4th Sign of the Apocalypse, A Murder of Angels and Dream Into Dust. Featuring P-Orridge, Thee Majesty is made up of a revolving group of members including Morrison Edley of PTV3 and The Toilet Boys. Thee Majesty’s music is a mix of spoken word performance art against Dall’s free-flowing guitar rhythms.
LIVE PERFORMANCES by Thee Majesty are uncommon, but CIMMfest will be host to a special OPENING NIGHT presentation, following the Chicago premiere of as yet to be disclosed documentary, featuring Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, who also appears in conjunction with Marie Losier’s screening of Papal Broken-Dance.”
Thursday March 4, 7:00pm
St Paul’s Cultural Center BUY TICKETS ONLINE
THE BEST OF GAY CHICAGO
Hope Takes Action – HIV Vaccine Trial in Chicago!
Every 10 minutes, someone in the United States is infected with HIV. A preventive vaccine against HIV offers the best long-term hope to end this worldwide epidemic. Finding a safe and effective HIV vaccine that will protect people is a huge task. We cannot do it without your help.
- We are currently seeking 1350 men who have sex with men to participate in a vaccine trial. You cannot become infected with HIV from the vaccines.
- The study will take place in several cities in the United States.
Participants must be:
- Men who have sex with men
- 18-45 years old
- HIV-negative
- Circumcised
Safety is a primary goal of the vaccine trial. This is a Phase II study, designed to yield limited information on the effectiveness of the vaccine. The research vaccines have been found to be safe in animals and hundreds of humans in previous trials. One of the vaccines is made from an inactivated cold virus known as an adenovirus. The vaccines do NOT contain the HIV virus, and CANNOT cause HIV infection. Since these vaccines are still being researched, we urge all of our participants to practice safe sex.
The HIV vaccine trial is a collaboration between the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, the Division of AIDS, NIAID and the Vaccine Research Center, NIAID.
For Chicago – contact Project WISH / University of Illinois at Chicago
840 S. Wood St, Room B39 Chicago, IL 60612 312 413-5897
The Best of Gay Chicago
Whitney Cummings OUTS a Tv Anchor on WGN? WTF?
If you watch E!s “Chelsea Lately”
you may have seen Whitney Cummings
on the show before.
She was in town recently at Zanies and made at stop at WGN. Some, found her hilarious on the Morning News show, as she pulled Paul Konrad out of his weather closet!
Is GAY that funny?
Apparently.
Brian Drabik of Chicago sent WGN the following letter –
To the Editor:
This morning I turned on WGN Morning News and Whitney Cummings was on.
While on air, she was sitting at Paul Konrad’s spot at the desk and she updated his Facebook status because he had left his computer logged on. She updated it to say “Paul Konrad is gay.”
People in the studio laughed and Robin remarked, while laughing, “I think he’s posted that before.”
This wasn’t enough. You then later re-aired this clip, with the newscasters laughing and then having Paul remark about how many Facebook comments he recieved in response to the status update.
Is it funny to be gay? Am I missing some comedic gem here? I’m shocked that this was allowed and encouraged. Do you know what it’s like to grow up being gay and teased and humiliated for being different than everyone else?
I don’t understand why it’s okay to use a sexual orientation as a joke, on a news broadcast nonetheless. If the “comedian” said “Paul Konrad is black” or “Paul Konrad is a woman,” Asian or Latino, would that be as funny?
And while I know you aren’t responsible for the comments of your guests, I would expect you to have your newscasters keep their bigoted jokes to themselves. Most of all, I am really upset that it was re-aired, put the video online and you Tweeted about it! So clearly no one there understood that this was just out and out wrong.
I never write letters like this complaining, but I had to today, I am personally offended and truly saddened. I can’t watch your show anymore. I certainly don’t want to watch a station that thinks my sexual orientation is laughable.
I know you sit on the float at the Gay Pride Parade every year to show your support, but now I’ll just wonder if you’re there just to laugh at us.
I would appreciate an apology.
– BRIAN DRABIK, CHICAGO
To which WGN responded –
Dear Brian:
Thank you for writing to the WGN Morning News. We always appreciate getting feedback from our viewers.
Our anchors did laugh at the comedian for posting a false message about Paul live on Facebook.
Paul got caught leaving his Facebook page open, and the comedian was able to hijack it for all to see.
It’s unfortunate that what started as an attempt at a joke, ended up as offensive to our viewers.
I agree that as the morning progressed, the “joke” took on a life of its own with little regard for the feelings of our audience.
That was wrong and I sincerely apologize for it.
Your e-mail is an important reminder to us that we need to be vigilant against allowing or encouraging feeble attempts at “humor” that display a lack of respect for others.
I’m also sorry that, as a viewer, we let you down.
It is our goal every morning to provide our viewers with the best news, weather, traffic and entertainment in the morning.
I hope one day you will choose to watch us again, so that we may regain your trust.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
– GREG CAPUTO, NEWS DIRECTOR, WGN-TV
Where do we draw the line? What if it had been a Jew Joke? Paul Konrad is married. Why didn’t Whitney say “Paul’s out banging his mistress this morning!” – instead of PAUL IS GAY?
Watch the video clip on Chicago Now.
Roscoe’s Invite You to an ABSOLUT Berri Acai Party!
Roscoe’s
is proud to host the
GLBT Industry Launch Party
for Absolut’s newest flavor,
Absolut Berri Acai!
*Açaí grows on palm trees in South America, blueberries are mainly native to North America and Europe, and pomegranate is a delicacy from south-west Asia.
The variant is the 12th flavour
extension in the Absolut portfolio.
Please join us on
Monday, February 15th @ 9pm
for a night to remember…
Absolut Berri Acai hosted bar from 9-Midnight
Tribal Beats & Dancers
from Circuit Mom Productions
And Much, Much More…
Please RSVP to
events@roscoes.com
ROSCOES 3356 N. Halsted Chicago
Freedom To Marry – Reception February 18th!
LAMBDA LEGAL
and its partner and sponsor organizations
cordially invite you
to a FREE event:
The 9th Annual
Freedom to Marry Reception
Educate. Advocate. Celebrate.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago
(Three blocks from the 18th Street stop on the Pink Line.)
Music by DJ Harry T, Cake-Cutting, Hors d’Oeuvres, Open Bar & much, much more!
Also, a special performance of “Let Them Eat Cake,” created by Holly Hughes and Megan Carney with Maureen Angelos and an ensemble of Chicago’s finest artists & activists. ASL interpretation provided.
BE PART OF A MOVEMENT!
Join us as we honor the commitment of local same-sex couples and continue the fight for marriage equality.
RSVP preferred: Lambda Legal Events
Lauren Hernandez or Simon Aronoff @ lhernandez@lambdalegal.org
(312) 663-4413 x327
Lesbian Comic Vickie Shaw in Chicago for Laugh Out Loud Fridays at Circuit Nightclub
V I C K I E
Lesbian comic VICKIE SHAW
will be doing a show this Friday, February 12th
at Circuit Nighclub. 3641 North Halsted Street.
The evening is part of the Circuit Girl / Laugh Out Loud Fridays.
Seating begins @ 8pm. Show at 9pm.
$10 admission ($5 for members) and hosted by TAMALE!
She looks like the woman next door … All-American with blond hair, lipstick and polished nails. Once she opens her mouth, you’ll know she was born and raised in Texas and you’ll never stop laughing.
Vickie has performed in almost every state in the US over the last five years and has headlined in various venues including: Michigan Womyn’s Festival, National Women’s Music Festival, Monterrey Beach Women’s Festival; and the Dinah & Lina Shore Golf Tournament in Palm Springs.
She can also be seen in The Outlaugh Festival on Wisecrack, The Complete Series
and in her DVD Vickie Shaw: You Can Take The Girl Out of Texas .
The Best of Gay Chicago
Blake Lewis at Borderline Music February 13th
Saturday, February 13th 2:00pm
at the Boystown store, 3333 N. Broadway.
His second album HEARTBREAK ON VINYL was released this past October. You can come hear some of his favorite music and he will be signing autographs!
The Best of Gay Chicago
Justice For All? Bringing Black Gay Men Together January 28th
TPAN, Test Postive Aware Network, along with a few other organizations, have decided to bring gay Black men together to discuss the meaning of ‘justice’ for gay Black males.
On the panel, Keith Boykin, from The Daily Voice, CNBC, and BET, E. Patrick Johnson, creator of “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South-An Oral History,” and Antonio D. Jimenez, professor at Northwestern University and from the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Public Health.
The forum hopes to start the discussion on the meaning of ‘justice,’ obtaining equality, the role of our allies, and some strategies to bring real and lasting change for Black gay men.
“It’s not only important for Black gay men to be cognizant of how we are impacted by our lack of justice, but also, how we too, impact this innate right for others,” stated Boykin. “Events like these continue to challenge and illuminate this fact.”
I’m most excited to talk about the plight of the gay Black male and how we can change or eliminate some of the stereotypes bestowed upon our community. Another topic that’s been bugging me for some years now, interracial dating within the gay community. I’ve discovered, in my own personal experience, a bit of a stigma with White males dating Black males. I’m curious to hear what the panelists may have to say about that.
This forum is a first-time collaboration between the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, the Communities of Color Collaborative,a new initiative launched by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago in June 2009, Project CRYSP and LifeLube.org, as well as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (set for February 7, 2010).
The event will take place at the University Center, 525 South State, on the second floor.
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for appetizers and socializing, and the program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Admission to the event is free. Come out! It’ll be sure to be an explosively epic conversation.
The Best of Gay Chicago
Love Hurts – An Alternative Cabaret Show with Tommy Hensel
Valentine’s show!
Join Tommy Hensel for a journey into some of love’s more “entertaining” aspects.
LOVE HURTS is a collection of songs of Lust, Loss, Obession and Revenge!
A newly-transplanted resident of Chicago, Thomas A. Hensel was recently named as Managing Director of the Fine & Performing Arts Center of Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, IL.
He also works as an actor, director, singer and cabaret artist as well as a spiritual coach and counselor, Feng Shui consultant and hands-on healer. He has worked with hundreds of people both privately and in workshops to transform their lives using the techniques described in his book Invisible Armor: Protecting Your Personal Energy. He is also one of the creators and teachers of the Wei Chi Healing™ system of hands-on healing.
.
Tommy has quite the eclectic resume and life! “My iPod might frighten you! I have an incredibly eclectic mix of songs that I love. Broadway soundtracks are probably the winner in amount of space usage, but I also have everything from opera to ABBA, from 80s rock songs to classical, from Melissa Etheridge to Doris Day. I do love the Indigo Girls and for some odd reason Nanci Griffith.
I tend to not have anything extremely new or recent since most new music leaves me bored. But if you want to know anything about Broadway, I can probably help. OK, OK. I guess I am a card-carrying gay man after all.”
Catch him live Sunday, February 7 at 7pm
and/or Sunday, February 21 at 7pm
LOVE HURTS
Featuring Cheryl Szucsits
Musical Direction by Beckie Menzie
Direction by Daryl Nitz
Davenport’s Piano Bar
1382 N. Milwaukee Avenue Phone: 773-278-1830
Visit Tommy Hensel online and on FaceBook
Tickets for Love Hurts ONLINE
The Best of Gay Chicago
Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo in Chicago January 27th
Since those beginnings, the TROCKS have established themselves as a major dance phenomenon throughout the world. They have participated in dance festivals in Bodrum (Turkey), Holland, San Luis Potosi, Madrid, Montreal, New York, Paris, Spoleto, Turin, and Vienna.
The original concept of LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO has not changed. It is a Company of professional male dancers performing the full range of the ballet and modern dance repertoire, including classical and original works in faithful renditions of the manners and conceits of those dance styles.
The comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and underlying incongruities of serious dance. The fact that men dance all the parts–heavy bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans, sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses, angst-ridden Victorian ladies–enhances rather than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form, delighting and amusing the most knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audiences. For the future, there are plans for new works in the repertoire: new cities, states and countries to perform in; and for the continuation of the TROCKS’ original purpose: to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience. They will, as they have done for thirty four years, “Keep on Trockin’.”
The Best of Gay Chicago
Lesbian Comic Kate Clinton in Chicago Sunday January 24th
Kate Clinton has been a comedian for over 25 years, specializing in political commentary from a gay/lesbian point of view. She was born in Buffalo, New York. She grew up Catholic in New York State and taught high school English for eight years before becoming a comedian. She began her stand-up career in 1981 using her lesbianism, Catholicism and current politics for her jokes. Clinton is a self-described “fumerist,” or feminist humorist, who has set out to prove that being lesbian can be, and often is, funny.
Clinton takes on the burning issues of the day – popes, politics, marriage, sex, pop culture. You’ll laugh ’til you think!
Sunday, January 24th 6pm, @ Center on Halsted
Tickets $40
The Best of Gay Chicago
Best Gay Chicago Celebrated 2nd Anniversay at Roscoes
to everyone who came out to help us celebrate our 2nd year anniversary of Best Gay Chicago.com!
Thanks to Absolut 100, ROSCOES and their amazing staff, and Sugar Hills Bakeries, who brought a magnificent cake! The inside was filled with fluffy chocolate and pear mousse!
We raised about $200 for TPAN and
everyone had a great time. (I think!)
Best Gay Chicago.com is now attracting
over 13,000 readers each month and growing!
Watch for more events in 2010!
Michael Snell & Derrick Sorles
MORE EVENT PHOTOS ON FACEBOOK BE OUR FAN ON FACEBOOK
Best Hair Design, Styling, Cuts and Color at VP SALON in Boystown, Chicago
BEST GAY CHICAGO RECOMMENDS…..
We moved from Michigan to Chicago in March of 2003 and of course, needed to find a great place to get our hair cut.
One day that Spring, we were walking past VP SALON on Broadway and Salon Owner, Vincenzo Papasidero, greeted us as we walked by invited us to come in and see him for a haircut next time we needed one (think thick, sexy Italian accent and very easy on the eyes). The Salon was still new and he was building his clientele. We took his card and, of course, said “Sure, we’ll give you a try,” and the rest is history.
Almost 8 years later, we are still just as elated with Vincenzo’s every hair cut as we were that first visit.
We call Vincenzo “Edward Scissorhands” because it is as though the scissors and comb are attached as extensions of his arms and hands!
He is truly an artist and expert when it comes to cutting and styling hair. He makes it look so effortless with unparralled precision and attention to detail specific to your head of hair ~ simply amazing to watch!
VP SALON ‘s focus is simple: “Making Your Hair Look Great!”
Don’t expect of wide array of additional services, like waxing or nails, VP SALON simply specializes in superior hair design – and it shows.
The VP professional team has been hand-selected and trained by Vincenzo to compliment his positive vision and energetic style in the salon.
They view themselves as consultants, and have the knowledge and ability to create individualized looks for any type of lifestyle.
Together with the VP professional team, you can both re-energize the way you look and the way you feel about yourself.
Vincenzo (center left) says “I began my career in hairstyling at the ripe old age of eleven years old.
Yes, like the most talented hairdresser on the planet, at eleven years old. Then, while in my teens, I moved away from my family to live on my own and very independently.
It was then that I took up residence in one of the most beautiful places in Italy – Sanremo – the Italian Riveria. It was here that I thrived and began to discover what life was about.
You can only imagine what my life was like, a very young hairdresser, trying to survive on my own, stay off the streets and succeed, it was there that I found my calling.
So, I remained calm, spiritual and ever trusting of life – and was able to discover that the art of cutting hair was already inside me.
I believe that using scissors on dry hair creates greater precision than any other styling technique—a unique approach that requires years of training, energy, precision, focus, and a desire to create art.
With dry hair, I can organically feel the natural texture of the hair and transform it into a shape that truly flatters clients of all ethnicities and with every type of hair: curly, fine, thick, course, wavy, dry and/or damaged.
Benefits of cutting hair dry are to give volume and body when needed, or take out unwanted bulk, dryness, and/or frizziness.”
VP SALON is located at 3321 N. Broadway between W. Roscoe and W. Aldine.
The Salon is open Mondays 2-8 PM, Tuesday thru Friday Noon to 9 PM
and Saturdays 10 AM – 6 PM, (773) 929 – 7909, info @ VPSALON.com
“Getting a great haircut should be a stimulating experience. If I could summarize my passion and life so far – I would say that I have evolved, grown and now thrive happily within the creative world, helping enrich my clients’ lives by bringing out each person’s natural beauty from within. I look forward to treating you!” Vincenzo Papasidero
See for yourself why Best Gay Chicago votes Vincenzo and his team of professionals at VP SALON – Best Hair Design in Boystown!
Beautiful Boutique Hotels in Chicago’s Gay Boystown Neighborhoods
BEST GAY CHICAGO RECOMMENDS….
LOCATION,
LOCATION,
LOCATION!
Many first time visitors to Chicago choose to stay downtown, near all of the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue. Once you have been there, done that, visitors realize all that Chicago has to offer beyond downtown. Plus, the entire LGBT community is 3 miles north of downtown and cabs can get expensive going back and forth.
Why not stay in the heart of Boystown and experience Chicago as the locals do? Stay in a neighborhood away from the craziness of touristy downtown. Dine where the locals dine, away from the big name chain restaurants. In Boystown/Lakeview you get small, intimate restaurants and a treasure trove of shopping neighborhoods with unique shops and art galleries! Golf courses, the Lincoln Park Zoo, Wrigleyville and the Cubs Stadium, Old Towne, marinas and harbors, Hollywood gay beach, Andersonville, plus endless waterfront walking and bike paths, are all very accessible!
We recently had family in over the holidays. They have stayed downtown before and we wanted to show them the neighborhoods of Chicago so we had them stay at the Majestic…what a beautiful spacious property! Located at 528 West Brompton Avenue. 52 rooms on 3 floors.
For years, visitors and locals alike have branded The Majestic Hotel the pre-eminent boutique hotel in Chicago. Offering the atmosphere of a well-appointed, upscale English country estate, this 100 percent, non-smoking Hotel offers the perfect haven of relaxation amidst the energetic city life found in the popular Lakeview neighborhood.
The City Inns of Chicago are comprised of three properties – The Majestic Hotel, The Willows Hotel & The City Suites – each welcome you with an abundance of personality, style and charm that epitomizes the essence of their environments.
Exuding the charm of historic buildings – circa 1920s – The City Inns are a collection of boutique hotels that combine a stylish, unique and alluring atmosphere with a location that is ideal and accessible – just 10 minutes north of downtown Chicago’s business, financial and shopping districts – and brimming with the quintessential qualities of an upscale, city hotel.
The Willows is at 555 West Surf Street. 55 rooms on 4 floors. 19th-century French Provincial style, opens onto a tree-lined street in Lakeview, a lively area three blocks from the lake and central to stores, restaurants, and movie theaters. The complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon cookies make it an inviting alternative to local bed-and-breakfasts. Workout buffs don’t despair: although there is no on-site fitness center, guests have access to a local Bally’s Health Club, which attracts many local gay guys.
City Suites is at 933 W. Belmont Ave with 45 rooms. Just steps from the El stop on Belmont Avenue, this former transient dive has been transformed into a charming small hotel. Most rooms are suites, with separate sitting rooms and bedrooms, all decorated in a homey and comfortable style. The overall feel is that of a bed-and-breakfast, with added amenities such as plush robes and complimentary continental breakfast. A bonus – or drawback, depending on how you look at it, is It’s a little noisier and the neighborhood is very bustling here, since the location is right on a main street. You also get free access to Bally’s health club 5 blocks away, and it has a very large gay clientèle.
The City Inns pride themselves on their personalized care, premier service and exceeding the needs of their discriminating leisure and business travelers. The staff is passionate here and ensure an enjoyable and memorable stay – something you don’t often see in the big hotels downtown. These properties boast a welcoming “neighborhood” charm yet with all the services and amenities of a full-service hotel. Many packages are available depending on your interests. Everything from theatre and dining to comedy and baseball!
For Valentines (or anytime) ask about the Cupids Arrow promotion.
Beautiful Boutique Hotels in Chicago’s
Gay Boystown Neighborhoods!
THE CITY INNS
The Best of Gay Chicago
No Pants Day Comes To Chicago
The event started officially 8 years ago in New York City where participants with bare legs were required to mingle with other– equally half-naked– travelers. But It is said that earlier versions of No Pants date back to the 1990’s.
Improv Everywhere causes scenes of chaos and joy in public places. Created in August of 2001 by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere has executed over 85 missions involving thousands of undercover agents. The group is based in New York.
The annual event encourages riders to strip down to their underwear on the Subway as they go about their normal routine.
The event’s organizers, Improv Everywhere, said that as many as 2,000 people participated in the “No Pants Day” event in New York alone, with more participating in other cities including Chicago and Washington DC. It is estimated as many as 44 similar events took place in transit systems in 16 countries!
It is estimated about 120 people gathered in Edgewater. Got onto a train at the Granville station. From there, groups of people would get off at each stop and then get on the following train – that way they could surprise the people on different platforms as well as overwhelm the people already on the train.
According to its official website, Improv Everywhere is a long form improvisation troupe that executes pre-planned “missions” or performances that usually involve socially awkward or unusual situations.
Some commuters who participated in “No Pants Day” said they got phone calls from friends or invitations to join the event on Facebook.
The first Friday in May is another “No Pants Day”.
But no pants in the Winter is a little funnier and crazier!
Best Gay Chicago 2nd Anniversary at Roscoes January 14th
COME CELEBRATE!
as BEST GAY CHICAGO celebrates our
2nd Year Anniversary! And You are Invited!
Thursday, Jan. 14th 7 – 9 pm @ Roscoes 3356 N. Halsted
Hosted bar by ABSOLUT 100 Proof
Private invite – You are invited but You MUST RSVP
by Jan 13th to get on the guestlist. SPACE IS LIMITED!
Just send an email or call with your names to be on the list.
bestgaycities @ gmail.com 773-878-5323
Two of the Best Bakeries in the Chicagoland Area
For New Years Eve, we attended a party at a friends house in Boystown. We were treated to delcious desserts from his Polish friend and pastry chef Anna Majewski, from Sugar Hills Bakery. Cookies that were delicious, European pastries to die for and a cake that was out of this world!
The cake was NUTCRACKER. It was done in traditional European old-world-style. A combination of walnut cake filled with mocha kahlua and chocolate vodka REAL buttercreams, raisins and nuts! WOW! It was heaven!
From specialty and wedding cakes (yes they do very nice gay wedding cakes!) to elegant pastries and delectable cookies, this bakery has it all. Delicious goods made completely from scratch from only the highest quality ingredients with great attention to detail. “Because we are small we have complete quality control,” explained Anna. “I use only the best and finest ingredients. If I wouldn’t put it in my mouth – I won’t make it.”
Anna is a self-taught pastry chef spending most of her life working for various bakers and pastry shops. With her European background and pastry knowledge, she has a very strong decorating and design sense, as well as a real knack for pairings of flavors as well as delicious and unique combinations.
“Our options of flavors and fillings can be anything you like,” she explains. “From very simple like vanilla or more complex, such as Kahlua or orange flavored with Grand Marnier. You can choose anything, but I will draw the line with weird combinations. We’re not going to put together mismatched flavors, such as lemon and mocha. That’s not a good combination.”
Cake choices range from vanilla and chocolate to red velvet and lemon. Mouth watering fillings that like chocolate and vodka, mint white chocolate, mocha and Kahlua. Nearly 2 dozen different flavored mousses. And specialty cakes ranging from Raspberry Snow, Double Chocolate Passion and Straciatella, just to name a few!
Sugar Hills Bakery offers a daily selection of European style pastries and baked goods at their shop. Fruit tarts, napoleons, éclairs, tiramisu slices, pecan slices, lemon bars, brownies, apple and cherry slices, raspberry tarts, opera cake slices, French macaroons with fresh raspberries, cheesecake slices, chocolate rum slices, Italian butter cookies and cut out sugar cookies. But if you can’t make it to the shop, they will arrange delivery.
Sugar Hills Bakery has been in business since 2006 in Algonquin. Over 10 years of experience and offer unparalleled expertise. Count on them for upscale cakes and pastries, great catering services, and excellent attentive customer care. Customized bakery creations from shaped, iced sugar cookies to formal cakes, most designs can be created for any occasion with at least five days notice.
Custom orders are welcomed and on request, they will make special items that are a little gay & risque’ !
You will not find better baked goods in the entire Chicago area!
BEST BAKERIES / PASTRY SHOPS IN CHICAGO!
Visit their European-style bakery in Algonquin, near Barrington Hills,
at 644 S. Main Street (Rt. 31) PH 847-658-8765
The new location will be open in a couple weeks –
532 W. Dundee Rd. Wheeling, IL. 60090 PH 847-541-4800
Watch for a Chicago location in the city coming soon!
The Best of Gay Chicago
Chicago Fitness Male Model Robert Gonzalez
ROBERT GONZALEZ is one of Chicago’s Finest Male Models with an amazing body!
We have actually known Robert for about 8 years and have watched him develop and grow!
He has been photographed by some of the world’s top photographers.
He was born in Venezuela and has always had an interest in bodybuilding.
And his hard work has payed off!
And get this – he is also a top florist in Chicago providing
flowers for many top celebrities and fashion photo shoots!
“Clients are always shocked when they meet me,” he laughs.
“There is a misperception about how male florists
should look, and I guess I don’t fit the mold.”
His photo shoot for RUFSKIN with Frank Louis was featured
this week on the world famous BEAUTIFUL MAG site.
Join him on FaceBook and Visit the Robert Gonzalez website
The Best of Gay Chicago
