While most of the special events surrounding IML, Bear Pride, and the Grabby Awards have been listed in the Memorial Day Weekend Special Events Planner in this issue of BOI, INKOTG gives you the 4-1-1 on what else is happening this holiday weekend and over the next couple of weeks. Holiday Weekend Highlights -- Hydrate has two of LA's biggest DJ names gracing their booth: Manny Lehman on Friday, May 23 and tribal master Paulo the next night on May 24. Before Paulo twists the knobs, Hydrate will present the hysterically funny "Dixie Longate's Tupperware Party" at 9pm. (Tickets: $20 $30 VIP). Berlin's late night alternative vibe continues to be quite popular with Friday's "Cosmix" party (DJ Greg Haus) and the Saturday's "Twisted" party (DJs Chester & Larissa). The monthly homage to Minneapolis' Purple Majesty, "Prince Nite," takes place on Sunday, May 25. And the long-running monthly "Disco Night" is sure to be packed on Wednesday, May 28. Old-timers and those who just like old-school, regardless of their age, are sure to smile brightly at the "History of Old School" party @ Excalibur on Friday, May 23. Featuring the music played at Chicago hotspots such as Bistro, Coconuts, Vortex, Normandy, Cheeks, Powerplant, and Medusa's in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, this blowout reunion party of sorts will definitely be memorable. If current day dance music is more to your liking, Crobar brings in two huge international superstars this weekend: Benny Benassi on Saturday, May 24, and Bob Sinclar on Sunday, May 25. If you need a more refined cultural outlet this weekend, check out "Whitney Houston We Have A Problem" presented by GayCo. This hilarious GLBT stage production can be seen @ Center On Halsted on Thursday, May 22 - Sunday, May 25, 8pm. (Tickets: $20). To end your holiday weekend in style, Cocktail offers up "Work," its monthly industry night on Monday, May 26. Another similar gathering takes place that same night on the near southwest side: "Service Industry Networking Night" @ Morgan's (1325 S. Halsted) with attractive drink specials, half-price pizza, and the music of DJ KT. After all of the insider hob-knobbing, dancing to the best house music around takes place at "Boom Boom Room" @ Green Dolphin Street, with the presentation of "Red Dog Classic" with guest DJs Mark Grant and Lego. They join host Byrd Bardot and resident DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, JustJoey, Uncle Milty and Zebo. Over at the new "Monday Social: Beats + Bass + Rhythm" party at Debonair Social Club (1575 N. Milwaukee Ave.), resident DJs Brian Gardner Specs, Diamonds & Willy Joy are in charge of the music. After The Dust Settles Or rather, after all of the Crisco has been washed away, the very last weekend of May brings two big monthly events to Circuit. The "Urbano: Hip-Hop For All" party with DJ Anton is set for Friday, May 30. The next night, May 31, it's Nitro's "Villians & Super Heroes Party" w/ uber-sexy DJ Hector Fonseca (NYC) and local fave DJ Hugo. Décor will of course be conceived and executed by Visuwil with entertainment provided by Nitro's usual cast of characters: Miss Foozie, Cyon Flare, Eddie Couture, and Sal-E. Other after-hours dancing options in Boystown this weekend include DJ Ralphi Rosario @ Hydrate on Friday, May 30; DJ Lightning Lulu @ Charlie's on Saturday, May 31; and Madonna-Rama @ Berlin on Sunday June 1. Up on the north side, Jackhammer is the late night spot to shake your booty Wednesday through Sunday. Tubs, Thongs & Boxers Oh My! Steamworks, the full-service all-male club, gym, and sauna, features a "Lights Out" party every Thursday night and an after-hours setting w/ DJ Dick on Friday and Saturday nights. The all-nude stripper shows at Man's Country, Andersonville's bath house outpost, feature the men of Sarabia, including Alexander, Giorgio, Fabion and Geno on Friday, May 30, and Seth, Kurtis, Stefan and Jimmy D on Saturday, May 31. Strippers in thongs are aplenty at @mosphere, especially on Friday and Saturday nights w/ DJs Eric Hall and Timmy Loop, respectively. Meanwhile down in Boystown at Lucky Horseshoe, strippers perform seven days a week and strut their stuff on the bars. Lots of visible male flesh is a five nights a week occurrence at Cocktail with the Spank Go-Go Boys. House music is the soundtrack for the dancers featuring Pete Augusta (Sundays), Michael Serafini (Tuesdays), Timmy Loop (Thursdays) and Freddie Bain (Fridays). It's a bit more amateurish but just as fun as Spin's monthly "Shower Contest" w/ DJ Chris Eterno on Friday, May 30. And don't forget about the Roscoe's "Wet Boxer Contest" on Thursday, May 29. Where We Play: Boystown The video bar Sidetrack, one of the busiest bars in the country, packs them in for "Showtunes" on Mondays, "Comedy" on Thursdays, and "Energy Videos" on Fridays and Saturdays. Next door at Minibar, their increasingly popular line-up of weekly events include "Power Hour Wednesdays" (DJ Jon Roberts), "Mystique Thursdays" (DJ Phil Da Beatz). DJs Oskar and Chris Eterno spin on Fridays and Sundays, respectively. Across the street, Roscoe's has just re-opened its sidewalk café and present "Drag Race 2008" hosted by Frida Lay on Tuesdays and "Male Call" w/ the effervescent Miss Foozie on Sundays. The new "First Ward" party seems to be an instant hit at Scarlet Bar on Sundays w/ DJ Luis M, Rene Romero, and Dhanna. And of course you can't miss out on $1 drinks at Spin's "What The F&*k Wednesdays." Both the boyz and the girlz gather and drink together at The Closet while fun, manly and friendly crowds hang out at Boystown bars Buck's, Little Jim's, North End and Bobby Loves. Where We Play: Suburbs Dancing out in the northwest suburbs is best done @ Hunters w/ DJs Laura B for Saturday's "Ascent" and Ron G for Wednesday's "MWM." And on Thursday, May 29, the "Hunters Hunks" show features Nate, Fabion, Peter and Sean Taylor in go-go boy formation. The west suburban GLBT folk hang out dancing, grooving, and cruising @ Hideaway in Forest Park and Temptations in Franklin Park. On Fridays and Saturdays the southwest suburban Latino crowd flock to yet another "Boom Boom Room" (not affiliated with the Green Dolphin Street version) @ La Quinta de los Reyes (6739 W. Ogden Ave. in Berwyn). Club Krave in Blue Island caters to the south suburbanites while Encompass Nightclub in Lake Station, Indiana serves the pink and lavender set of northwest Indiana. Where We Gather: Specialties When it comes to urban flair, the "Xotik" crowd gets down on Saturdays @ Tokyo 21 w/ DJ Anton busting out R&B, hip-hop, and house. In Boystown, the phat beats get played @ Spin for the "Ear-Rotic" parties w/ DJ Stoney on Saturdays, May 24 & May 31. Weekly Latin pursuits include the south side's Chesterfield Club on the weekends, Hydrate on Tuesdays and Circuit on Thursdays & Sundays. The lovers of leather hang out nightly at the Chicago Eagle (Andersonville) and Cell Block (Boystown) while on the far north side Touché hosts a "Hardcore Leather Night" on Tuesdays. On the cabaret music front, Gentry On State has been delighting downtown patrons for years while other outposts with a piano include Davenport's in Wicker Park, 3160 in Lakeview and Cornelia's in the heart of Boystown. Where we Gather: North, South & In Between The north side offers a variety of nightlife options, including Granville Anvil in the Edgewater neighborhood. Uptown is home to Big Chicks, which has dancing on Fridays and Saturdays, and the sports bar Crew, which has "Man The Mic Karaoke" on Tuesdays. In Andersonville Mary's Attic features "MaryOke Karaoke" on Sundays and Wednesdays, DJ Shoshana's eclectic mix on Fridays and the groove-a-thon "Attic-tion" w/ DJ Plez on Saturdays. Andersonville is also home to popular martini bar Marty's and lesbian enclaves Star Gaze and Joi De Vine. Other fun watering holes on the north side include T's and SoFo in the southern part of Andersonville and Scot's in the Ravenswood neighborhood. On the south side Jeffrey Pub has Chicago legend DJ Dana Powell "house-in' it up' every Friday while on the same night in River West hip-hop is added to the 4/4 beats at Prop House featuring DJ Ransom. Second Story Bar is a popular downtown venue, especially on Fridays during happy hour and throughout the weekend for the shopping set. In Lincoln Park, Manhandler, stands out as a gay oasis.