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The Run Up
To Pride -- As Sundays have made a come back in Chicago, a shotgun blast into Pride Week can be found Boystown at the "First Ward" weekly gathering at Scarlet; at "Male Call" w/ Miss Foozie @ Roscoe's; or at the themed parties w/ DJ Chris Eterno @ Minibar. If you want your boyz and girlz with a bit more Latin flavor, then "Noche Latina" @ Circuit, hosted Veronica Zaid w/ DJs Fast Freddy & Alex Perez is the place to be. Need cheaps eats and drinks on Sunday? Not to fear. There's the "Beer Bust" courtesy of Touché in Andersonville and the "Buffet BBQ" @ Big Chicks in Uptown. Before heading over to "Showtunes" @ Sidetrack on Monday, June 23, be sure to first check out the "Pride & Joy Reception" by the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame @ Circuit Night Club. The $10 admission gets you a light buffet, entertainment & a DJ starting @ 6pm. Earlier in the day @ noon is the "6th Annual City of Chicago Salute To LGBT Veterans" downtown in Daley Plaza. The major Pride oriented event on Tuesday, June 24 is the "30 Under 30 Awards Ceremony" @ Center on Halsted (3656 N. Halsted), beginning @ 6pm. Afterwards, folks may head north to Crew for "Man The Mic Karaoke" or south to catch Roscoe's "Drag Race 2008 DEATHMATCH" hosted by Frida Lay w/ guests performances by Jerri Blank & Mimi Marks @ 11pm. Across the street DJ Michael Serafini will be serving up the house beats for the Spank Go-Go Boys @ Cocktail. The evening of Wednesday, June 25 finds "Hairspray" being screened outdoors @ Hollywood Beach starting at dusk (approximately 8:30pm). Later that night the drinks will be cheap, and so will the chicken, at Spin's "What The F*%k Wednesdays" with $1 well cocktails and DJ Chris Eterno. Meanwhile there will be lots of flashbacking to the days of polyester and platforms at "Disco Obsession" w/ DJ Pervy @ Berlin. Chicago Gay Men's Chorus will be presenting their "The Boys are Back in Town!" concerts at the Lake View Presbyterian Church (716 W Addison) throughout the weekend. Admission is $25 with performances slated for Thursday, June 26 @ 8pm; Friday, June 27 @ 8pm; and Saturday, June 28 @ 3pm & 8pm. Singing of the solo cabaret variety can be found at 3160 and Cornelia's in Boystown and at Davenport's in Wicker Park. Pride Weekend
Begins -- The signature event on Saturday, June 28 is "Pride Fest" w/ performances by Tiffany, Inaya day, Kimberly Lock, Martha Wash, and Frenchie Davis. The all day events (11am-9pm) takes place on N. Halsted Street between Addison & Grace Streets. Up in Andersonville on the same afternoon the "5th Annual Back Lot Bash" takes place behind Cheetah Gym (5238 N Clark) w/ DJs & live music, 3pm-10pm. Other distractions in Andersonville that night include "Attic-tion To Pride" w/ DJ Plez @ Mary's Attic, go-go dancers shaking their money-makers @ @mosphere w/ DJ Timmy Loop, an open Club Room at the Chicago Eagle leather bar, strippers dangling their uncovered money-makers @ Man's Country. Further north, Touché hosts its late night "Leather Pride Party." Back down in Boystown, the monthly Nitro event hosts the "Centaur Gay Days Tour" w/ DJs Randy Bettis (NYC) & Hugo @ Circuit Night Club. The usual cast of characters - Cyon Flare, Miss Foozie, Eddie Couture & Sal-E - will be on hand for the merriment and fun. Pride Parade
Sunday & Beyond -- What to do after the Parade? Well, there's the annual "Girlblast" benefit party ($12 cover) in the Ann Sather Restaurant parking lot, 929 W. Belmont. There will be guest DJs & food available. On the other side of the "L" tracks DJ Greg Haus will get things grooving at Berlin starting at 4pm. If your feeling particularly amorous head on over to the "Pride 'N Seek Lights Out Play Party" @ Steamworks which begins @ 4pm. And if you just feel like dancing with at least some of your clothes on then head north to Kinetic Playground (1113 W. Lawrence) which is having a Post-Parade "Super Secret Make-Out Party" presented by Music-101 w/ DJs Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini, Ron Carroll, and more. The fun there also begins @ 4pm. The perfect end to Pride Parade weekend? Well, the Sunday conclusion features "Super Pride Sunday" w/ Superstar DJ Manny Lehman @ Crobar. There will be a performance by Cyon Flare & DJs Luis M, Ron G, Joel Rodriquez will rock the Mezzanine. The Monday, June 30 finale: "Boom Boom Room" @ Green Dolphn Street with its "Moo & Oink BBQed Beats Party" Guest DJ Lego joins residents Michael Serafini, JustJoey, Diz, and Uncle Milty while Byrd Bardot is at the door. Pride In Chicago:
Insode & Out On the south side Jeffrey Pub has Chicago legend DJ Dana Powell "housin' 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. Gentry is a popular downtown piano bar, especially on Fridays during happy hour, while Manhandler reliably serves as a gay oasis in Lincoln Park. Dancing out in
the northwest suburbs is best done @ Hunters w/ DJs Laura B on Saturdays and Ron
G on Wednesdays. The west suburban crowd hangs out @ Hideaway in Forest Park and Temptations in Franklin Park. 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 |
