Memorial Day Weekend - Before we get to the happenings during the next couple of weeks, we at INKOTG want to extend a big hearty Windy City welcome to all who are coming to town over Memorial Day Weekend for the 2008 editions of International Mr. Leather, Bear Pride, and The Grabby Erotic Video Awards. It's amazing how so many folks come to Chicago to kick off their summers and as such there are a ton of things to see and do that weekend. While we'll provide a more comprehensive listing of Memorial Day weekend activities in the next issue of BOI (Street Date of May 22), here's are a few events you should take note of. On Friday, May 23, the Hyatt Regency Chicago (the IML Host Hotel) will get the weekend's line-up of partying off to a great start with three major events: The "Uniform Party", the "Gear Blast Party", and the annual "San Francisco Party" with DJ Sean Green imported in from the city by the bay. Away from the Hyatt, serious dancing will be going on at the "Menergy" party @ Metro (3730 N. Clark St). This is sure to be a hugely popular event with hard-hitting tribal rhythms provided by Rosabel (DJs Ralphi Rosario and Abel). Saturday, May 24, is chock full of things to do beginning with the "Bear Shower Tea Dance" @ Spin with DJ Chris Eterno. The featured event at the Hyatt Regency is the annual "ONYX Dance Party," often considered the best host hotel party during IML. Your favorite porn stars will be on hand hoping to be rewarded at the "17th Annual Grabby Awards" @ Park West Theater (322 W. Armitage). The big dance parties this night include the "6th Annual Military Ball" @ Circuit Night Club and the "Sweat" party, presented by Castrobear and featuring DJ Ted Eiel, @ Metro. The next International Mr. Leather will be "crowned" on Sunday, May 25, with the contest being held at 6pm @ the Hyatt Regency's Grand Ballroom. The "Victory Celebration Party" featuring DJ Tony Moran takes place afterwards @ the House of Blues. The long weekend comes to a glorious conclusion on Monday, May 26, when DJ Matthew Harvat guides the "Black & Blue Ball" @ Excalibur Nightclub. Immediate Future -- While the end of the month is sure to be exciting, the first few weeks of May ain't so bad either. Be sure to join Miss Foozie at the "All-Stars" Party @ Circuit Night Club on Saturday, May 10, with DJ Teri Bristol providing the sounds. The following Saturday, May 17, @ Circuit "Amigo" celebrates its one-year anniversary with featured guest Pepper Mashay and Resident DJ Alex Perez. Back open after its spring cleaning, Hydrate hosts DJ Kimberly S on Saturday, May 10 and DJ Ralphi Rosario on Saturday, May 17. If you want to dance with a minimal amount of clothing, then Jackhammer is the place to be on May 17 when DJ Oskar spins the monthly "Underwear Party." For general weekly dancing pursuits you can't go wrong with Berlin with DJ Greg Haus, spinning "Cosmix" on Fridays, and DJs Chester and Larissa, who share Saturday night duties for "Twisted." And on the opposite end of Boystown, Charlie's offers country, 2-step, and line dancing early in the evening followed by DJ Lulu's hi-nrg after-hours party. Other suburban outposts include Hideaway in Forest Park, Club Krave in Blue Island, and Encompass Nightclub in northwest. Boystown's Best -- The video bar Sidetrack packs them in nightly with a wide variety of cruisy men and a popular line-up of themed video nights, including "Showtunes" on Mondays, "Comedy" on Thursdays, and "Energy Dance Music Videos" on Fridays and Saturdays. Next door, Minibar features HOT! bartenders, a cool ambience and an impressive line-up of DJs: Jon Roberts on Wednesdays, Phil Da Beatz on Thursdays and Saturdays, Oskar on Fridays and Chris Eterno on Sundays. Across the street at Roscoe's, Frida Lay hosts "Drag Race 2008" on Tuesdays while Miss Foozie takes charge of "Male Call" on Sundays. Where are All The House-heads ­ House music gets its due @ Cocktail (along with Spank Go-Go Boys) five nights a week, featuring DJs Michael Serafini (Tuesdays) and Freddie Bain (Fridays). The south side's Jeffrey Pub hosts DJ Dana Powell's Chicago house music extravaganza every Friday night while up in Andersonville, DJ Plez kicks it 4/4 @ Mary's Attic every Saturday night. House music reigns supreme every Monday night at the long-running "Boom Boom Room" @ Green Dolphin Street with host Byrd Bardot and residents DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, JustJoey & Uncle Milty. Marques Wyatt & Julius Papp join the fun on May 12. Over at the new "Monday Social: Beats + Bass + Rhythm" party at Debonair Social Club (1575 N. Milwaukee Ave.), Kiko Navarro joins resident Brian Gardner that same night.. Be sure to start your Mondays at Morgan's (1325 S. Halsted) for their "Service Industry Networking Night." This new party features very attractive drink specials and the music of DJ KT. Show Us What You Got ­ Steamworks, the full-service all-male club, gym, and sauna, features a "Lights Out" party every Thursday, and DJ Dick spinning it dark and sexy during after-hours every Friday and Saturday night. Up @ Man's Country, Andersonville's offering to the city's bathhouse menu, the Men of Sarabia strippers leave nothing to the imagination. At the corner of Halsted and Belmont, Lucky Horseshoe has professionals prancing along the bar each night of the week. Over at Spin, the infamous "Shower Contest" takes place every Friday night with the Bears getting all wet on May 16. On Fridays and Saturdays at @mosphere in Andersonville, the go-go boys shake their tail feathers to the beats supplied by Eric Hall (Fridays) and Timmy Loop (Saturdays). Finding a Niche ­ When it comes to hip-hop beats, Friday nights are ruled by the Prop House with its two rooms of sound (house in one and an urban blend in the other). Saturday nights are split between downtown's "Xotik" with DJs Anton and Kenae @ Tokyo 21 and Boystown's "Ear-Rotic" party with DJ Stoney @ Spin (May 17). Latin nights have become quite popular around the city with the biggest gatherings taking place @ Circuit Night Club. "La Noche Loca" takes place on Thursdays while "Noche Latina" comes around every Sunday night. Other Latin outposts include the south side's Chesterfield Club on the weekends, Hydrate on Tuesdays, and Jackhammer on Sundays. Fridays and Saturdays out in the southwest suburbs there's "Boom Boom" @ La Quinta de los Reyes (6739 W. Ogden Ave. in Berwyn). In anticipation of IML, Chicago's leathermen are hanging out nightly at the Chicago Eagle (Andersonwille) and Cell Block (Boystown). Touché has "Hardcore Leather Night" every Tuesday and will host "Master Dungeon Night" on Saturday, May 10 and "ONYX Club Night" on Friday, May 16. What Else Is There? Second Story Bar in Streeterville is a very popular hang-out for downtown residents and office workers. Gentry On State is another downtown gathering spot and features cabaret performances. Other cabaret outposts include include Davenport's in Wicker Park, 3160 in Lakeview and Cornelia's in the heart of Boystown. Neighborhood watering holes include Big Chicks (dancing on Fridays and Saturdays) and Crew ("Man The Mic Karaoke" on Tuesdays), both of which are in Uptown. Scot's packs them in over in the Ravenswood neighborhood while the crowds are super friendly in Boystown @ The North End and Bobby Loves. A fun manly crowd hangs out @ Buck's and Little Jim's in Boystown, @ Granville Anvil on the far north side, @ Manhandler in Lincoln Park. The Lesbians? You'll find them @ Joie De Vine and @ Star Gaze in Andersonville and @ The Closet in Boystown. "This just in!" Well, let's finish up this ITKOTG the way we started: Memorial Day Weekend. Wow, they're adding events fast and furiously. Amongst Chicago Eagle's recently announced line-up is the "Hell Fire Club Night" on Thursday, May 22, the "Dress Your Fetish" party on Sunday, May 25, and the "Bruised & Beat" dance party on Monday, May 26. Next door at Man's Country, Saturday night, May 24, features adult entertainment star Ricky Sinz (Raging Stallion Studios) on stage in the buff with several other hot strippers. The lines to get into Steamworks are sure to be long with several play parties on tap throughout the weekend, including "Re-Boot" featuring DJ Sean Greene (SF) on Saturday, May 24 and the Official Bear Pride "Wet 'N Wild" Party on Sunday afternoon, May 25 with DJ Neill MacLeod (Toronto). To wrap things up, Chicago's own DJ Freddie Bain spins the "No More Blue Balls" affair on Monday, May 26.