The fun and merriment of Market Days are behind us now and the true dog days of summer are here. While the heat and humidity outside may force some to seek cool air-conditioned relief inside their homes, there are plenty of nightlife, cultural, and social activities on tap to entice you to face the muggy weather head-on. So grab yourself a handkerchief, a parasol, or whatever you may use to keep yourself cool and enjoy the waning days of a Chicago summer.

Dance, But Not To A Disco Beat --
There is lots of dancing happening in the city here in August. First on Saturday, August 18, the DANCE FOR LIFE event takes place at 7:30pm at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. Proceeds from the event benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the Dance For Life Fund and features Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Luna Negra Dance Theater, and River North Chicago Dance Company. Later in the week on August 22, the CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL presents a free performance at the Pritzker Pavillion, also in Millennium Park, by some of the country's leading dance companies, including Alvin Ailey and American Dance Theater.

Join The Masses --
The CHICAGO AIR & WATER SHOW, the longest running air show in North America takes place along the lakefront up on the northside of the city on Saturday & Sunday, August 18 & 19. All of Chicagoland seems to attend this annual event so find your spot early in the day and enjoy the show. The CHICAGO OUTDOOR FILM FESTIVAL draws to a close on Tuesday, August 28, at 8:01pm with a showing of "The Sound Of Music." Expect lots of LGBT folks to be on hand singing their lungs out at Butler Field in Grant Park (corner of Monroe and Lake Shore Drive).

Positively Speaking ­
The "BAR AIDS" fundraising event takes place on Thursday, August 23, at various local bars and clubs, including TOUCHÉ. Proceeds from the event benefit AIDSCare. The folliowing Thursday, August 30, Northstar Healthcare presents "Be Positive Tonight! 7" at CIRCUIT. This HIV+ social mixer takes place from 6pm-9pm and features DJ Timmy Loop and performances by The Joel Hall Dancers and Amy & Freddy.

Dance, To a Disco/House/Hi-NRG Beat ­
CIRCUIT NIGHT CLUB presents its highly successful monthly "Amigo" party with DJs Markski and Alex Perez on Saturday, August 18. The following Saturday, August 25, Circuit's NITRO Party is themed "On The Farm" with NYC DJ Hector Fonseca providing the electro-tinged progressive tribal beats.

The dance floor at HYDRATE should be whipped into a modern-day frenzy by DJ Eddie Baez on Saturday, August 18 and then transported back to the days of feathered hairstyles and collar-up polo shirts with a Retro Flashback set by DJ Laura B on Tuesday, August 21. Keeping with the retro theme, expect the essence of polyester and platform shoes at BERLIN's "Disco Obsession" on Wednesday, August 29 with DJs Ralphi Rosario and Izzy.

The dancing is of the stripper variety at COCKTAIL, the home for house music in Boystown. Featuring the Spank Go-Go Boys five nights a week, several of Chicago's favorite DJs deliver the beats including Michael Serafini on Tuesdays, Freddie Bain on Fridays and Matt Boss on Saturdays. The house music groove rolls on every Monday night with "Boom Boom Room" at GREEN DOLPHIN STREET. Terry Hunter and Terisa Griffin join the line-up for an August 20 performance while resident DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, Uncle Milty and JustJoey expertly guide two rooms of dancing.

The Epicenter ­
The bears are back on Halsted Street on Friday, August 17, for the "BEAR-y Special Shower Contest" at SPIN. Featuring Go-Go Bears and other surprises, the contest starts at Midnight. On Sunday, August 19, ROSCOE'S is having a CD Release Party and Giveaway for the new album by Dolores O'Riorden. The fun begins at 5pm during Male Call, which of course is hosted by the one and only Miss Foozie.

A fun time is just about guaranteed at STEAMWORKS at the "Lights Out Party" on Thursday, August 16, with DJ Dick. The 12 hours of fun begins @ 4pm. Friday nights feature the Mr. Sexx outreach program @ 6pm as well as free HIV testing @ 10 pm.

Smack in the middle of Boystown, the video bar SIDETRACK offers up their legendary frozen slushy drink concoctions during "Showtunes" night on Mondays (8pm-2am), "Comedy" night on Thursdays (8pm-2am) and "Hi-NRG" night on Saturdays (9pm-3am). A few doors down at the MINIBAR | WINEBAR complex, every Monday features "Dinner & A Movie" @ 8pm and "80s Kickback" night on Thursdays with $2 shots.

CELL BLOCK, the only leather bar in Boystown, is featuring "Margaritas Mondays" throughout August. You choose the tequila and pay only $5. The alcohol flows just as freely next door at KIT KAT with
On the west side of the Halsted-Broadway Triangle at the tip of Boystown, BOBBY LOVE'S is the place to be for a nightly raucous good time. Right next door is NORTH END for those who want to shoot some pool, throw darts, and watch the Cubs and Sox on TV.

On The Edges --
Way up on the far north side of the city, TOUCHÉ is hosting the "Onyx Club Night" @ 11pm on Friday, August 17. Two doors down at JACKHAMMER, the most diverse gay crowd in the city dances late into the night Wednesday through Saturday with DJ Oskar and others behind the decks. A bit further east at the GRANVILLE ANVIL, the bartenders are known to pour with a heavy hand.

In Andersonville, MARY'S ATTIC has the second installment of Bare Boned Theatre's "The Ville," an original live LGBT-friendly soap opera. This month's episode will be played out on Mondays, August 20 & 27, @ 8pm. Also on tap in the Attic: "Bingo Karaoke" on Sundays; DJ Shoshanna's eclectic mix on Fridays; and DJ Boom's dance sets on Saturdays. A few doors down and across the street is @MOSPHERE with DJ Timmy Loop and male strippers on Saturdays

In SoFo (aka South Andersonville), MAN'S COUNTRY packs them in on Friday and Saturday nights for the all-nude male stripper shows presented by Sarabia. This month features Ricky Sinz, Valentine, Javier and Alexander on Friday, August 17 with Martin, Marlone, Nathan and Roman Heart on Saturday, August 25. Real leather men gather next door at THE EAGLE for lots of serious fun and very few games.

If you are in search of live cabaret music and performances, you can't go wrong with GENTRY ON STATE, featuring the likes of Miss Cristina on Wednesdays for "Naked Soul" and Luis Vega, a former Windy City Idol winner, on Sundays. Additional cabaret posts include CLUB 3160 in Lakeview and DAVENPORT'S in Wicker Park.

CESAR'S ON BROADWAY (@ Oakdale) is the Thursday night hotspot with "Pride Night" presented by ChicagoPride.com Starting @ 7pm, the festivities include Killer Margaritas, Miss Foozie's "Wheel Of Foozie" prize raffle, and DJ Plez serving up groovy house beats.

If you're outside the city limits looking for something to do, HUNTERS in the northwest suburbs has DJ Laura B for the weekly Saturday night "Ascent" party and DJ Ron G on Wednesdays for the "MWM" event. Down south in Blue Island, THE EDGE has a weekly "Frat Boy Fridays" party with DJ Rocking RC.
Known for its relaxed neighborhood feel, BIG CHICKS in Uptown keeps its Friday and Saturday nights lively with DJs and dancing in the smoke-free Salon. But don't let the unpretentiousness fool you, this place is as cruisy as they come. Speaking of cruisy, LITTLE JIM'S in Boystown features hook-ups of all types on a nightly basis. MANHANDLER serves the same purpose in the heart of Lincoln Park while THE SECOND STORY BAR meets the needs of those living and hanging out downtown.