The Big Dogs These are truly the dog days of summer when the heat and humidity compel you to lay around and only worry about fetching a boner, um, I mean a bone, to suck and gnaw on. Speaking of bones, they should be extra meaty and soulful this weekend on Saturday, August 16, at the new "UBU" party at Circuit with popular NYC dancers Machine and Matrix back on stage. Supplying the hip-hop beats will be NYC maestro DJ Unknown with house music grooves courtesy of Chicago's own DJ Anton. There are two major events happening to the east of Chicago on Saturday, August 16. Encompass Nightclub in Lake Station, Indiana, is hosting a "Reunion Party" with luminaries, staff, and patrons from former Northwest Indiana venues such as Lake Station, The Terrace, The Outpost, Helen's, Total Eclipse, The Pour House and Axcis. Further east in Sawyer, Michigan, the monthly "Swank" party takes place at Fitzgerald's featuring guest DJ Ralphi Rosario. To get there, take Exit 12 off of I-94 and proceed into town to 5875 Sawyer Road. Closer to home this same night (August 16) brings the "Underwear Party" to Jackhammer, DJ Lightning Lulu to "After-hours" @ Charlie's, and DJs Chester & Larissa to "Twisted" @ Berlin. The following weekend, Hydrate has DJ Manny Lehman (Friday, August 22) while Circuit hosts it's monthly "Amigo" party featuring DJ Alex Perez on Saturday, August 23. "Madonna Release Parties" take place that night at Circuit and Jackhammer for her next single "Give It 2 Me". In the Dog House House music and hot summer nights are a fantastically fun combination every Monday at the long-running "Boom Boom Room" @ Green Dolphin Street with residents DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, JustJoey & Uncle Milty. Upcoming Guest DJs include Jessie de la Pena on August 18 and Lego & JoJo Flores on August 25. There's also the increasingly popular "Monday Social: Beats + Bass + Rhythm" @ Debonair Social Club with DJ Brian Gardner. Other fierce house music venues include Scarlet Bar with DJ Sean Richard on Thursdays while Carla Starla and AJ Dubbz take care of Fridays. "Attic-tion Saturdays" w/ DJ Plez @ Mary's Attic draws a diverse crowd for a global tour of the house music art form while Lincoln Park's Olé Lounge presents "Lucky Sundays" w/ DJ Oskar. On Fridays on the south side, Jeffrey's Pub hosts DJ Dana Powell's weekly Chicago house music extravaganza while the new "Eargasm" takes places every Monday @ Shadow Bar (811 W. Lake St.) w/ resident DJs Andre Hactchett and Craig Loftis. Can I Eat Your Hot Dog? Summertime means BBQ and what better cookout food is there than hot dogs? The shared experience of placing hot dogs in buns is a 24-hour activity @ Steamworks, Boystown's full-service bath house, features a "Lights Out" party every Thursday and an after-hours setting w/ DJ Dick on Friday and Saturday nights. They also host the monthly "Bears, Bath & Beyond" play party with DJ Dexter St. Jacques, 1pm-6pm on Saturday, August 23. The all-nude stripper shows @ Man's Country, Andersonville's bath house outpost, features the same hot dog and bun experience as well as all-nude strip shows by the men of Sarabia every Friday and Saturday night. Chicago's professional dancers (aka go-go boys) dangle their encased meat products in front of adoring fans at @mosphere on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights w/ DJs Chris Eterno, Eric Hall and Timmy Loop, respectively, supplying the music. Meanwhile in Boystown @ Lucky Horseshoe, dancers strut their stuff on top of the bar seven nights a week with Cocktail offering a five nights a week program with the "Spank Go-Go Boys" and house music on Sundays (DJ Pete Augusta), Tuesdays (Michael Serafini), Thursday (Timmy Loop), Fridays (Freddie Bain) and Saturdays (a rotation of Diva DJs). As for amateur dancers showing what they got, check out the "BEAR-y Shower Contest" hosted by Frida Lay @ Spin on Friday, August 15. The contest starts at Midnight with sign-up by 11pm. On Thursday, July 28 Roscoe's hosts its monthly "Wet Boxer Contest" @ Midnight. Friday Lay is the host and $600 in prizes is being offered. Summer Cocktailing The best way to beat the summer heat is often with a cold refreshing beverage. Frozen slushies are the specialties of the house at video bar Sidetrack and pair well with "Showtunes" on Mondays, "Comedy" on Thursdays, and "Energy Videos" on Fridays and Saturdays. Next door @ Minibar, it's all about infused vodka martinis and a weekly line-up of events that include "Power Hour Wednesdays" (DJ Jon Roberts), "Mystique Thursdays" (DJ Phil Da Beatz) and the ultra-fun "Theme Party Sundays" (DJ Chris Eterno). "Killer Margaritas" are served up at Cesar's on Broadway each Thursday @ "Fiesta Nite" with DJ Plez laying down a serious house groove to eat and drink by. At Roscoe's it's the potent pitchers of Long Island Iced Tea that do the trick, and may even get you a trick, on Sunday nights for "Male Call" w/ Miss Foozie. Spin's "What The F&*k Wednesdays" brings out the chicken and the chicken-hawks for $1 drinks while @ Bobby Loves the contingent of barflies truly must be hot all the time because they drink a lot. Smack in the middle of Boystown are Little Jim's and Buck's, two neighborhood institutions that specialize in beers and shots. Other neighborhood institutions in the city include Granville Anvil in Edgewater, Manhandler in Lincoln Park, and Scot's in Ravenswood. When athletes need to unwind and cool down from playing in the summer heat, beer seems to be the libation of choice. The fit and trim warriors in Boystown hang out nightly @ North End filling up on suds while the Uptown folks head to Crew, especially on Tuesdays for "Man The Mic Karaoke" and for "Project Runway" viewing on Wednesdays. The Sunday athletes congregate @ Big Chicks in the afternoon to refuel and replenish as they eat at the complimentary "BBQ Buffet" (that's also available to the "out of shape" general public). Where Are The Girls? Where do the lesbians go for air-conditioned enjoyment? Well, when they're in Boystown you're most likely to see them @ Closet, which sees an influx of men during after-hours. Up in Andersonville, you'll see the fairer sex everywhere, from T's to the south to Star Gaze to the north to Joi De Vine to the west. On Thursdays, Mary's Attic has recently launched "The Lipstick Club" with DJ Shoshanna. Where Men Are`Men The leather folk in Boystown head to Cell Block on a nightly basis while Chicago Eagle takes care of those on the north side in Andersonville. Further north, Touché has a schedule that's chock full: the "Onyx Club Night" on Friday, August 15; "Gear Night" and the "Foot Fiends Party" on Saturday, August 16; and "Hardcore Leather Night" every Tuesday. Summer brings a fun mix of downtown office workers and out-of-town visitors and shoppers to the two downtown gay bars. Gentry On State presents live cabaret entertainment in the first level showroom while downstairs bar plays popular music videos.. Not too far away on the east side of Michigan Avenue sits the way friendly and charming Second Story Bar, the absolute best place to be on Fridays after work. Minority Report If you like the simmering beats of hip-hop then check out Prop House on Fridays and Spin for the "Ear-Rotic" hip-hop & house party w/ DJs Stoney & SP1 on Saturdays, August 16 & 23. If more interested in a Latino vibe, there are several options: on the south side @ Chesterfield Club on the weekends, Hydrate on Tuesdays, Jackhammer on Sundays, and Circuit on Thursdays & Sundays. Suburban Summer Hunters Nightclub in Elk Grove Village features DJ Ron G on Wednesdays for the "MWM" party and DJ Laura B on Saturday night for "Ascent." Other venues outside the city limits waving the lavender and rainbow flags include Club Krave in Blue Island and Hideaway in Forest Park with an impressive weekly program that includes the Chicago Beef dancers every Thursday and Saturday. Forward Calendar "Be Positive Tonight 8" takes place on Thursday, August 28 @ Circuit. This social mixer for HIV+ people is sponsored by Northstar Medical Group; hosted by Miss Foozie, Tajma Hall, and Angelique Munro; and features DJ Timmy Loop along with the Joel Hall Dancers and Amy & Freddy.