Just To Reiterate --
REELING 2007: The 26th Annual Gay & Lesbain Film Festival is the big event happening in the city, from November 8-18, at several area theaters. And if you want your theatrics live instead of on screen, be sure to catch THE ROCKY HORROW SHOW at the Mercury Theater. Weekly shows are on Fridays @ 11pm, Saturdays @ 4pm and 11pm, Sundays @ 7:30pm, Mondays @ 7:30pm, and Wednesdays @ 7:30 pm. For more info on both, check out the respective stories in this issue of the magazine. And speaking of venues already talked about in this issue, the BIJOU continues its monthly "Spotlight Series" with a tribute to legendary porn star Al Parker. Three of his classic movies will be shown on successive nights on November 10, 11, and 12.

What's New & Special -
The folks at Clubhouse and Smooth Productions have a new weekly Saturday night party going on called "XOTIK." Dancing to the hip-hop, house, R&B, and reggaeton beats of DJs Anton and Kenae occurs at TOKYO 21 (901 W. Weed St.) from 11pm-5am.

LE PASSAGE (937 N. Rush St.) is re-opening this weekend with the help of the folks over at All-Terrain Productions. The folks at Three Headed Productions (Salud, Can's, Three Olives) are now at the helm and they are billing the popular downtown destination as a discothèque and culinary cocktail lounge. Sounds intriguing. Additional intrigue and just downright excitement surrounds DJ Chris Eterno's return on Sunday nights to Boystown. You can blow . I mean catch him weekly at MINIBAR (Luv ya Chris!).

The guys at the Lakeview BORDERLINE MUSIC location (3333 N. Broadway) will be hosting an in-store appearance by pop superstar Darren Hayes on Friday, November 16 @ 7pm. In addition to a Meet & Greet and a Q&A session, Hayes will also put his DJing skills on display with a quick in-store set.

Homo Haunts: Boystown -
LITTLE JIM'S and BUCK'S SALOON are two Boystown institutions not to be missed, whether looking for a hook-up, cheap drinks, or just a friendly conversation. HYDRATE provides dancing fun every night of the week with DJs Ralphi Rosario (Saturday, November 10), Greg Drescher (Thursdays), Laura B (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays) and Jeanette (Sundays). Dancing of the cowboy and 2-step variety takes place at CHARLIE'S on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

In the heart of Boystown sits two of the biggest gay bars in the country. The video bar SIDETRACK features "Showtunes" on Mondays, "Comedy" on Thursdays and delicious frozen vodka slushies every night. Across the street at ROSCOE'S, Sunday's "Male Call" features Miss Foozie as postmaster while Frida Lay hosts "Drag Race 2007" on Tuesdays.

For high-quality late night cruising and dancing, BERLIN still packs them in on Fridays for "Cosmix" with DJ Greg Haus and Saturdays for "Twisted" with DJs Larissa and Chester.

If drinking cheaply is your goal, then BOBBY LOVES and NORTH END are the perfect Boystown options while inexpensive libations in a classy environment can be had every Sunday and Tuesday with _-price martinis at KIT KAT LOUNGE & SUPPER CLUB.

DJ Culture -
The holiday season seems to bring the biggest global DJ names to Chicago and this year is no different. The highlight event is on Wednesday, November 21 when legendary international superstar DJ Paul van Dyk storms the CONGRESS THEATER (2135 N. Milwaukee Ave.) for the "Trance-giving" party in support of his new album. That same night, Green Velvet will be rocking the house-heads at ZENTRA.

Over the next fortnight, SMART BAR presents an impressive house music line-up that includes Groove Junkies (November 8), Colette (November 10), and Kaskade (November 17). Little Louie Vega, in support of a brand new compilation CD that's charting well, will be at ZENTRA for "Jack Fridays" on November 16. CROBAR presents the "Juicy" man himself, Robbie Rivera, on Saturday, November 10, with electro-master Benny Benassi in their DJ booth the following week on November 17.

Homo Haunts: North --
In Uptown at BIG CHICKS the Homolatte" spoken word event is scheduled for Tuesday, November 20. For those wanting to sing, "Man The Mic Karaoke" happens every Tuesday @ CREW beginning at 9pm. GRANVILLE ANVIL is a great dive bar on the far northside with cheap drinks and Loyola college boyz. In Andersonville, MARY'S ATTIC presents DJ Shoshanna's eclectic mix on Fridays while DJ Plez delivers his soulful, funk-laden house beats on Saturdays.

Beats & Rhymes Amongst Friends --
If you want the option of dancing to house in one room or an urban blend of hip-hop, R&B, and rap in another, then you won't want to miss the Friday, November 15 "Homecoming" party presented by the Rails Marketing Group at the PROP HOUSE. DJ Sedrick (Atlanta & DC) joins resident DJ Ransom for the special gathering. Boystown hip-hoppers will grind it out at "Ear-Rotic" with DJ Stoney on Saturday, November 17 at SPIN NIGHTCLUB. Completing the weekend offering of phat beats is "Penthouse Sundays" at CLUB 720 and "Mondays with Mz. Ruff 'N Stuff" at CIRCUIT.

CIRCUIT's diverse line-up of parties includes the monthly "Amigo" on Saturday, November 17 with guest DJ Roei Ridriquez (Mexico City) and resident DJ Alex Perez. Friday nights at CLUB CHESTERFIELD on the southside is "Cowboy Rage" with a midnight drag show featuring Yamileth and El Famoso Pancho. .

Shakin' Their Groove Thangs --
While the Spank Go-Go Boys (five nights a week) at COCKTAIL keep getting better, the music remains top-notch with beats provided by DJs Michael Serafini (Tuesdays), Timmy Loop (Fridays), and Pete Augusta (Sundays). Other popular stripper shows can be found in Boystown nightly at LUCKY HORSESHOE and up in Andersonville at @MOSPHERE every Thursday, Friday, & Saturday. Out in the suburbs, HUNTERS has "Hunters Hunks" every Thursday with DJ Laura B spinning the tunes.

Regular guys get down to their skivvies during the "Underwear Party" @ JACKHAMMER on Saturday, November 17. The "Bear-y Shower Contest," hosted by Friday Lay, takes place at SPIN on Friday, November 16 with Go-Go bears, DJ Chris Eterno supplying the beats for the dance floor, and VJ Terp the music video in the front room. Pants come off at Midnight.

Frisky Fun --
Looking for serious leather men? Check out CELL BLOCK and EAGLE and most especially TOUCHÉ on Tuesdays. Saturday, November 10 is "Dungeon Master Night" @ TOUCHÉ with Master Timothy in charge while on Friday, November 16 the bruthas of Onyx host their monthly club meeting. STEAMWORKS, the full-service all-male club, gym, and sauna, features a "Lights Out" party every Thursday night (4pm-4am) and DJ Dick serving up sexy pulsating beats during the after-hours on Friday and Saturday nights. The all-nude stripper shows at MAN'S COUNTRY features the men of Sarabia every Friday and Saturday nights. Just south of Boystown in the heart of trendy Lincoln Park, the MANHANDLER SALOON is a delightfully fun undercover oasis.

Homo Haunts: Elsewhere --
For those hanging out downtown, THE SECOND STORY BAR and GENTRY ON STATE are popular options. Both places boast large crowds on Fridays for TGIF cocktails and Gentry is one of several popular spots in the city for cabaret performances. Others performance spots include DAVENPORT'S in Wicker Park, 3160 in Lakeview, and CORNELIA'S BISTRO in the heart of Boystown.

Club kids, industry types, amd the trendy schlep down to the West Loop on Wednesdays for "Shelter" at VICTOR HOTEL featuring DJ Pete Augusta. The same hipsters and more crowd into GREEN DOLPHIN STREET for "Boom Boom Room" on Monday nights with resident DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, Uncle Milty, and JustJoey.

"Pride Night" @ CESAR'S ON BROADWAY with DJ Plez continues on Thursdays @ 7pm. Meanwhile out in the South suburbs, the THE EDGE BAR has DJ Rockin' RC on Fridays and DJ Pervy on Saturdays.