As it is summer vacation season, a trip to one of the two gay resorts within a relatively short drive might be worthwhile. Up in the Wisconsin Dells, the Captain Dix Bar @ Rainbow Valley Resort is hosting a "Toga Party" on Saturday, July 11 and then its "Bike Riders + Cheeks & Chaps" night the following weekend on July 18 (www.CaptainDix.com). In the opposite direction in Douglas, Michigan the Dunes Resort is hosting its popular annual "Christmas In July" weekend featuring DJ Mark Vallese, Men of Manwatch, and Amy & Freddy and July 16-19 (www.DouglasDunes.com)
Back here in the city on Friday, July 10, Chances & Outdanced present "MEN (LIVE)" @ Berlin w/ DJ Greg Haus, Chances DJs, and JD Samson's (formerly of Le Tigre) new band. On Saturday, July 11, Hydrate will be hosting its monthly "Inferno" party w/ DJs Roland Belmares & Jerry Griffith. There will also be a the launch party for Cyon Flare's new single "Rise."
The following weekend DJ Brett Locascio brings his energetic style to Hydrate on Friday, July 17. Then on Saturday, July 18 the raucously fun "Underwear Party" takes place @ Jackhammer while it gets all hot and steamy in the suburbs at Hunters' "Sweat: Night @ The Manhole" event w/ DJ Ted Eiel. That same night Ralphi Rosario spins @ Hydrate while the "Amigo" event @ Circuit Night Club presents DJs Rico Suave and Ink and live performances by Los Pachis and Banda Karembe. The weekend concludes with the "Third Annual Sofo T-Dance" on Sunday, July 19, 3pm-10pm. This outdoor event takes place in Andersonville in the parking lot across the street from T's (5025 N. Clark) w/ DJs Psycho Bitch, Chris Eterno, Plez, Phil DaBeatz, and Michael Thomas.
The Epicenter
The video bar Sidetrack packs them in with a popular line-up of themed video nights, including "Showtunes" on Mondays and "Comedy" on Thursdays. At Roscoe's, Frida Lay hosts "Drag Race 2009" on Tuesdays (w/ Guest Performer Naysha Lopez on July 14 ) while Miss Foozie takes charge of "Male Call" on Sundays (w/ a "Maxwell CD Release Party" and the "Miller Lite Male Model Casting Call" on July 12). Other Boystown options include North End (TPAN's poz-friendly "Pulse" on Thursdays), Bobby Loves (karaoke on Fridays), Charlie's (country line dancing) and Kit Kat Lounge (half-price martinis on Sundays and Tuesdays). You rarely go wrong visiting the long-standing Buck's and Little Jim's, and for live entertainment both 3160 and Cornelia's are popular and fun.
House-heads Unite
THE place for house music in Boystown is Cocktail, featuring "Monday Madness" (1/2 price drinks), go-go boys five nights a week, and an impressive line-up of DJs that includes Chris Eterno, Dealer, and DJ Pete Augusta (Sunday), Andrew C (Mondays), Timmy Loop (Tuesdays), Greg Haus (Wednesdays), Michael Serafini (Thursdays), Freddie Bain (Fridays), and Diva DJs (Saturdays: July 11 - DJ Dhanna; July 18 - Carla Starla).
Outside of Boystown, house music gets a friendly reception in Andersonville during "Attic-tion Saturdays" @ Mary's Attic w/ DJ Plez; downtown @ Lumen's "Industry Tuesdays" w/ resident DJ JustJoey; and on the South Side on Fridays @ Jeffrey's Pub w/ DJ Dana Powell. "Boom Boom Room" @ Green Dolphin Street w/ resident DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, JustJoey & Uncle Milty continues to be the crown jewel of weekly house nights in the city on Mondays.
Shake Your Tail Feathers
When it comes to dancing early in the night, Spin has DJ Chris Eterno on Wednesdays for "WTF $1 Drink Night," DJ Luis M lording over the dance floor on Fridays, an interesting mix of guest DJs and events on Saturdays, and DJ Mike Bolante on Sundays for "Foxy's Basement." Down the street @ Minibar, its new dance floor is kept energized by the likes of DJs Phil DaBeatz, Shawn Edwards, and Jesse Seely. At Roscoe's the new booming bass dance floor gets serviced sonically by DJs Duane, Kevy, Ron G, and DigiDave. In Uptown the Wild Pug features DJ Oskar for "Dorian Gray Night" on Saturdays while Big Chicks has dancing in the Salon on Fridays and Saturdays.
For after-hours dancing, the always popular Berlin has "Cosmix Fridays" w/ DJ Greg Haus, "Twisted Saturdays" w/ DJs Larissa and Chester, and "Stardust" on Thursdays. Hydrate has its "Sunday Dance Party" w/ DJ Jeanette, followed by DJ Laura B on Mondays; DJR spinning on Tuesdays; the "girls" of "Hy-Drag" on Wednesdays; and Cyon Flare and DJ Greg Drescher on Thursdays. Hi-energy beats can be had during after-hours @ Charlie's every night of the week with the likes of DJ LuLu and Mixmaster F, while the brand new "Ultimate After Hours" @ The Ram (3am-7am) features the "Amateur Strip Contest" w/ Miss Gina and DJ David C on Thursdays, DJ Ron G on Fridays, and DJ Plez on Saturdays.
Can I See "It?"
Lucky Horseshoe has strippers each night of the week in Boystown while in Andersonville @mosphere has them strutting their stuff Thursdays Sundays. "Hot Mess Thursdays" features DJ Chris Eterno while DJs Eric Hall and Timmy Loop spin on Fridays and Saturdays, respectively. @mosphere's weekend concludes with "Sabbath Sunday Strippers." Out in the suburbs, the Men of Sarabia appear regularly @ Club Krave on Fridays; Hideaway hosts the Chicago Beef dancers every Friday and Saturday; and Hunters presents "Hunters Hunks" every Thursday.
Steamworks, the full-service all-male club features a "Lights Out" party every Thursday; after-hours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; and DJ Jim B on Sunday afternoons. Guest DJ Jerry Griffth spins the official "Inferno After-Party" here on Saturday, July 11. Up @ Man's Country, strippers leave nothing to the imagination every Friday and Saturday night @ Midnight.
The weekly Latin pursuits at Circuit include "La Noche Loca" on Thursdays, featuring Miss Ketty's Latina Review, and "Noche Latina" w/ hostess Veronica Zaid and DJs Ink & Alex Perez on Sundays. Other Latin hangouts include Sundays @ Jackhammer as well as Tuesdays and weekends @ the new Moda VIP in the western suburb of Franklin Park.
For an urban music vibe that includes hip-hop as well as house music, Krush/The Prop House gets busy every Friday night; "Reunion" @ Shadow Bar rocks downtown each Saturday night w/ DJs Box, Shannon, and Kenae; and Club Escape takes care of southsiders on a nightly basis. Chicago lesbians congregate at Closet in Boystown and at several places in Andersonville, including T's, Star Gaze, Joi De Vine, and on Thursday nights @ Mary's Attic for "Lipstick Club."
Beyond Halsted
Up in Andersonville you'll find nightly fun at SoFo and the newish Cattle Call while Mary's Attic features Rogue DJ on Fridays and Karaoke on Sundays and Wednesdays. The fetish community finds a home at Touché with "Hardcore Leather Cruisin' Night" on Tuesdays and "Handballer Night" every Thursday. In Rogers Park there's the very friendly The Glenwood.
Wilde Bar (3130 N. Broadway) in Lakeview has its weekly "Wilde Night Out" on Mondays w/ DJ Greg Haus. Uptown/Edgewater is home to Granville Anvil (which counts Loyola students as patrons), Big Chicks (and its popular free buffet on Sundays), and the sports bar Crew (karaoke on Tuesdays). Scot's is a friendly gathering spot in the Ravenswood neighborhood while Manhandler sits as a gay oasis in the heart of Lincoln Park. Downtown, Second Story Bar is the only gay bar left serving office workers and shoppers alike. In Wicker Park, Davenport's piano bar entertains nightly as the the young, fun LGBTIQ crowd pours into Subterranean for the monthly "Chances Dances" party on Monday, June 20.
Outside the Windy City limits, Hunters Nightclub features DJ Ron G on Wednesdays while Club Krave has DJ Saul on Thursdays. In Lake Station, Indiana, Encompass hosts karaoke on Tuesdays and Fridays and the "Rush St. Revue Show" on Sundays.
Forward Calendar
The 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit is coming to town August 14-18 @ the Chicago Hilton on S. Michigan Ave. There will be nearly 100 workshops, plenaries, and town halls on topics such as aging, HIV prevention, domestic violence, transgender health, club drugs, anti-smoking, sexual racism, barebacking, yoga and meditation. For info and to register ($200): www.2009lgbtihealth.org.
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