We Interrupt This Regularly Scheduled Program

Before ITK…OTG talks about the various happenings at your fave bars and clubs, we want to tell you about the very important 2009 National LGBTI Health Summit that is coming to town August 14-18 @ the Chicago Hilton. There will be nearly 100 workshops, plenaries, and town halls on topics covering aging, HIV prevention, domestic violence, transgender health, club drugs, anti-smoking, sexual racism, barebacking, yoga and meditation. This Health Summit is very important and worthy of your attention and attendance if you are so inclined. Info and to register: www.2009lgbtihealth.org.

If you aren’t too pooped from Market Days, there are plenty of entertainment options this weekend. The Flesh Hungry Dog Show is back @ Jackhammer on Friday, August 7 with 8 Inch Betsy, Super Happy Fun Time Burlesque, The Cathy Santones, and  special guest performers from Stage Door Johnnies.  The show starts at 9pm and tickets are $10. That same night over @ Spin they’ve got House of Winehouse featuring Dana DeLorenzo & her band.  Later that evening Hydrate’s got Lube Wrestling and their newest resident DJ, Phil Da Beatz, while the legendary DJ Tony Moran takes over their booth on Saturday, August 8 for Inferno - Stripped: Underwear Party. The Inferno After-Party is @ Steamworks w/ DJs Greg Drescher & Greg Ellsworth until 8am.

A Crush & Lust Weekend for ITK...OTG

The following weekend features the Sarcastic Squad’s Improv-Off on Friday, August 14 @ Berlin. The show is hosted by Adam Guerino (whom ITK…OTG currently kinda has a crush on) and features Cameron Esposito, Eric Lutz and special guest Joe Fernandez.  After the laughter you can stay at Berlin for Cosmix Friday with DJ Greg Haus (whom ITK…OTG used to have a crush on). After-hours dancing can also be had this night at Hydrate w/ DJ Greg Drescher.

On Saturday, August 15 Wild Pug has the Make Me An Underwear Model event w/ DJ Oskar (one of ITK...OTG’s uncles crushed hard on him) and hosted by Miss Foozie. There will be lots to lust after at this party which will award $200 to the winner (10:30pm sign-up; 11pm contest starts). That same night Hydrate hosts the hottest DJ on the circuit scene, Joe Gauthreaux, as he celebrates his birthday. (And yes, ITK…OTG has lusted after him as well.) This night also features the Underwear Party @ Jackhammer, where lusting can actually lead to something in The Hole. ☺ Back over in Boystown, Circuit hosts the Chicago Music Promotions’ Vibe Circuit & House Party with a special performance by Screaming Rachael. There are lots of DJs on tap, including Veritas and Tony P.

Eye Of The Storm

The video bar Sidetrack packs them in nightly with a popular line-up of themed nights, including Showtunes on Mondays and Comedy on Thursdays. At Roscoe’s, Frida Lay hosts Drag Race on Tuesdays (guest Naysha Lopez on August 11) while Miss Foozie handles Male Call on Sundays. Other Boystown options include Halsted’s Bar & Grill (Team Trivia Mondays), North End (TPAN’s poz-friendly Pulse Thursdays), Bobby Loves (Karaoke  Fridays), Charlie’s (country line dancing), Cell Block (leather/fetish/bears/jeans) 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.

Homes For House

House music always feels at home when played at Cocktail, featuring Monday Madness (1/2 price drinks), go-go boys five nights a week, and an impressive line-up of DJs that includes Andrew C (Industri-Haus Mondays), Timmy Loop (Tuesdays), Greg Haus (Speakeasy Wednesdays), Michael Serafini (Thursdays), Freddie Bain (Fridays), Diva DJs (in rotation on Saturdays) and the troika of Chris Eterno, Dealer, and Pete Augusta (Super Saver Sundays).

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.

When it comes to dancing early in the night, Spin has DJ Chris Eterno on Wednesdays for WTF $1 Drink Night, an interesting mix of guest DJs and events on Fridays and Saturdays, and finally Foxy’s Basement on Sundays. Down the street @ Minibar, its expanded space is kept energized by the likes of DJs Phil DaBeatz and Shawn Edwards while Theme Night Sundays keeps everyone happy. Roscoe’s 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 the Dorian Gray Night party on Saturdays.

For after-hours dancing, the always popular Berlin has Twisted Saturdays w/ DJs Larissa and Chester, and Stardust on Thursdays. Hydrate has its Sunday Dance Party w/ DJ Greg Drescher, followed by DJ Laura B on Mondays; DJR spinning on Tuesdays; and host Cyon Flare and DJ Phil DaBeatz 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 DJs Ron G, Chris Eterno, and Plez Thursdays – Saturdays. Far north siders get their late night dancing fix at Jackhammer Thursdays - Sundays. 

Towels & Jocks & Thongs ... Oh My

Lucky Horseshoe has strippers each night of the week in Boystown while in Andersonville @mosphere has them strutting all weekend long: Manhunt Thursdays/Hot Mess Thursdays w/ DJ Chris Eterno followed DJs Eric Hall and Timmy Loop on Fridays and Saturdays, respectively.  In the suburbs, the Men of Sarabia appear @ Club Krave on Fridays; Hideaway hosts the Chicago Beef dancers on Thursdaysand Saturdays; and Hunters has Hunters Hunks every Thursday w/ DJ Laura B on the decks.

Steamworks has a Lights Out party every Thursday w/ DJ Dick; after-hours on weekend night w/ DJs Dick and Greg Ellsworth); and Sunday afternoon’s Spin Cycle w/ DJ Jim B. Up @ Man’s Country, strippers leave absolutely nothing to the imagination every Friday and Saturday @ Midnight.

Diversity Directory

For an urban music vibe (hip-hop as well as house music), Krush gets busy every Friday night with a special birthday party celebration for Rob and Duke scheduled for August 7. Reunion @ Shadow Bar rocks downtown each Saturday night w/ DJs Box, Shannon, and Kenae while Jeffrey Pub and Club Escape take 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 Mary’s Attic. Friday, August 7 ushers in the new monthly Circuit Girl party @ Circuit featuring “go-go dancers and fierce music.” On  Friday, August 14, the same venue hosts the Lipstick & Lace’s 8-Year Anniversary Party with a blend of hip-hop, R&B, house, and steppers music.  The weekly Latin pursuits at Circuit include La Noche Loca on Thursdays, featuring Miss Ketty’s Latina Review, and Noche Latina with hostess Veronica Zaid and DJs Ink & Alex Perez on Sundays.  Jackhammer also hosts a Latin night on Sundays. 

Beyond Boystown

Up in Andersonville you’ll find the neighborhood outpost SoFo, the brand new Cattle Call, and the martini bar Marty’s.  Mary’s Attic features Rogue DJ for Feel Good 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.” Further north in Rogers Park is the very friendly The Glenwood, a bar steadily growing in popularity.

The Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood is home to Granville Anvil; Big Chicks (and its popular Free Sunday BBQ Buffet and super fun $1 Burger Mondays) and the sports bar Crew (Karaoke Tuesdays). Scot’s is a friendly gathering spot in Ravenswood while Manhandler sits as an oasis in Lincoln Park. Downtown, Second Story Bar is the only gay bar left to service office workers and shoppers while Davenport’s piano bar entertains in Wicker Park. Also in Wicker Park, Plan B hosts The Boys Room on Sundays while the young, fun LGBTIQ crowd will be at the monthly Chances Dances party at Subterranean on Monday, August 17.

Outside the Windy City limits, Hunters Nightclub features DJ Ron G on Fridays nights 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.