Labor Day Weekend Highlights

Getting the long Labor Day weekend off to a grand start, it’s Be Positive Tonight 9 @ Spin on Thursday, September 3, 6pm-10pm. This social mixer for HIV+ people to meet other HIV+ people is hosted Angelique Munro & Miss Foozie and features the Chicago Cabaret Project on stage. Admission is free as are food and drinks. Later this same evening, La Nocha Loca @ Circuit Night Club presents Club Papi and a live a performance by Fey. The event features DJ Rubin from Los Angeles as well as a bevy of sexy Latin go-go dancers. Finally, this thrilling Thursday night has superstar gay rapper Cazwell making a return appearance for Stardust @ Berlin.

Labor Day weekend means it’s also Continental Weekend with the crowning of a new Miss Continental as well as a new Mr. Continental. The finals for Mr. Continental Pageant will take place on Saturday, September 5 at the Park West Theater (322 W. Armitage). The next Miss Continental will be named at the same venue two days later on Monday, September 7. For info about the contests and tickets: 312.527. 9338; www.thebatonshowlounge.com/continental.htm

On Friday, September 4 Hydrate presents its monthly Lube Wrestling event followed by a night of dancing with DJ Phil Da Beatz. DJ Freddie Bain will be serving up fierce house beats @ Cocktail while the Boy Shower Contest takes place @ Spin, and DJ Eric Hall and go-go dancers excite the crowd @ @mosphere. The next night of the holiday weekend, Saturday, September 5, has Circuit presenting Divarama featuring the videos and pop hits of Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Paulina Rubio. Hydrate hosts Kansas City DJ Jerry Griffith as Berlin presents Twisted w/ DJ Larissa.

Sunday, September 6 features not only the long-running Free BBQ Buffet @ Big Chicks (beginning @ 4pm) but also the fledgling but popular Boy’s Room @ Plan B over in Wicker Park. This first Sunday of the month finds Madonna-rama returning to Berlin while The Ram presents a special Labor Day edition of its Ultimate After-hours with DJs Freddie Bain and Plez, 10pm-6am. Finally Labor Day weekend wraps up with the annual Furr BQ @ Sidetrack on Monday, September 7 starting at 3pm

Forward Thinking

On Friday, September 11, The Flesh Hungry Dog Show presents This Ain’t Your Daddy’s Gay Bar, in their long running live music series @ Jackhammer. Veteran Chicago rock provocateurs Bobby Conn & Monica Boubou headline the bill, along with The Dylan Rice Band, and Congress of Starlings. The show starts at 9pm and tickets are $8, available at the door, or online at www.fleshhungrydog.com. That same night, Hydrate has DJ Brett Locascio behind the decks while Greg Haus works his magic during Cosmix @ Berlin.

The Miss Foozie Variety Show has its Anniversary Party on Saturday, September 12 @ Circuit w/ special guests Paula Sinclaire. That same night @ Hydrate DJ Sin Morero returns to Chicago while TPAN puts on its annual Aware Affair gala @ the Ravenswood Billboard Factory (4011 N. Ravenswood Ave.). This year’s event features a performance by Kristine W. Info and tickets: www.tpan.com.

Where The Boyz Are

At Roscoe’s, Frida Lay hosts Drag Race 2009 on Tuesdays while Miss Foozie takes charge of Male Call on Sundays… The video bar Sidetrack packs them in nightly with a popular line-up that includes Showtunes on Mondays and Comedy on Thursdays. Other Boystown options include Halsted’s Bar & Grill (Team Trivia on Mondays), North End (TPAN’s poz-friendly Pulse on Thursdays), Bobby Loves (karaoke on Fridays), Charlie’s (country line dancing lessons w/ Steana on Fridays), Cell Block (leather/fetish/bears/jeans) and Kit Kat Lounge (half-price martinis on Sundays). Kit Kat also hosts two weekly viewing parties: on Wednesdays for Top Chef and Thursdays for Project Runway. Buck’s and Little Jim’s are always friendly while live entertainment shines at both 3160 and Cornelia’s.

Shake Your Groove Thangs

When it comes to dancing early in the night, Spin has DJ Chris Eterno on Wednesdays for WTF $1 Drink Night, and Foxy’s Basement w/ DJ Mike Bolante on Sundays… Down @ Minibar, DJs such as Phil DaBeatz and Shawn Edwards lord over the beautiful new dance floor while Roscoe’s new dance space gets worked by DJs Duane, Kevy, Ron G, and DigiDave… In Uptown the Wild Pug features DJ Oskar for the Dorian Gray party on Saturdays.

For after-hours dancing, the always popular Berlin has Twisted Saturdays w/ DJs Larissa and Chester while Hydrate presents its Sunday Dance Party w/ DJ Greg Drescher along w/ DJ Laura B on Mondays; DJR spinning on Tuesdays; and DJ Phil DaBeatz on Thursdays… Ultimate After Hours @ The Ram (3am-7am) has DJs Ron G, Chris Eterno, David C, and Plez Thursdays – Saturdays. Jackhammer is the far north side’s late night dance option Wednesdays – Sundays.

Swing Your Groove Thangs

Steamworks, the full-service all-male club, has a Lights Out party every Thursday w/ DJ Scotty Dick, who also spins the After-hours (11pm-5am) on Sundays. After-hours on Fridays and Saturdays feature DJ Greg Ellsworth while the weekly Sunday Spin Cycle (3pm-8pm).has DJ Jim B… Up @ Man’s Country, nothing is left to the imagination every Friday and Saturday @ Midnight with a dancer line-up that includes popular attractions named AJ, Lex, Camron, Cezar & Sean Taylor.

Lucky Horseshoe in Boystown has strippers nightly while @mosphere has them strutting all weekend long: Hot Mess Thursday / Club Manhunt w/ DJ Chris Eterno followed by DJs Eric Hall and Timmy Loop on Fridays and Saturdays, respectively… Jackhammer has the Chicago Beef dancers on Fridays and Saturdays… Out in the suburbs: the Men of Sarabia appear @ Club Krave on Fridays; Chicago Beef visits Hideaway on Thursdays and Saturdays; and Hunters Hunks liven up Hunters on Thursdays w/ DJ Laura B on the decks.

Diversity Diversions

The weekly Latino nights @ Circuit include Noche Latina, w/ hostess Veronica Zaid and DJs Ink & Alex Perez on Sundays, and La Noche Loca on Thursdays, featuring Miss Ketty’s Latina Review… Other weekly Latino hangouts include Sundays @ Jackhammer as well as Mondays @ Lucky Horseshoe.

Presenting an urban music vibe, Krush gets busy every Friday night while Reunion @ Shadow Bar rocks each Saturday night w/ DJs Stoney, Anton, and Kenae… Club Escape takes care of south siders on a nightly basis while Ms. Ruffy gets everyone’s week off to a good start with $1 drinks @ Republic (1520 N. Fremont) with a weekly Monday night party… The city’s gay Asian communities are becoming more visible and gather @ Wild Pug’s monthly Gaysia event with DJ Oskar.

Where The Girlz Are

As for Chicago lesbians, they congregate at Closet when hanging in Boystown and at several places in Andersonville, including T’s, Star Gaze, Joi De Vine and Mary’s Attic. The new monthly Circuit Girl party is back @ Circuit on Friday, September 4 while the urbanish Lipstick & Lace takes place at the same venue on Friday, September 11.

House Music All Night Long!

The home for house music in Boystown is Cocktail, featuring The Speakeasy on Wednesdays w/ DJ Greg Haus and $6 martinis. Go-Go Boys are there five nights a week and the DJ line-up includes Timmy Loop (Tuesdays), Michael Serafini (Thursdays), Freddie Bain (Fridays), Diva DJs (Saturdays) and the troika of Chris Eterno, Dealer, and Pete Augusta (Sundays).

Outside of Lakeview, DJ Plez serves up house music during Attic-tion Saturdays @ Mary’s Attic while DJ Dana Powell delivers on Fridays @ Jeffrey’s Pub… Every Monday the Boom Boom Room @ Green Dolphin Street continues its success w/ resident DJs Michael Serafini, Diz, JustJoey & Uncle Milty.

Beyond Boystown

Up in Andersonville you’ll find the popular neighborhood outpost SoFo, the newish country bar 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 @ Touché with Hardcore Leather Cruisin’ Night on Tuesdays and Handballer Night every Thursday… Further north in Rogers Park is the very friendly The Glenwood.

The Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood is home to Granville Anvil (with new and returning Loyola students added to the mix); Big Chicks (with its super fun $1 Burger Mondays) and the sports bar Crew (karaoke on Tuesdays)… Scot’s is a friendly watering hole in Ravenswood while Manhandler sits in the heart of Lincoln Park… Downtown, Second Story Bar is the only gay bar left in the area while Davenport’s piano bar entertains over in Wicker Park. Also in Wicker Park, Plan B hosts the weekly Boys Room on Sundays.

You’ll Need A Car

Outside the Windy City limits, Hunters Nightclub features DJ Ron G on Friday nights while Club Krave has DJ Saul on Thursdays.  Velvet Rope in Oak Park (728 Lake St | 708.358.8840) has karaoke on Fridays and DJs and dancing on Saturdays.  In Lake Station, Indiana, Encompass hosts Karaoke on Tuesdays and Fridays and the Rush St. Revue Show on Sundays. A little further east in Sawyer, Michigan, Fitzgerald’s (5875 Sawyer Rd; (Exit 12, I-94) | 269.426.3489) hosts the weekly Swank dance party on Saturdays.