December Dates To Remember            December 10 - 23, 2009

Toys, Toys, Toys

Big ups to the folks over at Berlin for hosting a Holiday Toy Drive this season. On Thursday, December 10, it’s the Stardust Vogue for Tots party with DJs Heather Doble, Teo, and Chester. Hosted by Saya, there’s discounted admission with a toy donation. The next night, Friday, December 11, a toy donation gets you free admission to the Ugly Holiday Sweater Variety Show @ Berlin with host Adam Guerino. Afterwards, dance the night away with DJ Greg Haus… Prefer to donate toys during daytime hours? Then head over to Wilde Bar & Restaurant (3130 N. Broadway) on either Saturday, December 12 or Sunday, December 13, 3pm-5pm, and bring a wrapped holiday gift.

Party Hearty

The one and only Don Diablo, the Dutch record producer, songwriter, artist, and DJ, will be in town at Spy Bar on Thursday, December 10… Smart Bar presents its Welcome Party on Friday, December 11 with DJs John Acquaviva and Nate Manic. The following night on December 12 it’s Chicago house music legend DJ Heather rocking the Smart Bar dance floor… That same night there’s the monthly Gaysia event at Wild Pug @ 7pm, followed by DJ Pervy @ 9pm… On Thursday, December 17, beginning at 8pm the Broadway elbow (@Buckingham) will be trés busy. Cram Fashion (3331 N. Broadway) will present Naughty & Nice - A Winter Fashion Event with comp beverages, music and more. At The Closet it’s their 31st Pre NYE Fun House theme party with a DJ, a Champagne toast and all the usual stuff.… On Saturday, December 19, Jackhammer hosts its monthly Underwear Party while Wild Pug presents its Anniversary & Christmas Spectacular

Boystown Central

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, U-Video Request night on Tuesdays, 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 on Fridays), and Cell Block (leather/fetish/bears/jeans). The Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club has half-price cocktails and martinis on Wednesdays and 80s Night with the Kit Kat Divas on Thursdays… Buck’s and Little Jim’s are always friendly hang-out spots while live entertainment shines nightly at both 3160 and Cornelia’s and during Voltaire Cabaret Tuesdays @ Hydrate on Tuesdays at 9pm.

You Should Be Dancing

For after-hours dancing, the always popular Berlin has Cosmix Fridays w/ DJ Greg Haus and Twisted Saturdays w/ DJs Larissa and Chester while Hydrate presents a weekly line-up that includes a Sunday Dance Party w/ DJ Greg Drescher, DJ Laura B on Mondays; DJR spinning on Tuesdays; and DJ Phil DaBeatz on Thursdays… Also in Boystown is Charlie’s which rocks a hi-energy after-hours every night of the week w/ DJ LuLu and others… Jackhammer is the far north side’s late night dance option Wednesdays – Sundays… The Ultimate After Hours @ The Ram (3am-7am) has DJs Ron G (Saturdays), Plez (Fridays), David C. (Thursdays) and regular guests appearances by Chris Eterno and Freddie Bain… There’s not a lot of dancing @ The Closet, but it’s a fun, under-rated late night hangout for the drinking set.

Toweling Off

Steamworks, the full-service all-male club, has a Lights Out party every Thursday and After-hours on Fridays and Saturdays with DJ Greg Ellsworth (until 4am and 5am, respectively). The weekly Sunday Spin Cycle takes place 3pm-2am with DJs Chris Eterno and Peter Canellis handling the early shift until 8pm and DJ Jim B serving beats until 2am.… Up @ Man’s Country, nothing is left to the imagination every Friday and Saturday @ Midnight with a dancer line-up that features Ricky Sinz, Cezar and Manuel on Friday, December 11; Haley, Fabion and Stefan.on Saturday, December 12; and Sean Taylor, Angel and Tristan on Friday, December 18.

Lucky Horseshoe in Boystown has strippers nightly while @mosphere has them strutting all weekend long: Hot Mess Thursdays/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 and will be hosting its infamous monthly Lockdown Party @ 2:30pm (doors open @ 1:30pm) on Saturday, December 19… Out in the suburbs: the Men of Sarabia next appear @ Club Krave on Saturday, December 12; Chicago Beef visits Hideaway on Thursdays and Saturdays; and Hunters Hunks liven up Hunters on Thursdays w/ DJ Laura B on the decks.

Niche Programming

The first month of the Urbano party was a smashing success and December is poised to continue the momentum for the “hip-hop for all” Saturday night gatherings @ Circuit w/ DJs Kenae, Corona, and Anton.… As for a weekly Friday night presentation of hip-hop along with R&B and house, you can’t go wrong @ Krush… Club Escape takes care of south siders on a nightly basis while Mz. Ruffy’s Cheap Drink Night gets everyone’s week off to a good start with $2 well drinks @ Republic (1520 N. Fremont) on Mondays.

As for Chicago lesbians, they congregate on a weekly basis for the Circuit Girl dance party on Fridays @ Circuit. You’ll also find them gathering @ Closet when hanging in Boystown and at several places in Andersonville, including T’s, Star Gaze, Joi De Vine and Mary’s Attic…

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.

Homes for House

The home for house music in Boystown is Cocktail, featuring DJ Timmy Loop, Go-Go Boys and drink specials every Tuesday. There are Go-Go Boys there four other nights a week and the DJ line-up includes 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… Another home for house is Crimson Lounge downtown (333 N. Dearborn) that now has Same Sax Sundays.

Other Options

Up in Andersonville you’ll find the popular neighborhood outpost SoFo, the martini bar Marty’s and The Call (w/DJ Oskar on Fridays)… 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 Cruisin’ Night on Tuesdays and a Bear Chested Night every Wednesday. Upcoming special nights include Dungeon Master Night with a Spanking Demo on Saturday, December 12, and Porn Star Poker Party on Friday, December 18… Further north in Rogers Park is the very friendly The Glenwood.

The Uptown/Edgewater neighborhood is home to Granville Anvil (with Loyola students added to the mix); Big Chicks (with its popular Free Sunday Buffet and super fun $1 Burger Mondays) and the sports bar Crew (NFL games on Sundays)… 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, the young, fun LGBTIQ crowd will be at the monthly Chances Dances party at Subterranean on Monday, December 21.

Beyond Chicago City Limits

Outside the Windy City limits, Hunters Nightclub features DJ Ron G on Friday nights and DJ Lawrence K on Saturdays while Club Krave presents its 2-Year Anniversary Weekend featuring Crstal & The Hot Boys All Male Revue on Friday, December 18; Tribute to Glee on Saturday. December 19; and the Anniversary Party on Sunday, December 20.… Velvet Rope in Oak Park has karaoke on Fridays and DJs and dancing on Saturdays… Out in Elgin, Medusa’s launches its monthly Sunday Tea Dance on December 13 w/ adult film star Ricky Sinz guiding the sounds from the DJ booth. The fun atarts at 8pm… In Lake Station, Indiana, Encompass hosts karaoke on Tuesdays and Fridays and the Rush St. Revue Show on Sundays