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Frommer's Guide
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FEATURES AND EVENTS
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Chicago's Gay Scene: Boys Town and Beyond
by Sarah Sung
Lead Writer
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Fireball (February)
A circuit party of epic proportions is held during President's Day weekend to raise money for the LGBT community and HIV/AIDS research. The Hearts Foundation organizes most of the fundraising for this event, which assembles a broad spectrum of world-famous acts.
Pride Parade (June)
June is pride month across the globe, and Chicago celebrates with one of the largest parades in the nation. For the last 35 years, the annual pride parade has ambled along East Lakeview on the last Sunday of the month. The celebration, however, is definitely not just a one-day deal, nor is it merely a weekend party; instead it lasts all month long.
Northalsted Market Days (August)
Need a creative outlet or venue for self-expression? Crazily costumed folk flood six city blocks for this gay and lesbian festival. This event ranks as the Midwest's largest two-day gay and lesbian festival. Dance in the streets, on the sidewalks, and on the dance floor--various stages will be blasting live music with more than 40 musical acts performing. And hundreds of arts and crafts booths and food and alcohol vendors will be just steps away. Clubs along the strip are an ideal escape for a cool, air-conditioned break.
Chicago's International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (November)
For about a week, over the course of about 50 screenings, the festival showcases hundreds of feature films and short videos spanning a range of genres from feature films to documentaries and shorts.
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Hugging the Lake Michigan shoreline, Chicago's waterfront location, spectacular skyscrapers, and cultural offerings combine to make it a top destination for visitors of all persuasions. The third-largest city in the nation, Chicago is also home to many long-running gay clubs, and hosts numerous special gay events throughout the year, creating one of the most dynamic communities around. Summer is popular for Pride and Northalsted Market Days, and winter is a crowd-pleaser with various choral concerts, benefits, and dances.
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each with a distinct personality and unique set of attractions. Boys Town and Andersonville are the two main gay and lesbian areas. They are located on the north side of the city near the shores of Lake Michigan. Boys Town, also known as Lakeview, borders the lake and lies between Belmont and Grace Streets--once you see the huge rainbow pillars at the intersection of Belmont and Clark, you'll know you're in the right place. Halsted Street and Broadway are the best-known streets in Boys Town, and the people-watching is always intoxicating. Home to more than 30 gay and lesbian bars, clubs, and restaurants, with names like Berlin, Cocktail, Sidetrack, and Cell Block, it's the kind of place you could spend many action-packed days.
A little further north of Boys Town is Andersonville, previously known for its strong Swedish heritage; a predominantly lesbian crowd calls it home now. More low-key than its neighbor to the south, Andersonville offers specialty boutiques, inexpensive restaurants, coffeehouses, and friendly bars along Clark Street. Also along this main drag, you'll find one of the best bookstores around: Women and Children First (5233 N. Clark St., 773.769.9299). Contrary to what its name implies, it is not a women-only store. Plenty of men browse this indie shop, which carries books by or about women, although they're more than willing to special-order anything.
Although you could spend all of your time in Boys Town or Andersonville, it's nice to know that there are more options and more neighborhoods to explore. In Hyde Park, close to the University of Chicago, is the Palace of Fine Arts, home to the Museum of Science and Industry, one of the country's first interactive museums. The Museum of Science and Industry features the famous exhibit "AIDS: The World Within," which addresses the origins and effects of the disease.
The Loop, the cultural heart of downtown where most of the landmark buildings, museums, and theaters are, should not be overlooked. The Sears Tower, at 110-stories high, is one of the world's tallest skyscrapers. Walk up Michigan Avenue and gaze at the Chicago Tribune Tower, a stellar representation of Gothic architecture. See the world's largest Tiffany dome along with various rotating art exhibits at the Chicago Cultural Center. And when in Grant Park, on the eastern side of the Loop, visit the Art Institute. Its 300,000-piece collection covers more than 40 centuries of art, up to and including Impressionist and post-Impressionist work. The Field Museum, Alder planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium are also here.
If shopping is on the agenda, and you already cleaned out the stores along Halsted, Broadway, and Clark, head to the next obvious place--the Magnificent Mile. You'll find any and all stores and boutiques here. On State Street, the Loop's first main commercial strip, is the Midwest's famed department store, Marshall Field & Co. Another famous department store worth a look is Carson Pirie Scott, especially known for its ornate facade. For a more refined scene, stroll by the windows of the boutiques lining Wabash Avenue between Randolph Street and Jackson Boulevard.
Need more info on Chicago's gay scene? Before you go, be sure to check out events listed online, from plays and picnics to worship services and fundraisers.
You can also contact the Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce:
1210 W. Rosedale
Chicago, IL 60660
Phone: 773.303.0167
e-mail: info@glchamber.org•
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Inside Scoop |
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Gay-Friendly Spots Bailiwick Repertory Theater
1229 W. Belmont Avenue
773.883.1090
For a little bit of culture and lots of entertainment, Chicago's theater companies are cutting-edge, second only to New York City. Bailiwick Repertory Theater has been a favorite since it opened in 1982. Daring and provocative themes are played out in the 150-seat theater with exposed brick and pipes. The acoustics are great and you always feel close to the action. About 25 shows run throughout the year, and there's a studio that seats about 80 people.
The Leather Archives and Museum
6418 N. Greenview Avenue
773.761.9200
Located in a former synagogue in Rogers Park, the museum specializes in leather paraphernalia and literature. The exhaustive collection features items relating to the leather lifestyle, from international leather contests to magazines. After a brief tour of the history and memorabilia related to the leather fetish, head to Eagle, a top leather bar a few miles from the museum.
Angelina Ristorante
3561 N. Broadway Street
773.935.5933
Cozy, candlelight setting and traditional Italian cuisine make this a popular romantic destination. Take it up a notch and sit in the window seats. Seasonal, fresh produce is featured here.
Jack's on Halsted
3201 N. Halsted Street
773.244.9191
Halsted Street attracts an eclectic crowd to its bars, clubs, and restaurants. While at Jack's on Halsted, get a table by a window to see the street scene outside. Enjoy old American favorites with an international flair, like grilled filet mignon with lobster mashed potatoes, salmon with sweet pea hash, or chicken stuffed with andouille sausage. Whatever you order, save room for the homemade cherry pie.
Tomboy
5402 N. Clark Street
773.907.0636
Gourmet food in a trendy, upscale dining spot. Extending the Andersonville vibe beyond its doorstep, it's eclectic, cozy, and pretty laid-back. The service is casual yet the menu is adventurous. Try shrimp in blueberry sauce or pork stuffed with a coconut-lemon-cilantro mixture.
Tweet
5020 N. Sheridan
773.728.5576
Tweet is a cozy family-friendly yet romantic dining spot. Michelle Fire, the owner of Big Chicks, also owns Tweet, and creates the same welcoming atmosphere for brunch and dinner. Homey and super cozy, it's comfort food all the way for brunch. Three-egg omelets (organic), buttermilk pancakes, and breakfast burritos are all worth a try. Dinner is served Wednesday through Saturday. The cuisine is American with a few French accents. They also serve a healthy variety of yummy vegetarian dishes.
Berlin
954 W. Belmont Avenue
773.348.4975
This dance club is one of the city's best. Rotating DJs and nightly themes mean that the vibe varies from night to night. Prince lovers, don your purple garb and head here the last Sunday of every month.
Big Chicks
5024 N. Sheridan
773.728.5511
A bit off the beaten path, miles from the sceney clubs in Boys' Town, there's Big Chicks, a popular low-key uptown bar. There's never a cover, it's totally casual, and the atmosphere is laid-back. Plus, the crowd is mixed--all ages, genders, and persuasions are welcome. Sundays are popular because owner Michelle Fire serves up free BBQ in the summer (burgers, hot dogs, etc.) and fried chicken or pizza during the winter.
Hydrate
3458 N. Halsted Street
773.975.9244
This famous Boys Town dance club and hangout features different events each night. The space spans three rooms, with aqua walls by the front bar and cherry red walls by the middle bar. After midnight, the crowd is dominated by boys but before then, it's mixed. At night, the main attraction is the dance floor and world-renowned DJs.
The Closet
3325 N. Broadway
773.477.8533
Unbeatable dance music plays nonstop into the night at this predominantly lesbian club. It gets crowded at about 2am when the other bars close, and the small size enhances the sardine-like feeling, making it really cozy on the tiny dance floor. Ready to go?
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