| Fun Places to Gay
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|  | | The Actors Gymnasium at Noyes Cultural Arts Center
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| |  | | Sound Bar
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| |  | | Roscoe's
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| |  | | Center on Halsted
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| |  | | Dance Chicago at the Athenaeum Theatre
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| |  | | Harris Theater for Music and Dance
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| |  | | Red Tape Theatre
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| |  | | LiveWire Chicago at Tom Robinson Gallery
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| |  | | Baton Show Lounge
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| |  | | Charlie's
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| |  | | First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate
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| |  | | LiveWire Chicago at the Storefront Theater
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| |  | | Saint Sebastian Players at St. Bonaventure Church
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| |  | | TimeLine Theatre
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| |  | | Bobby Love's
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| |  | | DS Tequila Company
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| |  | | Broadway Youth Center
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| |  | | Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
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| |  | | Wilde Bar and Restaurant
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| |  | | Royal George Theatre
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Saturday June 1st
Chicago Alternative Comics Expo, CAKE
11:00am - 6:00pm
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - During the first weekend of June, Center on Halsted, an LGBT
community center located in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood, plays host to the Chicago
Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE). The free event is open to the public and features workshops,
exhibitions, panel discussions, and over 150 carefully curated vendors local and abroad.
Celebrating its eighth year, CAKE is a sweet antidote to over-commercialized, overcrowded
comic-cons that focus on mainstream superheroes from the DC or Marvel Universes. Instead of
legions of Aquamen and Wonder Women taking over a labyrinthine convention hall,
independent artists and publishers populate rows of decorated tables lining a sunny, open
gymnasium. Aisles are filled with showgoers of all ages and identities eager to meet and support
their favorite artists and snatch up comics, prints, stickers and more. In 2018 CAKE organizers
and volunteers welcomed over 3,000 attendees during its two days, and anticipate even higher
numbers in 2019.
Each year CAKE highlights special guest artists who participate in panels and signings. This
year's special guests include Chicago's own Corinne Halbert, whose Hate Baby comics series
bubbles with gothic eroticism akin to the Hammer Horror films of the 1970s, Nicholas
Gurewitch, who penned the internationally adored The Perry Bible Fellowship , Rosemary
Valero-O'Connell, co-creator of the critically acclaimed queer coming-of-age romance, Laura
Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me , and Eisner Award-winning Brooklynite Michael
Kupperman, whose work has been seen everywhere from the New Yorker to Saturday Night Live .
Hosting at Center on Halsted is just one testament to CAKE's esteemed reputation as an
inclusive, queer-friendly event that boasts a diverse collection of fiercely talented storytellers and
illustrators. Longtime CAKE volunteer Anne Sticksel explains CAKE's lasting appeal: "It is one
of my favorite events in Chicago. The people organizing the event really care and do a great job
making sure things run smoothly. CAKE is a way to meet so many wonderfully talented people
and see and buy their work." At a time when many in power seek to silence those who don't fit
into a homogenized norm, CAKE is a space where these voices shine.
CAKE runs Saturday, June 1st and Sunday, June 2nd from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Center on
Halsted (3656 N. Halsted Street). For event updates and exhibitor information, or to learn how to
become a volunteer for CAKE, visit www.cakechicago.com or follow @CAKEChicago on
Twitter.
Event Website
Center on Halsted
3656 N Halsted
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 472-6469
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