| |
Howard Brown Health raises money, conjures Halloween spirit
Characters of all kinds gathered at Park West on Oct. 19 for Howard Brown Health's annual fundraiser Big Orange Ball. The Halloween party that served to raise money for Howard Brown's patient base and programming had ...
|
| |
Gay skier/actor at Roscoe's Oct. 24
Openly gay Olympic freestyle skier and actor ( American Horror Story ) Gus Kenworthy is teaming with Coors Light to throw an '80s rock-themed Halloween party in Chicago. "Halloween Rocks" is happening Thursday, Oct. 24, at ...
|
| |
Oct. 21 benefit for homeless at Metro
More than 40 Chicago punk, prog, noise, rock and surf musicians—including current and former members of PiL, Naked Raygun and Local H—will perform at a benefit concert to raise money for the Chicago Coalition for the ...
|
| |
LGBTQ HRC/CNN town hall watch party held at Sidetrack
The Chicago Reader hosted a discussion in advance of the HRC/CNN town hall Oct. 10. Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson stopped by the event. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
|
| |
LGBT HISTORY MONTH The rise of the ballroom scene through the ages
By Laura Smythe laura@epgn.com
What is ballroom? The first time Jacen Bowman attended a house meeting, he had no idea what LGBTQ ballroom culture was. Going into his final year in high school, Bowman was approached to join a "modeling ...
|
| |
WORLD Brazilian LGBT figures, 'Kill the Gays' bill, singer Hozier
The European Parliament announced the finalists for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought—and, for the first time in its 30 years of existence, a person from the LGBTI community is on the list: Marielle Franco, ...
|
| |
Boystown's Halloweek of Tricks leads up to Oct. 31 parade, spooky fun
Boystown brings you a full, seven-day Halloweek of tricks and treats. Culminating with the legendary Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade on Oct. 31, Northalsted hosts a spectacularly spooky line-up of events. From alive to zombified, it's a ...
|
| |
'Activists and Icons' to end Oct. 27
"Activists and Icons: The Photographs of Steve Schapiro," an exhibit at Skokie's Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, will close Sunday, Oct. 27. It was originally slated to close June 23. Schapiro, a Chicago-based photographer, has ...
|
| |
DRAG
Detox: Making it 'Werq'
Matthew Sanderson performs in drag and makes music as Detox Icunt. After taking over the drag scene in California, Detox appeared in music videos for Kesha and Rihanna while playing in the band Tranzkuntinental and joining ...
|
| |
'Andy Warhol's House' exhibit opening Oct. 10
Hilton | Asmus Contemporary, 716 N. Wells St., announced the addition of a new photo exhibit, Andy Warhol's House. The exhibit, opening Thursday, Oct. 10, will feature David Gamble's photos of Warhol's house in New York ...
|
| |
EXPO CHICAGO spotlights modern, contemporary art
EXPO CHICAGO: The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art took place at Navy Pier on Sept. 19-22. The eighth annual exposition hosted 135 galleries from 24 countries and 68 cities, and introduced diverse programming. Programming ...
|
| |
DRAG Bianca Del Rio vs. the World
From Sydney to Singapore, Bianca Del Rio, the season six winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, has been spreading clown realness all over the globe with her "It's Jester Joke" tour. Now she's bringing her unmatched comedic ...
|
| |
SAVOR Sampling drag brunches
DISH Dining Guide
If you like keeping up with culinary trends, one of the most prominent ones in Chicago also incorporates entertainment: drag brunches. Of course, Kit Kat Lounge started this trend eons ago ( and you can see ...
|
| |
MUSIC Looking back at this year's Riot Fest
The 14th Annual Riot Fest invaded Douglas Park in west Pilsen Sept. 13-15 and proved that you can please all of the people all of the time. The hard rock/heavy metal/punk festival didn't actually offer anything ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Briawna Banana
NAME "My name is an homage to three things: "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani; the British sitcom, "Keeping Up Appearances" ( It's pronounced, BOUQUET! It's spelled, B-U-C-K-E-T! ); and just some good old-fashioned alliteration!" FIRST DRAG ...
|
| |
Ralphi The Razz Rosario street dedicated
Scenes from the dedication of the Ralphi The Razz Rosario street sign at Halsted and Cornelia, Saturday, Sept. 14. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
|
| |
PHOTOGRAPHY Jan Dee Gordon, photographer of steel
In July, Los Angeles-based photographer Jan Dee Gordon released the second book in her "of Steel" book series. The book, LGBTQ of Steel, is a compilation of portraits accompanied by personal profiles that tell the stories ...
|
| |
Champaign center reveals Pride theme
The UP Center of Champaign County has announced the theme for the 10th annual C-U Pride Parade and Fest: 50/10: "Queer History, Our History." Celebrating the 10th anniversary of our local pride celebration, and the 50th ...
|
| |
13th Floor haunted house starts Sept. 13
The haunted-house brand 13th Floor will return to the suburbs of Chicago this fall for a sixth season with two new haunted attractions at 13th Floor Chicago ( 13thfloorchicago.com ), 1940 George St., Melrose Park. Adding ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Beverly Rage
"Beverly Rage is the lead singer/guitarist of Bev Rage & the Drinks. Bev Rage was my great-great- grandma's name. She lived in the back woods of Ohio and made her own wine. I relate to her." ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Veronica Pop
NAME "I got my name from one of my biggest inspirations: Britney Spears. I love the name Veronica and Britney is a POP star, so that is how I got Pop!" FIRST DRAG PERFORMANCE "I started ...
|
| |
Activists and Icons documentary photography exhibit to close Oct. 27
Activists and Icons: The Photographs of Steve Schapiro shows, through powerful documentary photography, that the issues of the civil rights movement are still deeply relevant today. Forty-six large-format photographs tell the stories of seminal moments in ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ Matt Bomer, Todrick Hall, Chely Wright, 'Drag Race,' U.S. Open
Matt Bomer will return for the revived Will & Grace's third and final season in the recurring role of McCoy Whitman, NewNowNext.com noted, citing TheWrap. In the second season finale, he and boyfriend Will ( Eric ...
|
| |
Foxx and Flores among Fahrenheit honorees
Equality Illinois kicked off its weekend-long Fahrenheit Chicago celebration the evening of Aug. 23 by honoring Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx and Illinois Deputy Gov. Sol Flores, among others, in a presentation at Connect Gallery ...
|
| |
A Queer Pride holds benefit at Le Nocturne
On Aug. 23, A Queer Pride held a benefit for L.A.-based non-profit Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement ( TQLM ). The event not only served as a fundraiser but was also the debut event for A ...
|
| |
Lips Chicago, new drag-and-dining venue, opens on Michigan Ave.
Lips Chicago, the sparkling new drag-and-dining venue at 2229 S. Michigan Ave., opened its doors for a special VIP grand-opening party on Thursday, Aug. 22. The invitation-only crowd was introduced to cast of queens who will ...
|
| |
Kinley Preston previews Lips Chicago dinner theater
Lips, billed as "the ultimate in drag dining," is locating its fifth location in Chicago. The South Loop venue, opening to the public Aug. 23, includes acts such as lip-synching, live vocals, choreographed numbers, bawdy humor ...
|
| |
NUNN ON ONE: COMEDY Flame Monroe's career heats up
The Netflix comedy special Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready premiered recently on Aug. 13. Haddish hand-picked her favorite comedians to spotlight on various segments. One of them is Chicago's very own Flame Monroe, who is the ...
|
| |
Drag-and-dining venue Lips to open Aug. 22
Lips, a drag-and-dining venue, will have a grand opening Thursday, Aug. 22, at 2229 S. Michigan Ave. Just some of the drag performers will include Mimi Marks, Shavonna B. Brooks, Ruff N' Stuff, Angel LeBare, Delilah ...
|
| |
Northalsted Market Days 2019 in photos
Summertime was in full bloom for Northalsted Market Days, Aug. 10-11. This year's big acts included '80s singer/percussionist Sheila E., America's Got Talent breakout star Brian Justin Crum, dance diva Deborah Cox, "Scissor Sister" Jake Shears, ...
|
| |
Northalsted Market Days 2019, more photos
Summertime was in full bloom for Northalsted Market Days, August 10-11. This year's big acts included '80s singer/percussionist Sheila E., America's Got Talent breakout star Brian Justin Crum, dance diva Deborah Cox, "Scissor Sister" Jake Shears, ...
|
| |
UPDATE: Hamburger Mary's business for sale; co-owner cites high rent
The popular Andersonville restaurant Hamburger Mary's is for sale—and high rent is the culprit. SVN Chicago Commercial presented the exclusive listing for this business, according to BizBuySell.com. The listing (with an asking price of $185,000) says, ...
|
| |
ART
Del LaGrace Volcano:
'About Face' photographer on works, 'gender terrorism'
A variety of artists are exhibiting provocative works at "About Face: Stonewall, Revolt and New Queer Art"—an exhibit at Wrightwood 659, 659 W. Wrightwood Ave. Among them is the redoubtable Del LaGrace Volcano, a genderqueer artist ...
|
| |
Lollapalooza 2019: Great weather, defiant and eclectic acts
While Lollapalooza has already committed to four days again next year, it was very difficult to sustain the excitement and sell tickets for promoters with the festival this year. Four-day passes did not sell out until ...
|
| |
Leather Archives acquires Dureau photo
Leather Archives & Museum ( LAM ), 6418 N. Greenview Ave., unveiled a newly acquired photograph by the late photographer George Dureau ( 1930-2014 ) the afternoon of July 28. Best known for capturing images of ...
|
| |
Leather/kink event highlights LGBTQ+ history, health
"Leather and Kink in the LGBTQ+ Community: History and Clinical Considerations" was held at the Center on Halsted on July 26. The event focused on the history of leather and kink communities and served as an ...
|
| |
Taste of Andersonville taking place Aug. 7
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce ( ACC ) will welcome guests on a dining tour of Andersonville's restaurant district during the annual Taste of Andersonville progressive dinner crawl on Wed., Aug. 7, 6-9 p.m. The event ...
|
| |
World Famous 13th Floor Haunted House to Return
[Melrose Park, IL] — The world-famous haunted house brand, 13th Floor will return to the suburbs of Chicago this fall for a sixth season with two new haunted attractions at13th Floor Chicago [13thfloorchicago.com/], located at 1940 ...
|
| |
Fundraiser established to assist Gigi Mayonaè's family
An online fundraiser has been established to assist with funeral expenses for Jherrion Bates, who performed under the drag persona of Gigi Mayonaè, who was killed as the result of an accident in Boystown the early ...
|
| |
Birds, letters lead to Mamby on the Beach being canceled
The musical event Mamby on the Beach—slated to take place Aug. 23-24 on Chicago's Montrose Beach—has been canceled after the arrival of federally protected birds as well as efforts from community stakeholders, according to The Chicago ...
|
| |
Rupaul's Drag Race and Billy Porter among Emmy nominees
RuPaul's Drag Race was among the television programs the Television Academy announced as having earned Emmy nominations for 2019, according to the Academy's July 16 announcement. The VH1 competition-reality show received nine nominations. Pose's Billy Porter ...
|
| |
Cell Block parties to benefit HIV services
Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted St., is holding a series of fundraising parties to benefit HIV services. The new owners of Cell Block—a longtime LGBT leather and kink space in Chicago's Boystown—said they're committing to a ...
|
| |
PRIDE 2019 Prince Poppycock entertains at Pride event
By Mackenzie Murtaugh
Chicago's Pride celebration began June 28 at the Center on Halsted with a performance by Prince Poppycock, the opera-singing entertainer known for his time on America's Got Talent. Poppycock took the stage after a few hours ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Bella DeBalle
NAME "Bella DeBalle is inspired by my favorite movie, Beauty and the Beast. I wanted a really stupid pun name because I'm an idiot, but I also wanted something glamorous and regal sounding because she's a ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ 'Orange Is the New Black,' Jake Shears, Bob the Drag Queen, Mika
The seventh and final season of Orange Is the New Black will debut on Netflix on July 26—and it's being celebrated in a unique way, a press release noted. This season, the cast and creators are ...
|
| |
PRIDE WEEKEND 2019 Inaugural Pride in the Park features music, drag stars
A new celebration was held the day before the Pride parade called Pride in the Park, on June 29. Located on the north side of Grant Park, the idea behind the massive undertaking was to celebrate ...
|
| |
PRIDE WEEKEND 2019 Chicago is a Drag Festival not dampened by rain
The inaugural Chicago is a Drag festival, taking place on Friday, June 28 in the Cheetah Gym parking lot in Andersonville, was a wet and wild affair. But brief periods of rain could not dampen the ...
|
| |
PRIDE WEEKEND 2019 Pride North brings hundreds to Rogers Park
Expanding for the first time to a two-day festival, Pride North brought hundreds to Rogers Park to celebrate under the sun ( and occasional rain ). Two stages of DJs kept the colorful crowd moving from ...
|
| |
Solstice at Jackhammer
Seasons change at Solstice: Seasons of Lust. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
|
| |
Pride Fest fights rain with rainbows
The 19th annual Pride Fest took over Boystown running down Halsted St. from Addison to Grace on June 22 and 23. The weather remained unpredictable over the weekend ranging from sunny, cloudy and dark to downpours ...
|
| |
FASHION Christopher Palu, 'Runway' alum talks designing for drag
JourneyCare Foundation is presenting for the first time an Allstars of Project Runway event with designers from the hit TV show. Five former celebrity designers are coming to town and raising funds with a runway show ...
|
| |
Drag queens host Pride storytime
Chicagoans of all ages gathered at Shapiro Ballroom, 1627 W. Chicago Ave., the morning of June 23 as performers Muffy Fishbasket and Sutton hosted Drag Queen Story Hour. The event was presented in conjunction with the ...
|
| |
"Stonewall50: Back to the Wall" celebration to capture essence of Stonewall
Chicago DJ Marc Moder has been since last year collaborating a Pride weekend event that is both an "informative and reverential" celebration of the 1969 Stonewall uprising. "We want to speak to a generation that was ...
|
| |
Chicago Pride Fest Day Two in photos
In between blasts of rain, the crowds at Pride Fest soaked up the entertainment by drag queens galore ( including many of Halsted's own and Morgan McMichaels of 'Drag Race' fame ), Adam Barta, Betty Who ...
|
| |
Chicago Pride Fest Day One in photos
Halsted shines on Day One of Chicago Pride Fest, Northalsted Business Association's annual kickoff of Pride in Boystown. The beautiful weather amped up the colorful crowd as they enjoyed entertainment from such acts as Catfight, Inaya ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE DANIKA BONE'T
"Danika—because it is close to my birth name, an Bone't because it's my drag mother's last name." FIRST DRAG PERFORMANCE "I started doing drag in 2013 for Baton Rouge Pride and the first number I ever ...
|
| |
Aurora, Woodstock stage Pride Parades
Aurora and Woodstock are among the Chicago suburbs that staged Pride Parades this year. The Aurora Pride Parade took place June 9—and the second annual event was able to happen because of a massive fundraising push ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Irregular Girl
NAME "It's a twist on 'a regular girl,'and it's a little bit of toilet humor, too. I love what 'irregular' can mean—different, special, odd. I try to do performances that stand out and I wanted ...
|
| |
Pridefest Milwaukee
All the colors of the rainbow at Pridefest Milwaukee. Ken Brown Photography ...
|
| |
MillerCoors celebrates Pride all summer with "Tap Into Change"
CHICAGO ( June 12, 2019 ) — MillerCoors is celebrating Pride all summer long in Chicago through the "Tap Into Change" program, which will direct a portion of the proceeds from every MillerCoors product sold at ...
|
| |
Pride celebrated in Aurora
The second annual Aurora Pride parade was coordinated by Indivisible Aurora. More information at facebook.com/aurorailpridefestival/ . Photos by Tim Carroll Photography ...
|
| |
Midsommarfest encourages attendees to shop locally
Attendees were greeted with a variety of options at the annual Andersonville Midsommarfest on the weekend of June 7-9. Midsommarfest is a street festival running down Clark Street between Catalpa and Foster avenues. ( The Andersonville ...
|
| |
Ms. Blakk for President
Co-author and director Tina Landau, Co-author Tarell Alvin McCraney Steppenwolf Theatre through July 14. www.steppenwolf.org . Whether the effort was performative or real, Chicago witnessed history in the early 1990s when Joan Jett Blakk, an African ...
|
| |
DRAG PROFILE Fay Ludes
NAME "I love vintage looks—especially from the '60s and '70s—so I needed a corresponding name." FIRST DRAG PERFORMANCE "I looked a mess, but I first tried getting in drag in May 2017. In July 2017, my ...
|
| |
Boystown bar owner apologizes for 'hurtful' email
The owner of Boystown nightclub Progress Bar said that his business would be closed the evening of May 30 so he and staff could address issues that arose after an internal email calling for a ban ...
|
| |
International Mr. Leather's 2019 Victory Party
The new IML was feted in style Sunday night, May 26, at House of Blues Chicago. The annual Victory Party immediately followed the main IML contest, at which Jack Thompson was chosen as the first trans ...
|
| |
Chicago's First Ever Drag Festival Announces Full Lineup
CHICAGO, IL. —Chicago's first ever drag festival has just announced its 50+ artist lineup including internationally touring headliners, reality TV superstars and homegrown Chicago talent! Chicago Is A Drag Festival takes place on Friday, June 28thfrom ...
|
| |
'OUT of the Office' May 30 at I/O Godfrey
"OUT of the Office 2019" will take place Thursday, May 30, at the I|O Godfrey, 127 W. Huron St., 5-8 p.m. This annual event kicks off Gay Pride Month in Chicago, and will raise money for ...
|
| |
Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens back in one-night only reunion
Ten years ago, even before RuPaul's Drag Race ruled the World of Wonder, a small independent theatre company called MidTangent Productions teamed up with Hydrate Nightclub to produce a new play. Little did they know that ...
|
| |
International Mr. Leather 2019 market attracts thousands
Thousands of fetishists ( and friends ) from all over the world flocked to the International Mr. Leather 2019 market on Memorial Day weekend, with offerings from 60 different vendors offering leather goods, clothing, toys and ...
|
| |
International Mr. Leather's Furball party gets hairy
Saturday of IML weekend gets a little hairy with the bears of Furball, the annual throwdown at Metro Chicago, 3730 N. Clark St. Local legend DJ Ralphi Rosario shared the decks with DJ Jesse Mercado. ...
|
| |
International Mr. Leather's Brut party
IML 2019 weekend kicked off with many parties city-wide, including the annual Brut party, Friday, May 24, at Fantasy Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted St. DJ Dan Darlington brought this popular party to Chicago to celebrate the ...
|
| |
International Mr. Leather Official Guide
Download the official guide to IML 2019: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/IMLGUIDE_2019_web.pdf . ...
|
| |
Boystown to sport rainbow crosswalks
Following the lead of several other cities around the globe, Chicago's Boystown neighborhood will get a little more colorful just in time for Pride Month this June with the planned addition of Chicago Rainbow Pride Crosswalks ...
|
| |
Center on Halsted gala urges advocates to persist
Hundreds turned out the evening of May 4 as Center on Halsted held its 2019 Human First fundraising gala at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, immediately followed by Mayor-Elect Lori Lightfoot, ...
|
