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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 their doors for a special VIP grand opening party on Thursday, Aug. 22. The invitation-only crowd was introduced to cast of queens who ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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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, ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Solstice at Jackhammer
Seasons change at Solstice: Seasons of Lust. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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"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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Pridefest Milwaukee
All the colors of the rainbow at Pridefest Milwaukee. Ken Brown Photography ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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'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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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. ...
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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 ...
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International Mr. Leather Official Guide
Download the official guide to IML 2019: www.windycitymediagroup.com/pdf/IMLGUIDE_2019_web.pdf . ...
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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 ...
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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, ...
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Howard Brown Health holds second annual ChiQ funder
Howard Brown Health's second annual ChiQ fundraising event took place May 4 at the South Shore Cultural Center. More than 350 people attended this sold-out event to help support services specifically for Chicago's LGBTQ+ community. The ...
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Iconic photographer honored in 'Laura Aguilar: Show and Tell'
Laura Aguilar—who died at 58 in April 2018—explored multiple aspects of her identity in her photographs. She was queer, Latinx, working-class and what some might deem plus-sized. She also struggled with auditory dyslexia, depression and diabetes—the ...
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SHOWBIZ 'Drag Race,' George Michael, 'The Talk,' Don Lemon
Production company World of Wonder and Voss Events are presenting The Official RuPaul's Drag Race: Season 11 Tour, to kick off a run of shows on Sunday, May 26, in Los Angeles, a press release noted. ...
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New Art Institute exhibit spotlights professor/HIV activist
During his 30 years of documenting the AIDS crisis, Gregg Bordowitz has learned that people can be resilient, fragile and powerful when organizing toward change. The artist/activist/professor started recording the AIDS epidemic and his personal experience ...
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BOOK REVIEW Dugan's Bistro and the Legend of the Bearded Lady
By Owen Keehnen $17; Out Tales, Publishing; 148 pages Bob Theiss contained multitudes—most under a completely different name. Known as the Bearded Lady ( or BL ) to gay Chicagoans of the 1970s and early '80s, ...
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New Mr. Leather 64TEN chosen at Jackhammer
Congrats to John William, the newly-chosen Mr. Leather 64TEN! William will join the other titleholders in the pursuit of the title of International Mr. Leather, taking place over Memorial Day weekend in Chicago. At left, William ...
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DRAG PROFILE OF THE WEEK Rachel Dennis/Her?
NAME "My stage name is Her?. You have to say it like you're confused and maybe add a stink eye. It is an Arrested Development reference. I wanted a good name that people would remember like ...
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Boystown stretch on the market
A stretch of Boystown that encompasses 3501-19 N. Halsted St.—which includes legendary LGBT nightspot Little Jim's Tavern—is on the market for $7.5 million, according to the commercial real-estate site CREXi. An entry on Crexi.com lists "3501-3519 ...
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The Baton celebrates 50 years
Half a century of show! The Baton celebrates 50 years at one of their final shows in its West Loop location. Follow Jim Flint and the ladies of The Baton into the next half-centruy at the ...
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DRAG PROFILE OF THE WEEK kat sass
NAME "My name is Kat Sass and I'm a beautiful pony. Before drag, I did drag musicals and one of our reviewers described me as "evincing weapons-grade sass." I liked it a lot—I think it conveys ...
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Wedding photos
David Parker and Dale Roberson were married on August 11, 2018. The ceremony took place on the terrace overlooking the Chicago River cityscape of the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront Hotel. The weather was perfect and the ...
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NUNN ON ONE, TV. Silky is latest Chicago contestant to rev up 'Drag Race'
Silky Nutmeg Ganache is the stage name of Reginald Steele, the latest Chicago queen to join the ranks of RuPaul's Drag Race contestants. The popular Worlds of Wonder produced VH1 competition series is now in its ...
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SHOWBIZ Sean Hayes, drag wedding show, Jennifer Lopez, Colton Underwood
GLAAD plans to honor Emmy-winning actor/producer/author/comedian Sean Hayes with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 30th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on March 28, a press release noted. The organization also announced stage ...
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Drag worship services Feb. 17
Both locations of Urban Village Church ( UVC )—at 1407 E. 60th St. and 1543 W. Division St. ( Chopin Theater )—will hold drag services on Sunday, Feb. 17, at 10:30 a.m. The South Side site ...
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DRAG PROFILE OF THE WEEK Dusty Bahls
NAME: "A long time ago, I had taken a hiatus from performing drag and when I decided to come out of retirement, I felt a need to recreate myself and dust off my packer. As ...
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The Baton Show Lounge at 50
Over the past fifty years, the Baton Show Lounge helped to set a new standard for female impersonation; heightening the polish, the professionalism, and the caliber of performance demanded of its cast members. The Baton took ...
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Weiss is Equality Illinois Proud
Attending the Equality Illinois gala this weekend was Mira Ebalo, PA-C, in black tie and tutu, who represented the Weiss Memorial Hospital gender confirmation program in Uptown. Weiss Hospital stands with Equality Illinois and is committed ...
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Buttigieg and Pritzker headline Equality Illinois gala
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor—and potential presidential candidate—Pete Buttigieg was among the speakers headlining Equality Illinois' 2019 gala celebration Feb. 2 at Chicago Hilton and Towers. About 1,500 guests attended the sold-out event, which also featured remarks ...
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OUTspoken! LGBTQ storyteller series at Sidetrack Feb. 5
The February edition of OUTspoken! LGBTQ storyteller series takes place Tuesday, February 5, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. Doors open at 6 pm, stories begin at 7. —Denise Bowker was born and raised in a ...
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NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS Mr. Chicago Leather
Meet Saber Onyx, Mr. Chicago Leather 2019, chosen Saturday, January 26, at Leather Archives & Museum. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
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Drag profile of the week, Krissy Feetface
NAME "Krissy is an extension of my given name ( Kris ). People called me Krissy growing up when I was being too fabulous. Feetface is a strange nickname/persona I got in college when I worked ...
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'Drag Race' reveals 11th-season cast
VH1 has unveiled the cast of the 11th season of the Emmy-winning show RuPaul's Drag Race. The newest queens vying for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar" were introduced via a VH1 YouTube Live hosted ...
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DRAG PROFILE Jerfay
NAME "JerFay simply comes from my boy name being 'Jeffrey' and I just mixed it up for a new persona!" FIRST DRAG PERFORMANCE "I started doing drag Oct. 26, 2015, and I started by jumping into ...
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NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS Sidetrack
All abuzz in the Beyhive for All Things Beyonce. Photos by Jed Dulanas ...
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Families of Chicago banquet held at Ida Noyes Hall
The third annual Families of Chicago ( FOC ) Save Our Scene banquet, Third Time's a Charm, took place Jan. 5 at the University of Chicago's Ida Noyes Hall. Ahead of the event, FOC Committee Member ...
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SAVOR Bistro Campagne brunch; Chicago Restaurant Week
DISH Dining Guide
I have to admit I was a little concerned going to Bistro Campagne ( 4518 N. Lincoln Ave.; BistroCampagne.com ) for brunch. The reason? Bistro Campagne has a new executive chef ( Adam Grandt ), who ...
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NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS The Call
Six queens, one holiday show. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
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NIGHTLIFE PHOTOS Sidetrack
Jingle those bells! Photos by Jerry Nunn ...
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Bowie Ball, David Bowie's 72nd Birthday, Jan. 10
Heaven Malone & A Queer Pride Present BOWIE BALL, David Bowie's 72nd Birthday, on Thursday, Jan 10, at Berlin Nightclub, 954 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Ages 21 and over. It's ...
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