| |
PERFORMER OF THE WEEK Ryan Royale
BEHIND THE NAME "The name Royale comes from my fascination with royalty and the rise and fall of fame. I was a young art student when I saw Prince Poppycock perform on America's Got Talent, and ...
|
| |
PHOTOS The Sofo Tap
Happy Holidays from St. Nick and Doaays! Photos by Kirk Williamson ...
|
| |
PHOTO Sidetrack
Ninth annual Santa Speedo Run raises some fun funds for Center on Halsted. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
|
| |
Community turns out for World of Chocolate
About 1,000 Chicagoans and other visitors showed up at Revel Fulton Market in the West Loop for AIDS Foundation of Chicago's annual World of Chocolate fundraiser, which shows off the finest confections from local-area vendors to ...
|
| |
theWit celebrating Warhol with package
theWit Hotel, 201 N. State St., is celebrating the arrival of "Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again," the acclaimed traveling Andy Warhol exhibit that has just made its debut in Chicago—with a hotel package ...
|
| |
Santa Speedo Run speeds through Boystown
Warm( -ish ) weather greeted the many participants of the Santa Speedo Run, which took place this year Saturday, Dec. 7 at Sidetrack. This annual fundraiser featured Santa-hat-bedecked, Speedo-clad runners, doing a lap around the Boystown ...
|
| |
December at Women & Children First to include Drag Queen Story Hour
CHICAGO, IL ( December 3, 2019 ) - As 2019 comes to a close, Women & Children First is proud to announce our 19 Bestselling Books of 2019! Once again, this list brilliantly reflects our feminist ...
|
| |
NATIONAL Activists' honor, N.J. attorney general, gay bar closes, Warhol display
Three longstanding LGBT legal activists will be honored by the American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity with its eighth annual Stonewall Award during a ceremony on Feb. 15, 2020, at the ABA ...
|
| |
Chicago drag production in Louisville Dec. 21
For the past decade, Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens has played to sold out crowds in Boystown, at the SOHO House Chicago, in historic Provincetown and, most recently, at Louisville's own Play Dance Bar. ...
|
| |
Gay-owned Pastoral closes
Greg O'Neill and Ken Miller—the couple who the founded and owned Chicago business Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine—recently closed after 15 years. In a letter to Pastoral's customers and stakeholders, O'Neill and Miller stated, "Unfortunately, ...
|
| |
And they're off ... Santa Speedo Run returns to Boystown
The December chill will be no match for the hot participants in the annual Santa Speedo Run Boystown, Saturday, December 7. This ninth annual run, presented by Miller Lite and Sidetrack, will raise money to support ...
|
| |
PERFORMER OF THE WEEK Travis Fiero
BEHIND THE NAME: "I was stressing about finding the perfect drag name and I finally just asked my roommate what it should be and she goes 'I don't know, Travis? Yeah, do Travis' and then went ...
|
| |
ALMA marking 30 years on Nov. 15
The Association of Latinx Motivating Action ( ALMA ) will mark its 30th anniversary with an event Friday, Nov. 15, at the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance ( PRAA ), 3000 N. Elbridge Ave., 6-9 p.m. In ...
|
| |
Andersonville holiday programming includes 100 businesses
CHICAGO ( November 11, 2019 ): More than 100 Andersonville businesses are featured in the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce's ( ACC ) holiday programming lineup this season with a full schedule of shopping, dining, entertainment, traditional ...
|
| |
Halloween weirdness at Sidetrack
Photos by Jerry Nunn ...
|
| |
Drag star's "All I Want for Christmas is Attention" tour Dec. 10
Seattle sisters and drag superstars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon have joined forces once again to present a new holiday extravaganza, All I Want for Christmas is Attention, to audiences across the US and the UK and ...
|
| |
Chicago House holds Day of the Dead event
On Oct. 31, Chicago House, in concert with other community service organizations, held the Second Annual Fiesta! Day of the Dead at the National Museum of Mexican Art. The event not only acknowledged the traditional Latin-American ...
|
| |
'Drag Race' alums bring holiday show to Chicago Dec. 10
Drag queens and RuPaul's Drag Race alumni BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon have joined forces once again to present a new holiday extravaganza, "All I Want for Christmas is Attention." BenDeLaCreme Presents is the production company behind ...
|
| |
DRAG PERFORMER OF THE WEEK Kalli Mauri
BEHIND THE NAME "I chose Kalli Mauri because I wanted to make sure I stayed true to my comedy roots it's a pun. I also wanted people to know that I may look feminine but there ...
|
| |
Circuit Mom presents Haunted Hollywood at House of Blues
Hooray for Haunted Hollywood 2, presented by Chicago legend Circuit Mom. Joseph Stevens Photography ...
|
| |
Billy Porter drops in at Sidetrack
Musical Monday at Sidetrack blasted through the stratosphere when entertainer extraordinaire Billy Porter dropped in on October 28. ...
|
| |
SHOWBIZ RuPaul, 'Grease,' Queen Latifah, LGBT lists
VH1 announced that RuPaul's Celebrity Drag Race, an expansion of the Emmy-winning franchise, has been greenlit for 2020, a press release noted. The four-episode event series will feature 12 celebrities as they sashay into the "werk" ...
|
| |
Leather Archives & Museum opens A Wild Pack of Dogs
Chicago, IL, 23 Oct. 2019 — The Leather Archives & Museum is pleased to announce its newest exhibit in the Guest Artist Gallery, "A Wild Pack of Dogs: A Visual Exploration of Pet Play Culture" featuring ...
|
| |
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 ...
|
