Top of the Line
OK, yes, as Crain's Chicago Business reported, it's true, we are interested in buying the now-folded Windy City Times. As always, details available as soon as possible.
Welcome to the out-of-town visitors here for Market Days, the bowling tourney, and lots of related events and benefits.
Men of all Colors Together/ Chicago is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a pool party Aug. 4, dinner party Aug. 5, and a brunch Aug. 6. All events are open to the public, call ( 312 ) 519-7372 or ( 773 ) 549-7066. Founded in 1980 as Black & White Men Together, the name was changed in 1988 to Men of All Colors Together to better reflect the diversity of the group. It is a gay multi-racial organization which strives to create a supportive environment for people interested in cross-cultural relationships.
That's entertainment
The Black Harvest International Film Festival, celebrating Black Women, opens Aug. 4. On Aug. 12, 2 p.m., there is a panel on "Image of Black Women" featuring Cal Ward ( Judy Judy ) , Brian Evans ( Cold Feet ) and Sidra Smith ( A Luv Tale, about lesbian love ) . Call ( 312 ) 443-3733, films thru Aug. 13, downtown at Columbus and Jackson, $7. A Luv Tale will be shown Sat., Aug. 12, 8 p.m. with Groupie and Lush Life.
Aimee & Jaguar is a love story about two women, Lilly ( Aimee ) and Felice ( Jaguar ) set against 1940s Nazi-ruled Germany. Their passionate affair starts while Aimee's husband is off fighting in the war. The movie chronicles their developing relationship, Felice' disappearances and eventual confession that she's Jewish, and some post-World War II run-ins with ex-lovers. Join Chicago 2006, the group organized to bring the Gay Games to Chicago in 2006, for a special benefit on the opening night of this film, Friday, Aug. 18, at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport. Tickets are $15 and include admission to the film, four chances to win a Trek Mountain Bike ( donated by Out Spoke'n Bikes, 1113 Belmont, www.teamoutspoken.com ) , and chances to win other sports gear and tickets. Fax ( 847 ) 256-8954 or see www.chicago2006.org .
Don't miss our Lambda Publications night at the theatre for Patience & Sarah, the highly acclaimed opera based on the lesbian classic novel, Patience & Sarah by Isabel Miller. We're hosting a benefit the last night of previews, Friday, Aug. 4. The event includes hors d'oeuvres and refreshments at 6:30 p.m., followed by the opera at 7:30 p.m. It's part of the Bailiwick Pride Series, 1229 W. Belmont. Tickets are $35 and include the show and reception. Join the staff of Outlines, BLACKlines, En La Vida and Nightlines in a benefit night for one of our delivery women, who is living with cancer and needs to raise funds to help pay for her healthcare. For details on this and other Bailiwick plays, call ( 773 ) 883-1090; for details on this benefit show, call Jean or Tracy at Outlines ( 773 ) 871-7610.
The Irish lesbian singing duo Zrazy and Taittinger champagne will help launch the 5th "Cruising Because We Care" brunch cruise for the Lesbian Community Cancer Project on Sunday, Sept. 17. The GLAMA Award-winning duo and the champagne will help make the "pre-reception" ( available to "Champagne Reception" ticket holders ) more special for supporters of LCCP's lesbian health activities. Call ( 773 ) 561-4662.
Mixed media
gfn.com, the Gay Financial Network announces the airing of a TV ad campaign, the first of its kind from a gay-interest Internet company to be shown on a major cable network's finance program, Squawk Box on CNBC.
When Diana Ross' "Return to Love" Tour with the Supremes was cancelled, Ross said, "I love the music and the fans, and I will find a way to reconnect with them as soon as possible." On Aug. 15 at 9:30 p.m. EST she will get her chance to do so when PlanetOut presents a special AOL Live chat with the First Lady of Pop.
New York Post writer Richard Johnson reports that a new men's muscle magazine has outraged gay activists by accusing rival fitness monthlies of catering to "the gay voyeur." Robert Kennedy, publisher of the upcoming American Health & Fitness, wrote in a letter to potential advertisers: "You've probably noticed that many so-called men's fitness magazines are directly geared to the gay voyeur, rather than concentration on giving scientific fitness training-nutrition advice. Whereas we do not want to ostracize the significant gay market, American Health & Fitness will not be choosing subjects and models principally for their 'gay appeal.'"
Says Johnson "An unrepentant Kennedy, who also publishes Muscle as well as women's fitness mag Oxygen, claimed ... that nearly every men's fitness magazine is targeted to gays ... ."
Going 'Straight' to Video
Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her, which was supposed to be in theatres this summer, is going "straight" to video. Calista "Ally McBeal" Flockhart plays a lesbian in the film—something which certainly "shocks" the Aug. 1 Globe magazine. She plays a lesbian tarot reader whose live-in lover is dying. Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Cameron Diaz, Kathy Baker and Amy Brenneman also star—it must not have had enough testosterone to make it to the megaplexes against The Perfect Storm this summer. All those thousands of screens and not room for some women unless they're Tammy Faye or Coyote Ugly?