The Chicago Traveler

• Miss Foozie hosts the 12th annual North Halsted Street Halloween Parade. (Register at Spin to participate in the parade.) After the parade, festivities include a costume contest and the Chicago Spirit Brigade.
• Comic book fans can party down at Heroes & Villians sponsored by Metromix at Harry Caray’s Tavern. Guests can enter the costume contest by having a professional photo taken in front of a comic book backdrop. Awards will be given for Best Hero, Best Villian, and Best Overall Costume.
• Psychic Sidney Friedman shows off his telepathic and mind reading skills at Davenport’s as part of Mind Shivers.
• …read more

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Today is National Coming Out Day, an annual reminder to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people—as well as straight allies—to talk openly about equality issues.
I want to take this opportunity to encourage GLBT Chicagoans to be visible when and where they can (safely, of course). I would also like to remind straight people of their own responsibility to express their support and to actively challenge any homophobic behavior around them.
For what it’s worth, The Chicago Traveler is dedicated to being a Safe Space, where harassment toward any background or identity is not tolerated. This includes race, age, ethnicity, sex, disability, …read more

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Tomorrow is National Coming Out Day, encouraging awareness and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer issues.
But promoting diversity and acceptance doesn’t have to be all serious business. The Center on Halsted in Boystown features a theatre that’s home to the comedy troupe, GayCo. This award-winning not-for-profit ensemble is made up of eight talented performers and specializes in sketch comedy revues with a gay slant.

GayCo was born from the famous Second City Training Center as a workshop production in 1996 for gay and lesbian performers. Their comedy runs the gamut from silly to witty and pokes fun at just …read more

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• The 11th Annual Chicago Art Open presents drawings, paintings, photographs, and more by nearly 300 artists at Merchandise Mart. (ends Oct 19)
• Several local spas are taking part in the Pretty in Pink Fundraiser and offering fixed-price ($31) massages, facials, and other beauty treatments. Every participating spa and salon has made a donation to Breast Cancer Network of Strength. Be sure to mention “Pretty in Pink” when booking your appointment. (ends Oct 31)
• Want to see something spooky? Take the Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tour, featuring Hull House, the sites of the St Valentine’s Day Massacre and Eastland Disaster, and …read more

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Situated within the Lakeview neighborhood, Boystown is the home to hundreds of thousands of Chicago’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender residents. Even more pass through the area every day to visit the gay-friendly bars, coffeehouses, and restaurants. In 2001, a group of community leaders shared a vision to create a focal point for the neighborhood. That dream became a reality in 2007 at the Center on Halsted.
This new space provides a safe and modern place for people and organizations to gather and share resources. Along with offices and meeting spaces, the community center also provides free wi-fi, a library, galleries, …read more

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Chicago is renowned for its culture and diversity, bringing together people from all backgrounds and labels. The gay and lesbian community plays a significant part in the Windy City’s population, attracting men and women from less resourceful rural areas across the Midwest. Two of Chicago’s most thriving gay neighborhoods are Boystown (inside the Lakeview/Wrigleyville area) and Andersonville (and consequently its surrounding Edgewater neighborhood). A high concentration of bars, shops, and restaurants can be found among the colorful pylons of Boystown. Andersonville has a few bars as well but is better known for its boutiques and “hip” eateries.
While it is by …read more

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If you think all gay men are lisping, fashion-conscious, and limp-wristed, you’d be sorely mistaken. There are entire subcultures dedicated to expressions of masculinity and the body “anti-image.” Take, for example, the leather culture. If you’re unfamiliar with this scene, think of the stereotypical biker bar. (In fact, many conjecture that the leather world emerged from the biker culture in the late 1940s.) There are no Harleys involved here though. Just leather in all shapes and sizes: everything from a simple leather jacket to a full-on leather outfit.
One of Chicago’s well-known leather bars is the Cell Block. With its dark …read more

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In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that it has been a long, long time since I’ve been to Hydrate on a weekend evening. That’s because the lines are long, the drinks are small and expensive, and the dance club is wall-to-wall crowded. But in spite of all that, this place can still be fun. You just have to know when to go.
Chic 20-somethings hypnotized by the deep bass emerging from Hydrate (just north of Beatnix) enter via the “blue room,” where a bar island sits in the middle of an aquamarine-colored room. There are only about …read more

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If you’re young, fun, and like to shake your bum, you’ll probably find yourself dancing the night away at Roscoe’s.
Once you get past the occasionally haughty bouncer at the door, you’ll be greeted by a labyrinth of a bar and, on the weekends, wall-to-wall crowds. The front section contains a bar island which fills the room, surrounded by a few stools where you can sit, chat, and watch music videos. If you can, grab a stool in the side bar’s front window, where you can do some prime Halsted-Street-people watching. A crowded hallway leads to the washrooms (which could use …read more

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• Celebrate with more than 35 music and dance acts at the Caribbean Festival at Union Park. The festival features traditional food, art, a talent show, and more. (Aug 8-10)
• The 51st annual Gold Coast Art Fair displays work from over 350 artists along with food and wine vendors, music, and sculpting demonstrations. On Saturday, Ted Allen from the Food Network will lead a cooking demo and wine discussion. (Aug 8-10)
• You can see singer Deana Martin and the cast of Jersey Boys at the second annual Taylor Street Festa Italiana. Sample food from a dozen local restaurants and play …read more

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