The Chicago Traveler

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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If you are a woman who has made the courageous step of Coming Out of the closet, congratulations! You’ll be getting a pamphlet and key chain in just a few weeks. And now, one Chicago bar (just north of Joy’s Noodles) invites you to go right back in, as it is oddly named The Closet.
The first thing you’ll notice about this (cash only) lesbian dive bar is its size. “The Closet” may be the perfect name for this place, considering it’s about the size of a closet. And yet, the place still manages to have a dance floor! A …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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For many people, the thumping beat of dance music goes through them like an electric current, giving them energy to move and groove for hours. So appropriately enough, one of Boystown’s premier dance clubs is called Circuit.
At Circuit (just south of Kit Kat Lounge), you can find lesbians, gay men, and even straight couples moving their bodies to the beats of dance mixes and Latin rhythms. Many start the evening quietly sipping cocktails in the front bar lounge named Rehab, where they restore themselves from a trying work week. The night doesn’t stay quiet for long though. The club features …read more

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Despite what the name might suggest, Big Chicks is a north side bar that mostly caters to gay men and is miles away from the Boystown scene, both literally and figuratively. Located in the Uptown neighborhood, the bar features plenty of unique artwork and often has a crowd as mixed as its drinks. From preppy boys and jocks to blue collars and “bears,” everyone is laid back and attitude-free.
This watering hole is more than just a few bartenders slinging drinks. Big Chicks often hosts community events, raffles, and free Sunday barbecues. This small bar gets crowded on the weekends, …read more

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• The Pitchfork Music Festival is a 3-day event featuring over 40 independent bands and artists on three stages at Union Park. (July 18-20)
• Two stages of live music entertain thousands of visitors at the Old St. Patrick’s World’s Largest Block Party. Tickets include five drinks (bottled water, soda, wine, beer). (July 18-19)
• The Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre consists of nearly 35 locally-made films starring Chicagoan actors and comedians. (July 17-18)
• Kate the Great’s Book Emporium, a bookstore with a diverse selection in Edgewater, will be closing its doors next week after …read more

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