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

1 Comment

As a child, I visited the Chicago Public Library every week, checking out the maximum number of books I was allowed at a time. I’d hunt down any book I hadn’t yet read and browsed the shelves for well over an hour. It wasn’t uncommon to see me tugging my little wagon home, piled high with books.
Nowadays, I don’t visit the CPL as often as I used to. (I still have that old, old library card though!) But thanks to modern technology, when I do need to borrow a book, I don’t have to search high and low among the …read more

Comments Off

• At the Newberry Library’s 24th annual Book Fair, you can browse through more than 100,000 books in 60 categories, most of which cost $2 or less. (July 24-27)
• In honor of Jimmy Buffet’s concerts at Toyota Park (July 24, 26), Lizzy McNeill’s Irish Pub is holding a Luau on the Chicago River. This Hawaiian-themed barbecue will be held outside the bar and includes live music, games, beer samples, and a cruise raffle. Food and drink sales benefit the Special Olympics and Misericordia. (July 25-27)
• You can compete in a Neil Diamond look-alike contest at the Neil Diamond Extravaganza, hosted …read more

1 Comment

• If you’re a fan of all things dark and gruesome, check out the artwork of author, film director, and artist Clive Barker at the Packer Schopf Gallery, showing Tuesdays through Saturdays and free to the public. (runs through February 16)
• The 24th Annual Playdough Palooza is the Wish List Auxiliary Board’s annual fundraising event to support the Child Life Department. This year’s fundraiser will be at Rockit Bar and Grill. All of the proceeds will fund new supplies for the Children’s Memorial Hospital. Tickets are $50-$60 via childrenswishlist.org (Jan 18)
• Ladies, spend A Night in Paradise. This girls’ night …read more

1 Comment

The Harold Washington Library Center is an impressive building, inside and out. This 756,640 square-feet (70,294 m2) building opened in 1991 and appears in the The Guinness Book of Records as the largest public library building in the world. This may not be surprising, seeing as this library can seat over 2,000 readers and has over 70 miles of shelving.

Harold Lee Washington was the first African-American mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987. The mosaic mural in the main lobby of the Center depicts Washington’s accomplishments as a soldier, a lawyer, a congressman, and mayor.
Near the …read more

2 Comments