The Chicago Traveler

• We’re all familiar with the Taste of Chicago, an all-out food fest featuring dozens of Chicago restaurants. Foodies will want to check out the upscale version, Chicago Gourmet. Over two dozen famous Chicago chefs (including Rick Bayless, David Burke, and Art Smith) will be offering some of their signature dishes for the event, along with wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. (Sept 26-28)
• Dia de los Muertos is still over a month away, but you can begin celebrating this weekend at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Dia de los Muertos: La Vida Sin Fin is the nation’s largest Day …read more

2 Comments

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

1 Comment

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

2 Comments

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

1 Comment

If you can’t sleep, the contemporary-pop album Insomniac by Enrique Iglesias provides some great tracks to fill your night with. The dance rhythms and sultry ballads appealed to a younger audience and were played on radio stations the world over. He’ll be at the Allstate Arena on Saturday, September 27. Tickets went on sale earlier today.
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Dunk Lee

2 Comments

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

2 Comments

After losing fiancé Ryan Reynolds, Alanis Morissette explored her grief through her latest album, Flavors of Entanglement. While raw emotion has been a part of her music in the past, this album shows a more vulnerable and, consequently, lovelier side to the artist. She’ll be at the Chicago Theatre on Thursday, October 2. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 11 a.m. (CDT).
To see a video of Alanis’ first single off the new album, check out fellow b5media blog, Ear Sucker. And keep up with the news on talented women in the music industry with She Plays Music.

Photo credit: MvanM (c/o …read more

Comments Off

There’s something about a man in tight jeans and a cowboy hat that makes many ladies swoon. But if you’re a cowpoke looking for the company of other men, put on your big belt buckle and head on over to Charlie’s.
This predominantly gay establishment on the north end of Boystown (right next to Kreative Soul) features country-western music and plenty of room to dance. The bar itself may not be much to look at (and those bathrooms, eek!), but both the patrons and staff are usually friendly with that good ol’ cowboy charm. But the dance floor is where it’s …read more

1 Comment

Chicago has plenty to offer when it comes to nightlife, but if you ever find yourself in a club rut, it’s time to throw your evening into a Spin.
While located at the south end of Boystown, Chicago’s GLBT nightlife neighborhood, the club caters to a diverse clientele. No matter what your label or orientation, Spin provides plenty to look forward to. Just around the corner from Orange, there are weekly promotions, the most popular of which may be the midnight shower contest on Friday nights. Men and women get wet and wild every week, bearing nothing but a tiny towel …read more

1 Comment

Janet Jackson’s tenth studio album, Discipline, is her first with Island/Def Jam Records and features an impressive array of collaborators: Missy Elliott, Stargate, Ne-Yo, and Rodney Jerkins, to name a few. Her first tour in seven years arrives in Chicago at the United Center on September 25. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (CDT).
To see the video of Janet’s first single off the new album, check out fellow b5media blog, popmusicscene. And keep up to date on gossip and news in the music industry with Rumors in Music.

Photo credit: bjclayborn (c/o Flickr), b5media

Comments Off