Florida Agenda

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

Following up on last week’s introduction to Chicago, Illinois, we return to President Obama’s onetime hometown to scour the gayborhoods best bars, clubs, and cafés.

Chicago’s largest gay village is nicknamed Boystown, though it’s legally known as Lakeview. The first officially recognized gay neighborhood in the United States, it is also the cultural center of one of the largest LGBT communities in the nation. For those who keep track of such statistics, Boystown also has more resident drag queens per square inch than any other place in America.

Our hands-down favorite club in the area is Sidetrack (3349 N Halsted St., between Roscoe and Buckingham). Currently celebrating its 30th anniversary, Sidetrack is a labyrinth of seven bars, lounges and a celebrated balcony from which all things wicked can be observed. It’s the largest video bar in Chicago, and swears it sells more vodka per night than any other bar in the entire U.S.A. Just down the block and across the street is Roscoe’s (3356 N Halsted St.), where the kids go to dance, and the Daddies go to spoil them. Roscoe’s, now in its 25th year, is a great place for eats in spring, summer and the beginning of fall, with its sidewalk café. The big draw is the wet boxers contest the first Sunday of each month— boxers as in underwear, not pugilists.

Continue walking up Halsted Street and visit Cocktail (3359 N Halsted St.), where the drinks are fun concoctions like strawberry mojitos, legendary DJ’s spin sizzling hot music, and some surprisingly good Chicago pizza and salads are served at The Garden. Very hot go-go dancers perform on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

Hydrate (3458 N Halsted St.) gets points for its College Night on Tuesday. Drinks are $1 each and you don’t have to be matriculating to attend. Those that are, however, get inside for no cover charge with appropriate college I.D. The rest of the week are drag events at Hydrate, with all the drama and hair such a schedule suggests.

For those into leather and bear packs, there is always the tried-and-true CellBlock (3702 N Halsted St.). While the front bar is rather tame, the back bar is serious leather, with porn videos to prove the point.

For something a lot sleazier, pump it up and head to Manhandler Saloon (1948 N. Halsted St.). This place is Chicago’s bar-equivalent to a bathhouse, so don’t give us those Betty Boop eyes when your pants are pulled down around your knees and a wet mouth enters your sightline. This does not happen in plain view, of course.

Mosey right through the front bar with its surly bartenders, and right through the back patio. The action takes place beyond the stockade fencing where crowds as large as three dozen will be doing the nasty nightly. Chicago’s alternative gayborhood to Boystown is Andersonville. This one-time Swedish settlement has given way to upscale LGBT residents who flock to @mosphere (5355 N Clark St. at Balmoral Ave.). The attractions here are drink specials, a large dance floor, and go-go dancers from Wednesday through Saturday. Go a little further north and discover Touché (6412 N Clark St. at W Devon Ave.), a fancy name for a leather bar that’s been around for 35 years. The place is sweet with just the right stench, and men’s men playing in the backroom. Our kinda town.

CHICAGO PART 1 HERE

By ROBERT ELIAS DEATON

Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin’ town,” Frank Sinatra sang in his 1957 recording. It was quite the popular hit at the time, though we’ve always been hard pressed to understand what a toddlin’ town actually is. One thing we do know is that Chicago has earned every bit of its reputation as an exciting, sophisticated and dangerous place to live. Yes, dangerous. So far this year, there have been over 400 murders in Chicago—more murders than the much larger cities of New York (312) and Los Angeles (212).

That aside, it’s fortunate that the charm of this town continues unabated, particularly for those with an interest in architecture and the arts. The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave) is the second largest museum in the United States (the largest is the Metropolitan in New York). It has a truly amazing permanent collection, particularly focusing on impressionist and post-impressionistic painters. Additionally, the African American Art Collection found here is well known for its assortment of paintings by Archibald John Motley, Jr. There’s a roof-top terrace that provides a great break from the art, and offers a fantastic view of the city. For those using public transportation, head for the Adams/ Wabash Station via the Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, or Purple Lines.

Architecturally speaking, Chicago is a Whitman’s Sampler of tastes and style. Some of our favorite buildings in this city on Lake Michigan include Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica (3121 W Jackson Blvd.); the former Sears Tower—now officially called the Willis Tower (233 S Wacker Dr)—at one time the tallest building in the world; the Chicago Avenue Pumping Station (821 N Michigan Ave) that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; the CNA Center (333 S Wabash Ave), whose major claim to fame is its sunset red paint; and the 311 S Wacker Dr. Building that holds two distinctions. Until recently, it was the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world, and it remains the tallest building to be known by its street address alone. The city devotes over eight percent of its land area to parks. Of these, Lincoln Park holds a special place for us since it is not only the largest of Chicago’s parks (with 1,200 acres), it is also the only park to span many different neighborhoods throughout the north side, as it is nestled between Lake Shore Dr. and Lake Michigan. As such, it has many different entrances, but the one located at 2001 N Clark St. will get you to the front of the Lincoln Park Zoo—always a fun place to visit. Any time of the day or night, Grant Park, located in the downtown business district along Lake Michigan, is showcased by the famed Buckingham Fountain, dedicated in 1927. A water show operates in the Rococostyle fountain from April to October, with decorative lighting taking the stage when the weather turns cooler. For those into trivia, the fountain was featured in the opening credits to the TV hit “Married.with Children.”

Our favorite new hotel in Chicago is the PUBLIC (11301 N State Pkwy.). The one-time Ambassador East Hotel, home of the famous Pump Room, has been re-invented by Ian Schrager (of Studio 54 fame). While the Pump Room remains a fragment of its former self, the guest rooms in PUBLIC are incredibly efficient, lovely, and beginning at $135 a night, they’re a bargain.

Next week, we’ll cover the bar and club scene of the Windy City. Hold your breath. It’s worth the wait.

CHICAGO PART 2 HERE