Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...

1987

In the bars and clubs this week, come to Paris Dance, 1122 W. Montrose, "With Sue Who's Fantasy Blender"; the one and only "Lonesome Hole" is at Medusa's, 3257 N. Sheffield; "The Music and Comedy of Lori Noelle" is at Christopher Street, 3458 N. Halsted; Alana Russell, directly from Las Vegas, is singing live at Scooters on the River, 1177 N. Elston; TJ's, 46 Oak St., holds a raffle for a months tanning at Dearborn St. Tan Bar; and the TV show "Dynasty" (Channel 7. 8:00 p.m.) is shown in the following bars: Annex 3, Berlin, Big Red's, Bulldog Road, Christopher St., Company, Gold Coast, Glory Hole, Inner Circle, L.A. Connection, Normandy, North End, Pepper's, Sidetrack, Take One, TJ's on Oak, and Windy City Bar and Grille.

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(Image: Abbott Hotel – Gay Chicago June 9, 1983)

This week's Top Ten Playlist in Gay Chicago courtesy of Larry Fox of Carol's Speakeasy: 1) "Open Your Heart" – Madonna; 2) "Something Wrong in My House" – Dead Or Alive; 3) "Overpower" – Den Harrow; 4) "Planet Nine" – Rick John; 5) "Don't Pretend to Know" – Tapps; 6) "Who Knows What Evil" – Man To Man; 7) "Come Go With Me" – Exposé; 8) "Fascinated" – B. Company; 9) "Band of Gold" ­ – Belinda Carlisle; 10) "Someone Like Me" ­– Sylvester.

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Headline on the cover of this week's Windy City Times reads: "WCT co-founder Robert Bearden dies."

"Robert F. Bearden, co-founder (with publisher Jeffrey McCourt and former Art Director Drew Badanish) of Windy City Times died Thursday Jan. 29 at Columbus Hospital of complications due to AIDS.

1996

In the February Outlines, D. Jean Albright, in her Off the Bookshelf column, recommends: "Franny, the Queen of Provincetown" by John Preston; "While England Sleeps" by David Leavitt; "Lesbians of Color, Social and Human Services" by Hilda Hidalgo, PhD.; and "The Lesbian Parenting Book, A Guide to Creating Families and Raising Children" by D. Merilee Clunis and D. Dorsey Green.

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(Image: Flesh Hungry Dog Show – Nightspots February 15 2006)

Stories on the cover of Outlines this week include "Gay man is top U.S. men's figure skater. See page 36 for details on Rudy Galindo's historic victory at the U.S. National championships," and "Sir Ian McKellen, winning honors and roles as an openly gay actor."

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Rochelle Crump, a Veteran's Benefit Counselor, speaks to the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

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In Gay Chicago, an item in Billy Masters' Filth reads: "First of all, no gay gossip columnist can ignore the continued Keanu Reeves/David Geffen rumors, and I will take a stand and squelch this one once and for all. They never met, never wanted to, and sources tell me David is holding out for someone who can act."

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Milly's Orchid Show Hawaiian Style with Brigid Murphy, Paula Killen, Edward Thomas-Herrera and David Kodeski, is at Park West, 322 W. Armitage.

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Donna Blue Lachman is the speaker at the 20th anniversary of the gay Jewish group, Congregation Or Chadash, at the Como Inn, 546 N. Milwaukee.

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Miss Chicago U.S. of A, an official preliminary to Miss Illinois U.S. of A, takes place at the Best Western Inn of Chicago, 162 E. Ohio Street.

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"Commitment to Love," a gay and lesbian wedding fair, is at Halsted Street Café, 3641 N. Halsted.

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Gay Asians and Pacific Islanders (GAPIC) hold a workshop entitled "Unlearning Oppression: Strategies for Building Allies" at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 621 W. Belmont.

2000

On the cover of this week's Outlines: "Stephen Trask takes his ‘Hedwig & the Angry Inch' to the Grammy's and the Big Screen."

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Columnists in Nightlines this week include: "Silly Questions" by Sukie de la Croix; "Leather Pride" by Cain Berlinger; "At Your Service" by Deb Rogo; "Kathie Klub" by Kathie Bergquist; "An Englishman Abroad" by Sukie de la Croix; and "Bear It" by Tom Wray;

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The Northalstead Area Merchants Association auction off "Miss Northolstein," the fiberglass cow designed by local artist David Csicsko. The cow is on display at Ragin Rajeans, 3450 N. Halsted.

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In Gay Chicago an article begins "Applicants are currently being sought for the position of Director/Community Liaison of the Commission's Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues, said Clarence N. Wood, Chair if the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations."

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Sarabia and Several SEXsational Strippers welcome Clint Cooper to Man's Country, 5015 N. Clark St.

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Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn and Children and the women of A Real Read present "The Other 6 Colored Girls Who Never Considered Suicide Cause the Rainbow Was All They Had" at the Ebenezar Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

<< I took this photograph in 2002 in Cocktail. It may have been published in Nightspots or Windy City Times. Who are they and where are they now?

Star Gaze 2002. Looks like they were bartenders. Where are they now? >>

<< Gay Chicago January 31, 1985 these two were partying in Berlin. How was that free trip to Miami?

I took this photograph at a Season of Concern benefit at Gentry. It was published in Nightlines December 20, 2000. Is he singing? Where is he now? Step up and take another bow ... >>

Homework

What's Lori Noelle doing these days?

David Csicsko: What's happening with you these days?

Art Director Drew Badanish. Who is he?

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph and Craig Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life and Tracy Baim for all the publications at the Windy City Media Group, which aided the above research. St. Sukie de la Croix is an internationally published reporter, playwright, photographer and historian. He is also the author of the book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.