January 8th - 11th

Let me be the last to wish you a Happy New Year! I hope that you had a restful and relaxing holiday, I know that I did. But it's time to start getting busy again. Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean there's not a lot to do in Chicago.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

Are you a writer? Do you want to be? Join the New Town Writers - a GLBT 'Writers' salon' at the Gerber/Hart Library - 1127 W Granville at 7:30. Check out their website for all the details.

Joan Corwin will be reading from her story, "Safe Shall Be My Going," which appears as the novella winner in Press 53's first annual Open Awards Anthology at Women & Children First - 5233 N Clark - at 7:30PM. Corwin is an Evanston author who is a Chicago Public Radio Stories on Stage winner.

POZ? Head on over to Northend where TPAN hosts "Pulse" - a safe place where HIV+ men can meet and mingle. Northend - 3731 N Halsted, 6-9PM

Looking for a new place to watch the game? Catch the FedEx BCS National Championship game at The Morse Theater - 1328 W Morse at 8PM. Admission is FREE and the Century Public House is right next door for snacks and drinks.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9

Kim Bobo, author of 'Wage Theft in America' will be presenting her work at Women & Children First Books - 5233 N Clark at 7:30PM. Bobo is also a community organzier and provides a handbook for activsts, workers and others on how to prevent the explotation of American workers.

If you haven't had a chance to catch the exhibit '_ask' at the Leather Archives & Museum - 6418 N Greenview - head on up there now, today is the last day for this 'mixed medium exhibition and fashion show'

Stop by the Center on Halsted this evening for the opening reception of "Many-One an Art Show by Jeff Stevenson" The exhibit features large-scale, mutli-canvas figurative paintings and will be on display until February 15. A $5 donation is requested and a Cash Bar will be available.

If you think your life is a Fellini movie there's nothing better than catching a screening of Amarcord - Fellini's 1973 Academy Award Winning film about life in a small Italian town. Screenings are all this weekend at the Music Box Theater, check the site for full details.

The funky marching band-esque group Mucca Pazza will be taking the stage and The Empty Bottle - 1035 N Western at 10PM. I love catching Mucca Pazza at Andersonville Midsommarfest so this will hopefully give you a taste of what summer will be like. Don't miss this funky and hip band get tickets now!

While you're at the Music Box, why not hang around for the midnight showing of "Repo! The Genetic Opera.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

Got a sweet tooth? If you're downtown, stop by Drinks Over Dearborn - 650 N Dearborn - for a free wine tasting, today's lesson: Get your "Just Desserts" from 2-8PM

Equality Illinois is sponsoring a rally at the Hyatt Global Headquarters - 71 S Wacker at 11AM to get a response from them regarding Doug Manchester, owner of the 2nd largest Hyatt hotel in the US who donated $125,000 to ProtectMarriage.com and gave them the boost needed to get Prop 8 added to the ballot. After the rally join up the National DOMA Protest at City Hall.

A national Defense on Marriage Act protest is scheduled for 11:30AM at the State of Illinois Building - 160 N LaSalle. Speakers will focus on the repeal of the National Defense of Marriage Act which will be followed by a march that will roughly follow State St north to Chicago and then south on Michigan. Check Join the Impact for the full details.

Looking to spice things up in the Kitchen? Get some new skills by taking a class at Kendall College, courses cover everything from Knife Basics to Bread Baking to Pastry Techniques. Courses are $50+ and registration is required.

Chicago Filmmakers - hosts of the Reeling Film Festival kick off Season 6 of their "Dyke Delicious Series" with a screening of Dance, Girl, Dance a 1940's, b&w film by famed dyke director Dorothy Arzner. A social hour will kick off the event at 7PM with the screening following at 8PM, tickets are $10

Gotta dance? Learn how to Fox trot and tango at an 8-week gay-friendly ballroom dancing course that begins today at Chicago Dance - 3660 W Irving Park. Meet and learn for the next 8 Saturdays at 2PM and by the time you're done you'll be cha-chaing around the dance floor. Cost of the course is $120

Gays Got Talent Finale - if you've been following along for the last few months, tonight is the night where the best of the best will show their talent at Sidetrack - 3349 N Halsted. The winner tonight will walk away with the Title, $1000, airline tickets, a trip to Toronto and Broadway in Chicago tickets. Don't miss the finale of this contest.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Take advantage of the Chicago History Museum's "Project Sunday" and catch a screening of Brett Mogan's 'Chicago 10' at 1:30. The film is a retelling via animation and archival fottage of the controversial 1968 Chicago Conspiracy Trial. The movie is free with museum admission and no reservations are required.

Don't forget that there is free Ice Skating at Millennium Park every day, M-Th: 12-9PM, F:12-10PM, S&S: 10AM-10PM - weather permitting of course. Skating is free and if you need to rent skates the cost is $10.