July 16 - 19, 2009

I hope you're taking the time to stop and enjoy summer, you know we only get a few months of it a year! There's so many exciting things going on this weekend, from a Rodeo on Halsted, an all-girl social in Andersonville to a walk in the garden. Get out there and enjoy as much of this weekend as you can, we're starting the countdown for Market Days!

THURSDAY, JULY 16

Hyatt Bass, writer, director and producer, will read from her new novel, The Embers, at Women & Children First Books in Andersonville at 7:30PM.

Center on Halsted has partnered with Alderman Tom Tunny and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center to offer a free SAGE Senior Resource Fair today from 10AM-2PM. Medical Center professionals will be available to discuss issues seniors deail with on a daily basis. Free health screenings will be provided as well. No registration required. This fair will take place at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center - 836 W Wellington Ave

Billy Joel and Elton John join up and hit Wrigley Field for the first of two concerts. Tickets are still available for the 7PM concert.

Hell in a Handbasket is presenting 'Poseidon an Upsidedown Musical' at The Chopin Theater - 1543 W Division. I haven't seen this show, but a friend saw it when it was originally staged and is still talking about how funny it was. Tickets are $20 and the show runs through the 26th.

Do you know the words to the National Anthem? Do you like singing it? Want to sing it in front of a HUGE CROWD? Then head over to Cocktail and compete for a chance to sing the National Anthem at Out At The Ballgame on August 16th. Preliminaries start tonight at 8PM. Check the Facebook page for all the details.

FESTIVAL LINEUP
F/S/S - Italian Expo

F/S/S - Pitchfork Music Festival

S/S - River North Summerfest

S/S - Sheffield Garden Walk

SUN - Chinatown Summer Fair

FRIDAY, JULY 17

The Point Foundation, the National LGBT Scholarship Fund, will host it's 1st Annual Summer Soiree at the Saddle & Cycle Club this evening from 7-11PM. You'll hear stories from Point Scholars and how the foundation has helped them achive their educational goals. You'll enjoy cocktails, dinner and music by DJ James Goeke. Tickets are $225 each and can be purchased online.

Thank GLAAD It's Friday at minibar from 7-9PM! Join GLAAD and Absolut Vodka for this national networking event. Tickets are $35 which includes 2-hours of Absolut cocktails, a one-year membership with GLAAD, chance to win door prizes and the opportunity to network with like-minded members of the LGBT community. Purchase tickets online.

Local poet Judith Valente will celebrate the release of her newest book Discovering Moons at Women & Children First Books tonight at 7:30PM

The Chicago Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce hold their first ever suburban networking event in Skokie at 6:30PM. Join them at the Skokie Theater and enjoy appetizers, champagne, chocolate and a preview of the 2009 season from Three Cab Media including performances by Beckie Menzie, Tom Michael and others. $20 members/$30 non-members.

Do you like Cabaret? Burlesque? How about a combination of both at Varietease Cabaret at the Lakeshore Theater then! You can catch Miss Tamale, Mae the Bellydancer, the Dolls of Doom and more at this hilarious combination of comedy, live music, full bar and boobies at 10:30PM. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online.

Chicago Filmmakers presents 'Do No Harm' tonight at 8PM. Two men become whistle-blowers when they expose how the local hospital in Albany, GA had a practice of over-charging the patients that could afford it the least. After they start their investigation they become targets of harhassment and intimidation. The filmmaker and patient rights advocates will hold a panel discussion after the screening. $8/$4 members. Be sure to check the site for full details - legal issues may cancel this screening, but if it doesn't you'll want to make sure you catch this screening.

SATURDAY, JULY 18

Kat Fitzgerald will host Sappho's Salon at Women & Children First Books in Andersonville at 7:30PM. Tonights 'Provocative Night of Lesbian Diversions' will feature Riva Lehrer and Emily White. $7-10 suggested donation includes food and wine.

HRC is hosting a Wine Tasting at Douglas Dawson Gallery tonight from 8-11PM. Learn about current happenings at HRC, enjoy art and wine tasting from Wine Styles. Wines will be available for sale with 10% of the all sales going back to HRC. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online.

It's the 2nd Annual CHICKago Social in the parking lot across from T's - 5025 N Clark St. Enjoy music from Daphne Willis, Martha Berner, Edie Carey and Melissa Ferrick headlines at 8PM. Tickets are $10 in Advance or $15 at the door. Rain or shine, 21+ only.

RECESSION BUSTER The Chicago Park District is screening movies in local parks all over the city. Check the site to see if a movie is playing in your neighborhood park. Don't forget that they're showing Sunset Boulevard (this years Film Festival Opener) at Hollywood Beach on August 25th.

It's all about the Girls this weekend as Sapphic Adventures holds a mixer at Sura Thai Bistro - 3124 N Broadway. Meet young professional lesbians at this super-chic bar/restaurant in Lakeview. 7-10PM.

White Rainbow Presents: White Rainbows at Gorilla Tango Theater - 1919 N Milwaukee. This gay sketch show has 'the moxie of Rosie OíDonnell, the heart of Ellen DeGeneres, and the absurdity of Paul Lynde.' Directed by GayCo's Kelly Beeman and written by Matt Utter. Show is at 10PM and tickets are $10 which can be purchased online.

SUNDAY, JULY 19

Ride 'em Cowboy! Rodeo time is coming and what better way to get in the mood than heading down to Halsted and taking part in Rodeo on Halsted - a combination fundraiser and scavenger hunt that will have you competing for prizes valued at more than $750.

Head up to Andersonville this afternoon and enjoy the 3rd Annual T's Tea Dance from 3-10PM. Colum and the staff from T's, Sofo and The Glenwood celebrate summer with music by some of Chicago's hottest DJ's including Psycho Bitch, Michael Thomas, Phil DaBeatz and Plez.

Two Spoons - the latest production by the Bailiwick Theater takes the stage at the Hoover-Leppen theater at the Center on Halsted. Two gay dad's on the verge of getting married change their minds after taking a weekend trip. Tonight is opening night but you can catch previews on 7/15, 7/17 & 7/18, and the show runs through August 23

Tonight is the last chance to catch 'in your facebook' at Prop Theater at 7PM. This strange and interesting look into four Chicago solo performers who obsessively define their existence by their Facebook status updates. Tickets are $15.

Enjoy the 41st Annual Sheffield Garden Walk today starting at Webster & Sheffield. From 12PM-6PM you'll have the chance to walk the Sheffield Neighborhood and visit more than 100 neighborhood gardens on a self-guided tour. Tickets are $6 or $10 after 3PM. Check the site for full details.

COMING SOON

**Remember come back every Thursday morning to plan your weekend**

Photo: While their son and his grandmother (Evan Absher and Susie Griffith, left) prepare a wedding for gay dads Larry and Steven (Kevin Bishop, center left and Kevin Grubb), they encounter a distraction in the form of Max Burham, (right front) in TWO SPOONS at Bailiwick at Center on Halsted, 3656 North Halsted, through August 23.