June 10 - 13

Well those four months of the year that all Chicagoans live for is upon us and I hope that you're enjoying the start of summer. There's plenty to do this weekend including a dinner crawl on Historic Bryn Mawr Avenue and the ever popular (and my official kick off to summer) Andersonville's Midsommarfest! I hope you are getting out there and having some fun, because it'll be winter before we know it.

THURSDAY, JUNE 10

Get your food on tonight while enjoying an historic neighborhood at the Taste of Bryn Mawr. Tix are $25 in advance and give you a chance to sample more than 15 businesses and restaurants that line this wonderful street. Check out this video from last year.

Out & Equal Chicagoland, along with United Way of Metro Chicago will host a panel this evening on 'Creating Safe Schools: Bullying, Violence & Oppression in the Chicago Public Schools' the event is free, only an RSVP is required. Check the site for more events planned throughout Gay Pride Month.

Enjoy classic films? Head to the Music Box Theatre for screenings of one of the true classic films ever, Metropolis. This is the most complete version of the 1927 film including almost 25 minutes of additional footage. It's as close to the original as there has ever been. Screenings are limited so hurry and catch this restored masterpiece before it's too late, and yes, it is 154 minutes long.

FRIDAY, JUNE 11

It's that time of the month again for Guerilla Gay Bar and there's even more excitement this month with a pre-party kick-off event at Bloomingdales Home Store - 600 N Wabash - in connection with Talbott Teas. Stop by for free booze, appetizers from 6-8PM, I've even heard there's going to be gift bags. But that's just the start of the evening, GGB takes over D4 Irish Pub & Cafe - 345 E Ohio starting at 8:30 and will make it gay for the night. Don't miss the fun!

Chicago Filmmakers will present 'Champion Fishermen: Films by Jason Halprin and JB Mabe' tonight. The local directors will present a 'salon type atmosphere during tonights screening. Tix are $8 at the door. Check the site for more screenings this weekend during Midsommarfest.

Lil' Kim will take the stage at the Congress Theater along with Avi [SIC] with the doors opening at 8PM. Tix are $23 and can be purchased online! Just in time to kick of the Metronome Festival!

FESTIVAL LINEUP

F/S/S - Chicago Blues Festival
F/S/S - Ribfest
Sat - Humboldt Park Art Festival
S/S - Andersonville Midsommarfest
S/S - Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair & Lit Fest
S/S - Old Town Art Fair
S/S - Wells Street Art Festival

SATURDAY, JUNE 12

Are you good at solving puzzles? Do you know your way around Chicago? Then you should team up and take part in the 5th Annual Urban Dare going on across the city today starting at noon. You'll cover about 5 miles in todays challenge but you'll have even more fun telling your friends what you did.

Get to Humboldt Park starting at Noon today for the Latin@ Pride Picnic hosted by Orgullo En Accion to bring the Latin Community together to celebrate the unique and diverse latin community. Check the site for full details.

Looking to improve your Adobe After Effects computer skills? Head to Transistor in Andersonville for their Adobe After Effects For Beginners, Level 1 Workshop from 10AM-12PM. The workshop is $40 and you'll need to bring your own laptop. Transistor offers many hands-on courses, music programs and even live webcasts. Check their site for full details.

SUNDAY, JUNE 13

It's the holy grail of gay award shows - The TONY AWARDS! Tonight dozens upon dozens of The Great White Way's best and finest will gather at Radio City Music Hall to see who will win. Chicago's got several nominees this year - who do you want to win? Catch the show on CBS Channel 2 at 7PM. I can't wait to see what show snippets we'll see this year.

Get over to Studio L'amour for Dr. Sketchy's 'Cruel Summer' with your sketch book where you'll get three hours to sketch and draw burlesque dancers, circus freaks and who knows what else. Don't worry, you'll also get entertained between the sketching. Tix are $15 and the event runs from 2-5PM.

Circuit Nighclub will play host to BEHIV's Queen of the Night Extravaganza starting at 5PM. Performances from BEHIV Board & Staff members and community members are the highlight of this event. A Queen Bee will be crowned during the events while you help raise money for a worthy cause.

Photo: The marquee at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
Photo by: Robert Postotnik from TonyAwards.com