Working at a bookstore with heavy foot traffic in Lakeview, Robert McDonald and Kathie Bergquist fielded questions from "What's going on in the city tonight?" to "Where can my mom and I go to eat where we'll both feel comfortable?" The duo quickly became advice-toting experts on the gay (and gay-friendly) Chicago scene and debated the idea of writing a gay guide to Chicago for years.
When Chicago was announced as the host of the 2006 Gay Games, the friends sprung into action. Over the course of two years they explored every nook and cranny of Chicago, and the result, A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago, is as full of boozy boys as it is date suggestions for the light of day. With that in mind, we sat down with Robert and asked him to share his top five suggestions for a date beyond the tried-and-true in Boystown.
Plan the perfect lakefront date at Hollywood-Ardmore Beach
On any sunny summer day Hollywood Beach is chock full of gay boys and a few women, both buff studmuffins and a few guys well past their prime in suits so skimpy it's scary. Even on a busy Saturday there's always space to sit and talk. The athletic-minded can find a volleyball game to join and if you're on a date the scenery is nice and I know from experience that holding hands with your bunny while on a beach blanket isn't noticed or remarked upon by the surrounding crowd. For picnic fixin's, I'd head to Wickstrom's or Huey's Hotdogs, which has the best French fries. For less than $5 you can get a great junk food meal to take to the lake and share with a date.
Make it a leather-themed date at the Leather Archives and Museum and Touche
The Leather Archives flies largely under the radar, but it's the only museum anywhere devoted to chronicling the leather world in general and Chicago's queer leather scene in particular. Even if you have nothing beyond a vague curiosity about the leather lifestyle, a trip here is bound to be more titillating than that little museum devoted to the Amish that you visited in 10th grade. And I guarantee the gift shop souvenirs are more interesting. Make the day completely leather-themed and stroll over to Touche. Late at night the back bar area can get a tad more publicly sexual that you will want to get on a date, but at all times the front bar is just a calm area for tipping back a beer or two and playing darts. The only difference between Touche's front bar and a small town Midwest bar is the hardcore gay porn playing on the TV.
Share a Cuban brunch and a classic film at Coobah and the Music Box
The Music Box has a classic series, which is at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and cheaper than the usual $10 movie ticket. It's a beautiful theater, really a treasure of the city, with velvet curtains and twinkly lights on the ceiling that mimic stars. Every three months or so they'll have a Technicolor movie extravaganza or a gritty film noir. It's how these classics were meant to be seen, with popcorn in hand, in the dark. For brunch beforehand, Coobah is a great choice. It has a Cuban menu and serves a lot of typical brunch things served with a twist, like black beans with the omelets and great empanadas. It's small and intimate, but there's also outdoor seating.
Pair a show at the Neo-Futurarium with a bite at Hamburger Mary's
For the cost of a first-run movie you can see some really good, or at least really interesting, theater. "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" is always at least as entertaining as an episode of Saturday Night Live. Before the show, grab a bite at Hamburger Mary's; the original Hamburger Mary's was a San Francisco gay eatery and this franchise retains the old-school camp. There's nothing too fancy or interesting offered, but the burgers are fine, there's a full drink menu and nice outdoor seating. The real fun here is twofold: the cheeky, flirty waitstaff, hired for their looks and ability to be quick with the quips and repartee, and the people-watching. It's not an all-gay experience; still, the whole idea of the chain is to be the gay eatery and they are undoubtedly courting a queer crowd.
Start at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, wind up at InnExile
A sure hit is the annual "Day of the Dead" exhibit at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum, which usually runs from September through December. All that sugary-skull death imagery is sure to spark that sex/death tension, but if you don't decide to retire to your boudoir, check out InnExile, near Midway. No endless circling, praying to the parking gods or high fees for valet. Just drive to the bar, pull into the free parking lot and that's it. Inside, you'll find an environment not unlike a suburban basement circa 1977, if that basement had a formica bar and a friendly but reserved bartender. It's comfortable, clean and cheaper than Halsted bars. Weeknights are perfect for deep long tell-me-all-about-yourself date conversations. Weekends get a tad friskier, and you might even take to the modest dance floor.
Subscribe in your favorite reader using the links below. To learn more about feeds and RSS, click here.
