Chicago
Chicago Illinois IL
- Country Code
- USA
- State Code
- IL
- Day Trips
- Indiana Dunes
- The Indiana Dunes are about 50 miles southeast of the city. Winter or summer, the dunes offer a wide range of things to do on or off the water: swimming, hiking and biking trails, ice-skating, sledding, and golf are just a few things to keep you busy. Exploring the quaint art galleries and local wineries will add some culture to your jaunt.
- Local Food
- Chicago is a meat-lover's town. Italian beef, Polish sausage, and red hots, the Windy City's version of the hot dog, are just some of the local treats to sink your teeth into. And don't forget about the Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.
- Curious cooks should take Evelyn's Ethnic Grocery Store Tour, a wonderful way to learn about the ethnic neighborhoods-and foods-that make up Chicago ($70 for 2; 773/ 465-8064; www.ethnic-grocery-tours.com).
- Gay Info
- The Center on Halsted 773/472-6469. 3656 N Halsted St, 8am-10pm, www.centeronhalsted.org (see Boystown map).
- Center on Halsted Infoline, 773/929-4357, 10am-10pm.
- Chicago Area Gay/Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, 773/303-0167, www.glchamber.org.
- Aids Group
- State of Illinois HIV/AIDS/STD Hotline, 800/243-2437 (in IL). 8am-10pm.
- Gay Aa
- Newtown Alano Club (AA), 773/529-0321, www.newtownalanoclub.com. 909 W Belmont St, 2nd flr (btwn Clark & Sheffield).
- Gay Pride
- June. 773/348-8243, www.chicagopridecalendar.org.
- Annual Events
- May - International Mr. Leather 800/545-6753. Weekend of events and contest on Sunday, www.imrl.com.
- May - Bear Pride, www.bearpride.org.
- May-June- Chicago Blues Festival 312/744-3315, www.chicagobluesfestival.org.
- August - Northalsted Market Days 773/883-0500, www.northalsted.com/market_days.php.
- November - Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 773/293-1447, www.reelingfilmfestival.org.
- Airport
- O'Hare International. The Kennedy Expressway heads toward the city. Or take Mannheim Rd to the Eisenhower Expressway. Inquire locally about which is currently the lesser of two evils. Better still, take the train (Blue Line) from the station in O'Hare to the Washington stop downtown. Transfer here to the Red Line and get off at Belmont. Outside the station, hike east along Belmont to Halsted, turn left and for several blocks into the heart of Boystown.
- Taxi
- Yellow Cab 312/ 829-4222.
- Super Shuttle
- Continental Airport Express 888/284-3826.
- Public Transport
- Chicago Transit Authority 312/836-7000, www.transitchicago.com.
- Metra Rail 312/322-6777, www.metrarail.com.
- Tourist Attraction
- 900 North Michigan Shops.
- Jane Addams Hull-House Museum 312/413-5353, www.hullhousemuseum.org.
- The Art Institute of Chicago 312/443-3600, www.artic.edu.
- DuSable Museum of African American History 773/947-0600, www.dusablemuseum.org.
- Historic Water Tower.
- LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly Schubert Theatre).
- Museum of Contemporary Art 312/280-2660, www.mcachicago.org.
- Museum of Science and Industry 773/684-1414, www.msichicago.org.
- National Museum of Mexican Art 312/738-1503, www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 312/335-1650, www.steppenwolf.org.
- Terra Foundation for American Art, 312/664-3939, www.terraamericanart.org.
- Wrigley Field, 773/404-CUBS, web: chicago.cubs.mlb.com.
- Visitors Bureau
- Chicago Office of Tourism 877/244-2246, www.explorechicago.org.
- Weather
- “The Windy City” earned its name. Winter temperatures have been known to be as low as -46°. Summers are humid, normally in the 80°s.
- Best Views
- Skydeck of the 110-story Sears Tower, www.theskydeck.com or the open-air observation deck at the John Hancock Observatory, www.hancockobservatory.com.
- Where The Girls Are
- In the Belmont area-on Halsted or Clark streets-with the boys, or hanging out elsewhere in Boystown. Upwardly-mobile lesbians live in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville, while their working-class sisters live in Andersonville (way north).