And experience drag queen artistry at The Baton Show Lounge, one of Chicago’s long-standing loves. Soak in some history and hear jazz greatness happen at Prohibition-era Green Mill. Sip cocktails on the patio at Big Chicks, an LGBTQ restaurant-bar-gallery in one, with great weekly specials and a super-welcoming vibe. If you love bars, live music, and nightlife, you’ll love Uptown. Throughout Rogers Park, you’ll also find sculpture gardens, beaches, parks, a world of global cuisine, and a few Frank Lloyd Wright gems like the stunning Emil Bach House. The adults-only museum celebrates the history of leather and fetishism across sexual orientations.Īlso in Rogers Park, the Glenwood Avenue Arts District boasts a highly innovative theatre scene that includes the likes of Babes with Blades Theatre Company, which uses stage combat to place women and their stories center stage BoHo Theatre, which examines human relationships through the filters of truth, beauty, freedom, and love boldly original The Factory Theater and song-and-dance impresarios Theo Ubique Cabaret Theater. Their rotating exhibits cover everything from local drag icons to queer sports groups.Īlso in Rogers Park, the Leather Archives & Museumis where you can learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the leather lifestyle. The Gerber/Hart Library and Archivesin Rogers Park is the largest circulating collection of LGBTQ books and historical items in the Midwest. This welcoming lakefront enclave is home to a fascinating slice of LGBTQ+ history. The annual festival celebrates the community’s heritage with Swedish food, local artisans, and a Pride stage where you can catch performances from drag divas and Broadway stars. If you’re in the neighborhood during June’s Pride Month, make sure you stop by Midsommarfest. Or check out Foursided, an LGBTQ-owned gem that stocks tons of cute and modern gifts and home decor. This multi-level labyrinth is where dozens of local artisans sell their handcrafted ware. On Clark Street, you’ll find a stretch of locally owned restaurants and bars that always bustling with visitors and locals. If you’re looking to take home a unique piece of Chicago, explore the Andersonville Galleria.
They also host an exciting array of public events, like book launches, poetry readings, and author conversations. The bookstore is a Chicago institution, with more than 30,000 books by and about women. Women & Children First is where Andersonville’s “shop local” ethos and progressive inclusivity intersect. Shop local in AndersonvilleĪndersonville is known for it’s deep Swedish roots, array of eclectic independent businesses, and their welcoming, diverse LGBTQ+ community. When it comes to shopping, don’t miss casual men’s wear boutique CRAM Fashion and hard-to-find queer works at Unabridged Bookstore. Boystown classics like The Closet and Roscoe’s Tavern are also local favorites. The walk is a great way to tour the community - make sure to stop into the many great eateries, friendly bars, vintage stores, and unique boutiques along the way.Ĭome June, you’ll find Boystown at the heart of the city’s annual Pride Month celebrations, which include two days of LGBTQ+ pride, music, and drag shows at Chicago Pride Fest, and culminates with the famed Chicago Pride Parade, a spectacular procession held on the last Sunday of June.Ī couple of the many spots that capture the casual, funky, and fun spirit of the neighborhood include the original Chicago Diner, which puts animal rights and environmentalism front and center, while serving up tasty vegetarian and vegan food sassy, swanky Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club, where dinner is served with a tableside drag show and Wood, an explosion of smoky wood-fired flavor that’s earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand award.Īt night, check out leather-theme nights at laid-back Cell Block, drag shows and dance parties at Hydrate, and slushy drinks and show-tune nights at Sidetrack. The area’s proud history is on display with the Legacy Walk, which commemorates notable LGBTQ+ heroes and historic events.
Make a beeline for Boystown Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Clubīoystown, officially known as Northalsted, is the oldest LGBTQ+ neighborhood in the country. And while the whole city exudes a welcoming vibe, there are a couple of neighborhoods and places you shouldn’t miss. Our city is known for embracing diversity and inclusion, from our world-famous Pride celebrations to establishing the country’s first official gay neighborhood. Lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, bisexual - however you identify, you’ll feel right at home in Chicago.