Hunter's bar in Elk Grove Village will host a Gay Games VII benefit Monday May 30 of Memorial Day Weekend, from 2 to 9 p.m. It will be a cookout, with door prizes, split the pot raffle, and more prizes. Door prize and raffle drawings at 4, 6, and 8. DJ Big Jim 2-9, Karaoke 9 to 1; $10 suggested donation at the door. All proceeds will sponsor tickets for HIV/AIDS clients to Gay Games events. The bar is at 1932 E. Higgins Rd. in Elk Grove Village.
Chicago's top lesbian and gay comics will help lighten up your gay pride this year in 'Proud to Laugh,' a benefit for Gay Games VII on Wednesday, June 22, at Joe's on Weed Street in Chicago.
Featured comics are Jessica Halem ( featured in the Chicago Tribune and at Caroline's Comedy Club in New York ) , Sapna Kumar ( Icehouse Annex II in Los Angeles, Park West, Zanies Comedy Club ) , and special guest Bill Cruz ( Zanies, The Duplex in NYC, and the Lincoln Lodge ) .
'We are happy to be hosting this benefit for the Gay Games, an event that will bring thousands of athletes and performers together from around the world next summer,' said producer Mike Oquendo of Mikey O Comedy at Joe's on Weed Street.
The night of comedy is Wednesday, June 22. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Joe's on Weed Street is located at 940 W. Weed St. Tickets are $20 and available at Ticketmaster.com, at Women & Children First Books, 5233 N. Clark in Chicago, or can be reserved at the Gay Games office by calling ( 773 ) 907-2006.
Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural Festival will take place July 15-22, 2006. More than 12,000 athletes from more than 70 countries will compete in 30 sports ranging from softball to dancesport, swimming to tennis. The weeklong event will include band, cheerleading and color guard performances, chorus, an ancillary arts festival, and a series of community-organized social events and parties.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for Soldier Field, the lakefront home stadium of football's Chicago Bears. Closing ceremony will be at Wrigley Field, the home of Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs.
For the first time ever, the Gay Games in Chicago will receive widespread television coverage on the Q Television Network. Early sponsors of Gay Games VII include PlanetOut/Gay.com; Q Television Network; Orbitz; Sydney New Mardi Gras; McKnight Kurland Baccelli; Mate, Genre, and Girlfriends Magazines; Windy City Media Group and more than 60 business sponsors.
Chicago Games, Inc. is the host of Gay Games VII and is led by experienced civic leaders from Chicago's business, sports and non-profit sectors.
See www.GayGamesChicago.org, e-mail info@GayGamesChicago.org, or phone ( 773 ) 907-2006.