Pictured: Volleyball players at the 2006 Gay Games. Photos by Ryan Kolodziej and Shawn_Eames
Nat'l gay v-ball tourney in Chicago
More than 1,100 LGBT volleyball players from around the world, including former top-level U.S. college players, will be in Chicago for the North American Gay Volleyball Association ( NAGVA ) Championships XXVII, set for May 21-24 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. This is the fourth time Chicago has hosted the annual event—but the first time since 1991.
About 135 teams are expected, with about eight players per team, for play in four divisions.
"The tournament is a lot of fun, a pure social event with competitiveness mixed in. It's kind of like a circuit party, just without the club and music, and volleyballs galore instead," said Chicago's Chad Carroll, who serves as the event's co-chairman.
Players will range in age from 18 to 60, and about 10 teams are expected at the top division ( AA ) . There will be 13 teams from Chicago participating.
"The NAGVA Championship is a wrap-up to the 27th season a la the annual Gay Softball World Series," Carroll said. "The level of play at the top division is very, very good."
Participants will be coming from Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland and Dallas, not to mention Vancouver, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
"The tournament is held the same weekend every year, so finally our players will get to participate in both [ Memorial Day weekend traditions ] : NAGVA and IML," Carroll said, laughing. "The tournament is just a good time. It's a cool genre of the gay community."
The championships are free to attend.
About 95 percent of the participants are male, Carroll said, and he speculated that at least 95 percent of the participants are gay.
Hermosa ( Calif. ) Beach is among the top AA-Division teams.
The top Chicago-based teams are Ataca ( A Division ) , Hamburger Mary's ( B ) and Untouchable ( BB ) , which won the gold medal at the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago.
NAGVA is one of the nation's largest LGBT-sports organizations with more than 5,000 members. A group of eight cities, Chicago being one of those eight, helped form NAGVA in 1980. NAGVA hosted its first championship tournament in 1982. The host organization responsible for winning the bid for NAGVA Championships XXVII is the Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association ( CMSA ) , the largest non-profit LGBT sports organization in the Midwest, boasting over 2,600 members.
AIDS Walk/Run
registration starts
Online registration for AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2009 is now open at www.aidsrunwalk.org .
To participate alongside thousands of supporters Saturday, Oct. 3, in Grant Park, visit www.aidsrunwalk.org and click "Register Now." E-mail runwalk@aidschicago.org if there are any questions.
AIDS Run & Walk Chicago 2008 raised more than $500,000. To further support these local organizations, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) will give 100 percent of all money raised by CommunityDirect teams back to the participating HIV/AIDS service organizations.
Bike the Drive
May 24
Bike the Drive—which will open a car-free Lake Shore Drive to more than 20,000 cyclists—will take place the morning of Sunday, May 24.
The drive will be open 5:30-10:30 a.m. Participants must start at Columbus and Jackson.
The event benefits the nonprofit Active Transportation Alliance's work to improve biking, walking and transit in Chicagoland. A post-ride festival includes breakfast, live music from Funkadesi and giveaways. Registration is $37-$42 for adults and $12 for those 17 and under with at least one adult registration; see www.BikeTheDrive.org .
Four Red Stars
on U.S. team
Four members of the Chicago Red Stars have been named to the U.S. Women's National Team roster for a pair of soccer games against Japan, according to a team press release. The U.S. roster includes Red Stars midfielders Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Lindsay Tarpley as well as defender Marian Dalmy.
The U.S. women will face Japan May 20 in Frisco, Texas, and May 23 in Sandy, Utah. The players will miss the Red Stars' May 23 game against St. Louis.
Rollers home game
May 30
The Windy City Rollers women's flat-track roller-derby league will hold the sixth bout of the home season on Saturday, May 30, at 6 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine.
In this next bout, the Manic Attackers will take on Hell's Belles while the Double Crossers engage the Fury. Tickets are $20 each in advance ( $21 at the door ) ; visit www.windycityrollers.com or www.TicketMaster.com, or stop by the UIC box office.
Sky's 'Battle of
the Sexes' June 2
Members of the women's pro basketball team the Chicago Sky will take on a group of male celebrities in a basketball game scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, at the UIC Pavilion at 7 p.m.
Among the men who will be playing are actors Larenz Tate, Donald Faison ( TV's Scrubs ) , Frankie Muniz ( TV's Malcolm in the Middle ) and Michael Clarke Duncan as well as singer Brian McKnight and rapper Nelly.
Tickets are $15-$225 each; see www.wnba.com/sky. For more information about the game, call 866-SKY-WNBA.
Ride for AIDS
registration open
Test Positive Aware Network ( TPAN ) has announced open registration for its sixth annual Ride for AIDS Chicago ( RFAC ) , slated for Saturday-Sunday, June 6-7.
The two-day, 190-mile biking fundraiser will lead riders on a round-trip journey from Evanston's Northwestern University to south-central Wisconsin. Riders must raise at least $1,000 each to support HIV/AIDS prevention and care services in the Chicago area. Registration for RFAC is $85, which includes gear transport, route support, meals and overnight accommodations. Windy City Media Group is among the event's sponsors.
Visit www.rideforaids.org .
Center running
kids' sports program
Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted—in collaboration with We Got Game—is offering a comprehensive youth sports program for children ages 2-9 through June 12. Class registration is now being accepted.
For a complete listing of classes, to download the registration form or to register online, visit www.wegotgamechicago.com . For more information, contact Coach Brian Ploof at 773-562-6003 or CoachBrian@WeGotGame.com; also, contact Tom Ballentine, the center's director of community and cultural programs, at tballentine@centeronhalsted.org or 773-472-6469, ext. 245.
Qigong sessions
at Center
Instructor Eva Wong will teach the ancient practice of physical fitness known as Qigong Saturday-Sunday, June 6-7, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted.
Qigong ( pronounced chee-gong ) has been used for at least a thousand years in China to balance and retain youthfulness in the body. Many practitioners have found that its gentle, rhythmic movements reduce stress, build stamina, increase vitality, and enhance the immune system.
The Shambhala Meditation Center of Chicago will host a Level 1 Qigong program June 6, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A Level 2 Qigong program will follow June 7 at the same times. Registration is $100 per session, but one must take Level 1 in order to take Level 2. See www.chicagoshambhala.org or www.aidschicago.org/events/qigong.php.
WSGA's bike ride
in Willow Springs
The West Suburban Gay Association will have a bike ride along the Illinois/Michigan Canal in Willow Springs Saturday, May 30, at 11 a.m. The excursion will start at the forest preserve parking lot located off Archer, below Willow Springs Road, and may include a stop at a roadside café.
For more info, see www.wsga.com .
