|
|
Sidetrack event aids Cubans
by Vern Hester 2015-04-26
|
|
This article shared 3212 times since Sun Apr 26, 2015
|
|
On April 25, Boystown nightspot Sidetrack, along with Bacardi, hosted "Havana in Chicago," a benefit in support of First Hand Aid, a volunteer organization that works to deliver badly needed medical supplies to the people of Cuba. The event, now in its third year, featured silent and live auctions, live Cuban music, salsa dancers, appetizers and a Cuban buffet.
With Art Johnston and Brad Balof hosting, the festivities began with video excerpts depicting the many medical needs of the people of Cuba and how First Hand Aid has been assisting by delivering medical supplies in person. After the near-overflow crowd was greeted with frozen daiquiri shots and appetizers, Cuban vocalist Angel d'Cuba and his band took the stage for the first of a series of sets, with professional salsa dancing following.
The night hit a frenzied peak when the live auction began. Among the items up for bid were a custom catering package that J & L Catering provided, a Sidetrack party package, a bottle of Cuban rum and a box of cigars touted as the best in the world. The cigars and rum were exports from Cuba, which, due to the current United States embargo, are not available in this countryresulting in some of the evening's most competitive bidding.
After the closing of the auction, Angel d'Cuba and the dancers closed out the night with a jamboree that had many in attendance dancing until the close of the event. Havana in Cuba raised more than $30,000, with all proceeds going to First Hand Aid. |
|
|
|
This article shared 3212 times since Sun Apr 26, 2015
|
ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
---|
|
| | COBRAH slithers into Chicago and brings Feminine Energy 2024-03-08 - COBRAH snaked her way into Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., for two nights March 7 and 8 for her Succubus Tour. This Swedish-born talent has a way with naughty words and ...
|
| | Asians and Friends welcomes the Year of the Dragon 2024-02-26 - On the evening of Feb. 25, Asians and Friends kicked off the Lunar New Year with their annual dinner and celebration at Pho Viet Vietnamese Restaurant. This year's event was focused on this being the Year ...
|
| | Looking back at Chicago LGBTQ+ community's stand against Anheuser-Busch 2024-01-30 - As conservatives across the country boycotted Anheuser-Busch products for Bud Light's partnership with trans woman Dylan Mulvaney in 2023, LGBTQ+ bars in Chicago removed their products for a different reason. Following the deeply negative response to ...
|
| | Berlin Nightclub closes after nearly 40 years, following boycott 2023-11-21 Decades of Photo Archives below - After nearly forty years, Berlin Nightclub, 954 W. Belmont Ave., officially closed its doors Nov. 19 following a months-long fight between its owners and unionized workers. Owners Jim Schuman and Jo Webster officially announced Berlin Nightclub's ...
|
| | Happy Hail-loween: Rough weather doesn't get the better of Haunted Halsted revelers 2023-11-03 - The 26th annual Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade returned for the 26th time on Oct. 31. Attendees were challenged by a mix of rain, snow and hail as they marched down Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue towards ...
|
| | Berlin Nightclub workers urge customers to boycott as they fight for fair contract 2023-10-31 - Berlin Nightclub workers are calling for people to boycott the LGBTQ+ club while they push for their first contract, which they hope will include increased wages and access to healthcare. Berlin Nightclub workers unionized in April ...
|
| | MIR's Intergalactic Rubber celebration soars to a suburb not too far way 2023-10-27 Photos by Joseph Stevens - Mister International Rubber (MIR) 27, this year themed as Intergalactic Rubber, took off Oct. 19-22 from their new location at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Skokie. MIR26 Pusckatt Pumera Onyx stepped down and passed their ...
|
| | GAY HISTORY MONTH In the '60s, drag found a home in San Francisco's Glen Park 2023-10-02 - Special to Windy City Times. To mark Gay History Month, this article appears courtesy of the Bay Area Reporter. During the '60s most LGBTQ nightlife in San Francisco was centered in the northern neighborhoods of the ...
|
| | Nobody's Darling celebrates expansion into adjoining property with soft opening event 2023-09-24 - In the little over two years since its opening, Nobody's Darling in Andersonville has emerged as one of the premiere inclusive spaces to gather in Chicago. Nobody's Darling has become so successful that co-owners Angela Barnes ...
|
| | Chicago musician, producer and DJ Don Crescendo killed in Avondale stabbing 2023-09-20 - Chicago's LGBTQ+ nightlife community and allies have rallied around the family and close friends of local longtime musician, producer and DJ Rodney Donovan Taylor, a.k.a. Don Crescendo, in the wake of his death by stabbing last ...
|
| | MUSIC Kylie Minogue to debut Vegas residency this fall 2023-07-28 - The Venetian Resort Las Vegas revealed details surrounding its new 1,000-seat nightlife space, Voltaire, with the announcement of its first headlinerpop sensation and LGBTQ+ ally Kylie Minogue, a press release ...
|
| | Bears, cubs and their admirers return for Illinois Bear Contest 2023-04-11 - Visitors and Chicagoans gathered at Charlies Chicago, 3726 N. Broadway, on April 7 to kick off the Illinois Bear Contest weekend, the first since 2019. The contest itself took place the following evening at Leather Archives ...
|
| | SHOWBIZ Trans musicians, NHL, 'Queen Charlotte,' Jinkx Monsoon, Anderson Cooper 2023-04-08 - The Face published an article about five trans musicians who should be on people's playlists. British queer nightlife legend Mya Mehmi said that those musicians include New York's Ms Boogie, London-based Harve, Arca, Ms. Carrie Stacks ...
|
| | Winners chosen in the International Puppy and Trainer Contest 2023-04-03 - The International Puppy & Trainer Contest was held in Chicago the weekend of March 31 to April 2 for the first time since 2019. The contest's Meet & Greet was held at Cellblock on March 31. The contest was hosted the ...
|
| | PASSAGES: Visual artist, Chicago nightlife scene drag performer legend and hairdresser Jojo Baby 2023-03-16 - Visual artist, Chicago nightlife scene drag performer legend, doll-maker and hairdresser Jojo Baby died March 14 of liver, lung and stomach cancer. They were 51. Baby was born April 10, 1971, in Chicago and grew up ...
| |
|
|