Icicle Bicycle Festival
Chicago Bike Winter presents the Icicle Bicycle Festival Jan. 20. More than a week of rides, talks, parties and more to celebrate cold weather cycling and fight depression.
Details at: www.bikewinter.org .
Team Chicago Open House, Fashion Show
Team Chicago will be holding its second Open House event Sat., Jan. 22 from 10 p.m. to 2: a.m. at North End, 3733 N. Halsted.
The event will feature a fashion show titled 'What is Your Team Wearing for the Gay Games?' This show will include uniforms from past Gay Games and some new uniform ideas they have been working on.
They will also show promotional videos from past Gay Games.
The fashion show will start at 10:30 p.m. Call ( 773 ) 525-9531
Hunters and 'Dog' Band Events for Games
Hunter's Nightclub in Elk Grove Village, Ill., will hold a special Gay Games Party and Benefit on Sunday, Jan. 23 from 5 to 9 p.m. A Supporter-level sponsor of Gay Games VII, the Hunter's benefit will raise funds to support athletes and artists traveling to Chicago in 2006 who are impacted by HIV/AIDS.
The event will feature Jim Stubblefield as DJ, who will also prepare special CDs as door prizes. For $10 donation at the door, party goers will receive complimentary well, wine and beer, along with other great door prizes. Volunteers from Gay Games VII will be on hand to answer questions about the quadrennial event coming to Chicago July 15-22, 2006. Prize drawings will take place at 6:30, 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Hunter's is located near O'Hare International Airport at 1932 E. Higgins Road, Elk Grove Village,. For directions, visit HuntersNightClubs.com or ( 847 ) 439-8840
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Flesh Hungry Dog brings their irreverent brand of queer rock and roll to a special music and comedy show at The Underground Lounge, 952 W. Newport, Saturday, Feb. 5. Featuring the comedy geniuses at GayCo, acclaimed acoustic guitarist John Hasbrouck, DJ Mercedes Ben, and Spunn, the 'Flesh Hungry Dog Show' will start at 9 p.m. Proceeds from the $10 cover benefit Chicago's 2006 Gay Games. See the Web site www.fleshhungrydog.com .
Flesh Hungry Dog began in 2002 as a stripped-down, rock 'n' roll, art-house experiment among several friends with experience in diverse musical genres. Since then, their music has evolved into a thoughtful, provocative, and funny take on gay life.
GayCo Productions is a not-for-profit theatre ensemble that specializes in creating sketch-comedy revues based on gay/lesbian themes. John Hasbrouck burst onto the national acoustic music scene with the release of his critically-acclaimed debut CD, Ice Cream. Mercedez Ben has been a DJ and promoter around the city and throughout the Midwest underground dance scene since 1995. Spunn, a group of contemporary, fantastical performance artists, creates a mood best described as an erotic, poetic, vibrant tapestry of color, sound, movement, and light. Like Cirque Du Soleil, words alone don't do them justice.
See www.GayGamesChicago.org .
Powerlifter Joins Games Ambassador Program
British gay powerlifter Chris Morgan has been chosen as an official ambassador of next year's Gay Games, the first time such a title has been given to a non-U.S. sports star.
Morgan, who is one of the few out athletes at world-class level, was chosen for the role because of his 'inspiring' success at both previous Gay Games events and mainstream powerlifting competitions, the Games organizers said.
Last year he competed at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Championships and won a silver medal, while his previous success in Gay Games competitions have seen him walk away with a silver in 1998 and a gold in 2002.
His 1998 appearance in Amsterdam was the first time he had lifted competitively, something Gay Games Co-President Roberto Mantaci says is important for aspiring competitors to remember.
'On the one hand, in keeping with the Gay Games' founding principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best, no minimum standard is required to participate. Recreational, senior and even inexperienced athletes can take part, feel welcome and have an enjoyable and life changing experience,' Mantaci said.
'On the other hand, elite athletes like Chris Morgan can also enter a world class competition that tests their high level performances.'
'Such performances can inspire other LGBT athletes to strive even high in sports and other endeavors in life,' he added.
Morgan himself said the 'spirit of the Games runs though me' today.
'In 1998 I had the most wonderful, magical experience, one that changed my life forever,' he said. 'I knew then that within myself I had the talent to make world level in my 'new' chosen sport. I also knew that the only way to do this was 'Out' and 'Proud.' This was my calling.'
He says he is now focusing on encouraging closeted actors to come out, as well as helping to raise the profile of gay sports people.
'I believe that it's time that gay athletes who compete at the elite level are open and honest about their sexual orientation while still active in their sport careers,' Morgan said. 'We've lived in the shadows for too long, and we are missing a whole generation of gay athletes in the world of sport. This is not only due to fear of homophobia, but also because of the perceived lack of funding, support and sponsor endorsements for professional athletes who decide to come out.'
'It's time for that to change.'
German Media
Backs Gay Games
Berlin-based Sergej Medien- & Verlags- GmbH ( Sergej Publishing ) has become the newest Global Sponsor of Gay Games VII Sports and Cultural FestivalA.
In an agreement announced jointly in Berlin and Chicago, Sergej Publishing becomes a Bronze Global Sponsor with an in-kind advertising contribution at almost US$200,000 ( 150,000 Euros ) . Sergej monthly magazines ( www.sergej.de ) are news, entertainment and lifestyle magazines with a circulation of 90,000 in Berlin, Nürnberg, Stuttgart, Dresden and Leipzig, Germany. Mate Magazine ( www.mate-magazin.de ) is a quarterly glossy gay male lifestyle magazine focused on body, style and travel and has a circulation of 50,000 throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Gay Games advertising and promotions with Mate and Sergej begin next month.
'We are extremely proud to support the Gay Games in Chicago,' said Olaf Alp, publisher. 'The Gay Games movement has changed lives, challenged bigotry, and reduced stereotypes for more than 20 years. We've taken the time to get to know the people in Chicago. They share the same goals and values as the LGBT communities here in Germany and Europe and are working very hard to make Gay Games VII welcoming for the whole world. We look forward to working with them to encourage Germans and other Europeans to travel to the Chicago in 2006 and participate in the seventh quadrennial Gay Games.'
'Our new partnership with Sergej Publishing is a great example of how the Gay Games can build bridges,' said Kevin Boyer, Chicago Games, Inc. ( CGI ) Board Co-Vice Chair and Chair of the Marketing Committee.
See www.GayGamesChicago.org .
