Have you been to The Room at 5900 N. Broadway? It's a cool bar/restaurant in the New North gay neighborhood. Things are hotting up there!! I was at The Room for the kick-off party for the Windy City Radio's Members' Network. Oh yes, you can become a member of Windy City Radio, and I hear...although I don't work on the radio side of things...that there's a whole bunch of reasons to join. Did I hear freebies and giveaways mentioned? Airline tickets? I'm actually thinking of becoming a member myself!!
The event itself was very nice with all the Lambda stars coming out to shine. Miss Tiger and Lisa Rock, columnists for Nightspots, were particularly entertaining with their spouses; I don't know how the spouses put up with those those two crazy bitches.
David Guarino, who writes Eye on the Media, and Gregg Shapiro, our pop-culture genius, were also in attendance. It was great to see all the other guys and gals from Lambda that I don't get to see very often. You see, I don't work in the Lambda office, I work from home, where no one can hear me screaming at the computer ... "You buttfucking, stupid ass, cocksucking fag of a computer!!!"
I don't think the Lambda sales staff want to hear that.
Have you eaten at The Room? Let me know if it's vegetarian friendly. I know, I've heard all the jokes, I'm a gay man that doesn't eat meat or fish ... OK.
Heavy Metal Frankie da Kat.
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I keep getting people coming up to me and saying, "Why didn't you come to my ( fill in the gap ) event?" Well, sweethearts, I'm not telepathic, if you send me a press release or leave a message on my voicemail at 773-871-7610 Ext. 29 I'll try and get there. Can't promise, but I'll try. I'll go anywhere from fisting to fondue parties.
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One event I never went to, but I should have gone was at the Hide A Way in Forest Park; yep, the 7301 Club has gone back to its original name. Gary Dee "The Preacher" Skala, known to his friends as ... Umm! You know, what's-her-face. ... was out at the Hide A Way pounding away on the piano, doing Rock-A-Billy Blues and bringing back the days of Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Hank Williams.
I hear that Gary's Great Balls of Fire are much recognized around town. I'm also told that the Hide A Way is becoming quite the NIGHTSPOT: cabaret, dancers and drag shows.
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I blame it on the internet. I think the great gay public out there has finally worked out that Sukie does not discriminate; in fact, he'll write about any old crap, good or bad. So it wasn't entirely surprising that I should receive a CD and press release from Hawaii artist Douglas Simonson.
Simonson turns out to be good crap. He draws and paints what he calls "exotic male nudes" and has just produced his calendar for 2002. For more info go visit his website at www.douglassimonson.com
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Steve Hickson of Sweetback Productions informs me that it's back for the 4th holiday season ... you know what I'm talking about, Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer 2001. It's the sad musical tale of a brave little transvestite reindeer's struggle to fit into evil Santa's perfect fascist Christmas world. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.
Rudolph features original songs like "They'll Hate You If You're Different" and "Christmas Makes Me Bitter."
This is all brought to you care of those fruits and nuts at Sweetback. Just go see it to believe it; I mean, they only let these actors out of the zippy ward once a year.
Here's the info: Previews: Thursday & Friday, Dec. 6 & 7 at 8:15 p.m. Admission $10.
Opens: Friday, Dec. 7 at 10:30 p.m., followed by a post-show reception. Admission $25.
Runs: Thursdays at 8:15 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Admission $15-$18.
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I dropped into Gentry at 440 N. State St. to pick up their calendar from Eric. Coming up on Nov. 16 is Jeff Roscoe 5:30-8:30, followed by the utterly fabulous Alexandra Billings w/ Russ Long 9 p.m.-1 a.m.
And don't forget Honey West every Sunday night at Gentry on Halsted.
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Happy Birthday to Jerry down at the Manhandler. Great party!! The place was so packed I almost got penetrated squeezing through to the bar ... I said ALMOST!!
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Wacky Web of the Week: "And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.'"
Martin offers up this week's absurdity and it's www.shoesofthefisherman.com/
Shoes of the Fisherman...Sandals That Leave the Greatest Impression.
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OK, so it's a long way off, but mark your calendars for Saturday, Dec. 8, 2001. The Royal Imperial Sovereign Barony of the Windy City is sponsoring a benefit for the Gerber/Hart Library entitled "Snowball 2001." The event will be at the Annex 3, 3160 N. Clark St. and the show will start at 10 p.m. For more information contact the Barony of Chicago at ( 773 ) 334-3296.