Welcome to our eighth Everything-Is-Kinda-Back-To-Normal-After-Pride Issue. After two weeks chock full of my pictures, what a pleasure it is to present this issue, featuring the work of many of Nightspots' amazing photographers. Bully for them.PICTURED: Nightspots columnist Homer Marrs at Sidetrack, photo by Steve Starr. Ripley Caine ( left ) with Summer Chance and Suzanne Kraus at the Cake Chicago Pride Show at Red Line Tap, photo by Liza Bauder. With sisters Liza ( left ) and Jessica ( right ) and Miss Futura Demi Bold ( center, not me ) at the Cake Chicago Pride Show at Red Line Tap. Photo by Suzanne Kraus
Of course that means that I haven't done incredibly much myself. The main bulk of my time has been devoted to setting up my home office. Yes, kiddies, that's right. Nightspots is going GREEN, in that I will be working from the homestead. Expect all the same ferocity that you have come to know and love in these pages, with a little more of a homespun twist. I swear, you'll be able to taste Mom's apple pie in every bite. [ Note: Nightspots does not encourage you to eat magazines. Legally I had to say that. ]
One fun thing I did do was to read as part of the Cake Chicago Pride Show at Red Line Tap. Both of my sisters drove up to see me gay it up with the likes of host Ripley Caine, writer Robert McDonald, rockers Carrie Lydon and Kate Rickenbacker and many more. Nightspots' own Suzanne Kraus even made a surprise appearance giving a helluva backing vocal with Summer Chance to Ripley's version of 'White Rabbit.'
See if you can discern which of the lovely ladies in the bottom picture is not my sister. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Also a hoot was our annual staff Pride party, this year hosted by the good people at Sidetrack. That's me with our new columnist Homer Marrs. When I showed him this shot, he said he liked it because, 'I like any photo in which it's obvious I'm crazy.' Oh, the wit on this one! For a greater dose of said wit, tune in to Nightspots on the fourth week of each month for 'Marrs Attacks.'
One thing I actually did manage to scrape myself together for this week was the Black Party at the Congress Theatre. Many delights for the hip-hop/house ear and the wandering eye. Hopefully this will be the first of many years of the thumpingest joint in town.
And make sure to see the fourth and final run of A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Queer Tale. Artistic director Tony Lewis says that this is indeed the last year of the show. But do not be surprised if it pops up in the future, on a screen near you, no less. Check out our interview on page 22 for the full Queer Tale.
kirk@windycitymediagroup.com
