This is the one weekend a year when you will see toddlers in strollers, tourists in stonewashed jean shorts, yummy fuzzy men and more leather than you could shake a dick at all meandering
down Michigan Avenue. It's International Mister Leather and Bear Pride weekend. I have some ideas for our out-of-town guests so they can sample Chicago's ample offerings outside
of a fetish-filled hotel environment.
Try Italian Village at 71 W. Monroe, where there are three restaurants in one. There's the cozy, romantic basement
called La Cantina Enoteca, with Chicago's favorite Italian fare and, as Rachael Ray would say, 'It won't kill your pah-ket book.' Upstairs is Vivere, where it's a little more upscale in both mood and food so wear your dressiest harness. Last is The Village, where you dine on down home Italian in a recreation
of an Italian Village.
Go to the Park Grill at 11 N. Michigan Avenue for a late lunch or breakfast for the circuit set. It has pretty good food, but you get to sit in a true masterpiece. If the weather is nice, sit outside on the patio or head over to the bar for a beer while staring at the Pritzker Bandshell. Look at yourself in the Cloud Gate, a.k.a. 'The Bean' and splash in the Crown Fountain.
Watch the faces change and the children fall. Pure joy.
If you get thirsty and have already made it through everyone at the hotel bar, you can go to Gentry on State at 440 N. State and hear a jaunty tune. Feeling more adventurous? Second Story Bar at 157 E. Ohio is your other choice without heading down to Boystown. But, do you want to come to Chicago without going to Boystown?
The ursine crowd may want to strap on a feedbag and for the money, Brazzaz at 539 N. Dearborn is a lot of fun. It's your typical Brazilian steakhouse with a giant salad bar and men in gaucho pants hacking sides of beef off swords at your every whim. You will have a meat hangover for a week.
I mentioned Navy Pier before and I have to say that our museums offer a lot more than the commercial thrill of a mall on the water. Go to them. Enjoy them. That is what they are for. This link has a complete list of museum websites.
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/museums/pages.cfm
If you must go to Navy Pier, stop at Fox and Obel at 401 E. Illinois and pick up some wine, fruit and stinky cheese and have a little picnic in the sculpture garden.
So if it's bright and sunny and you nee a break from watching live rubber mummifications, head out to see the sights. You will have plenty of time to cruise the lobby bathroom later. And for us locals, there is never a better time to live in a tourist destination than this weekend.
Tell me where you took your Memorial Day hookup at mhampton1970@gmail.com .
