Although World AIDS Day is officially Dec. 1, a variety of events will take place around Chicago before, during and after that date. A run-down of some of the events is below:
Wed., Nov. 28:
—Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus Full Body Meeting and Open Mic ( 6-8 p.m. at Little Black Pearl, 1060 E. 47th; www.lovethybrotha.com )
—Better Existence with HIV ( BEHIV ) --Free HIV testing ( 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Loyola University Chicago's Mertz Hall; www.behiv.org or e-mail tburkin@luc.edu )
Thurs, Nov. 29:
—AIDS Foundation of Chicago's World of Chocolate ( 5:30-9 p.m. at Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan; see www.aidschicago.org/events/world_of_chocolate.php )
—Free HIV testing ( 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at George's Music Room, 3915 W. Roosevelt; www.istandwithmagic.com )
Fri., Nov. 30:
—Mosaic Initiative World AIDS Day Prayer Breakfast and fundraiser ( 7-9 a.m., $25/person, $250/table, at The Abbington, 3S002 Rt. 53, Glen Ellyn; 630-665-5194, www.mosaicinitiative.org )
—Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus' The Red Party ( 8-11 p.m. at Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted; cover-$20-$25; www.lovethybrotha.com )
—'Facing HIV/AIDS' photographic exhibit opening, ( 5:15 p.m. at Meadville Lombard Theological School, 5701 S. Woodlawn; see www.meadville.edu/Ab_News_HIVAIDsExhibit.html )
—Free HIV tests ( 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Howard Brown, 4025 N. Sheridan and 1-9 p.m. at Broadway Youth Center, 3179 N. Broadway )
—American Medical Student Association ( AMSA ) and Chicago Women's AIDS Project rally to demand reform of PEPFAR ( the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ) , the U.S. global AIDS initiative, from the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates ( 12-2 p.m. at the office of Sen. Barack Obama, John C. Kluczynski Building, 230 S. Dearborn; www.chicagowomenaidsproject.org )
—Town-hall meeting with representatives from Abbott Laboratories and The Magic Johnson Foundation, followed by entertainment ( 6 p.m. at the AFC World Outreach Center, 7859 S. Ashland; www.istandwithmagic.com )
—Sex and Art at Columbia College Chicago's World AIDS Day 2007: workshops and HIV testing ( workshops: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. and testing 12-4 p.m. at Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash; www.colum.edu )
Sat., Dec. 1:
—HIV testing at Walgreens ( 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Walgreens, various locations, including 71st & Jeffery, 75th & State, 26th & Albany and Belmont & Broadway; e-mail hunter_michael@cdph.org for more info )
—Gospel Shout-Out ( 6-9 p.m. at Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren; call 773-848-3853 )
—The Pocketbook Monologues ( 4 p.m. at Mercy Hospital Auditorium, 2525 S. Prairie; see www.cityofchicago.orghealth or call Mercy at 312-567-2000 )
—The Broadcast Ministers' Alliance of Chicago and the Illinois Department of Public Health will host day-long HIV awareness activities ( at Rainbow/PUSH headquarters, 930 E. 50th; www.basuah.org )
—Liz Long Gallery at Urban Art Retreat: A group show of art by people affected by AIDS/HIV opening reception. ( 1-4 p.m. at 1957 S. Spaulding; 773-542-9126 or www.urbanartretreat.com )
Sun., Dec. 2:
—Testing at 400 W. 95th ( all day )
—TV broadcast of Kevin's Room: Together ( 7:30-9 p.m. on WCIU-Channel 26 )
