WHY I LOVE MY JOB I: It's very simple in my job to lapse in to a state of disaffectedness. Another drag show ( YAY! ) . Another shot of Jäger ( BIG YAY! ) . Another unwelcomed ass-grope as I try to nudge past some drunken moron ( not so YAY ) . But life has a clever way bringing you back to Earth and reminding you of what's real.
This Thursday I was reminded of how glad I was to be able to be part of something bigger than myself. When Rene VanHulle, Jr. ( Empress Fabiola the Great Buckingham-Fontaine ) passed a few weeks back, the community mourned the loss of a powerhouse of a fundraiser and a friend. How wonderful it was to see so many of her friends, then, at 3160 for a celebration of life. The whole Empire turned out to share stories of triumph and tipsyness. The most enriching moment was meeting Rene's family. I told his mother that any time a gay's mother comes in to the bars to celebrate with us, she becomes a mother to us all and the love we feel is immense. Not only Rene's mother, but his father, three sisters, two brothers-in-law and an assortment of nieces helped us send Rene off into that sweet goodnight.
I was reminded that it's not my job to cover the bar scene, but to document the rich life of those you see around you. And I felt proud.
WHY I LOVE MY JOB II: Over my three years as your fearless editor I have been able to use this filthy little forum to promote the efforts and abilities of our community. There is no bigger smile than the one that overtakes my face when someone from any number of local organizations tells me how much Nightspots has helped them to grow and change the lives of others. The ILGRA boys at Jackhammer, for instance, are rarin' to go on this year's rodeo because of the coverage I was able to provide in '06. Rick from TPAN ( have you seen his behind, by the way? ) let me know at Scot's how beneficial Nightspots had been to the phenomenal success of Chicago Takes Off this year. When I hear these things, it's hard for me to take credit. I always feel as if I am just doing my job and anything less would be unacceptable. But in my weekly benders, I have been able to nurture my community. Once again, I feel proud.
WHY I LOVE MY JOB III: Aside from all this gushing altruism, I get to meet a lot of cute boys and drink with them. And hey, who wouldn't be proud of that? A shout-out to Tom at Spin. A slight glitch in his plans with his friends allowed us to chat over the remains of a pitcher.
And now, the fine print: Stop by Macy's on State Street this Thursday, April 19 for a very special Men's Shopping Night. From 5 to 8 p.m. enjoy music, drinks and a bite to eat with their fashion experts.
Commence drooling over coverboy Vince. I snapped this pic at @mosphere, but you can catch him this Friday at Man's Country.
kirk@windycitymediagroup.com