Sidetrack has been praised by almost everyone who has been inside it, so it is no surprise that the nightspot—co-owned by Art Johnson, Pepe Pena and Chuck Hyde—has been lauded as the top gay bar in the country by Gaybar.com.
Sidetrack was No. 1 on the Web site’s list of the nation’s top 10 gay bars. (Among other clubs listed were New York City’s Therapy, West Hollywood’s I-Candy and Minneapolis’s Boom.) In praising the Halsted Street mainstay, which was started in 1982, Gaybar.com called Sidetrack ‘a huge space that caters to everyone,’ and added that ‘no cover charge and the casual attire also lend a more relaxed feel to this club in the heart of Boystown.’ It was the only Chicago spot that made the list.
Gaybar.com also listed the 10 best gay international clubs. Among those were Lick (in Vancouver), Le Vogue Club (in Paris) and London’s Heaven, which topped the list.