Smear on your sunscreen and prepare your skin (and your liver) for the first of the great Chicago queer outdoor festivals, Andersonville’s Midsommarfest! On June 12-13, our very own Swedish/sapphic neighborhood transforms into an open-air celebration of all things summer. Among the many performers at this year’s two-day throwdown are local drag rockers The Joans, the girl-powerful Cat Fight and jazz chanteuse Lucy Smith.
If you plan on somehow incorporating a drink or 17 into your Midsommar-plans, we suggest a few local bars to wet your whistle. Hell, you may even get your whistle blown if you play your cards right! Here are a few… um, handy suggestions:
@mosphere opens both days at noon and serves up $4 Miller Lite drafts and $5 Slushies all day. Stick around Saturday night for the Men of Manwatch male dancers’ show. After a day in the blazing Chicago sun, these men in (and out of) uniform will help fight your fire for ya.
Hamburger Mary’s is this year’s official sponsor of the entertainment at the new beer garden in the Clark/Balmoral intersection. Start looking forward to the cool stylings of Stephen Leonard with the incomparable (just try to compare her; it’s useless) Kat Fitzgerald on Saturday at 5 p.m. Grab a home-brewed beer to keep you even cooler.
Jog a bit south of the main fairgrounds and say a hearty hello to the crowd at T’s and Sofo. Patio weather, friendly bar staff and great drinks all conspire to start your summer with flair.
Let us not forget that the final 13 will battle it out for the title of Windy City Gay Idol 2010 on Saturday, June 19 at Sidetrack. This year’s crop of seven men and six women (That’s 13, right?) display the wide range and astounding diversity that have long made Windy City Gay Idol the thrilling talent showcase it has been for eight years running. Check out the center spread for the “thrilling 13” and use it as a handy voting guide at the show. We’ve literally thought of everything. Yes, we’ve thought of that too (you pervert).
kirk@windycitytimes.com