03.14 - Food Delivery by boiMAGazine & boiMAG.com

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3700 N. Halsted St. #2-S Chicago, IL 60613 773.975.0264 Editorial: boieditorial@aol.com Advertising: boiads@aol.com EDITORIAL Mike Macharello: Production Rick Karlin: Editor layout & design Titanium Graphics, Inc. advertising Freddie: freddie@boiMAGazineChicago.com Dave: dave@boiMAGazineChicago.com National, Rivendell Media: sales@rivendellmedia.com photographerS Oliver Aguilar Eamonn Sexton Ken Brown, KAB Photography COVER Joey, enjoying his take out food editorial contributors Gregg Shapiro, Ace Magyar, Sue Deaunym, Anita Taylor, Ilye Costalis boiMAG ONLINE

For our online readers, blue underline text are active links

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Neighborhood Fav rites Restaurant Delivery

By Rick Karlin

was the first place in Chicago to serve Philadelphia’s culinary claim to fame, there is no debate that it is one of the best and most authentic. It imports the rolls from Amoroso’s, a 109-year-old bakery in Philadelphia that supplies much of that city’s cheesesteak restaurants and the meat is imported Tedino’s from Philly’s most popular purveyor 5335 N Sheridan, 773.275.8100 of cheesesteak meat, Liberty Bell. The www.tedinos.com Chicago Tribune has hailed it with a “Best Dish Award” and CBS featured it Tedino’s web site is a lot like the on a “Best of Chicago” segment. If, for restaurant itself, no nonsense and no frills, but it delivers the goods. The main some reason cheesesteaks aren’t to your liking, Philly’s Best also offers oven draw here is the pizza. The thin crust baked grinders, pizza, salads and even is crispier than New York style, but not chicken wings. as charred as Neapolitan-style and is cut in squares instead of wedges. The Gyro-Mena stuffed version features a substantial, crust with thick doughy edges and tons 905 W. Belmont, 773.935.2600 769 W. Jackson, 312.561.4440 of cheese and fillings. The sandwich www.gyro-mena.com menu is extensive and Tedino’s Italian beef holds its own against the best of Gyro-Mena isn’t just a neighbor to the “beef stand” purveyors in the city. Philly’s Best, it’s a sister, with the same Other Italian faves such as meatballs, owner/founder, Michael Markellos. After sausage, subs, chicken parm and subs conquering the Philly cheesesteak, are joined by hamburgers and pasta he then decided to offer up one of his dishes. If you order on-line, sign-up for own personal favorites, the gyro. Before the Tedino’s Rewards program and get freebies. One of the restaurant’s biggest we go any farther, let’s set the record draws, though, is the Wednesday night straight about how to pronounce the half-price deal on large pizzas. Although word gyro. It’s “yheer-oh,” not yheer-ros” (what is it about Chicagoans adding an only available for dine-in, it is worth s to everything? It is Jewel, not Jewels braving the cold and snow, especially since Tedino’s offers free parking in the and Sidetrack not Sidetracks.) and it is most certainly not “jai-ros” or guy-ros.” building’s indoor garage. Gyro Mena (notice, no s at the end) is Greek for “my gyro.” In America a gyro Philly’s Best is usually a combination of ground 907 W. Belmont, 773.525.7900 beef and lamb, the Athenian version 2436 N. Milwaukee, 773.276.1900 combines pork or chicken with the 815 Emerson, Evanston, 847.733.9000 lamb. Gyro-Mena offers both versions, 769 W. Jackson, 312.715.9800 as well as other variations, such as www.phillysbest.com having the meat combined with your choice of veggies in a wrap or as a salad. While it is debatable whether or not Philly’s Best (open since the early 1990s) It also offers a number of variations on boiMAG There’s nothing better than a good neighborhood restaurant, and these places, favorites in our community, can all prepare a meal for you to enjoy at home, and a few of them even deliver, as well.

the traditional tzatziki cucumber/yogurt sauce, including such options as mint, cranberry, honey-mustard and even chipotle. Joining Gyro-Mena’s e-mail list gets you discounts and other perks,

Panino’s

with celery salt-note no catsup). Byron’s also serves char-grilled polish, Italian beef and hamburgers, as well as a surprisingly good fish sandwich and veggie burger. The fries are textbook perfect.

3702 N. Broadway, 773.472.6200 Hamburger Mary’s 1968 Dempster, Evanston, 847.475.6200 5400 N Clark, 773.784.6969 28 S Fairview, Park Ridge, 847.823.3450 www.hamburgermarys.com/chicago www.paninospizzeria.com What can we say about Hamburger Owner’s Gino and Lenny Rago began Mary’s that you don’t already know? their culinary training as boys cooking That it’s a fun place; the dining room is on the weekends at their family’s and open week days from 11:30 a.m. until friends’ Italian restaurants. In 1999 11p.m., that weekend brunch is served they opened a their first restaurant in every Saturday and. Sunday from 10:30 Evanston. They soon brought in another a.m. to 3 p.m., that Ham-Bingo packs successful restaurateur, Bruno Brunetti, the place? How about that you can and opened Panino’s in Chicago. After a order anything for carry out? Surprise! number of successful years in Chicago, the trio expanded to pen the Evanston Las Mañanitas and Park Ridge locations. 3523 N Halsted, 773.528.2109 Besides offering some of the area’s best thin crust pizzas, Panino’s also offers stuffed, Sicilian, pan, Neapolitan and gourmet combinations. A wide array of sandwiches, salads and pasta dishes are available as well as traditional Italian entrees, such as chicken Cipriani (stuffed chicken breast with spinach, artichoke and prosciutto in a pesto cream sauce) and timpani pasta dishes served “pot pie” style, topped with pizza crust.

Byron’s Hot Dogs

1701 W Lawrence, 773.271.0900 1017 W Irving Park, 773.281.7474 www.byronshd.com When you’ve got a craving for a Chicago-style hotdog, nothing else will satisfy you., and Byron’s is the quintessential Chicago-style dog; Vienna hot dog, fresh from a hot water bath, served in a steamed poppy seed bun with “the works” (dill pickles, onion, relish, yellow mustard, tomatoes and the optional sport pepper, sprinkled

Hard to believe that in this day and age, there’s a restaurant without a web page, but that’s just in keeping with Las Mañanitas style, old school. The cuisine is also old school, Mexican-American fare served up without frills. While Las Mañanitas doesn’t deliver, it will prepare foods for take-out. But, if you’re going to trudge through the cold and snow, why not treat yourself a little bit of a Mexican vacation. After the warm and friendly staff serves you a couple of the seriously strong Margaritas, you’ll feel as if you are south of the border. Just remember to bundle up before you head out into the harsh cold reality of Chicago in the winter.

The Bagel

3107 N. Broadway, 773.477.0300 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, 847.677.0100 www.bagelrestaurant.com When they arrived from Europe, the founders of The Bagel brought with Continued on Page 12 >> boiMAG

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Neighborhood Fav rites them a lifetime of prized, traditional recipes. Armed with these marvelous family secrets and a desire to provide authentic Jewish cooking, they opened their original location at the corner of Kedzie and Lawrence in the then Jewish enclave of Albany Park. As the Jewish community migrated to other areas, The Bagel moved and expanded to serve its loyal customer base, to Devon in Roger’s Park in 1977, and an additional location in Skokie in 1987. In 1992, they closed the Devon location and moved to Broadway. While the menu still features authentic family recipes (blintzes, gefilte fish, lox, knishes, brisket and kishke), additional items have been added to keep pace with changes in customers’ tastes. The one thing that hasn’t changed? Jewish penicillin, aka chicken soup. Whether it’s augmented by kreplach (meat filled dumplings) matzoh balls, noodles, rice or Mish Mosh (all of the above), it still tastes like grandma made it, because they still use her recipe.

Halsted’s Bar & Grill

3441 N Halsted, 773.348.9696 www.halstedschicago.com Boystown’s favorite source for classic pub fare now delivers! That means you can get your fix for, perhaps, the greatest onion rings in town and the restaurant’s signature dish, Tot-chos, nachos with tater tots taking the place of tortilla chips, without leaving home. Burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, wraps, paninis and salads round out the menu, along with a few homey entrees, including meatloaf and a build-yourown mac and cheese that is to die for. Daily specials, such as Monday’s “Build Your Own Burger” for $5 and Thursdays’$5 Tot-chos, are great deals.

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Pie Hole

3477 N Broadway, 773.525.8888 5001 N Clark, 773.754.7214 www.pieholepizzajoint.com Pie Hole started as a small hole in the wall behind Cocktail (now ProgressBar), but within two years it moved to larger digs on the corner of Broadway and Cornelia, and later, an additional location on Clark in Andersonville. Owner Doug Brandt has always an unabashedly gay aesthetic (the web site hours tell you when “our hole is open” and the Wednesday night all you can eat pizza special is called “all you can stuff in your hole.”) Delivery goes as late as midnight?

Clark Street Dog

3040 N Clark, 773.281.6690 www.clarkstdog.com The Velliotis family has been serving Chicago-style food (hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, Polish sausage) as well as regional favorites such as Philly cheesesteaks and gyros since 1977. It is one of the few hot dog joints in town to offer a full bar, and its special, the Pickle-Back shot, combining pickle juice and alcohol, must be experienced to be believed. The Edge Bar & Grill 2720 N Clark, 773.929.0724 www.theedgechicago.tumblr.com The Edge is affiliated with the local Golden Nugget pancake chain and shares many menu items, including breakfast fare available anytime, but also offers a bar and some more upscale options in a bit more refined atmosphere. Like the Golden Nugget, it is also open 24/7 and all items are available for take-out.

Rick Karlin s

Top Ten Take-Out by Rick Karlin (of course!) During the polar vortex, we haven’t given up our love of good food; we’ve just had it brought to us. GrubHub, the food delivery site, surveyed the restaurants Chicagoans used to order delivery and carryout last spring, and found the city’s top ten out of 2,900 available restaurants. It should come as no surprise that, pizza aficionados that Chicagoans are, pizzerias predominated. However, independent ethnic joints scored high as well. The list includes some of the city’s favorites from all ends of the price range spectrum. Keep in mind that these favorites are all based in highdensity neighborhoods, upping the numbers of folks in their delivery areas, consequently boosting their rankings. Still, you can’t go wrong with any of these favorites. The top ten, in rankings are;

Cozy Noodles & Rice

3456 N. Sheffield,1018 Davis, Evanston www.cozychicago.com/home This Lakeview establishment, as well as its sister location in Evanston, is known for well-made Thai dishes at reasonable prices. The most popular dish is the crispy pad thai, which features stirfried crispy wide rice noodles in sweet and tangy sauce. The fact that the filling dish is less than $8 ( and only $1 more for shrimp), is a big reason for its popularity. There’s easily enough for two, especially if you add on a kid’s meal (only $4 for a choice of rice noodles and chicken soup or vegetable fried rice. Both meals come with three mini-egg rolls. You’re supposed to be “under 12” 18 boiMAG

to order this, but they don’t say 12 what, it could be inches or feet, so go ahead and add it on to your order.

Satay

936 W. Diversey www.beyondmenu.com/20168/chicago/ satay-restaurant-chicago-60614. This Lakeview favorite offers Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes, as well as a wide variety of sushi. Among my favorites is the seafood in spicy coconut curry, only $15 for sautéed seafood with green beans, bell peppers, and basil is a creamy fragrant sauce. Making a meal a combo is an additional $4 for miso, house salad, and a choice of spring roll or California roll. If you order on line, there are a number of bonus options such as free crab rangoon with a $25 purchase, or free egg roll, miso or gyoza (dumplings).

John’s Pizzeria

2104 N. Western www.johnspizzachicago.net Pretty much you standard pizza joint, serving up pizzas, Italian entrees and sandwiches, although it does offer some unusual apps, such as the “Nacho Godfather,” tortilla chips splattered with spaghetti meat sauce, mozzarella cheese and jalapenos.

Azteca de Oro

3731 N. Clark www.aztecadeorogrill.com Enchiladas, fajitas, tacos and burritos, when you’ve got a craving for Mexican, this place is da bomba! If you’re in the mood for something different, check out the selection of bowls and tortas (sandwiches.) The bowls are stuffed

with black beans, rice, veggies and cheese. There’s even a pretty healthy version featuring grilled chicken or tofu, steamed broccoli, carrots, corn, brown rice, and chili sauce. Tortas can be filled with chicken, steak, pastor, carnitas, chorizo or prepped Cuban style. Best of all, they’re all less than $8.

Peking Chinese Kitchen

3167 N. Halsted www.pekingchinesekitchen.net

Rosati’s Pizza & California-Style Deli 126 W. Grand www.californiastyledeli.info Yes, it’s a franchise chain, but it serves up some serious pizza. If you’re in the mood for something different, check out the Greek influenced gyros pie, topped with the spit roasted meat tomato, onions, tzatziki sauce and mozzarella (the menu claims it is “coked to perfection” so I don’t know if it comes with a little blow on the side. ) The salad section is extensive. I’m addicted to the Aliso Viejo salad, combining diced garlic-roasted turkey breast with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, carrots, celery, avocado slices served with mango-chardonnay vinaigrette.

Mostly straightforward Cantonese but offering also Hunan and Szechuan dishes. For a treat try one of the noodle dishes. The house special chow fun features thick rice noodle with vegetables, chicken, beef and shrimp, while Singapore mai fun is a spicy blend of thin noodles stir fried with vegetable, Irazu chicken, beef and pork. Vegetarians will 1865 N. Milwaukee be delighted by the sesame tofu. www.irazuchicago.com

Deluxe Diner

6349 N. Clark www.deluxedinerchicago.com Habitués of Jackhammer and Touché will be familiar with this 24 hour spot, serving up classic diner fare, from breakfast platters to burgers. The surprises here are the surprisingly good Mexican dishes and pizza .If ordering on-line make certain to click on the “Coupons” heading for some great freebies and discounts.

Chicago’s Pizza

3006 N. Sheffield, 3114 N. Lincoln, 1919 W. Montrose and 4520 W. Irving Park www.chicagos-pizza.com

This is what I love about Chicago, how many places can you get Costa Rican food delivered? The Cerdas–Salazar family has been tantalizing Chicagoans’ taste buds for nearly 25 years. Start with chifrijo, Costa Rica’s version of seven layer dip (available with traditional pork of a vegetarian version) and then move on to an entrée or burrito. Costa Rican food is similar to Mexican fare, but more subtly spiced.

Pete’s Pizza

3737 N. Western and 1100 W. Granville www.pizzapetes.com

The Western Avenue spot has been around forever (since the 1950s) but it’s the Edgewater location that puts Pan, deep dish, thin or Neapolitan, this place on the list with its coterie of this place has it all. But, it’s more than loyal Loyola students. In addition to just pizza. In addition to a variety of mastering both thin and pan pizzas, sandwiches and Italian entrees, there’s a Pete’s also offers up great sandwiches “Build Your Own Burger” menu. Start and a damn good rack of ribs. The daily Start with a basic beef, turkey or veggie specials are true bargains, offering burger, choose a sesame or pretzel roll, complete dinners for less than ten then and build it up with your favorite bucks, and combos, such as a large ingredients. pizza with a liter Coke for $10.95. boiMAG 19

Mardi Gras or Carnival? No Matter the Name, The Party’s the Same By Rick Karlin In the trio of the gayest holidays, Mardi Gras comes in a close third behind Pride and Halloween. If it wasn’t for the fact that straight people celebrate it (it seems to be the source of most “Girls Gone Wild” videos), it might come in even higher. Sometimes with all the craziness, it’s easy to forget the origins of Mardi Gras (and its sister celebration Carnival): a big celebration with the purpose of getting all the craziness out of people’s systems so they’ll be ready for the solemnity of Lent. In the U.S., New Orleans may be more identified with Mardi Gras, but Mobile, Alabama claims to have had the first parade in America. Mobile now has a Mardi Gras similar to New Orleans’, complete with beads and balls. For weeks, the streets of downtown Mobile are filled with the sights and sounds of live marching bands, brilliant-colored floats and of course, crowds of paradegoers. Mobile even has a Carnival Museum. For more information check out, www.cityofmobile.org/mardigras. Galveston, Texas also welcomes more than 500,000 people for elaborate Mardi Gras parades, entertainment, feasting and other festivities. Check out www. galveston.com or call (888) 939-8680. First or not, N’awlins is still the capital of Mardi Gras festivities in North America. The celebrations draw millions of visitors, and GLBT visitors are no exception. New Orleans Gay Mardi Gras is without a doubt the most outrageous gay and lesbian event in New Orleans, second only to “Southern Decadence” in the number of gay and lesbian

revelers. In 2014, the celebrations take place Thursday, February 27 through Tuesday, March 4 in the lower French Quarter. This is where the epicenter of the GLBT New Orleans community is located (at the corner of Bourbon and St.. Ann Streets,) anchored by the city’s largest gay nightclub, The Bourbon Pub. New Orleans’ Gay Mardi Gras presents the nation’s best DJ talent. For more information and links to travel packages, check out www. gaymardigras.net. For a country founded by Anglicans, Australia, specifically Sydney, is no slouch in the Mardi Gras department in fact it’s a major GLBT tourist draw. Sydney’s, Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday March 1, is one of the world’s wildest, sexiest, bravest and most outré celebrations, where everyone dresses in their most outlandish outfits. Make sure you arrive early, as hundreds of thousands of spectators line the route to watch 10,000 people strut, dance and march, an extravaganza of creative, captivating and lavish floats and show-stopping moments. There are a number of ticketed parade viewing areas and, of course parties, associated continued on next page >> boiMAG 21

Mardi Gras or Carnival Gras CONTINUED . . . . . . with the celebration. Check out mardigras.org.au for more information. Back on this side of the world, Rio de Janeiro is the mother of all Carnival celebrations. The parades in Rio are known as bandas, with more than 10,000 participants per parade. There are several gay festivals that seem to include a little something for everyone. The entire city embraces the gay events. So much so, that people in Brazil joke that everyone seems a little gay during carnival. In addition to gay pool parties and large dance events, you can also join street festivals and parades all over the city. Most agencies catering to GLBT travelers have packages for Rio’s Carnival. Zoom Vacations (zoomvacations.com) has packages starting at $6,500. Atlantis Cruises, priced from $2,800 to $6,000, sail from Buenos Aires with the ultimate port being Rio, just in time for the parties. For more information, go to www. atlantisevents.com. Lesser known, but no less enjoyable, Mexico’s Carnival celebrations are some of the most exuberant you’ll find. Mazatlan, the beach resort town on Mexico’s northern Pacific coast, hosts one of the world’s largest Mardi Gras celebrations, attracting hundreds of thousands of revelers. The festivities actually start on Thursday with the Muestra Gastronómica, an all-day food festival on Plaza Machado. The parade is held on the Malecon, between the Fisherman’s Monument and Valentino’s. A fireworks celebration is staged all along Avenida del Mar. Admission to the areas where the bands are playing is restricted, but tickets that allow you to roam the entire space and see all the bands and other performers are just 30 pesos and do not need to be purchased

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in advance. For more information, go to www.mazatlantoday.net. Perhaps the most elaborate Carnival celebration is held in Venice, Italy. Many events are held in and along the canals, including shows, concerts, dances, and water processions with masked rowers and decorated boats. The official ending to the celebration is the ball held in St. Mark’s Square. The celebration begins with a pre-Carnival party, “Prologue,” on Valentine’s Day and opens with a show, “Cannaregio”, on the next day. What follows are days filled with boat pageants, float parades and a new event this year. A ball will be held in a 600 year old palace on the Grand Canal. Those attending arrive at the water entrance on the sea level floor, greeted by dancers who will guide them to a cocktail reception and performances by internationally acclaimed illusionists, acrobats and entertainers, before being seated on the upper level for a grand dinner and dancing. Germany gives its own spin to the holiday with Fasching. The largest parade, called Rosenmontag, is in Cologne, where locals, immigrants and tourists celebrate with numerous fancy-dress gatherings and masked balls. Each day is devoted to one group. For example Women’s Carnival Day finds the streets teeming with women in fancy dress on their way to work or to shops. In the evenings masked balls and parties predominate. The climax of the Carnival is a large parade. Being Germany, everything starts right on time, and ends abruptly. Following the celebration, on Ash Wednesday, fish dinners are traditionally served as a cure for hangovers. For more information on Carnival in Cologne, go to www.koelnerkarneval.de.

By: Victor Barreiro

Martha Ivelisse Pesante Rodríguez is what you’d find her listed as on her birth certificate, but music lovers around the globe know her as Ivy Queen. This multi Latin Grammy nominee is responsible for such chart-topping songs as “Quiero Bailar, Te He Querido”, “Te He Llorado” and “La Vida Es Asi” and those are just to name a few. Ivy will soon grace the stage as she travels across the United States for her first ever gay tour. The Queen of Reggaeton tells us about the upcoming tour and what the gay community really means to her.

What can we expect when you kick off your gay club tour? This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for so long. I want to do something for the gay community. They always support me. All of my best friends are gay. This is a tribute for the love that they have shown me. I am going to make sure that the guys have fun and that they sing along with me. I am trying to incorporate different drag queens from the U.S. I am a huge fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and basically I want to have a drag queen at every city that I will be visiting. You’ve performed at Gay Pride in Los Angeles and Long beach. What is it about the gay community that strikes a chord with you? They feel free…that freedom that allows you to say what you feel, even though if it hurts somebody, you’re telling the truth. Another thing is that they are so brilliant. They are so talented. I know a lot of makeup artists, painters, stylists that are so creative. I have friends that do clothing. They are happy and are celebrating life. That is what I love about them. That is what I love about them, the freedom of being who you are. That is why I love them so much. What would you like to say to your gay fans?

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iMUSIC

D i va s & D y n a m o s

by Gregg Shapiro

For a while there, it looked like Fantasia was going to be just another Blue-eyed soul diva ZZ Ward is in washed-up American Idol casualty. possession of some powerful pipes. Coming closest to being Adele’s biggest Recent public outbursts, including a homophobic rant, put what remained stateside threat, Ward is the complete of her career at risk. But Fantasia is package. Not only did she write (or nothing if not full of surprises and co-write) all 13 tunes on her debut still she rises with Side Effects of You, disc Til The Casket Drops, but Ward also sings the heck out of them. The title cut possibly the best of her four albums. She expands her repertoire on the title sets the mood, but it’s the thumping cut, cusses up a storm on “Lighthouse” second number “Put The Gun Down” and makes good use of a Commodores that blows the lid off the party. Her own perspective, which comes through sample on “Lose To Win.” clearly on “Cryin Wolf,” the retro ring of When you think about it, it wasn’t all “Save My Life,” the acoustic “Last Love that surprising that Gary Numan has Song,” the stomp and shake of “Move toured with Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Like U Stole It.” Nails. Both men have a fondness for Jessie Ware comes from the tradition of kohl and dark eyeliner, their musical blue-eyed British songbirds. The wisest styles have chilly, manufactured, move she makes on her excellent debut atmospheric similarity and both take album Devotion is to pay her respects to personal and creative eccentricity to new and exciting levels. Here’s what is those who preceded her while putting strange. Numan and Reznor appear to her own unique spin on the sound. “If have traded musical places. Numan, a You’re Never Gonna Move,” “Running,” synth-pop pioneer is working in a more “Wildest Moments” and “Something industrial vein on Splinter: Songs From a Inside,” best illustrate Ware’s mad skills Broken Mind, while Reznor has released as a performer and songwriter. The his funkiest dance effort to date with dance-oriented “Imagine It Was Us” Hesitation Marks. definitely qualifies as a bonus track. Neon goth goddess Charli XCX cowrote Icona Pop’s inescapable hit single “I Love It,” but don’t hold that against her. She saved the good stuff for her own debut album True Romance. “Nuclear Seasons” recalls Shona Laing (remember her?), “You (Ha Ha Ha)” incorporates a giddy Gold Panda sample and “Take My Hand” gives Ke$ha a run for her money. Charli XCX gets emotional on “Set Me Free” and it suits her. “So Far Away” goes the distance and “What I Like” is a tasty tease. She waits until the thorny “Black Roses” to strut her dance-floor stuff.

Reznor still recognizes the value of a propulsive and persuasive dance beat. “Copy of A,” the first full-length track on the album isn’t just one of the most immediately dance-floorready tracks, it’s also one of the most accessible, it makes you want to dance with its nod to Giorgio Moroder . “Came Back Haunted,” with its Numan-esque keyboards deserves to haunt dancefloors for years to come. Reznor is at his most soulful on “Find My Way,” and “All Time Low.” EDM acts could learn a thing or two from the pleasing pulse of “Disappointed” and “Everything. boiMAG 25

in the know ... ON THE GO! By Sue Deaunym

Political Action

Office politics at Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) are always interesting, and as we reported here a while ago, Karma Israelsen, who served as an interim President and CEO since August 2012, is out. After a lengthy nationwide search; the board has chosen Chicagoan David Ernesto Munar as the new President and CEO. My question is, why did it take a year and half and a nationwide search to settle on Munar, who is eminently qualified for the job?… Illinois State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate Dan Rutherford may find it a little more difficult to garner support now that he’s been slapped with a federal lawsuit filed by a former employee of his office. Ed Michalowski claims that Rutherford made sexual advances toward him on several occasions, including once grabbing his genitals. There have long been rumors about the unmarried Rutherford’s sexual orientation. Guess that cat’s out of the bag since, according to Michalowski, Rutherford’s chief of staff, Kyle Ham, had been harassed as well…

Dude!

We’re talking major shrinkage during “Polar Plunge” at North Avenue Beach on March 2. It’s a benefit for Special Olympics, so totally worth it… Join Sidetrack as they celebrate the men we love to listen to and watch on Wednesdays… Speaking of Sidetrack and dudes, there’ll be a lot of half-naked ones at the bar as they celebrate Mardi gras on Tuesday March 4… Former Chicagoan and now FL

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resident Arnie Cuarenta, the queen of Wilton Manors, entertained a number of local boys who were in Ft. La-DiDah before leaving on a gay cruise… Rentboy.com sponsors the “Mr. Chicago 2014 Escort of the Year” contest. Go on-line and vote for your fave among finalists Clark Rogers, Alex Buldocek, Joshua Stark, Tony Orion, Jake Mayze and Sean Xavier… Matthew Morrison, Broadway and television star, takes the stage at Dominican University’s Lund Auditorium in a benefit for the school. Concert tickets start at $27, tickets to the gala, including the concert, cocktail reception and dinner, are $350. For more information, go to www.dom.edu/ advancement/giving/benefit/index. html.

Divas

On Tuesday, Feb 25 what a conundrum! Should you watch RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 kick-off on Logo, or go see Joan Rivers at Columbia College Chicago? No contest, Ms. Rivers wins hands down, especially since tickets are free (although seating is limited.) You must register in advance at ww.colum. edu/conversations… On Friday, Feb 28 “Kiss for a DIFFArence” at Center on Halsted celebrates making a difference in the Chicago community in support of area service agencies for people who are HIV positive, living with AIDS or at risk for infection. The event welcomes local design professionals and enthusiasts for a scintillating evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, music and dancing... If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. But, if it is broke, call Karen, the woman behind Handywoman Services. continued on following page >>

in the know ... CONTINUED

Out & About

Join StartOut, a stellar networking event and panel discussion for GLBT entrepreneurs for its first event in Chicago on Feb. 20 at Groupon’s offices, 600 W. Chicago. GLBT entrepreneurs will share their stories and experiences about turning their ideas and passions into great businesses…Gung hay fot choy! That’s “Happy New Year” in Chinese. Say it as you join .Asians & Friends Chicago as they celebrate Chinese New Year with a dinner party on Saturday, Feb. 22. For more information go to www. afchicago.org/blog/... Polar Vortex be damned, the inaugural (will someone please explain to folks that there is no “1st annual”, it’s not annual until you’ve done it at least once) Northalsted Winter Fest is on Sunday, Feb. 23. Take your picture with Kit Kat Divas and ice sculptures (if you can tell the difference) watch fire juggling in front of Taverna 750, and ice carving demonstrations at the corner of Roscoe and Halsted.

Stage & Screen

the 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. shows, general admission tickets are $65. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.chicagohouse.org… Bailiwick Chicago launches its new season with the Chicago premiere of the thrilling musical drama “Dessa Rose” by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind “Ragtime”, “Once on This Island” and “Seussical!” Playing March 6 through April 5, at Victory Gardens… Oscar night is Sunday, March 2 and there are two big parties. Sidetrack will feature a CircuitMom hosted event with live golden Oscars. “On the Red Carpet” the annual fund raiser for Center on Halsted. Enjoy the Academy Awards at a fun and festive event. At Park West, tickets are $40 to $ 125. For tickets go to www.community.centeronhalsted. org/OTRC ... “A Champagne Toast to Jazz Royalty” at COH benefits Lakeside Pride Jazz Ensemble highlights the music of the great Billy Strayhorn, one of the first and few openly gay composers of his time. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Late To The Party “The Tease,” created by Keith Elliott The GLBT Chamber of Commerce and Todd Kiech (Dance For Life, sponsors “Finally Forever” a wedding Chicago Takes Off) will feature expo on March 9, at 3179 N Clark. choreographed production numbers Then two weeks later, on Sunday, as well as one of a kind specialty acts March 23, “Same Love, Same Rights”an as a benefit for Chicago House. The LGBT Wedding Expo produced by blend of burlesque, cirque and Vegas will take place on Saturday, March 1 at RainbowweddingNetwork.com takes place at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza. Moonlight Studios. All ticket holders Has anyone mentioned to these folks will receive complimentary cocktails, that our editor, Rick Karlin, produced sponsored by Sidetrack, throughout the world’s first GLBT wedding expo the performance. VIP ticket holders in the early ‘90s? The successful events will be served fresh tapas and specialty featured packed houses at Ann Sather drinks and pampered by sexy wait and in the space now occupied by staff. VIP tickets are limited for both Circuit Night Club. boiMAG 29

ASK ACE

by Ace Magyar

Perturbed in Palatine

I recently came out (rather late in life, I’m 45). It is a decision I am very happy that I made, but my problem is that my 15 year-old son has refused to see me or speak to me. When I go to pick up his younger sister for her weekends with me, he refuses to come out of his room, much less come and spend the weekend. When their mother and I divorced, I purposely chose to live in the same town so that they could visit often, but it’s been almost a year and I haven’t even seen him. What can I do?

Dear PIP,

Give him time. There is always tension between sons and fathers, especially during the teen years as they discover their own identity, sexual and otherwise. When I came out I was impatient with my mother’s reticence to let other family members know. She said, “It took you 25 years to come to terms with this, don’t expect me to do it overnight.” Good advice for you. Continue to make overtures and keep the lines of communication open and he will come around, eventually. You might also consider writing him a letter letting him know that you love him and understand that he needs time to process the changes in his life, but that you are willing to talk whenever he is ready. He may not even acknowledge that he has gotten the letter, but I can guarantee you that he will read it. Also keep in mind that teens whose parents divorce for other reasons often exhibit the same behaviors and I would give them the same advice.

Confused on Cornelia

Why do web sites have such stringent rules about passwords? They have to have a certain combination of letters, numbers, symbols and capital letters, which is bad enough, but then if you have to change a password, you can’t use something you’ve used before. I can’t keep track of them all, but everyone says that you shouldn’t write them down anywhere. I’m ready to pull my hair out.

Dear COC,

Internet sites and companies have those guidelines to help keep your accounts from being hacked. People tend to use significant dates and places as their passwords and hackers know all the tricks to getting them. Think about it; if you’re on Facebook, and haven’t set up restrictions, anyone can discover your birth date, place of birth, the schools you attended, and a lot of other personal information. Hackers will use this information to try to access your accounts. The best way to foil hackers and keep passwords memorable is to use significant words and numbers that would be hard for a hacker to discover and use variations on that for when you need to change passwords, for example: Your mother’s and father’s middle names and then a number that is easy to remember, but not easily traceable, such as your best friend’s phone number (for example LouiseAlfred5557832.) As for keeping track of the numbers, it’s true that it is best not to write them down, but if you need to, keep them in a file with a misleading label, such as “Mom’s birthday party.” A friend of mine keeps them in a folder titled “Allen Ludden,” which older readers will remember, was the host of the television show Password.

Ace Magyar has a BA in communications, a MA in sex therapy and a PHD in zoology. He is a registered couple’s counselor specializing in the GLBT community. Send your questions to ASK ACE at boieditorial@aol.com

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