CHICAGO, ILLLINOIS 773.975.0264
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CHICAGO'S UPCOMING ACTIVITY PLANNER There are advantages to visiting before or after summer, namely more manageable crowds. Average daytime temperatures hover between the high 50s and low 70s – comfortable conditions for walking around. However, you should come prepared for rain, and be sure to bring a light jacket for those occasional days that fall into the high 30s and 40s. APRIL-MAY EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (April 16-18) Mayfest Chicago (May 18-19) Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale (May 31-June 2) Summer is the most popular time to visit Chicago, so expect prices to be at their highest and hotel vacancies to be hard to come by. While booking in advance is generally a good rule of thumb for Chicago, it especially applies to this time of year. Plan on locking down your hotel reservations at least three or four weeks in advance. Average summer temperatures range from the high 50s to the mid-80s. But temperatures can fluctuate significantly if there’s a passing heat wave with high humidity or strong breezes from Lake Michigan, so pack a mix of clothes. Also, expect to encounter some rain in August. JUNE-AUGUST EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Andersonville's Midsommarfest (June 7-9) Chicago Blues Festival (June 7-9) Gay Pride Chicago (June 30) Taste of Chicago (July 10-14) Square Roots Festival (July 12-14) Chicago Air and Water Show (August 17-18) Lollapalooza (August 1-4) Chicago Jazz Festival (August 23-September 1) Chicago Fringe Festival (August 30-September 3) Autumn in Chicago offers a sweet spot for tourism. Cooler weather and fewer people mean you’ll enjoy pleasant conditions while exploring the city’s top attractions. Daytime highs hover in the 60s and 70s, but evenings can see temperatures drop into the 40s. Keep in mind that some of the city’s outdoor attractions – like Navy Pier and the Lincoln Park Zoo – may have already reduced their hours for the winter season. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Oktoberfest Chicago (September 21-October 6) Hyde Park Jazz Festival (September 28-29) Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October 13) Chicago International Film Festival (October 21-31) boiMAG
DESTINATIONS TO EXPLORE
TRAVEL 2019
This just might be the year to travel for fun and entertainment no matter your lifestyle. Reason being? Stonewall celebrations throughout the nation and world that plan to deliver excitement to all walks of life. Stonewall, the New York City bar uprising that kicked off the modern LGBTQ-rights movement turns 50 in June and of course nearly every Pride event worldwide will be celebrating. Not that Pride events are the only reason to pack your bags. Between big cities, laid-back beach towns, exotic island getaways, and countries and states tiptoeing slowly but surely toward all inclusiveness, here are a few places to consider visiting in 2019.
New York City
Singling out NYC as a hot destination is a no brainer. But as stated above, 2019 marks the 50th aniversary of Stonewall, which means it may be the best year yet to visit the “Big Apple”. 2019 World Pride, happening June 1–30, will feature hundreds of parties and events across the city including film nights, art exhibitions, rooftop parties, conferences, culinary events, celebrity sightings (including Stonewall Ambassador Madonna) and more. The Pride March alone is expected to draw an estmaed 3 million people.
Vienna, Austria
Austria’s elegant capital is the kind of city where men wear natty threads ripped from the pages of GQ, but with leather harnesses underneath. See for yourself when the city hosts EuroPride 2019 the first two weeks of June. Honoring Stonewall’s 50th, EuroPride will be huge. After checking off requisite Vienna sites like Schönbrunn Palace and architectural oddity Hundertwasserhaus, get Sachertorte and coffee at Cafe Savoy, hit up bars like Felixx and the Eagle, sunbathe at the bare-it-all beach on the banks of Danube Island. Oh, and feel free to get married; marriages became officially legal for everyone as of January 1, 2019.
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San Diego & Palm Springs
California’s laid-back mecca for sundrenched good times is never in a hurry to do anything, which is why it took awhile for San Diego to catch up to its sibling cities but it’s the most idyllic West Coast city to spend a summer weekend in right now. Black’s is among the noted beaches, Hillcrest is as bumping as ever, and ‘hoods like North Park and Little Italy entice with top-nosh eateries, locally crafted brews and welcoming vibes. About a 2-1/2 hour jaunt away there’s much to do in Palm Springs, a city in the Sonoran Desert of southern California, is known for its hot springs, unique hotels such as the Triangle Inn and Desert Paradise Resort Hotel, golf courses and spas. Its core shopping district along Palm Canyon Drive features vintage boutiques, interior design shops and restaurants. The surrounding Coachella Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback riding trails.
Tokyo
Tokyo’s all-lifestyle scene is perpetually underrated. This year it means that nights out in the Ni-chome district of Shinjuku are sure to be even wilder than normal. Conveniently, the Atlantis cruise docks the same weekend as the 2019 edition of Tokyo’s pride celebration (April 28–29), one of the largest and most lauded in Asia.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Take everything renowned about Mexico, including mariachi music, tequila, ancient ruins and amazing street food, and give it a twist, that’s Guadalajara. Mexico’s second city is located within the state of Jalisco, which means it’s a cinch to combine with a trip to lovely Puerto Vallarta, and has the added bonus of being an under-the-radar mecca worth checking out. A night on the town begins in the Chapultepec ‘hood where drinks at bars like Open, La Minerva and El Condado and perhaps a side trip touring beautiful agave fields near the town of Tequila, a must and what the city lacks in beaches it makes up for with beautiful hotel pools. CONTINUED >>
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more DESTINATIONS TO EXPLORE
TRAVEL 2019
Saugatuck, MI
A heavenly slice of Midwest idyll, the artsfocused towns of Saugatuck and nearby Douglas are nestled on Michigan’s stunning west coast (think swooping sand dunes and pretty harbors). Collectively these small-town charmers boast more than 140 welcoming businesses, including the iconic Dunes Resort. Summer is high season and Oval Beach is noted as one of the best in America, but don’t overlook autumn when the leaves are crisp and the apple orchards and wineries are in full swing. Best of all, Saugatuck is just a three-hour drive from Chicago and Detroit.
Malta
A Mediterranean escape, Malta is officially a note-worthy destination. The island nation legalized marriage for all in 2017, hosted the first ever “rainbow” Tourism Summit in 2018 and for a third year, um straight, achieved the highest standards according to the ILGA Europe Rainbow Map. Don’t expect a bumping crazy nightlife (this is a tiny country after all). Instead, think dreamy beaches, ancient fortresses and temples and welcoming towns like capital city Valletta.
Las Vegas
One reason for including Sin City on our travel list is that this year Celine Dion’s show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace after a 15+ year run will come to an end on June 8, 2019 and Donnie & Marie will wrap up their 11 year residency at the Flamingo on November 16, not to mention that Lady Gaga will spend the bulk of 2019 at the Park Theater boasting not one, but two shows (“Enigma” and “Jazz and Piano”) right in the heart of the Strip and thus securing the city’s place as a must-visit destination for fans in the coming year. Also playing the Park in 2019? Britney and Cher.
Tennessee
If you dream of a fun weekend at friendly
Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, consider roughing it at the new campground Sugar Creek that has a soft opening last summer in middle Tennessee. Then of course there the city capitol Nashville, where legendary country music venues include the Grand Ole Opry House, home of the famous “Grand Ole Opry” stage and radio show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and historic Ryman Auditorium are Downtown, as is the District, featuring honky-tonks with live music and the Johnny Cash Museum, celebrating the singer’s life. India Celebrate pride in 2019 alongside India’s vibrant community, whether at Bengaluru’s Nammapride, which typically happens in December. Regardless of when you visit, coastal destinations like tranquil Kerala and Portuguese-colonial Goa are always popular choices for travelers. Larger (albeit somewhat underground) alternative communities also thrive in cities like Delhi and Kolkata.
Chicago
Besides the usual festivals and tourist attractions, Chicago is an ultimate city of neighborhoods, perhaps rivaling any other city in the United States. There are 77 neighborhoods officially recognized by the City of Chicago and that’s not including smaller ‘hoods like Wrigleyville and Boystown which exist within Lakeview, a larger city neighborhood. The best times to visit Chicago are April through May and between September and October, when the temperatures are warm, a variety of festivals take place and crowds are manageable. Summer marks Chicago’s peak tourist and festival season, with travelers hoping to take advantage of the warm weather and abundant activities. You’ll find higher hotel rates during these seasons, but you’ll also escape Chicago’s notoriously chilly winters. boiMAG 15
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THE AGE OF HOME ENTERTAINMENT
TECHNOLOGY
There was a time when you had limited choices in entertainment. You could watch a video but had to go and rent one from the local video store first. You could listen to the latest track from a hot new band but had to physically go and buy it. Chatting to friends could be done, but you had to actually be in the room or on the phone. Technology has changed all this for the better and means that we are probably the most amused generation of humans ever. There have been many changes in a range of entertainment based industries thanks to advancements in modern technology. The advancements in technology are helping improve almost every aspect of the home environment, including home entertainment systems. In years gone by, people were pretty limited when it came to enjoying entertainment at home. Other than a few terrestrial channels on TV and the radio, there wasn't a large selection of options as we enjoy today. However, when cable and satellite TV came along, this all changed, with many people having access to a huge range of channels. In addition, new games consoles, computer technology, and high speed broadband added to the ability to enjoy a wide range of entertainment at home. In fact, over recent years technology has resulted in huge changes in the world of home entertainment. People can now enjoy all sorts of activities at home and without the need to splash out loads of money as they might when going out, which hasn't helped the entertainment venue economy. There have been many benefits in a range of entertainment based industries thanks to advancements in modern technology. A few of the areas where we have seen the biggest changes include:
Gaming The gaming industry is huge
and these days, people can enjoy their favorite games in a number of ways. Some enjoy activities on hand-held devices while others enjoy hardcore multiplayer gaming with their friends over the internet. Good or bad, there is no longer any need to go to arcades or casinos to enjoy gaming. Thanks to high speed broadband and a range of online gaming sites as well as excellent gaming consoles, all sorts of games can now be enjoyed at home.
Watching movies We all know how
expensive it can be to go to the cinema to watch the latest movies, particularly if there is a group of you going. Well, due to streaming movie websites and high speed broadband, you can now all sit at home and enjoy access to a vast array of movies as well as TV shows. In fact, this has pretty much wiped out DVD rental stores such as Blockbuster because people can now find all the movie entertainment that want online and many are free of charge.
Listening to music With the wide
variety of music download sites and apps that are now available, people download their own tunes and create their own playlists rather than buying CDs. There are many sites now that offer music downloads free of charge, which is a great way for music lovers to listen to what they like. What’s more, you can benefit from a wide range of musical genres so no matter what type of music you are into you and will find plenty that is perfectly suited to your tastes.
Reading Many people love to settle
down with a good book, magazine, or newspaper. However, you no longer have to go out and buy them because you can access them all instantly online. From eBooks and online magazines to online news reports and live news streaming, you can get most everything you need online. boiMAG 35