Chicago Free Press | March 4, 2010 | Vol 11, No 26

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Red Line attack upgraded to hate crime Chicago Free Press | A Common Voice for a Diverse Community | March 4, 2010 | Vol. 11, No. 26

page 5 Varnell on the Gay Press page 7

Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields page 8

Oscar gold: how to win big this year page 10

“Rent” page 14

How GLBT non-profits are coping with new economic realities

This week’s Click! in FreeTime page 1517 page


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A Common Voice for a Diverse Community 819 W. Lawrence Ave, 3rd Floor • Chicago, IL 60640 phone (773) 681-0856 fax (773) 681-0857 Publisher David Costanzo managing editor Kerrie Kennedy GRAPHIC DESIGNER Bethany Mavronicles MUSIC, TV and film EDITOR Gregg Shapiro THEATER EDITOR Larry Bommer FREETIME EDITOR St. Sukie de la Croix ONLINE EDITOR Tony Merevick OPINION COLUMNISTs Jennifer Vanasco Paul Varnell

This week in Chicago Free Press News

Freestyle

Freetime

Nation & World Report Page 4

Interview: Stephin Merritt Pages 8-9

Midlife Crisis Page 16

Local Pages 5, 7 Opinion: Paul Varnell Page 7

TV & Film Page 10 Travel Page 10 Live Music & More Page 11 Theater Page 14

Back in the Day Page 17 Bar & Club Guide Page 18 Bar & Club Map Page 20 Kyle’s Bed & Breakfast Page 21

Editorial & PHOTO Contributors Matt Alderton Web Behrens Rick Karlin Brian Kirst Jon Peterson William Sherman Rick Stuckey Account executives Dave Etz Gary Gangi Michael Koontz National Sales Representative Rivendell Media. Inc.

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NATION & WORLD REPORT

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Staff and wire reports vitro fertilization and born in August 2008. Parker’s mother is music producer Jaymes Foster. Foster, who lives in California and Aiken, who lives in the Raleigh area, share custody. Aiken said he would probably attend Saturday’s event with his bodyguard and without family members or friends. Some family members have handled news of Aiken’s homosexuality better than others, he said. “Some Southern families like to sweep things under the rug,” he said. “We just don’t talk about it.”

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Harry Potter speaks for gay suicide prevention

NEW YORK—Daniel Radcliffe is explaining why he has just filmed a public service announcement for The Trevor Project, an organization focusing on suicide prevention efforts among gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered youth. Because his parents were both actors, “I grew up knowing a lot of gay men and itBy Ker was never something that I even thoughtSTAFF WRI twice about—that some men were gay and some weren’t,” the “Harry Potter” megastar A Ja said recently. “And then I went to schoolRogers and (for) the first time ... I came across ho-felony mophobia. ... I had never encountered it be- Dan the CT fore. It shocked me. “I have always hated anybody who is not tol-of a ga erant of gay men or lesbians or bisexuals,”rassed the British actor added. “Now I am in theEder very fortunate position where I can actuallycase o think i help or do something about it.” The result is a public service announcementalread that was filmed last Friday at the organiza-Sean L tion’s Wall Street offices. The announcementyoung on me is scheduled to air sometime this spring. Radcliffe first became aware of The Trevor Acc Project, founded in 1998 by three filmmak-interve ers, while he was appearing on Broadwayare yo in the 2008 revival of “Equus.” Their movie,him; a “Trevor,” which won an Academy Award forfaggot best short film, concerned a gay teen who The attempts suicide. The Trevor Project allowsorigina young people to call in for counseling or justtery ch to talk. “I have described myself as being ‘gently eccentric’ and slightly different as a person just because I’ve had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did,” the 20-year-old Radcliffe said. “I’ve always felt very lucky to have the life that I’ve had. I never had to cope with anything serious about my religion or sexual orientation or anything like that.” “I think it’s important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like ‘Harry Potter’ and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or trans-gendered. ... The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well.” 4

Thousands celebrate Australia’s Gay Mardi Gras SYDNEY—Thousands of people in lavish costumes and various states of undress danced and partied their way through Sydney’s streets last week, in Australia’s annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. The parade—one of the world’s largest and most flamboyant gay pride events—had 9,400 participants and 135 floats and featured the theme, “History of the World”—a look at gay history. Hundreds of thousands of cheering spectators watched the procession, led this year by famed transsexual model Amanda Lepore. Her sparse attire, festooned with precisioncut crystals, left little to the imagination as she perched on an open-top Mercedes. “Michael Jackson’s Thriller Zombie Marching Group” followed a hearse through the streets, which the director and producer of the float, Gareth Ernst, said was a parody of the celebrity death cult. “Celebrities are like zombies,” said Ernst, who was dressed as Joey Stefano, a 1980s porn star. “They die and come back stronger, more powerful and more popular.” Other dancers were decked out in full Lycra bodysuits, red devil halos and peacock feathers. Spectators crowded the route of the parade through Australia’s largest city. They held rainbow banners and Aussie flags aloft in the hot night air. Jewelry-covered dancers flaunted their frills for the crowd and twirled 1

LED hula-hoops with mesmeric variation. The parade began as a protest march in 1978 by homosexual and transsexual men and women. Katrina Marton, head of events at Mardi Gras, said the parade had taken on special importance after a same-sex marriage bill was voted down in the Senate earlier this week. “Under the glitz and glamour it’s still a political march,” she said.

Weir wants critics to think, not make apologies VANCOUVER—U.S. figure skater Johnny Weir says he wants two broadcasters who made derogatory comments about him to think twice before they speak in the future, but he’s not looking for any apologies. Weir says he found the comments by two broadcasters on French-language RDS “offensive,” but they don’t matter to him. He is concerned, however, about what effect such comments might have on kids and other athletes. People should be free to be whoever they want and express themselves however they want, Weir said during a news conference Wednesday. One RDS commentator said Weir hurts figure skating’s image and another said Weir should be made to take a gender test. The Quebec Gay and Lesbian Council called the remarks “outrageous” and “homophobic,” and has demanded a public apology. 2

Clay Aiken takes US stage for gay rights RALEIGH—More than a year after disclosing he is gay, Clay Aiken is speaking before a gay-rights event in his hometown. Aiken will deliver a speech about gay rights this weekend at the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas gala in Raleigh, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Wednesday. Actress Meredith Baxter, who recently said she is a lesbian, also will deliver a speech. The 31-year-old Raleigh native, pop singer and 2003 “American Idol” runner-up said he wrote his own speech after remarks provided for him proved too political, including a slam aimed at former President George W. Bush. “I don’t feel like this is the place to be horribly politically charged and bash people and talk about the wrongs that have been done,” he said. “My goal is to be hopeful, that it’s time for everyone to have equal rights.” Aiken says his goal is to urge Americans to support equal rights for all. He says that means allowing homosexuals to marry and enjoy rights that heterosexual couples take for granted like inheritance and hospital visitation. Aiken said that goal may take decades. “It’s more important to me, as a parent, that my son have all the rights—if he’s gay—than it is for me. I don’t want to do anything today that’s going to inhibit, or be a detriment to, his rights,” he said. Aiken’s son, Parker, was conceived via in 3

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Local Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust elects new board chairman By Kerrie Kennedy STAFF WRITER

Baird & Warner Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jim Schiefelbein has been elected chairman of the board of directors for The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. “I am truly honored to assume this new role and humbled by the confidence that the organization has shown in me,” said Schiefelbein, who has served on the board since 2005. “With the Centennial of the Robie House at hand this year—and all of the

incredible work that’s been accomplished to restore this architectural treasure to Wright’s original vision—it’s a genuinely exciting time to be involved with the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust.” Schiefelbein says he got involved in the organization when Baird & Warner was marketing the Hurley House in Oak Park, which sold in 2005. “I’ve always loved Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and design philosophy,” says Schiefelbein, who attended Frank Lloyd

Wright Junior High School in Wisconsin. Recognized as one of the nation’s top 12 real estate marketers, Schiefelbein led a team that created the Chicago area’s earliest real estate website in 1995. In the late 80’s, he created Chicagoland’s first luxury niche home marketing program—and more recently, was instrumental in developing the Luxury Portfolio program for the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, as part of the founding task-force.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust engages the public in educational and aesthetic experiences to foster an appreciation of architecture, design and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright. The trust is responsible for restoring and preserving the two Wright sites they manage, including the current multimillion-dollar restoration of Wright’s Robie House. More information on the many restoration, preservation and education programs of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust can be found at GoWright.org

Red Line attack upgraded to hate crime

Boystown the subject of anthropological study

By Kerrie Kennedy

By Kerrie Kennedy

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

A Jan. 10 attack against an openly gay Rogers Park man has been upgraded to a felony hate crime. Daniel Hauff, 33, says he was attacked on the CTA red line after coming to the defense of a gay youth who was being verbally harassed by defendants Sean Little, Benjamin Eder and Kevin McAndrew. “This isn’t a case of me getting into a fight,” Hauff says. “I think it’s important that people realize it was already a gay bashing when I got involved. Sean Little was assaulting and harassing a young male for being gay. Then they turned on me.” According to the police report, when Hauff intervened, the three men said to him “Why are you sticking up for this guy? Do you like him; are you lovers?” They also called him a faggot repeatedly, the report said. The three men, all from Evanston, were originally charged with misdemeanor battery charges, but last week the State’s At-

torney’s office announced they were upgrading the charges to hate crimes following an investigation conducted by both the state’s attorney’s office and the Chicago Police Department. “It’s very clear that this falls under the hate crime statute,” said Hauff, noting that a witness had come forward to corroborate his allegations. “I’m grateful that they reviewed the case and upgraded the charges and I hope that they follow through,” Hauff said. Hauff says he’s still recovering from his physical injuries, which includes a deviated septum, blurred vision and psychological trauma, but is committed to seeing the case through. “They happened to beat someone up who is open about who he is,” he said. “There’s no way I’m going to stand by and let these three get away with gay bashing. We need to send a very clear message that you can’t assault someone for being gay.”

A Ph.D candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago is studying the evolution of Boystown, focusing on how politics and the economy have shaped the social landscape and how social identities continue to shape experiences and perceptions in the neighborhood. Anthropologist Zachary Blair has been studying the neighborhood for nearly four years, and hopes to provide a comprehensive account of Boystown that documents and examines the neighborhood’s history, gentrification, and current status. “Boystown is different from other queer neighborhoods in the United States and I think the unique story of Boystown needs to be documented and told,” said Blair, who moved to Chicago in 2005. “My study of Boystown is a community endeavor. This project would not exist if it weren’t for the

people who have embraced the project with their participation.” Around 400 people have responded to an electronic survey and more than 50 people have been interviewed. “When completed, I hope my study of Boystown will be a significant contribution to Chicago’s LGBT community, Chicago history, and queer studies as a whole.” To date, there has not been a published in-depth scholarly study of the neighborhood. Blair says he would like to talk to people who have lived in the neighborhood for the past 40 years or who have witnessed the neighborhood’s transformation into a queer neighborhood. Participants do not have to identify as GLBT and all participants will be kept completely anonymous through the use of pseudonyms in any future publications. For more information, call 407-341-7370 or email BoystownEthnography@gmail.com

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Weathering the storm How GLBT non-profits are coping with new economic realities By Rick Stuckey Contributing writer

Job loss, program cuts, fears of more HIV infection. Call them the new economic realities for the agencies that serve the GLBT community. Whether they’re helping Chicago GLBTs put food on the table, working to secure and defend their civil rights, offering HIV prevention services or serving the medical needs of the community; almost every GLBT nonprofit in Chicago has been negatively impacted by the economy. Many experts fear this is only the beginning. “Every facet of life in the state for vulnerable people is going to be impacted,” predicts John Peller, Director of Governmental Affairs at AIDS Foundation of Chicago. Unpredictability of state funding has been a huge problem for many organizations. “It’s a disaster,” says Chicago House Development Director Michael Herman. “If you are approved for money, you aren’t sure if you are even going to get it,” he says. Test Positive Aware Network’s Director Bruce Weiss agrees. “The

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state owes us $45,000,” Weiss says. “While that’s not a massive amount of money, it has an impact on cash flow.” According to Weiss, state funding problems also affect city funding, because much of it flows down from the state. “There has been a 15 percent cut from our city grant year,” he says. The biggest hit for many agencies is the state’s cut in HIV prevention money. While the cuts are not new, the slow process of chipping away funding has been something of a morale killer for many organizations. “Bit by bit, government and corporate funding has been decreasing,” says Vital Bridges CEO Debbie Hinde. The outlook isn’t any brighter at Better Existence for HIV, where state money has been virtually written off. “For 2010, we just didn’t plan on any money from the state and didn’t put it in the budget,” says BEHIV executive director Eric Nelson. The decrease in funding has led to layoffs at many of the agencies. “We have made a few cuts in personnel and programs have been adjusted,” said Howard Brown Chief Development Officer Paul Fairchild. TPAN has reduced staffing by one person. Vital Bridges has cut four employees. BEHIV had several staff layoffs last year. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago and Chicago House have been able to keep staffing levels stable. “That’s the positive for us,” Herman said. “That doesn’t mean we haven’t had cuts. We have had to make some shifts.” Organizations like The Center on Halsted and Equality Illinois, whose missions—and funding sources—are more diverse than HIV non-profits, have fared somewhat better. “We are lucky because our mission is so broad and crucial, it resonates with every segment of society and therefore it doesn’t depend on one stream,” said Bernard Cherkosov, Chief Executive Officer of Equality Illinois. “We are funded by individuals and national and local foundations—Illinois-based as well as global.” Equality Illinois operates with a staff of four, using volunteers for much of its work. “We have scaled back some of our expenditures, and while it is extremely tough in this climate, we must hit these numbers,” Cherkosov said. “For every dollar we need, we have to work three times as hard.” Equality Illinois’s recent gala attracted over 1,000 guests, making it the largest of its kind. Center on Halsted, which serves more than 1,000 GLBT Chicagoans a day, has managed to dodge the bullet through careful planning and a little bit of good luck. “We are doing a lot more with less money,” said Modesto Tico Valle, Center on Halsted CEO. “When the economy tanked over a year, we started trimming and being very

conservative about how we were spending money, so none of our programming would be impacted.” Although Valle said that the Center was forced to cut corners after the Illinois Department of Public Health cut its prevention grant by $200,000, he readily admits that isn’t as big of a hit as some other organizations have had to take. Smaller agencies, especially those who depend on grants and government funds, are often the hardest hit. “It’s a tough economic time,” Herman said. “We have to be cautious as we move forward. We aren’t going to stop looking [for ways] to best serve those living with HIV.” Despite the best intentions of HIV workers and agencies, many worry that ongoing government funding problems will eventually affect the health of those living with HIV. “It’s important for those who are ill to have a good diet,” said Hinde, who runs a food pantry for people living with HIV. “If you diminish the nutrition, you diminish their health. There is a cause relationship.” Weiss is worried too. “With more cuts, where will the clients go for help?” he said. Without HIV prevention dollars, many fear there will be a rise in HIV infection. According to the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, more cuts may mean the 23,000 people in Chicago who are at high risk of HIV will not be able to access prevention services. There is one bright spot in this tough economy. The number of volunteers at some agencies has increased. Lambda Legal has increased the number of attorneys, due to the downsizing at some law firms. One firm is actually paying one of its attorneys (who would have otherwise been laid off) to do pro-bono work at Lambda. Meanwhile, Chicago House is going back to basics—and individual supporters— for help. “Black tie was old hat,” Herman said. “We wanted to reinvent our funding as mission-driven about HIV, homelessness and poverty.” So far, the plan is working. In November, Former President Clinton kicked off Chicago House’s fundraising campaign and doubled the income over their previous year’s black tie event. Individual giving is also a focus at Center on Halsted, where the number of individual donors has actually grown. “The larger number of people giving is very promising for us,” Valle says. “Some of our donors have reduced their gifts because of the economy, but a number of them have said that once the economy rebounds, they will remember the Center in their giving.”


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Opinion

HUD seeks help with anti-gay discrimination study

The Press and the Gay Press

By Karen Hawkins

By Paul Varnell

AP Writer

OPINION COLUMNIST

ending would When federal officials studied housing discrimination based er was on race, the setup was simois De- ple: They sent in testers of ention different backgrounds and at isn’t gauged how landlords and ations real estate agents treated people of color compared ho de- with whites. ds, are As the government prepares nomic a first-ever study of housing utious discrimination against gays, o stop however, the issue is more comliving plex. How do you design a study to make an applicant’s sexual orientation work- or gender identity as obvious as race and ngoing color? ventu- Last week, the U.S. Housing and Urban th HIV. Development Department enlisted residents have a in three cities with large gay populations— d pan- Chicago, New York and San Francisco—to dimin- offer ideas on how such a study should be health. conducted. Bias complaints and lawsuits nationwide e cuts, make clear that gay, lesbian, bisexual and e said. trans-gendered people face housing disny fear crimination, from being turned down for ccord- apartments to being steered away from cer, more tain neighborhoods, but no one has tried to hicago track how common such bias is. HUD hopes be able to begin collecting data next year. “This really is groundbreaking,” said Ratough phael Bostic, HUD’s assistant secretary for t some policy development and research, who’s al has overseeing the study. “Nothing like this has due to ever been tried before at this scale and cerne firm tainly not by a federal agency.” s (who Several organizations and states have to do conducted smaller studies, but experts said no one has had the time or money for a nag back tional study. There’s also the issue of how to ters— design the study to ensure it detects actual erman bias. unding Those testing “have to think of a way to ssness make it clear that this is a gay couple and ing. In not just two men who really can’t afford kicked to do anything than get a single apartment mpaign with a single room,” said John Knight of the evious American Civil Liberties Union. Bostic said researchers plan to get “creCenter ative” in designing the study, and he hopes vidual the input and stories from meetings in the r num- three cities will help. Officials are working ng for on a way to let people elsewhere weigh in s have through e-mail or Web-based seminars, he onomy, said. t once The federal Fair Housing Act, which proember hibits discrimination in sales and rentals of homes, doesn’t cover gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans-gendered people. Advocates hope HUD’s effort to gather data could be a first step toward obtaining legal protections.

“It finally will give us hard data to back up the heartbreaking stories of discrimination we’ve been hearing for years,” said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “This HUD study will show that there are a class of people ... who have been repeatedly shut out of that portion of the American dream.” Chicago, New York and San Francisco all ban housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and, more recently, gender identity. The number of complaints about antigay bias filed with authorities has been relatively low—generally less than 10 percent of all housing complaints—but that can be attributed to some declining to out themselves by stepping forward, advocates said. Fear of being outed is also a reason to hold the HUD sessions in big cities, where anti-gay bias may be less prevalent than elsewhere but where people also are more willing to discuss it when it happens, said Carey. A study by Michigan’s Fair Housing Centers, a group of private advocacy organizations, found nearly 30 percent of same-sex couples were treated differently when trying to buy or rent a home. Such treatment included a male landlord who made sexually charged comments to a lesbian couple and a Detroit landlord who told testers, “No drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, onenight stands.” Bill Greaves, Chicago’s liaison to the gay community, said he expects people to describe a different type of housing discrimination. “I think people are going to say that the discrimination in the rental and sale of housing is less a problem than the harassment and discrimination people experience after they’ve moved into their new home,” Greaves said. He described a case in which Chicago awarded $12,000 in damages to a gay man after his landlord outed him to his family, called him derogatory names and threatened to evict him. HUD also is developing regulations to ensure gays and lesbians aren’t denied access to federally subsidized housing based on their sexual orientation. Bostic said the Obama administration is committed to working with the community on housing issues. “The president has this as a priority,” he said.

It is universally agreed that the newspaper industry is in a period of transition. Only no one knows what the transition is to. Newspapers are getting thinner. Sections are being combined. Pages are becoming narrower or shorter or both. And yet the prices keep going up, as circulation keeps dropping. Newspapers are laying off staff, cutting and cutting. Advertising revenues are down significantly, a function of our troubled economy. The news arrangement is being changed—often with a focus on local news. Crime and celebrity gossip are receiving an increased emphasis. Some papers have ceased publishing entirely. In a new book coming out in May, “What Is Happening to News,” distinguished journalist Jack Fuller looks to the realm of neuroscience to explain the changes in papers and readers’ withdrawal from newspapers and turn toward the internet. Maybe so. But there is little wrong with newspapers that a healthy dose of advertising revenue would not go far to remedy. Yet that does not seem likely to happen until the economy picks up—in a year or so. Many of these same problems are affecting our own gay community press. Just a few months ago, The Philadelphia Gay News ran an editorial stating that it would be growing smaller, but assuring readers that it was not going away. Many gay papers could have written similar editorials. This turmoil has led me to wonder about the future of our own gay press. A few voices have been raised suggesting that we no longer need a gay press, that the mainstream press now covers gay news adequately rendering a separate gay press superfluous. That argument never had much merit but now with the mainstream press downsizing, it begins to look very foolish and uninformed. Unless you regularly read The New York Times, which does a fine job of reporting on important gay news, you would have a harder and harder time finding gay news in your mainstream newspapers. Consider what the gay press does for us. In its coverage of both news and features of interest to gays, it covers health news— AIDS and beyond. When Chicago had a meningitis scare a few years ago, the gay press covered it, but it was scarcely a blip in the mainstream press. Our press covers incidence of anti-gay violence, identifying them as anti-gay. It covers increasing efforts for gay marriage in the various states. It covers gains and losses in state legislatures around the country. It gives generous coverage to gay candidates for office. When an Illinois gay man ran in the Democratic primary for nomination to the senate, the mainstream press virtually ignored him, but the

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gay press gave him good coverage. Our press investigates the adequacy or inadequacy of gay advocacy and service organizations— something I wish it had the resources to do more of. Finally, but not least important, our press covers the progress toward gay equality in Europe and Latin America as well as the anti-gay crusades in parts of Africa and the Middle East. Our press also prints features on and reviews of entertainment and entertainers. It covers popular and rock music and musicians, including especially gay and lesbian ones. It reviews plays of interest to gays, since many gays are avid theater-goers. It reviews books—fiction and non-fiction both (for instance, keep an eye out for the novella “Missouri” coming out in May). It reviews new films, and keeps an eye out for gay elements in any of them. Again, The New York Times does this well, but unless you subscribe to The Times, you don’t get much of that. And finally, the gay press can write reviews of art exhibitions and articles about gay artists. Substantial numbers of readers turn up at the monthly exhibition openings at Chicago’s gay community center, and one local commercial gallery manager told me that a group of men once came into the gallery holding a copy of the review of their current show in that week’s gay paper. This brief recital gives you a far-fromexhaustive idea of what the gay press does and the important functions it serves for the community. Send comments to PVarnell@aol.com


Arts, Entertainment & Lifestyle

FREESTYLE

“Realism” and Magnetism: An interview with Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields By Gregg Shapiro MUSIC, TV & FILM EDITOR

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March 4, 2 01 0

Interview

Putting aside the fuzzy (and aptly titled) Jesus and Mary Chain homage of “Distortion,” for a more folksy and cuddly acoustic sound, once again proudly proclaiming “no synths,” The Magnetic Fields get real on “Realism” (Nonesuch). The constant, of course, is out front man Stephin Merritt’s deft and delicious wordplay. Unquestionably the Stephen Sondheim of his generation, Merritt is the king (or queen, if you will) of the cruel turn of phrase. He writes the kind of pithy quips that we wish we would have said to a deserving ex, as in the opener “You Must Be Out of Your Mind.” “We Are Having A Hootenanny” is as much a “rootin’-tootin’” jab at the hipster insurgent country crowd as a footstomping celebration. There’s even some international flair, from the plucky Asian influence on “I Don’t Know What to Say” to the glockenspiel gallop and German lyrics of “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree.” “Seduced and Abandoned” could reel in The Dresden Dolls crowd and “The Dada Polka” may do the same for fans of Devotchka and Gogol Bordello. We spoke with Mr. Merritt shortly before he and The Magnetic Fields embarked on tour: Chicago Free Press: There is a “no synths” declaration in the CD booklets for “Realism,” “Distortion” and “I.” Why was it important to get that out in the open? Stephin Merritt: I was doing it in tribute to Queen, who did that for every album until the soundtrack to “Flash Gordon.” Making “Flash Gordon” without synthesizers would have been just perverse. CFP: Yes, the synthesizers give it that necessary 1980 feel. There is also an international flair that can be heard on “Realism,” from the German lyrics in “Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree” to the Asian instrumentation of “I Don’t Know What To Say.” What was the impetus for that? SM: I think it was the music stores in Los Angeles . I moved my studio to Los Angeles in June of 2006 and started going to the music stores where they have a very different selection of instruments than in New York . They have a lot more Central and South American stringed instruments and also they have larger instruments in general because real estate wasn’t an issue. So I was able to get large instruments like a vibraphone and a guzheng, which is the Chinese version of a koto, and a hammer dulcimer, things that real estate in New York were forbidding me from even contemplating. CFP: Is there any significance for you in the number three as in the case of the “no synths” trilogy of “I,” “Distortion” and

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“Realism” and the three discs that comprised “69 Love Songs” or is it purely coincidental? SM: I think it’s purely coincidental. CFP: You’ve cited Judy Collins as an inspiration for “Realism,” which made me think of the way she balanced being a performing songwriter with being an interpreter of other people’s songs. In your various musical incarnations, you have the opportunity to both sing your own songs and have them sung by other voices. But what is your opinion when someone from outside your circle interprets a song of yours, such as Kelly Hogan’s reading of “Papa Was A Rodeo”? SM: I’m thinking of Peter Gabriel and “The Book of Love.” Peter Gabriel’s voice is fantastically different from mine. His interpretation is basically unrecognizable. If I could sing like Peter Gabriel, I too could afford to live in England . CFP:Are you comfortable with other people covering your songs?

SM: Yes. CFP:: When you write a song such as “You Must Be Out of Your Mind,” do you have a specific person in mind or is it intended to be universal? SM: It’s a universal. People who write mean songs about recognizable other people are doing something that shouldn’t be done in art. CFP: In the current issue of Entertainment Weekly, the new Magnetic Fields disc received a favorable review and an A- rating. Do you pay much attention to reviews? SM: Usually not. I try not to. CFP: The Magnetic Fields are the centerpiece of the book “Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records” as well as the subject of the 33 1/3 book about “69 Love Songs” written by (occasional Magnetic Fields member) LD Beghtol. Do you think that you and the band are being represented fairly in print? SM: We are when we write them ourselves. Yeah, I guess so. The Merge book was not taking us so far out of context. I think (the Magnetic Fields’ current record label) Nonesuch may have gotten a bit upset about what seems to be Claudia’s (Gonson) remarks. But that what happens when people interview you. That’s why you must

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never say anything remotely mean. Even if it’s only half of a sentence. CFP: Do you have any interest in writing a book? SM: The way it’s going, it seems that I will be the last person I know to write a book. CFP: Have you started writing it? SM: Hard to tell. CFP: We’re speaking a couple of days after the Grammy Awards aired on TV. Did you watch the show? SM: I don’t have a television. If I had a television, I would never get any work done, like everybody else who has a television. CFP: I read in an interview that you are a fan of 3D. Have you seen the Oscar nominated “Avatar”? SM: I actually haven’t seen it yet. I’m looking forward to it. I expect that it will be around for quite a while, and hopefully I will still be able to see it when my tour is over. The Old Town School Of Folk Music presents The Magnetic Fields March 7 & 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr. For tickets, call (312) 3347777.)

SM: Oh, yes. I would prefer just to be a songwriter. CFP: In keeping with being a songwriter, “Realism” contains more of what I would describe as your trademark wordplay, as in songs such as “You Must Be Out of Your Mind,” “The Doll’s Tea Party” and “Seduced and Abandoned,” which is reminiscent of Stephen Sondheim. Is Sondheim an influence? And are there any others that you would care to mention? SM: I never liked the word influence. Stephen Sondheim is the competition, as is Tom Lehrer. I interviewed Tom Lehrer when his box set came out (in 2000), which was soon after my box set (“69 Love Songs”) came out. And I had sent him a copy. He actually listened to some of it and said, “Now you realize that “69 Love Songs” is 67 too many.” He went to summer camp with Stephen Sondheim. He had a sort of parallel, though shorter, career in some ways, as the two factions of strict rhyme. Tom Lehrer disapproved of my loose rhymes. And just after that, I started doing theater music which requires strict rhymes. So I fell out of the habit of doing loose rhymes at all. The loose rhymes that you will find on “Realism” are all signs that that part of the song was written before the year 2000.

Discover the nature of desire

MRS. CALIBAN

CFP: Before you started doing theater music? SM: No, before I interviewed Tom Lehrer. CFP: Wow, so you really took his comments to heart.

A world premiere adaptation of the novel by Rachel Ingalls Thursday-Sunday through March 28, 2010 Call 773-761-4477 or visit www.lifelinetheatre.com


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TV & Film How to Win Big This Year By Web Behrens Every Oscar season brings a few sure things, like Jack Nicholson wearing sunglasses indoors and starlets strolling the red carpet wearing borrowed jewels that cost considerably more than your house. But there’s another Oscar constant that will play out this Sunday: Across the country, hundreds of people will win various “outguess the critics” contests (some of which boast sweet prizes) and the cash in their local Oscar pool. You want to take a shot at winning? Then remember that the Oscars are as much a paean to popularity as they are an award for merit. It doesn’t even matter if you’ve seen the nominated films; some of the actual Academy voters don’t watch ‘em either. Since buzz plays a big factor, a little research can put you on top in the contest sweepstakes. Part of the fun comes when you nail that surprise victory, although not every year brings an Anna Paquin upset. For the sake of brevity, let’s assume that this year’s obvious picks in four categories—acting nominees Mo’Nique, Christoph Waltz, Jeff Bridges and director Kathryn Bigelow—will win as widely predicted. This isn’t just whistling in the dark: They’ve sewn up all the preliminary prizes, including the bellwether Screen Actors and Directors Guild awards. (Those matter most because the membership of the guilds largely overlaps with the that of the Academy.) That leaves questions about four major awards: the two screenplay categories, Best Actress and Best Picture. Often, Best Picture is easy to predict, thanks to a rash of indicators: the Producers Guild award, the number of nominations a picture received (the higher the better), the box-office receipts (again, the higher the better). This year, “The Hurt Locker” faces off against “Avatar” in a David-and-Goliath match without a clear front-runner. Both films received nine nominations; “Hurt Locker” was a critic’s darling but a dud when it came to ticket sales, while “Avatar” is the highest-grossing movie ever ($2 billion and counting). Yet “Hurt Locker” won the Producers Guild honors. Complicating the race even more is the fact that, for the first time in more than 60 years, the Academy nominated 10 films for Best Picture instead of five. This unwelcome Golden Globalization not only leads to a more crowded field, but to a change in the way the winner will be determined: A weighted ballot will now count second-place votes until one picture gets a majority. This opens the door for any number of dark horse scenarios. Which picture do you suppose is the second best-liked in Hollywood? Keep

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an eye on “Inglorious Basterds”—World War II movies often do well, and this one is nothing less than a revenge fantasy against the Nazis. In the screenplay categories (Best Original and Best Adapted), keep in mind that the love bestowed on a film and director often extends to the writer, which puts Mark Boal, who penned “The Hurt Locker,” in a sweet spot. But Academy members sometimes spread out their love, giving screenplay awards to the runnersup in the Best Picture sweepstakes. Typically, that would mean “Avatar,” but the writers rightfully snubbed the mindnumbingly dreadful script to this otherwise thrilling special-effects extravaganza. (“Unobtanium”? Really, James Cameron?) Under this logic, Quentin Tarantino might well score for Original Screenplay for “Basterds” (trumping “Hurt Locker”), leaving the Adapted Screenplay award for “Up in the Air” (another overlooked Best Picture nominee). Finally, Best Actress. This one will test many an Oscar prognosticator, because you’re being asked to pit logic against popularity. Meryl Streep, the mostnominated performer ever, hasn’t held on Oscar on that podium in more than 25 years. How much longer will the Academy continue to take her for granted? Does anyone really think Streep channeling Julia Child is a lesser achievement than Sandra Bullock portraying a ballsy Southerner in the mediocre “Blind Side”? That sounds like a tough pill to swallow to many film lovers, but Bullock supposedly has all the good will and momentum. First-time nominees like Bullock typically break through with an especially powerful performance in a tough role. By rights, then, Streep’s competition should be Gabourey Sidibe, so effective in the title role in the queer-affirming “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” (Is there an Oscar, by the way, for Best Clumsy Title?) But the reason the 26-year-old breakout star isn’t expected to win is probably because ... well, she’s fat. Hollywood likes its ingénues conventionally pretty and thin, especially those they’re about to anoint to the A-list. (Why else do you suppose Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood issue didn’t include Sidibe on the cover with the “Fresh Faces of 2010”? It’s a roster of thin white girls.) On Sunday night, many of us will be rooting for magnificent Meryl or glorious Gabourey. If we end up watching Bullock bask in the golden glow of victory, it will echo Kim Bassinger’s win for “L.A. Confidential”: Sometimes the Academy doesn’t honor the person who gave the best performance, just the most improved.

Easy to find LA celeb hangouts during Oscar season By Solvej Schou AP WRITER

Look, there’s Oscar winner Warren Beatty at the Beverly Hills Hotel, lounging in a restaurant booth. Or Drew Barrymore huffing it up a trail in the Hollywood Hills. With the 82nd annual Academy Awards just weeks away, on March 7, Los Angeles becomes even more fertile terrain for celebrity sightings. Whenever you’re planning to head to L.A., here’s a selection of places to eat, shop, sweat (as in exercise!) and schmooze alongside the stars:

SHOP: • THE GROVE/FARMERS MARKET, 189 The Grove Drive, Los Angeles: This outdoor retail mecca can be considered an all-in-one stop, where you can catch a celebrity shopping at Nordstrom’s, walking the main drag or noshing on gourmet pizza or Mexican food at the historic Farmers Market next door. Rihanna, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson and Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Reese Witherspoon have all been spotted there. • SUNSET JUNCTION, www.sunsetjunction.org: An eastside stretch of Sunset Boulevard in the trendy area of Silver Lake, Sunset Junction is a favorite hangout strip for celebrity hipsters. Recent Golden Globe winner Chloe Sevigny trolls for dresses at one-room vintage boutique Ragg Mopp. Musician and `”Whip It” star Landon Pigg is a regular at coffee and tea shop Intelligentsia.

EAT: • POLO LOUNGE, 9641 Sunset Blvd., Beverly Hills: A-list stars for generations have frequented the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel before, during and after the Oscars, either while staying at the ritzy, pale pink hotel, attending Oscar parties there or just gathering for lunch, brunch, dinner and even afternoon tea. Fans of the place include Beatty, Jennifer Aniston, Jack Black and Oscar winner Michael Douglas. Dishes range from classic French onion soup and tuna tartare to chilled Maine lobster salad. • URTH CAFFE, 8565 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood: This West Hollywood eatery is the original of a Los Angeles chain that specializes in organic coffee blends with names such as “World Peace” and `”Rainfor Starlets including Katy Perry, Hayden est.” Panettiere and Jessica Alba are drawn to the cafe’s outdoor patio and cozy weekend brunch. Customers and celebrities alike can feast on veggie omelets and healthy egg white and spinach breakfast paninis.

SWEAT (EXERCISE): • RUNYON CANYON: By now it’s a cliche to see stars hiking or walking their dogs on trails winding through Hollywood Hills nature park Runyon Canyon, but there they are: Drew Barrymore, Zac Efron, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Mandy Moore. Reach the top, and you can see broad views of L.A., plus sweaty stars. Just be sure to sidestep any dog droppings. • CRUNCH, 8000 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood: Situated next to an art house movie theater, and across the street from megacelebrity haunt Greenblatt’s Deli (Oscar winner Halle Berry gets food delivered from there), this work-out haven boasts a juice bar, boxing ring and live DJs. The long list of celebrities who used to or still sweat it out at the West Hollywood gym include newly engaged Brit comedian Russell Brand, Jeff Goldblum and Eva Longoria Parker.


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Live Music & More By Gregg Shapiro MUSIC, TV AND FILM EDITOR

Mar. 4, Thurs.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr., hosts an intimate exchange with the “Master of the Musical,” Stephen Sondheim, at 7:30 p.m. Call (312) 334-7777. Shirley Jones, the Academy Award-winning star of “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,” “The Music Man,” “Elmer Gantry” and more joins the 32-piece Hollywood Concert Orchestra for “A Night at the Oscars,” saluting the greatest music composed for and used in Hollywood films at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena in Aurora. Call (630) 896-6666. Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, welcomes Baby Teeth and Peter Beyer at 9 p.m. Call (773) 227-4433.

Mar. 5, Fri.

8 Inch Betsy, Athens Boys Choir and SpookyQs are in concert at 9 p.m. at Jackhammer, 6406 N. Clark. Call (773) 743-5772. Outdanced’s Stardust @ Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, presents Portland, Oregon’s Sissy Boys live at 10 p.m. Call (773) 525-2460.

Mar. 6, Sat.

At 9 p.m., Cake Chicago presents The Homoticons, Nicole Reynolds, Typsi and The Painted Lady at The Red Line Tap, 7006 N. Glenwood. Call (773) 274-5463. Lesbian guitarist Sharon Isbin and Mark O’Connor perform works by Albeniz, Tarrega, York, Mangore, Durate and O’Connor at 7:30 p.m. in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr. Call (312) 334-7777. Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, hosts a release party for the Tom Petty tribute album, “Petty Theft,” featuring Chicago bands Tight Phantomz, The Saps, B1G T1ME and Pro Looks covering the classic rocker’s hits at 9 p.m. Call (773) 227-4433. The one and only Robyn Hitchcock is at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, at 8 p.m. Call (847) 492-8190.

Mar. 7, Sun.

Old Town School Of Folk Music presents The Magnetic Fields and Laura Barrett tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago’s Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph Dr. Call (312) 334-7777. At 9:30 p.m. Modern Day Rippers, Retardos De La Mour and The Regals tear it up at Empty Bottle, 1045 N. Western. Call (773) 276-3600. Mary’s Attic, 5400 N. Clark, hosts Bailiwick Chicago’s musical cabaret “Show Us Your Love,” directed by Kate Garassino, with musical direction by Robert Ollis, and featuring

Mark LeBeau, Jr., Emily B. Macomber, Eric Martin, Matthew W. Miles, Jeremy Myers, Abby E. Sammons, Jill Sesso and Brittany Townsley, at 7:30 p.m. Call (773) 784-6969.

Mar. 8, Mon.

Outdanced’s Stardust @ Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, presents Art Haus, a monthly multimedia art and performance showcase featuring musician Mark Minelli with previews of “Essay Fiesta” and “Cougars! The Musical,” at 10 p.m. Call (773) 525-2460.

Mar. 9, Tues.

Stephen Leonard hosts Unpugged: An Acoustic Concert Series at 9 p.m. at The Wild Pug, 4810 N. Broadway. Call (773) 784-4811. Grand Atlantic, Gidgets Ga Ga and Autumn Owls are at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln, at 8 p.m. Call (773) 404-9494. House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn, presents Howie Day at 7 p.m. Call (312) 9232000.

Mar. 10, Wed.

Outdanced’s Stardust @ Berlin, 954 W. Bel-

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mont presents Hess at 10 p.m. Call (773) 525-2460. “Winterreise,” Franz Schubert’s song-cycle of love and loss, is staged by Chicago Opera Vanguard, tonight through 21 at The Fasseas White Box Theatre at the Menomonee Club Drucker Center, 1535 N. Dayton. Visit chicagovanguard.org. Decscribed as “part Tom Waits, part Italian philosopher,” singer Vinicio Capossela performs at 8 p.m. at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N Broadway. Call (773) 472-3492.


ABSOLUTE “MUST SEE, MUST DO” EVENTS

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Workshop Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org Jump, spin, slide and move with teaching artists from Hubbard Street Dance

Paramount Theatre 23 East Galena Boulevard, Aurora (630) 896-6666 ticketmaster.com The Academy Award-winning star of such classics as“Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,”

11AM

7:30 PM

“A Night at the Oscars” starring Shirley Jones

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

THURSDAY, MARCH 4

March 7 On the Red Carpet: Center on Halsted’s 2010 Oscar Party

St. Pauls United Church of Christ 2335 N. Orchard St. (708) 848-1762 chicagochoralartists.org Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month with concerts performed by Chicago Choral Artists. Ranging over nine centuries, the program

Wit, Wiles and Wisdom: Music By and About Women

4 PM

George’s Ice Cream 5306 N. Clark St.

Board Game Night with Sapphic Adventures

7 PM

community, creating sustainable and accessible artwork for the public, and developing an artistic portfolio. Open to all who want to have a voice in the community. No previous artistic experience necessary.

Calendar Mar. 4-Mar. 12

The

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Steamworks 3246 N Halsted St feastoffun.com Join Feast of Fun’s zany hosts Marc Felion and Fausto Fernós as they record their award winning podcast live at Boystown’s squeaky clean hot spot, Steamworks. Featuring comedian, Cameron Esposito; Drag sensation, Teri Yaki; superstar comedian, Bill Cruz; and uber-cute funny man, Keeth Ecker.

Feast of Fun Live Podcast Show

8 PM

Sidetrack 3349 N. Halsted St. (773) 447-9189 sidetrackchicago.com Equality Illinois hosts its monthly First Friday networking event tonight. A $10 donation to the Equality Illinois PAC gets you two drink tickets and a ticket for a door prize drawing.

Equality Illinois First Friday Networking Event

6 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 5

Hyde Park Arts Center 5020 S. Cornell Ave. (773) 324-5520 hydeparkart.org Meet the artists from the exhibition “Notes to Nonself,” on display in Gallery 1 at the Hyde Park Art Center. Feel free to ask questions at this informal talk.

Artist Talk: Diane Christiansen and Shoshanna Utchenik

3 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

Circuit Night Club 3641 N Halsted St. (773) 325-2233 circuitclub.com No cover. To sign up for the contest, come between 8-8:30pm. Bring two song numbers, 5 minute song limit each and 7 contestant limit. First come, first served basis. Show time is 9:30pm. $125 first place prize.

Wiggin’ Out! with Miss Foozie

9 PM

Park West 322 W. Armitage chicagotakesoff.org Charity at its raciest, this smokin’ hot burlesque show features some of the top talent from Chicago’s entertainment community. This year’s theme is “classic TV.” Tickets start at $50. A second show follows at 10 p.m.

Chicago Takes Off

7:30 PM

Sidetrack (Video Bar) 3349 N. Halsted St. (773) 447-9189 sidetrackchicago.com Taste and judge more than a dozen entries from area chefs. $10 donation benefits Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Jack Daniel’s 11th Annual Chili Cook Off

2 PM

205 E Randolph Dr. Chicago, IL 60601 www.harristheaterchicago.org Broadway Luminaries series as part of the Harris Theater Presents 20092010 season of world-renowned national and international artists and ensembles. Featuring Broadway legends of script and song, the series features an “A Life in the Theater” dialogue with composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Tickets: $35 - $65.

Stephen Sondheim: A Life In The Theater

7:30 PM

3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org Jump, spin, slide and move with teaching artists from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. This interactive workshop allows parents and children to experience dance together, and will culminate in the creation of a new, unique family dance all their own. The cost of the event is $5 per person. For more information or to RSVP please contact Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at community@ hubbardstreetdance.com or call 312-8509744 x149.

23 East Galena Boulevard, Aurora (630) 896-6666 ticketmaster.com The Academy Award-winning star of such classics as“Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,” and “The Music Man,” “Elmer Gantry” joins the 32-piece Hollywood Concert Orchestra for a night saluting the greatest music composed for and used in Hollywood films. Tickets are $30.50.

SAGE Art as Advocacy Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org This group’s focus is to establish a cohesive art collective that advocates for LGBT-identified older adults. Themes center on: visibility within the

4 PM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10

Roscoe’s Tavern 3356 N. Halsted (773) 281-3355 roscoes.com Lauren Jacobs returns with “The Bitch is Back” Tour.

Lauren Jacobs Returns

11 PM

Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org This class is designed for the beginning Excel user and includes: understanding the Excel worksheet, basics of entering data, editing worksheets, opening, closing and saving files, formatting worksheets and copy & paste. Pre-registration required. Cost is $15. Sliding scale is available.

Microsoft Excel 2003, Level 1

6:30 PM

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Fairmont Millenium Park Hotel – International Ballroom 200 N. Columbus Dr. (773) 661-0787 centeronhalsted.org THE Oscar Party. Red carpet reception at 6 pm; Academy Awards telecast at 7 pm. Includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets: $75 (VIP $100).

On the Red Carpet: Center on Halsted’s 2010 Oscar Party

6 PM

Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month with concerts performed by Chicago Choral Artists. Ranging over nine centuries, the program includes chant written by Hildegard von Bingen, Tavener’s “Song for Athene” and arrangements from the African-American women’s ensemble, Sweet Honey in the Rock, among many others. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. Discounted tickets are available online.

Northeastern Illinois University 700 E. Oakwood Blvd. POW-WOW, Inc and Lesbian Leadership Council of Chicago Foundation for Women present a fundraiser as part of the International V-Day 2010 Campaign to End Violence Against Women and Girls. Pre-Reception 5:30 - 6:45 pm. $35 includes Wine and Cheese prereception and priority seating, General $20.

Eve Ensler’s “Anyone of Us: Words from Prison

7:15 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 12

Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org Meet someone new in a flash during speed dating night. Cash bar opens at 6:45 p.m. and the first round starts at 7:15. Rounds continue until everyone has met or until 8:45 p.m., whichever comes first.

Speed Dating for Women

7:15 PM

THURSDAY, MARCH 11

Isla Pacifica 4057 N. Damen Ave. islapacifika@gmail.com Learn how to dance the Hula, including Hula Auana (modern Hula) and Hula Kahiko (ancient Hula), Tahitian dances such as the Otea and Aparima, and dances from other pacific islands like Guam and many more.

Hawaiian/Hula and Tahitian Dance Class

8:15 PM

Center on Halsted 3656 N. Halsted St. (773) 472-6469 centeronhalsted.org Casual, peer-led conversation group on the second Wednesday of each month.

Bisexual Panel Discussion Group

7 PM

George’s Ice Cream 5306 N. Clark St. Bring your board games for a night of games and socializing.

Board Game Night with Sapphic Adventures

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Theater “Mrs. Caliban” Written by: Frances Limoncelli from the novel by Rachel Ingall Showing: Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, thru Mar. 28 Tickets: $25 Contact: (773) 761-4477 or www.lifelinetheater.com

“Rent” Written by: Johnathan Larson Showing: Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, thru Mar. 28 Tickets: $25-$30 Contact: (708) 327-5252 or www.nightbluetheater.com

“The Gimmick” Written by: Dael Orlandersmith Showing: Pegasus Players, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., thru Mar. 28 Tickets: $17-$25 Contact: (773) 878-9761 or www.pegasusplayers.org

Reviewed by Brian Kirst

Reviewed by Web Behrens

Reviewed by Lawrence Bommer

C ontribut I N G W R I T E R

C ontribut I N G W R I T E R

Despite its flaws (both within the show itself and within this current production), NightBlue Performing Arts Company’s “Rent” still has moments of skin prickling power that remind one of why Jonathon Larson’s musical became such a phenomenon. Larson (who tragically died before his show opened to outstanding popularity) based his work around Puccini’s opera “La Boheme”, substituting Giacome’s tuberculosis epidemic with the modern AIDS crisis. And despite lesbian writer Sarah Schulman’s strong evidence that Larson may have used elements from her work in his creation, “Rent” went on to win a Tony and become one of the longest running Broadway productions of all time. While Larson’s honest appraisal of HIV and his dedication to pure artistry are strong theatrical elements and produce elements of focused power, his characters often remain on the edge of being ciphers – the tortured artist, the drug addicted stripper, the jealous lesbian. This is made especially obvious here with, slightly muddy sound blurring developmental edges and the show’s directors’ (Brian LaDuca and David Walters) inability to bring their talented, primary cast beyond the mere surface of their characters. Even the strongest performers—Victoria Caciopoli and Govind Kumar—had obviously awkward moments on the show’s opening night with the chorus members (particularly Corey Mills and Trinity P. Murdock) coming off as the most intertwined elements of the show’s grimy milieu. Still, Kumar and Brian-Alwyn Newland (as recently introduced, passionate lovers) offer sonic magic with their sweet and powerful “I’ll Cover You” and Caciopoli gives it up like Ellen Foley (minus Meatloaf) circa 1977 radio with her rock driven take on “Out Tonight”—making moments of this “Rent” the perfect cure for the evil landlord blues.

Sometimes theater is as simple as a sterling script and an amazing performance. That’s the case with “The Gimmick,” a drama about the harsh day-to-day reality of life in 1970s Harlem and the uplifting graces of education and art. In a compelling Pegasus Players production directed by Ilesa Duncan, Dael Orlandersmith’s gorgeous script and a thrilling, confident performance from LaNisa Frederick provide all we need. Of course, there’s more to this package, including a smart, simple set by Jacqueline Penrod and deft sound design from Miles Polaski, which nicely helps massage the mood. Nevertheless, this show is really about Frederick, onstage for the full 90 minutes. She plays Alexis, a girl whose extra weight and passion for writing make her an outcast among other kids. Showing serious range, Frederick traces Alexis from age 8 into adulthood, while also nimbly morphing into supporting characters like Jimmy, a artistic friend also raised by an alcoholic single parent, and Miss Innis, the librarian who introduces Alexis to the transformative power of great literature. Originally a one-woman show, director Duncan adds two supporting actors who sometimes shadow Frederick onstage, sharing the lines for the other characters. It’s a nifty but extraneous device—as proven Saturday night, when one of the two supporting actors was out sick. The only thing going against Frederick is the enormous Pegasus venue, which makes the recession-era small audiences feel even smaller. If more people don’t check out this intimate show, it would be a true shame. Frederick’s mastery of Orlandersmith’s lilting poetry-slam prose is enough to lure you back for a second visit.

T H E AT E R E D I T O R

Like Lifeline’s huge 1997 hit “Lizard Music” or Edward Albee’s quirky “Seascape,” Frances Limoncelli’s adaptation of Rachel Ingall’s 1983 fantasy imagines reptiles who teach lovelorn humans the limits and latitude of love. Dorothy (Brenda Barrie, redolent with desperation, pluck and hard-earned hope) is an unhappy, now-childless housewife mired in routine with an unfaithful husband who’s not there when he is here. Ripe for reform, she instantly takes to Aquarius (Peter Greenberg), a green amphibian-like alien with great strength and a sexy voice who calls himself Larry and can tear people’s heads off. Larry helps her to put her humdrum problems in his perspective where the world’s wonders are the main attraction and differences among his species—or, presumably, ours—matter less than the good sex he gives her in her busy bedroom. (How this eight-foot monster manages to hide there for weeks after escaping from a cruel scientific lab and a police dragnet is strategically unexplained.) At the same time Larry kills seven people, mostly from self-defense, but that doesn’t bother Dorothy who relishes the interspecies sex. Whatever transformation Larry triggers in Dorothy (who in the final scene ecstatically stares at the sea after her scaly boyfriend) is as much guesswork as dramatic certainty. There’s scant sexual chemistry between Barrie and Greenberg (who scarcely resembles a magnificently muscular monster). The lessons he teaches Dorothy seem terrestrial and pedestrian. Ann Boyd’s staging tries almost too hard to make this bodice-ripper seem rhapsodic and romantic. Still, the plot itself remains static and cryptic. If Shakespeare’s monster Caliban ever took a wife (as the title suggests), she deserves more than this Harlequin trifle.

“The Analytical Engine” Written by: John Steinhagen Showing: Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison St. (Forest Park) thru Mar. 28 Tickets: $20-$24 Contact: (708) 771-0700 or www.circle-theatre.org Reviewed by Web Behrens C ontribut I N G W R I T E R

Local actor Jon Steinhagen puts on his writer’s cap with “The Analytical Engine,” attempting a light romantic comedy about a 19th-century inventor who tries to use her experimental computing machine to find the perfect romantic match for people. Although a fun premise, the results are unfortunately predictable and repetitive and, as overseen by director Bob Knuth, full of little overthe-top touches that undermine the comedy rather than bolster it. The action plays out in the all-female Powell household, where two adult sisters— brainy Hippolyta, a would-be Edison, and Marigold, a sharp-tongued author—live with their dotty artist mother. Hippolyta has finally finished building her analytical engine, which gives high marks to handsome bachelor Nathanial Swade. But socially inept Eppa Morton, financier of the engine, has a crush on its inventor. If only Steinhagen’s undercooked script were as entertaining as his comic performance as the flustered Mr. Morton, we’d be onto something. Sadly, nothing unfolds in act two that wasn’t telegraphed in the first half— save for the bizarre behavior and left-field revelations of the mother, a bad knockoff of Mrs. Malaprop. From the moment hammy Mary Redmon makes her first entrance with an overly paint-splotched face, she loses all believability and never regains it. Denita Linnertz deploys her charm in the role of Ada, who helps set the confused lovelorn players to right, but she’d be better utilized as another potential match for the gentlemen, just to goose the proceedings. Patricia Austin and Eric Lindahl show individual spark but never click as a couple. At least designer Elizabeth Wislar makes the most of her opportunity, giving us scrumptious costumes to enjoy.


2 01 0

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SIDETRACK Fri. Feb. 27th P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x


16 f ree t im e

 www.chicagofreepress .com 

Mar ch 4, 2 010Mar ch

Midlife Crisis Otto Odonga is a fucking idiot By St. Sukie de la Croix FREETIME EDITOR

At a recent forum in Kampala called “Human Rights and Sexual Orientation,” Otto Odonga, a Ugandan politician, said: “Human rights are not sacrosanct. Private parts do not belong in the anus. We will not accept this kind of deviant behavior in our society.” Makau Mutua the chairman of Kenya’s Human Rights Commission denounced Odonga’s remarks: “I am baffled by the kind of hatred you spew against gay people, including your desire to be a hangman. Would you apply to be a hangman if the person to be hanged were your son?” Apparently, Odonga nodded. Otto Odonga would kill his own son if he were gay. Odonga must live in some Old Testament reality when you sacrificed sheep and stoned your wife to death for having a burning bush–those dark, dark times before Starbucks and the Internet, even further back than “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” and “Aladdin Sane.” B.C. Before Cher. Odonga confirms my long-held theory that straight people are too emotionally immature to raise children. If I ruled the world: 1) Everyday would be the first day of spring; and 2) Straight people would copulate and sprout offspring, gay men would raise them, and lesbians teach them in school: focusing primarily on math, sports, and the sciences, with after-school clubs like the k.d. lang Appreciation Group and the Dead Sappho Society. With no kids nailing them down and driving them completely nuts, straight

Click! people would be free to focus on what they do best, like … I don’t know, whatever it is they do … listen to Aerosmith. I don’t know … What Old Testament Christians like Otto Odonga seem to forget is that God dislikes heterosexuals so much he kicked their sorry butts out of the Garden of Eden because they’re weak-willed and prone to temptation. Lets run over the Genesis plot for those dumb-ass Christians who don’t know how to read: God creates Adam from dust. Puts Adam in charge of caring for the Garden of Eden. God clones Eve from Adam’s Rib. Tells them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Serpent says “God’s an asshole, eat from the tree. You’ll be fine.” Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit … ya de ya de yah … God curses Adam and Eve with “hard labor and with pain in childbirth,” and banishes them from his Garden of Eden saying “I created you as perfect beings and you’ve turned out to be a couple of major fuck ‘tards. Get the hell outahere!” or words to that effect. So God eighty-sixed Adam and Eve. He did not throw out Eve and Eve or Adam and Steve. Why? Because lesbians and gay men are God’s chosen people and we’re still nurturing and tending his/her Garden of Eden, this wonderful celestial orb, this beautiful and sacred Planet Earth. Heterosexuals weren’t good enough to care for God’s Garden on Earth. Gay men and lesbians are the blessed mystical creatures, the shamans and prophets who have a direct line to God. The Almighty has lesbians and gay men on speed dial and straight people aren’t even in God’s telephone directory. Yep! It’s all there in the Old Testament. Heterosexuals exited the Garden of Eden with God’s boot wedged up their ass, so people like Otto Odonga need to SHUT THE FUCK UP. Contact St. Sukie de la Croix at stcroix@ chicagowhispers.com or you can find him on facebook.

Bobby Love’s Fri. Feb 27th P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x


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2 01 0March 4, 2 01 0

Back in the Day Mar. 4-Mar. 10 By St. Sukie de la Croix FREETIME EDITOR

This week in … 1994

1978 G.R.A.N.D./Chicago (Gay Rights Alumni of Notre Dame) host a benefit at O’Bannion’s Pub, 661 N. Clark St. The guest of honor is author and football player Dave Kopay. Proceeds from the evening go to supporting the scholarship efforts and gay studies programs proposed by G.R.A.N.D.

... There’s a benefit dinner for Gary Nepon, the gay Independent Democratic Candidate for State Representative in the 13th District, at the Water Tower Hyatt House, 800 N. Michigan Ave. Special guest is Harvey Milk, the openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

In the bars the Glee Club, 1543 N. Kingsbury, is proud to present an evening with Arista Recording Artist Taylor Dayne singing “Tell it to My Heart,” “Love Will Lead You Back,” and “I’ll Always Love You”; it’s Doug’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Funhouse at the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted, with Classic Rock All Night, including Aerosmith, Steve Miller Band, Styx etc; Happy Birthday! For George Nichols, a party and cake with 39 candles at North End, 3733 N. Halsted.

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Sidetrack Fri. Feb 27th

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Bucks Fri. Feb 27th

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Cellblock Fri. Feb 27th

P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

... Party Productions presents “Girl Party” by David Dillon and Virginia Smiley at the Theatre Building 1225 W. Belmont.

1999

1981 Chicago Filmmakers present the 1st Chicago Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Movies shown include the German lesbian classic “Maedchen in Uniform,” Marx Huestis’ “Unity,” about a love affair between two men during the Nazi period in the 1940s, and Carol Clement’s animated “Luna Tune,” a celebration of women’s spirituality.

1989

The Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force cordially invites you to join them for a benefit dinner honoring former co-chair Al Wardell for a decade of dedicated service to the lesbian and gay community. It takes place at Ann Sather’s, 929 W. Belmont.

“All Brandon wanted was to be one of the guys … unfortunately he was a girl.” “The Brandon Teena Story” opens at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport.

... Unison Lesbian and Gay Singers and Aria present “Twixt Heaven & Hell” a concert of heavenly creatures and demons in a Victorian setting at St. James Episcopal, Huron & Wabash.

... Super DJ Julian March spins live for his CD release party, “Dance w/Angels” to benefit AIDS charities. Party takes place at Fusion, 3631 N. Halsted.

1991

2002

The Shoestring Theatre Co. presents William Hoffman’s play “As Is” following Sabbath Services at Congregation Or Chadash. Admission is free but donations for AIDS support are welcome.

N TOO U Productions & Antonio present a benefit and birthday celebration for Amailia Black hosted by the Queen of Ho’Nasty Glamour Miss Flame Monroe at the Teamsters Union Hall, 330 S. Marshfield.

... The Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task force hosts a South of the Border Night at Paris Dance, 1122 W. Montrose. The event features the Chi-Town Squares and gay and lesbian “Jeopardy” with Rick Karlin. Admission is $20.

P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

Thanks to the Gerber/Hart Library at 1127 W. Granville for the use of their collection and archives.

P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

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1 8 f ree t im e

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Mar ch 4, 2 010Mar ch

Bar & Club Guide Thu. 4 th

Fri. 5 th

Sat. 6 th

Sun. 7 th

Berlin

Stardust Thursdays with performances and special DJs, brought to you by Outdanced

Cosmix : DJ Greg Haus, electro, progressive, and alternative, $5 after 11pm

Twisted w/ DJ’s Chester & Larissa, $5 after 11pm / $7 after 1am

MODifyd. DJ Chester mixes alternative and pop. $2 Lites, $3.25 Heinekens.

Bobby Loves

$1 off domestic & draft beer & $1 shots of Pucker, all flavors.

Creaoke

$10 pitchers of Miller Lite & Michelob Ultra $14 pitchers of Svedka bloody mary’s.

$10 pitchers of Miller Lite & Michelob Ultra $14 pitchers of Svedka bloody mary’s.

The Call

Absolut Thursday $4 Absolut Cocktails $7 Absolut Martinis/Cosmos Video hits from disco to today 9pm

Shake It Up Fridays $4 Bacardi Cocktails and Bombs DJ Oskar spins dance music 9pm - 2am

Saturday Video Dance Party $5 Absolut Cocktails $5 Jameson Shots Video dance hits from disco to today 9pm

Charlie’s

$3 U-Call-It Bottles to Top Shelf - After Hours w/ DJ Mixmaster F @ 1am

9:30-1:30: 2-Stepping & Line dancing with resident DJ Michael B - 1:30-4am after hours dance party

Cocktail

Open 4pm; “Get The Weekend Started” with Video hits from Disco to Today @ 8:30pm.

Crew

Hamburger Mary’s / Mary’s Attic

954 W. Belmont (773) 348-4975 berlinchicago.com

3729 N. Halsted (773) 525-1200 bobbyloves.com

1547 West Bryn Mawr Ave. (773) 334-2525 cattlecallchicago.com

3726 N. Broadway (773) 871-8887 charlieschicago.com

3359 N. Halsted (773) 477-1420

4808 N.Broadway (773) 784 Crew worldsgreatestbar.com

5400 N Clark St 773-784-6969 hamburger maryschicago.com

Tue. 9 th

Wed. 10 th

Cheap Trix, hosted by Jay jay, with DJ Chester, $1 well and PBR

“Just Let Go...” DJ Larissa, hosted by Shayna X, $3.25 Coronas, Disco Obsession last Wed. of month with DJ Pervy

$1 off Domestic & Draft Beer - $1 off well drinks.

$2 Tuesdays - $2 for domestic/ draft beer & well drinks.

$3 shots of Jagermiester All Svedka martini’s only $5

Sunday Funday $3 Sauza Margaritas $3 Millers and $4 Imports/ MicroBrews Video hits from disco to today 9pm

Cheap Drink Mondays $2.50 well cocktails $3 Millers, $4 Imports & Micro Brews Video hits from 60’s to today 9pm

Tortilla Tuesdays Chips, Salsa and Fun $4 Beam and SoCo Cocktails Two-Step Lessons 8pm Video Mix Up 11pm

Curtains Up Wednesday Andersonvile’s Showtunes Night $3 off call martinis/cosmos Showtunes videos 9pm

9:30-2:30: 2-Stepping & Line dancing with resident DJ Michael B - 2:30-4am after hours dance party

$10 Long Isle Pitchers Karaoke w/ Dirty Laundry @ 9pm - After hours with DJ Lulu @ 1am

$10 Stoli Pitchers - $2 Well $3 Bacardi - Line Dance Lessons @ 7pm - It’s just Bingo Bitch w/ Lauren & Friday @ 11pm - After hours with DJ Duance @ 1am

$10 Absolut Pitchers - $2 Bud Light - $4 Jager & Bombs Karaoke w/ Dirty Laundry @ 8pm - After hours with DJ Lulu @ 1am

$3 Absolut Drinks, all flavors! - $2.50 Corona $2 Miller Lite - Line Dance Lessons @ 7pm - After hours w/ DJ Mixmaster F @ 1am

$12 Long Island Ice Tea Pitchers / $5 Jagerbomb Shots - DJ Freddie Bain – Hostess: Cher (first & last Friday of the month) & Sexy Go-Go Boys! – 10pm

Diva Deejays - Rotating the delicious deep house sounds of: DJ Dhanna, Miss Micheala, Tracy Tobey & Carla Starla

Super Saver Sundays with $1 well-drinks - Park your pup with Pate! 2-8pm - DJ’s Dealer, Pete Augusta & Chris Eterno Plus Sexy Go-Go Boys starting at 8pm

Boystown Bailout! Monday Madness with ½ off all drinks. Your daytime bartenders Kenny & reX. - 4-9pm DJ Andrew with your bartender Jodi – 9pm

$9 Vodka Cranberry & Vodka Lemonade Pitchers DJ Timmy Loop - Hostess: Miss Foozie & Sexy Go-Go Boys! – 10pm

$6 martinis / $4 Svedka Vodka Cocktails / $5 Jagerbomb Shots / $9 Miller Lite Pitchers Jazz & Cocktail Music with your bartender Robert – 4-9pm

Daily Lunch Specials 11:30am - 3:00pm - Happy Hour 1/2 priced appetizers 4 -6 pm Miller Lite pints $3.00 Chang bottles $3.00 (Thailand’s #1 Beer!)

Daily Lunch Specials 11:30am - 3:00pm - Happy Hour 1/2 priced appetizers 4 -6 pm Goose Island Seasonal pints $3.50 PBR cans $2.00

Shiner Bock pints $3.50 Bud Select bottles $2.75 Double Bloody Mary $6.00 Mimosa pitchers $12.00

Miller Lite pitchers $9.00 Double Bloody Mary $6.00 Beergarita, Mimosa or Monsoon pitchers $12.00

Daily Lunch Specials 11:30am - 3:00pm - Half Price Chicken Wings Dine-in only Six $3.00 / Twelve $4.50 Happy Hour 1/2 priced appetizers 4 -6 pm Stella Artois pints $3.75

Daily Lunch Specials 11:30am - 3:00pm - Happy Hour 1/2 priced appetizers 4 -6 pm Bud Light pints $2.75 Bud Light Lime bottles $3.00

Daily Lunch Specials 11:30am - 3:00pm - Happy Hour 1/2 priced appetizers 4 -6 pm Blue Moon pints $3.50 Rolling Rock bottles $2.75

MARY’S & REC ROOM: $3.50 Home-Brew Pints!

MARY’S & REC ROOM: $5 “Mary’s Punch” pints and $4 Shock Top pints.

MARY’S & REC ROOM: Mimosa Brunch served till 3 pm. First mimosa free, then just $2! $4 Leinie bottles.

MARY’S & REC ROOM: Mimosa Brunch served till 3 pm. First mimosa free, then just $2!

MARY’S: Charity HamBINGO with Velicity Metropolis at 8pm. $5 Sauza Margaritas & frozen slushies.

MARY’S: Tini-Tuesday with $3 off all Mary’s specialty martinis.

MARY’S & REC ROOM: $2 off all Mary’s “SpecialTease” cocktail pints.

ATTIC: $2 Jello Shots & $3 Miller Lite draft. No cover

ATTIC: Feel Good Fridays with Rogue DJ at 9pm. $3 Bama-Slamma Shots, $5 Mary’s Punch pints. No Cover

ATTIC: Dance Party with DJ Oskar & John Murges at 9pm. $2 Jello Shots & $5 Frozen Slushies. No Cover

Mon. 8 th

ATTIC: Cabaret Show at 7:30 (cover varies). Gong Show MaryOke with Velicity Metropolis 9pm. $3 well cocktails and domestic bottles

ATTIC: closed

REC ROOM: “Pop Quiz” trivia night. $3 off all Marytinis and $2 PBR cans ATTIC: Closed

ATTIC: MaryOke with DJ Matador at 9pm. $3 well cocktails and domestic bottles

Late Bar

“Bittersweet”: The Strawberry Girl spins bittersweet music and video. $4 Kir Royale Champagne cocktails. Open pm-4am

“FICTION”: Dark pop, electropop, dance rarities and post-contemporary visuals with DJs Gene Avenir, Wesley Groves, Adam Killing and Rolan Vega. Open 9pm – 4am

“Planet Earth”: DJ Dave Roberts spins new wave club classics: Chicago’s favorite new wave night since 1994. Open 9 P.M. – 5 A.M.

Closed

Closed

“Wolf Calls With the Warlock”: vintage rock n’ roll and video oddities. $4 margaritas, $2 PBR bottles, $3 Jameson shots. Open 9pm – 4am

Mix-Tape Meltdown”: a rotating cast of DJs, playing everything from mod & soul to glam & goth. Sponsored by Laurie’s Planet of Sound. $4 flavored Stoli drinks, $2 PBR bottles. Open 9pm – 4am

Little Jim’s

Busch Lit. Cons, Old Style Bottles, $2.25

$6 Pitchers of MGD & Miller Lite

Open until 5am

Open until 4am

Domestic Bottles, Well Drinks $2.25

MGD Draft, Miller Lite Draft $2

Premium Beer $3.50

The NorthEnd

TPAN Pulse Party 6pm with Billy! $8.75 Miller Pitchers!

$4.75 Miller Lite Drafts

College Football - don’t miss your favorite teams & games all day long!

Open at 11am with George - $3.75 mimosas all day - build your own bloody mary with all the fixins NFL Sunday Ticket

$1.75 Miller Lite mugs all day

Gotcha Dart Tourney 8pm Free entry dart tourney with $50 cash prize

Karaoke Wednesday 10pm with Mistress Melissa

Scarlet

Original Frat House Party hosted by Kevin, Jared and William with DJ Katy R. $5 40oz Miller Light, $5 40oz King Cobra, $5 26oz Corona, $5 Mini-Pitcher of Long Island Iced Tea, $5 Stoli-Flavored Throttle Bombs

Scarlet presents The First Ward Ball - Our weekly themed party. $4 Well Drinks, $4 Bud Light, $5 Stoli-Flavored Throttle Bombs

Psycho Saturday hosted by DJ Psycho Bitch. $95 Classic Stoli Bottle Service, $5 StoliFlavored Throttle Bombs

Scarlet gets a little dirty and presents The Brothel. $12 Champaign Bottle, $4 Mimosas, $4 Bloody Mary’s, $3 Miller Lite, $5 Stoli-Flavored Throttle Bombs

Art Haus, hosted by Adam Guerino A weekly rotation of comedy, local artists, independent films and live music. Followed by DJ Greg Haus. $3 Tall Boy PBR, $5 Well Cosmos, $5 Stoli-flavored Throttle Bombs

The Hangout, hosted by Miss Omicah House, Jennings Wynn and Kevin Neal. $6 Mini Pitchers of Vodka-Lemonade, $3 Miller Lite, $5 Stoli-Flavored Throttle Bombs

Downtown Wednesdays - Scarlet brings top name downtown dj’s and flair without the downtown prices. $95 Classic Stoli Bottle Service, 5 Martinis @ $5/ea, $4 Amstel or Heineken, $5 Stoli-Flavored Throttle Bombs

Sidetrack

Open at 3pm Comedy Night 8pm-2am

Open at 3pm Early Show tunes 5-9pm High Energy 9pm-2am

Open 3pm Classic Sidetrack Mix til 9pm High Energy Mix 9pm-3am

Open 3pm Show tunes 3pm-9pm Retro 9pm-2am

Open 3pm Show tunes 3pm-9pm

Open at 3pm U*Video U Request Tuesday 8pm-2am

Open at 3pm Best of Sidetrack 8pm-2am

Wild Pug

Cosmo’s (9 ounces of pleasure) $6

Sapporo pints $3

GEAR NIGHT Free Buzz Cuts Dress Code in Club Room Foot Friends 6pm

BEER BUST 50¢ DRAFTS BUD/BUD LIGHT Pool Tourney @ 8 pm Movie Night @ 10 pm Trucker Daddy Night

Domestic pints $2 9pm Free Pizza while it lasts

Shock Top pints $2.75

Fullers London Pride pints $3

3534 W. Belmont Ave. (773) 267-LATE latebarchicago.com

3501 N. Halsted (773) 871-6116 littlejimschicago.com

3733 N. Halsted (773) 477-7999 northendchicago.com

3320 N. Halsted (773) 348-105 scarletbarchicago.com

3349 N. Halsted (773) 477-9189 sidetrackchicago.com

4810 N. Broadway (773) 784-4811

M ale

Female

Mi x ed

V ideo

Dancing

Cou ntry

Leath er

Sports

Entertainment

Open Late

Food


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2 01 0March 4, 2 01 0

h

5 last vy

$5

s Night os

e urs

odka Shots

h your

0am 2

5

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Crew Fri. Feb 27th P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

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Matador s

ating hing & goth. net of rinks, – 4am

m

Scarlet n dj’s own Bottle ea, 5 mbs

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$3

F ood

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Wild Pug Fri. Feb 27th P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

The North End Fri. Feb 27th P h otos b y st. s u kie de la c roi x

19


Arthur Ave

Sheridan Rd

Magnolia Ave

Sheridan Rd

Kenmore Ave

Wintrhrop Ave

Broadway St

Magnolia Ave

Lockwood Ave

Kenmore Ave Kenmore Ave

Sheridan Rd Sheridan Rd

Winthrop Ave Winthrop Ave

Winthrop Ave

Broadway St Broadway St

Magnolia Ave Magnolia Ave

Broadway St Broadway St

Lakewood Ave

Glenwood Ave

27 21

Lakewood Ave

Foster Ave

25

Wayne Ave

Farragut Ave Summerdale Ave

Gregory St

Glenwood Ave

Berwyn Ave Balmoral Ave

Bryn Mawr Ave

Wayne Ave

Clark St Summerdale Ave

Granville Ave

32

Clark St

23

Gregory St Balmoral Ave

Wayne Ave

Glenwood Ave

Gregory St

Clark St

Berwyn Ave

St

Addison St

Bryn Mawr Ave

Clark St

Ravenswood Ravenswood Ave Ave

Wolcott Ave Wolcott Ave

Damen Ave

Winchester Ave

r

Damen Ave

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hor eS

Winchester Ave

Lak

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adw Bro

7

eA rov eG Pin

Waveland Ave

15 6 3

Thome Ave

GregoryGranville St Ave

Rogers Park

Grace St

5

Clark St

Thome Ave

Rosemont Ave

Greenview Ave

Rosemont Ave

Granville Ave

St

Lockwood Ave

Highland Ave

Ashland Ave Ashland Ave

ce Gra

Devon Ave

Paulina Ave

Sheridan Rd

Mar ch 4, 2 010Mar ch

Highland Ave

Hermatige Ace

Ravenswood Ave

Halsted St

Byron St

Wayne Ave

34 33

Devon Ave

Newgard Ave

Schreiber Ave

Clark

St

 www.chicagofreepress .com 

Irving Park Rd

Winona St Farragut Ave

Winona St

Carmen Ave

Carmen Ave

Winnemac Ave

Winnemac Ave

Winona St

Winona St

r Co

2 Berlin 954 W. Belmont (773) 348-4975 3 Bobby Love's 3729 N. Halsted (773) 525-1200 4 Bucks Saloon 3439 N. Halsted (773) 525-1125 5 Cell Block 3702 N. Halsted (773) 665-8064 6 Charlie's 3726 N. Broadway (773) 871-8887 7 Circuit Night Club 3641 N. Halsted (773) 325-2233 8 The Closet Bar 3325 N. Broadway (773) 477-8533

20 Steamworks 3246 N. Halsted (773) 929-6080

28 Scot’s 1829 W. Montrose (773) 528-3253

12 Little Jim's 3501 N. Halsted (773) 871-6116

Andersonville/Uptown

29 Sofo 4923 N. Clark (773) 784-7636

3341 N. Halsted (773) 871-6227

15 North End 3733 N. Halsted (773) 477-7999 16 Roscoe's Tavern 3356 N. Halsted (773) 281-3355 17 Scarlet Chicago 3320 N. Halsted (773) 348-1053

23 The Call 1547 West Bryn Mawr Ave. (773) 334-2525 24 Crew 4804 N. Broadway (773) 784-2739 25 Hamburger Mary's

- Mary's Attic

5400 N. Clark (773) 784-6969

Sheridan Rd Sheridan Rd

Kenmore Ave

yS

t

Kenmore Ave

Magnolia Ave Magnolia Ave

Winthrop Ave

Clark St Clark St

30 T’s 5025 N. Clark (773) 784-6000 31 Wild Pug 4810 N. Broadway (773) 784-4811

33 Jackhammer 6406 N. Clark (773) 743-5772 34 Touche 6412 N. Clark (773) 465-7400

Outside Map Area Baton Show Lounge Downtown 436 N. Clark (312) 644-5269 Bijou Theatre Downtown 1349 N. Wells (312) 943-5397 Davenport's Wicker Park 1383 N. Milwaukee (773) 278-1830 Forest View Lounge Berwyn, IL 4519 S. Harlem (708) 484-9778

MaldenAve

32 Granville Anvil 1137 W. Granville (773) 973-0006

t yS wa ad Bro

Magnolia Ave Magnolia Ave

MaldenAve

DoverSt

Clark St

Rogers Park

Montrose Ave The Glenwood Rogers Park 6962 N. Glenwood (773) 764-7363 Montrose Ave Hunter's Nightclub Elk Grove Village, IL 1932 E. Higgins Rd. (847) 439-8840

InnExile Southwest Side 5758 W. 65th St. (773) 582-3510 Jeffery Pub South Side 7041 S. Jeffery Blvd. (773) 363-8555 Maneuvers Joliet, IL 118 E Jefferson St. (815) 727-7069 Moda Franklin Park, IL 2409 N. Manheim Rd. Second Story Bar Downtown 157 E Ohio, Second Floor (312) 923-9536 Velvet Rope Oak Park, IL 728 Lake St. (708) 358-8840

Sheridan Rd Sheridan Rd

ad Bro

wa

11 Hydrate Chicago 3458 N. Halsted (773) 975-9244

22 Big Chicks 5024 N. Sheridan (773) 728-5511

Ashland Ave Ashland Ave

Sunnyside Ave

26 Man's Country 5017 N. Clark (773) 878-2069 27 Marty's 1511 W. Balmoral (773) 561-6425

14 Minibar Ultra Lounge and Café

Greenview AVe

Wilson Ave

19 Spin Nightclub Belmont @ Halsted (773) 327-7711

21 @mosphere 5355 N. Clark (773) 784-1100

Paulina St

Sunnyside Ave

10 Halsted's Bar & Grill 3441 N. Halsted (773) 348-9696

13 Lucky Horseshoe 3169 N. Halsted (773) 404-3169

Paulina St

Hermitage Ave Hermitage Ave

Ravenswood Ravenswood Ave Ave

Wolcott Ave

27

31 24

Wilson Ave Leland Ave

DoverSt

18 Sidetrack 3349 N. Halsted (773) 477-9189

Argyle St

29

Lawrence Ave

Paulina St

Damen Ave

Broadway St

9 Cocktail Chicago 3359 N. Halsted (773) 477-1420

Lawrence Ave

Winnemac Ave

Clark St

3160 1 3160 N. Clark (773) 327-5969

13

Ainslie St

30 26

Greenview AVe

Boystown/Lakeview

Halsted St

19

Belmont Ave

Damen Ave

Bar & Club Map

2

Melrose St

Winnemac Ave

Paulina St

School St

20

Carmen Ave

Ainslie St

Leland Ave

Ravenswood Ravenswood Ave Ave

Aldine Ave

Wolcott Ave

8

17

Wolcott Ave

Buckingham Pl

Roscoe St

Wolcott Ave

9 18 14

16

Winchester Ave

tho

Haw

Winchester Ave

Roscoe St

rne

Pl

Winchester Ave

Newport Ave

a

Str

Winchester Ave

10 4

d tfor

Damen Ave

11

Argyle St Carmen Ave

Pl

Damen Ave

St

12

Hermitage Ave

rk

ve

ia A nel

Hermitage Ave

Brompton Ave

Andersonville/Uptown

Cla

Foster Ave

Cornelia Ave

Boystown/Lakeview

Bosworth Ave

2 0 f ree t im e

Greenview Ave

Arthur Ave


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AUTO

23

CLASSIFIEDS

Marketplace Credit card reform goes live By Jason Alderman COLUMNIST

One major piece of legislation President Obama signed last year was the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which made fundamental changes to credit card agreements. Some provisions were adopted last summer, but the bulk of them took effect February 22, 2010. Here’s an overview of a few major changes: Restrictions on interest rate increases. The annual percentage rate (APR) for interest on new credit card accounts cannot be increased during the first year unless: • A clearly disclosed introductory period (teaser rate) ends; also, such introductory periods now must be at least six months long; • It’s a variable-rate (vs. fixed-rate) card and the APR is tied to an index that increases (e.g., U.S. Treasuries); • You enter a debt repayment workout plan and don’t comply with its terms; or • You are over 60 days late making at least the minimum monthly payment. Note: the new rules say the previous APR must be restored after you’ve made six months of ontime payments. More advance notice. After the first year, banks and credit unions that issue credit cards may raise the APR on new transactions, or make other significant account changes, only after providing 45 days’ advance notice. Also, you must be given an opportunity to cancel the card before these changes take effect and pay off the balance at the old rate. Interest rate review. Every six months, card issuers must review accounts whose interest rates were increased based on mar-

ket conditions, cardholder creditworthiness or other factors; and, if warranted they must reduce the rate or provide written notice why the increase should still apply. (Effective August 22, 2010.) Bill and payment timing. Credit card statements must be mailed at least 21 days before the balance is due. Also, payments must be credited as on-time if received by 5 p.m. on the due date. Order of balances paid. When one card carries balances at different interest rates – such as one rate for purchases and another for balance transfers – payments must be applied to the highest-rate balance first. Enhanced statements. Credit card statements must clearly post how much you’ve paid in interest and fees for the year, the upcoming due date and potential late fees, and how long it would take to pay off your bill making minimum payments – including total interest charges. A few other highlights: • Over-the-limit fees cannot be charged unless you have previously agreed (opted in) to allow charges over your credit limit. • You cannot be charged additional fees for paying your bill online or by phone. • Card issuers may no longer factor in average daily balances from a previous billing cycle that wasn’t fully paid off when calculating current interest charges (known as “double-cycle billing”). • People under 21 must have an adult cosigner in order to open an account unless they can prove their ability to repay their account balance. To learn more about particular changes to your credit card agreements, contact the bank or credit union issuing your card, or visit www.fdic.gov. In addition, always read mailings from issuers to ensure you’re up-todate on any account changes.

CLEANING

Health/personals

CHESTNUT CLEANING SERVICE—We clean homes, offices, businesses and buildings; construction/ rehab debris, landlord/ tenants, party cleaning and much more. We respectfully clean for AIDS and other ill patients, severe depression, physically/ mentally challenged, divorce, burglary, the elderly and the deceased. (312) 332-5575. Bonded and Insured. www.chestnutcleaning.com

IF YOU USED TYPE 2 DIABETES DRUG AVANDIA AND SUFFERED A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK. You may be entitled to compensation. Call Attorney Charles Johnson 1-800535-5727

CLEANING CLEANING SERVICES—We clean common areas, offices, apartment buildings. Affordable rates. Call Robert, (773) 600-9282.

COUNSELING SOLUTION FOCUSED COUNSELING. Individual or couples counseling in safe, confidential environment by licensed psychotherapist. Lakeview location. (773) 528-1777. www.mychicagotherapist.com

VACATION GETAWAY Carolina Golf Getaway for Couples. Enjoy 3 days/2 nights, unlimited golf & FREE breakfasts. Luxury accommodations. Only $149. Call 866-334-3253, x2448 or carolinagolfgetaway.com

LAKE PRoperty FOR SALE Lake Lot Sale 2+ Acres - $29,900. Includes FREE Boat Slips! Sat 2/27/10 only Beautifully wooded, private access to spectacular 160,000 acre recreational lake! in Kentucky. Enjoy infinity-edge pool, miles of walking trails, private park, more. Excellent financing. Call now 1-800-704-3154, x3395

Chad Duda Residential Brokerage

ROCK SOLID REAL ESTATE ADVICE. www.chadduda.com (773) 572-7543 Preferred Properties

Prices subject to change at anytime. Down payment amount contingent upon buyer qualifications.


We are proud to announce...

Baird & Warner

has earned the 2009 Website Quality Certification for meeting Leading Real Estate Companies of the World’s rigorous standards of website excellence. NEW LISTING

1455 N Bell

OPEN SUN 12-4

$429,900

161 E Chicago 40G $419,000

5722 N Winthrop 3S

Walk to Bucktown & Division from this sun drenched 4br home in Wicker Park. ID#2305341 Jordan Chalmers 773-697-5555

Architecturally delightful,updated,c ontemp.3br/2ba home in Old Irving Park. ID#92300291 John Eggert 773-697-5555

Perfect pied a’ terre or principal residence. Pristine condition, 1br/1ba ID#92159703 Kathleen Tannyhill 312-640-7010

Edgewater huge 3br/2ba. Fam rm off cherry kit. Marble baths, 2c pkg. ID#82058574 Pamela Pekoc 773-549-1855

Unbelievable renovation & attention to detail!1700 sf.2br/2ba vint.condo! ID#2305123 Caryn Hoeft 773-697-5555

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW PRICE

1652 N Fairfield 2

$799,000

NEW PRICE

$289,900

West Bucktown like-new 2br/2ba simplex.Balcony, garage and storage. ID#2305305 Busalacchi/Zuber 773-697-5555

3753 N Kilbourn

550 W Surf St. 005

$249,000

Great Value in Lincoln Park! 2 bedroom garden! FHA apprvd bldg! ID#3105043 Anthony Brock 847-491-1855

$392,000

Chicago, 940 W Carmen 2

$375,000

$209,900

1460 N Sandburg 1010 $195,000

5455 N Sheridan 1506

Fabulous 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo w/fireplace. Parking space included! ID#92059374 Joan Brennock 773-549-1855

Bring your remodeling ideas to the 10th flr of the alcott house. Lg wndws ID#4405061 Olivia Lee 773-775-1855

S facing 1br w/vws of lake, park & downtown. ID#2155151 Eleni Mathias 312-640-7010

2015 W Birchwood 3

bairdwarner.com

$299,900

Portage Park 3 bedroom bungalow. Rehabbed in 2009, beautiful finishes! ID#2055047 Michael Parish 773-549-1855

5844 W Augusta

$150,000

This rehabbed home offers vintage charm & a trendy loft area. ID#95709501 James Salazar 708-697-5900

SHAFFER GROUP

A family in more ways than one. Baird & Warner has been Chicagoland’s favorite way home since 1855. Wherever your home may be, our family would love to help you get there.

$159,900

5327 W Waveland

773.883.2787 • dennis.shaffer@bairdwarner.com

433 W Briar 8C

$590,000

Luxury vintage 2 bedroom, 2.1 bath unit. Large floorplan, fabulous upgrades! Parking sold separately. Immediate delivery. ID#92059092

201 E Chestnut 10A

$399,000

Wonderful Streeterville location. Spacious 2br/2ba corner unit w/ great city views. Many recent improvements. Full service bldg. ID#2055052

1355 N Sandburg 2901

$210,000

Penthouse corner 1br/1ba unit w/ wonderful skyline & lake views. Recent rehab w/many upgrades. Full service bldg. Great location. ID#2055056

Learn more about any of the homes shown above by entering the ID Number in our homepage FAST FIND box.


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