June 5 - 11, 2024

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Arts & Entertainment

Event highlights of the week!

Sportswise

The SportsWise team discusses why head coaches get so much blame when the GM picks the talent.

Eatwise

Vendor Donald Morris visits Joe's Barbeque & Fish in Austin.

Cover Story: Leslie and the lys

Internet ceWEBrity Leslie Hall, frontwoman of the band Leslie and the LYs, crafted out her own little niche in pop culture and toured the country multiple times on the success of her 6 albums full of catchy (and comedic!) dance-pop bops. After a break from touring in 2014, Leslie is ready to break out the "beatdazzler" and bring the glamour back to Chicago, and hopefully hug some new fans in the process.

PRIDE CALendar

Some of the exciting ways to celebrate Pride this month!

The Playground

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher dhamilton@streetwise.org

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Amanda Jones, Director of programs ajones@streetwise.org

Julie Youngquist, Executive director jyoungquist@streetwise.org

Ph: 773-334-6600

Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Compiled by Dave Hamilton

Housing Solutions!

Tiny Home Summit 2.0

The Tiny Homes movement can offer creative, quicker, lower-cost, and beautiful solutions for dignified housing for those seeking independent living. The Tiny Home Summit 2.0 will bring together experts from Chicago and across the U.S. to discuss solutions to meet the urgent need for homes for the unstably housed, those needing affordable housing, and others seeking free-standing, smaller-footprint living in Chicago. The first Tiny Homes Summit, focused on youth experiencing homelessness, was hosted in April 2016. Topics included financing, housing as HIV prevention, public policy issues, and strategies for developing a tiny home community for youth experiencing homelessness in Chicago. The summit also displayed a model of the winning design from the Tiny Homes Competition, hosted by the American Institute of Architects in Chicago, Pride Action Tank, Alphawood Foundation, Landon Bone Baker, and Windy City Times. Registration is $85 at https://action.aidschicago.org/TinyHomeSummit Student Rate is $20. Breakfast and lunch are included in the ticket price. Thursday June 13, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., at UIC Student Center West, Thompson Rooms A, B, & C, 828 S. Wolcott Ave.

The Children Are the Future!

Dance4Peace Youth Concert: House of Freedom Dance4Peace Youth Concert: House of Freedom, is a vibrant imagination of free expression and Artivism centering Black youth. Each performance is inspired by the New Afrika Shrine, the spiritual home of Afrobeat and the liberation work of Fela Kuti. Join Red Clay Dance Company as their Artivists in training take you on a journey through their “houses” of dance: Jazz, Tap, West African, and more! The performance also features special appearances from Ida B. Wells Preparatory Academy. This year, Mashaune Hardy of Logan Center for the Arts and Ayodele Drum & Dance will be honored with the prestigious Community Hug Award. June 8, 3 p.m., at Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Tickets are $15 at redclaydance.com

Ballet for All!

Joffrey For All

The Joffrey Ballet presents the Joffrey for All free performance, which will feature a mixed repertory program in Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 208 E. Randolph St., by Joffrey Company Artists and students from the Joffrey Academy of Dance Community Engagement programs. The program is comprised of a series of powerful performances by the most pioneering choreographers from around the globe, including Cathy Marston, Justin Peck, Yuri Possokhov, Christopher Wheeldon, and 2024 Winning Works Choreographer Manoela Gonçalves. The Joffrey Ballet for All free performance kicks off with family-friendly movement classes featuring partner organizations, including the Poetry Foundation and Ensemble Español, starting at 4:15 p.m. on the lawn, followed by the mixed rep program at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 16.

A Chicago Landmark!

The Backward River Festival: Damen Silo City

The Freshwater Lab at the University of Illinois Chicago will host The Backward River Festival: Damen Silo City on the west side of the Canalport Riverwalk Park, 2900 S. Ashland Ave., June 8, 2-6 p.m., to celebrate the efforts and achievements of environmental justice advocates and artists who live and/or work around the Damen Silos; bring attention to the history and current state of the Damen Silos; invite attendees to consider the impacts of demolition on residents; and highlight alternative community visions for redevelopment, design and integration. The festival will include tabling and activities by community groups and Chicago organizations; a performance stage; and a chance for attendees to see and reflect on the Damen Silos from across the water. Because the silos are slated for demolition, the festival will provide a unique opportunity for a farewell to the structure and contemplation of its history. FREE.

It's Time for the Percolator!

Chicago: Home of House Exhibit

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of House music, this one-of-a-kind exhibit will pay homage to the energy, music, and dance of Black and Latino youth on Chicago’s South and West Sides that laid the critical foundation for Chicago House music. Presented in partnership with the Design Museum of Chicago and The Vintage House Show Collective, the exhibit will explore the history of the artists, clubs, and labels that built the style of House pioneers and practitioners. FREE through October 31 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.

Author Talk!

‘Bodies to Die For’: A Discussion with Author Lori Brand Join The Book Stall, 811 Elm St., Winnetka, on June 11 at 6:30 p.m. as it welcomes author and Winnetka native Lori Brand for the release of “Bodies to Die For,” a brilliant psychological thriller that will have readers wondering whether the perfect body really is worth dying for. With breakneck pace and keen insights, “Bodies to Die For” takes a hard look at social media, the $70 billion diet industry, and the war on women’s bodies— the wars we wage with each other, and with ourselves. This event is free with registration at thebookstall.com

Roll the Dice!

‘Three Sisters’

‘Level Up: Writers & Gamers’

Embark on a thrilling adventure into the world of game writing! The “Level Up: Writers & Gamers” exhibit takes you on a journey from the 1970s to today, from early tabletop games like “Dungeons & Dragons" to expansive modern video games like “Baldur’s Gate III.” Explore how writers craft game narratives, how players function as writers themselves, and how Americans use role-playing games and video games to define and respond to our culture. Special exhibit at American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., included with general museum admission (Adult: $16, Student, Senior, Teacher: $10. Children 12 and under free) at americanwritersmuseum.org

Art On Parade!

Uptown Art Procession

Visit make-up artists and share refreshments at Winthrop Family Historical Garden, 4628 N. Winthrop, and then join in on a real-life, merrymaking procession with musicians, fire-dancers, tumblers, costumes, instruments, and all sorts of silliness. Gather community members along the way and process through the Uptown art walk to bring a festive, jubilant flair as well as fanfare to the artists, as they beautify the neighborhood with their murals. Art-making and refreshments are 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Processions take place at 11:30 a.m., 1 & 2:30 p.m.

Chekhov in Chicago!

For three women lingering in the past and on the edge, fortune lives in the everyday. Trapped between a genteel dream and a reality rife with yearning, they infuse their habitat and their hearts with home-spun beauty. They are rich in love – for each other, and for their eccentric extended family. Playing Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. at Invictus Theatre Company at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road. Monday performances are $25, all others are $35 at invictustheatreco.com

A Revolutionary Man!

‘Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution’ Civil rights activist Kwame Ture, born Stokely Carmichael, was a towering icon; a man of immense domestic and international importance; a man who refused to back down, step aside, or remain silent. But he was also just that: a man. Blending the historical and the personal with astonishing grace, "Stokely: The Unfinished Revolution" depicts one man’s rise to prominence and the people who made it possible, posing the question: what does a movement mean to one man, and what does one man mean to a movement? Playing through June 16 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Thurs-Sun at 7:30 p.m., Sun at 2 p.m., Tickets start at $45 at courttheatre.org

should we blame the coach or GM?

John: Why is there more pressure to fire a head coach versus a general manager when the general manager does the decision making as far as players?

Russell: Coaches get fired because the manager hires the coaches. Somebody's got to take the fall. The Phoenix Suns went to the NBA playoffs this year and they fired their coach. The LA Lakers did same thing.

John: Don’t you think the general manager should take some of the blame, since he acquired the players?

Donald: Well, there's gambling on the side. They look at your shortcomings. Are you doing a good job? Or are you just lying to them, and you're under the carpet betting against them?

Allen: The general manager is in charge of hiring the coach.

It comes down to, if the owner says there's a problem, we need to win more games, then of course, the general manager is gonna say the coach is the problem. Somebody has to take the fall and it usually falls on the coach because the general manager is over the coach.

John: As far as I'm concerned, it depends on where your team is at. Like let's say you have a team that has a roster that does not belong in a championship, but we're making the playoffs, then I think there your general manager should be to blame because they're the ones that pick out the groceries. Now let's say for example, we have a team of all stars. And the head coach, for example, doesn't mentor the talents like Phil Jackson did back in the day with the Chicago Bulls and Pat Riley with the Lakers. Then then yeah, you do need to take full accountability.

I agree with Howard Eskin of WIP-FM in Philadelphia that head coaches don't win games. But they do lose, like in Major League Baseball, you have a team that wins 60 games by accident and loses 60 games by accident, including 42 other games. If they lose more than they win, and they’ve got the talent, yeah, the coach needs to be blamed. But if they don't have the talent, their general manager should be fired. Then let the new one come in and see if he thinks his head coach is good enough to coach the team. If not, then he can hire somebody. There should be more pressure on the GM because they're the ones that pick out the talent.

Allen: John, you you made a good point. General managers should have some accountability because they hire the players and the coaches, even though it is up to the coach to implement those plans and put them in

position to win. You got to be accountable for hiring people. Take the Chicago Bears: they just got rid of Justin Fields. But if they don't give the new quarterback protection, they are still gonna lose. Who’s gonna be accountable for that?

Russell: I agree with you guys. The coach didn't go out and get the players. The Bulls got a good coach in Billy Donovan. He’s been there, got experience.

John: A head coach is only as good as the players. Same for the head coach. He is only as good as the general manager, unless he has a special talent like Pat Riley in the NBA or Jimmy Johnson to the NFL. Otherwise, you’ve got a Catch-22.

Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Vendors (clockwise): A. Allen, Russell Adams, Donald Morris, and John Hagan chat about the world of sports.

Joe's Barbeque & Fish

Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to a new Soul Food place, it’s called Joe’s Barbeque and Fish. They’re awesome, the chicken is great, right off the top.

Your first moment eating it, you’re gonna taste the barbeque sauce, and you’re gonna like everything you eat. Their sauce is spicy and sweet, but it’s hot. It’s spicy food that charges you up, and it’s really bold. So far as the color and content of the BBQ sauce, it’s spiced, and it caramelizes on the hot links and ribs. But remember, they also do chicken and fish, too. I had the hot links and the okra. The okra is fried and has salt and pepper. They have fried tilapia and perch, and they throw the French fries in to fill you up. You can buy soda pop with it, or they’ll give you a water. I enjoyed it all immensely. It’s a nice place to go. You got good desserts there, too. You can get a slice of apple pie with homemade ice cream.

Joe's Barbecue & Fish

Location: 4900 W. Madison St. Addison neighborhood

Most restaurants that I go to, from what my experience has been with BBQ through Chicago, the bottom line is that you walk in, it’s lit up, and you come up and you go to the counter. And you talk to the cook, who you make your order with. Ribs, beef, they only do slabs. They’ll give you a whole slab and it’s $25 with fries and whatnot. But the taste of the BBQ sauce, again, is hot and spicy. There’s a reason for the hot spice. But there’s also a reason for this immediate charge when you start eating. And you notice that the flavor don’t get away from you. It attacks you hours after you eat. And you remember the experience you have. The spices in it that make it hot, are probably the spices that give it the flavor.

Price Range: $10-$25 per person

Hours: Monday: noon - midnight Tue & Wed: 11 a.m. - 1 a.m. Thursday: 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Sunday: noon - 2 a.m.

You wanna go out there with the right frame of mind. Bottom line is, it’s the West Side neighborhood. I can’t make no requests for clean up or whatever, but there is something there. If you want good Soul Food, it’s a good place to check out.

It’s fast food. It cost a little bit, but it was well worth it. The food was good, it filled me up. One plate only, it worked. I still salivate and I still have good moments right now when I’m thinking of the flavor and taste of their barbeque sauce. Joe’s Barbeque & Fish, you will be instantly satisfied. Go down there to Madison and Cicero and I guarantee you, you’ll enjoy the food.

I also heard about other Soul Food restaurants, and I’ll be checking on them, too.

by Donald Morris & Sarah Luczko

Donald Morris

Joe's Barbeque & Fish: Chicken and exterior.

H oW I N te rn eT CEwe br it y

LeSL ie H a lL

C raF ted her Way tO

by Dave Hamilton

o ur H ea rts

Fans of Leslie and the LYs can find it hard to easily describe the internet sensation from Ames, Iowa. She is a plus size rapper/ singer/songwriter/author who focuses on the simpler things in life, such as crafting, gold pants, kittens, and gem sweaters (vintage knit sweaters bedazzled with rhinestones and/or sequins). The self-proclaimed “Mother Gem” or “Midwest Diva” is a musician, but so much more. She has crafted her sometimes silly, always fun-loving persona over decades, and has brought joy to her fans with countless videos that have turned her into an internet legend and a gay icon. Frontwoman Leslie Hall joins me via Zoom as she crafts a boombox-inspired cape in neon-colored felt. “Entrepreneurs can never sit still.”

StreetWise: On April 20, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you made a triumphant return to the stage - performing your first concert in 10 years! The audience was sending you so much love. How did it feel to be up there again?

Leslie: Oh, it felt incredible! I currently would describe my physical activity as "onces" a week pickleball and stationary, so anytime people paid to watch me do cardio I’m in! It was so fun and exciting and liberating. I just cannot describe how good it feels when I am on stage. It felt like I could do anything, and the audience would laugh or point and giggle. It's the greatest. I made them sweat, and they watched me humiliate myself with fabulousness.

And boy, does that put a spark in your brain to keep going! I want more honeys. I want it.

How did you begin your career in entertainment?

If you want to go all the way back to high school… This was in the '90s, and I wanted to buy some domain names and create my own website. I wanted to buy girlsjustwanttohavefun.com, because it is one of my favorite movies with Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. I was gonna do a fan site (that was what was popular on the web at the time), but it wasn't available. I was like, “what else do I collect?” Well, I have a lot of gem sweaters, so I will buy gemsweater.com, and put up pictures of me posing in my gem sweaters. I did that and it went viral. By viral, I mean, it was passed around through email. It's a different viral from today. I ended up getting this really high bandwidth bill from GoDaddy. I think it was like $20,000 or something crazy, just because so many people were visiting my site.

I wasn't making any money from the website. I was just putting stuff out there and then I came to the realization that I

have to sell something. At the time, people were buying songs for a dollar, and I thought, well, I'll just make up some songs, and people can buy them. I came up with some silly songs, “Gold Pants” and “Ring-a-ding-ding” were the big ones. The performer in me was like “I could sing these songs and wear my gem sweaters.” I started playing anything I could book. A played a lot of open mics, and from that we got invited to a house party, and from that the venues started to ask “Hey, do you want to open up for this band,” and then I started to get the opportunity to do my own shows, and the sets kept getting bigger and bigger.

But the gem sweaters really started it on the Internet. My big break was in Vice Magazine. My brother was at a bar and met the editor and told him to check me out. He put me in the magazine, and that really legitimized the act.

You have had a very devoted cult following, especially from the gay community, who have been supporting you right from the start.

Yes, it's true. I was just so lucky to be one of the early ones to find fame on the internet. I do think I came out at a good time. Would I stand out now? Probably not. But back then, to see an art student with that much content helped me stand out! I really am trying to be a diva or a star. All the mess ups you see during the live show are because I'm not very good at being a diva or a star, and my crew is not professional. You really are watching a woman try her hardest, and I hope that reads! Gay men have always turned out for me. They have great taste, I like to say. They see someone who's gonna dance till they're dead, just for a good show. I will give you it all.

You sold out Berlin Nightclub on Halloween, that's the epitome of gay Chicago.

My God! It was an honor to do that!

At StreetWise, we are always helping people to become entrepreneurs. Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

Absolutely. My first taste of business was selling ranch crackers in elementary school to other kids. Oh boy! There's something about making a buck that makes you want to keep going. I was making this art, but I needed something to exchange money, so making merch is definitely one of my favorite parts of this. I love product design. When my shirts kept selling online, I realized there are other people out there that are interested in this, which kept me going.

I'm obsessed with screen printed shirts, even though that's the most expensive. I'm definitely a sucker for the handmade limited edition band merch. There's many different ways of producing merch now, the internet and fancy printers have really lowered costs and made it very accessible. But I'm doing it the old way, which to me is more artsy and more fun. I don't make as much money, but I think my customers appreciate it and keep coming back.

Do you have any fond memories from Chicago?

I'm in the Midwest, so Chicago is like my New York City, capital of the world, you know. That is where they have the dirtiest streets, the trains, the (lack of) parking… It's like, I don't know how people live there, but they do. Chicago was always an exciting stop. It seems like everybody in Chicago is a hustler or a go-getter.

Laurie Metcalf, I think, is the most famous person I know that came from Chicago. Stars are born in Chicago! It is so cool to think that somewhere in the Midwest you can get discovered and become a superstar!

We would always pull really good numbers in Chicago! I felt that if the Chicago people like us, we might be able to do this in other places. So it was a big confidence boost. I think I went around the country at least 4 or 5 times when I look back. And then I went out a few times with “Yo Gabba Gabba,” too.

Speaking of, how did you get involved with “Yo Gabba Gabba” (a children's show that ran on Nickelodeon that is going to be revived on Apple TV+ this fall)?

They found me off the Internet. I don't know if it was [my song and music video] “Tight Pants, Body Rolls,” or what exactly, but they thought I fit their wacky show. It worked so well. They are such artists and creative guys.

Was it “Yo Gabba Gabba” that sparked your desire to entertain children? Did it inspire your “Yarn House” show on YouTube?

I had made a demo, so I had actually started “Yarn House” before “Yo Gabba Gabba.” I showed it to producers and I said, “Hey, you wanna make this show next?” But they were pretty busy.

“Yarn House” is my “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” attempt... creating a magical, artistic, visually beautiful world that you’d wanna visit.

I see the influence, what is the backstory of “Yarn House”?

While we were on tour, we would go to thrift stores just to kill some time. Somewhere in Idaho, there was a giant house made out of yarn. We had no room in the van, but we cov-

PAGE 10 & 11: From Left: Two sweaters from Leslie's collection of over 400 that started it all: Peacock Grove (top) and Dizzeling Dreams (below). Leslie and the LYs perform on stage, with her elaborate set pieces on full display. Leslie on the set of "Yarn House" (Annick Sjobakken photo). Neon & Nude. PAGE 12: Leslie and the LYs. All photos courtesy of the artist except where noted.

PAGE 9: Leslie Hall (Annick Sjobakken photo).

ered it in garbage bags, strapped it to the roof, and we did bring it back to Iowa. I was like, “I don't know why I want this, but it's gonna be important somewhere later.” And then it did. I was like, what if I went inside this yarn house and I lived in it, cause I mean sweaters, yarn, crafty, it all makes sense. Then I was like, “I gotta have a sidekick.” So I decided to use one of my pet chickens. It was kind of rough. I've gotten better with video, and we're still trying to make it. I've made a bunch of different versions. Hollywood never called and said, “Let's do that.” So now we make it for our friends to laugh and have an excuse to make very silly props.

There's that entrepreneurship.

It's true! I have made maybe 5 versions of this “Yarn House,” and I'm going to keep doing it.

Your humor has always been more innocent and sweet, pretty kid friendly, never very vulgar or overly sexual.

I do get sexy, but I don't get TOO sexy. I grew up on network TV so I learned how to creatively allude to dirty deeds. I wrote some weird songs but being able to share music with a large audience at say, a grocery store. I feel more comfortable keeping it clean.

I know you kind of started doing more “Yarn House” while you're on hiatus from touring. What kind of spurred the lack of touring?

I wasn’t getting any inspiration for new songs, plus I really wanted to develop “Yarn House.” Being on the road, it's hard to develop something new.

I have another project I started right after my last tour, Neon & Nude, and I feel like that project is so good. I want to drum up more interest in it.

I thought they were great in Minneapolis. What was the concept behind Neon & Nude?

It is 2 women falling in love, adding comedy and costumes. I wanted to develop something not electronic, I was getting tired of the same digital loops. We live in a town where there's plenty of people who played in band or were in orchestra many years back, and we asked our friends to dust off their trombones and banjos. We used the experience of Kate and I falling in love in our 30s, and all the silliness of that time in your life, when you're goo goo gaga for somebody. And I just think there's not enough lesbian duo acts. We need more. I want to be more.

We're trying to be fun and light hearted. I desire to sound like Lawrence Welk. If I could I would lead a full orchestra, and Kate would be like Sissy. And I could bring Sissy out, and she could do a slow dance, and I'd tap my podium during her performance, and it could be a very fun show. Neon & Nude will be performing with us wherever Leslie and the LYs play because I think they complement each other. And they're both from me!

As you can see, I have many different projects. They're not all neon. Well, no, I shouldn't say that. They ARE all neon. They aren't all gold pants. Sometimes it's lesbians in sailor suits.

How do you measure your success?

I definitely measure success in the fact that I get to keep doing it. Being a working artist can be hard, but then you go to

Chicago, and so many people are doing such cool things, and it keeps me inspired. It's been 10 years since I performed and I still get comments like “that was such a great show. I remember it from 10 years ago.” I can't help but want to see, 10 years later, if I can do it again. I want to recreate that with people. Probably a terrible idea to try to go out on the road again. I should just end on top with fond memories after all of those years. But I can’t help but think I can do better.

Hence the Minneapolis show where I did go big. You know, more skits, more costume changes, big set pieces. I just wanna take this heightened diva-character-art-project and just go for it! This is still primarily a one woman show, an insane person’s one woman show. I did it once before, it was luck and timing, and my parents bought me the van. But now I want to do it again, and bigger, and just just show everyone that it wasn't a wasn't just a fluke.

When you get older you're like, “Oh, I know how to do this.” My body cannot keep up as well, but I'm going to try and ask for the audience to forgive me later. I want more attention is what it comes down to. Remember that time I got all that attention? I'd like more of that, please.

I miss all the people every place we'd go, we'd make friends. Everybody was so nice. I want to go back and check in on people, I want to give hugs and get hugs! And I want to meet the people who buy the merchandise online and put faces to those addresses. I feel like I have friends everywhere, and I want to go see them.

How do people reach you or get to know more about you?

I'm on Patreon.com (@MotherGem). That's the best way to get in touch because I'm doing video, and they get to see everything. They're seeing what I'm working on, when I'm failing, when I'm succeeding. They're giving me ideas. People are very clever when they're at home by themselves, writing comments. I'm getting some great song ideas. I do feel like it is a bit collaborative on that in that space. I don't like the Patreon website, but I do like the concept. I needed it because for so long, I was just putting Youtube videos up and not seeing a lot of financial return. And you can't maintain that.

I am also very active on Instagram (@iamlesliehall), Facebook (lesliehallofficial), TikTok (@.leslie.hall), and I have over a decade's worth of videos on YouTube (lesliehall).

What does the future hold for Leslie?

I'm just gonna keep going! As long as people are still Patreoning me and still buying merchandise, this is something I'm going to keep pursuing. I'm looking back and thinking “Oh, my gosh! We did so much stuff that was so neat.” I want to do that again. That's happening. I am actively working on booking a Chicago gig this summer. But No. 1, I wanna get out and I wanna hug new people: the teens who watched “Gabba,” the kids who watch “Gabba,” the baby gays, all of them. I want to let them know that it's gonna be fun. Life is going to be great because we all are the best. P R I D E MO N T H C AL E N D AR O F E V E N TS

ALL Month

Chicago Public Library Pride Month

CPL will be celebrating Pride all month long, with special events at every location, including drag story time, crafting events, book recommendations and more. chipublib.org

June 6 @ 7 p.m.

Jonathan Van Ness: 'Gorgeously Me'

Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave. Chicago Humanities celebrates Pride Month with Jonathan Van Ness! The New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-winning host of Netflix’s Queer Eye presents their latest book, "Gorgeously Me." In this conversation on their new heartwarming book for young readers, Van Ness teaches young and old alike that they are loved and cherished, exactly as they are. Join Van Ness and Chicago Humanities for a celebration of pride, uniqueness and individuality. $41 at chicagohumanities.org

June 7-9, Fri @ 5-10 p.m., Sat & Sun @ noon - 10 p.m.

ANDERSONVILLE MIDSOMMARFEST

On Clark, Foster to Gregory Now in its 58th year, Midsommarfest celebrates the neighborhood’s Swedish origins in its opening ceremonies Saturday, along with up-and-coming LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and female-identified artists. Lineup on three stages includes Sixteen Candles, Dancing Queen/ABBA Salute, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, Cecy Santana, Nasty Snacks, partywatcher, Bianca Shaw, Chicago Spirit Brigade and more. Sponsored by Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, its proceeds support neighborhood events, small business networking and local nonprofits like Peirce and Chappell Elementary Schools, Chicago Women’s Health Center and Brave Space Alliance. $10 suggested donation. andersonville.org/events/midsommarfest

June 8 @ 7 p.m.

‘Never Doubt: We Are Here’ Artemis Singers Pride

Concert and Dance

First Congregational Church of Evanston UCC, 1445 Hinman Ave., Evanston Artemis Singers, Chicago’s lesbian feminist chorus, now in its 44th year, specializes in performing music written or arranged by women. $25 GA or sliding scale tickets at events.humantix.com

June 9 @ 3 p.m.

Shout OUT: A Tribute to Gays in Gospel Music

Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.

Led by Chicago singer & bandleader Lucy Smith, special Pride Month show celebrates music legends Little Richard, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Rev. James Cleveland, Clara Mae Ward, Billy Preston and more. $15 at thebeverlyartscenter.com

June 14 @ 6 p.m.

Bloodsuckers

Drag Spectacular

Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive

The annual museum drag show begins with Happy Hour at 6 p.m., followed by the performance at 7 p.m. In addition to the show, your ticket includes one complimentary drink ticket, snacks, and access to one of the Museum’s temporary exhibitions, “Bloodsuckers: Legends to Leeches.”

$55 at fieldmuseum.org

June 15 @ 4 p.m. - midnight

Pride Bar Crawl

20% of this event’s proceeds will be donated to Center on Halsted. Handpicked inclusive bars (5 venues), exclusive drink specials, and freebies that are available only to Pride Bar Crawl participants. Beginning at Charlie’s Chicago, 3736 N. Broadway. Tickets are $15 at crawlwith.us/chicago/pride

June 20 @ 7:30 p.m.

Windy City Performing Arts

‘We Sing…’

First United Methodist Church of Chicago, 777 W. Washington St.

Music performed by The Windy City Gay Chorus, The Windy City Treble Quire, and The Windy City Chamber Quire. $20 GA at windycitysings.org

June 22 @ noon-7 p.m.

Black LGBTQ+ Beach Day

63rd Street Beach

Enjoy dancing, a beach party, DJ Rae Chardonnay's beats, and free healthcare services. FREE.

June 22-23 @ 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

CHICAGO PRIDE FEST

Halsted St., from Addison to Grace St. Celebrate LBGTQ+ life, culture and community with headliners and local artists on three stages. 24th annual event features best of Chicago drag, proud pet parade, 150+ food and merchandise vendors, DJs, dancing and more. Lineup includes Jojo Siwa, Natasha Bedingfield, Sapphira Cristal, Kaleena Zanders, Bob the Drag Queen, Amber Riley. $15 suggested donation benefits local nonprofits and Chicago Pride Crosswalks. northalsted.com/pridefest

June 25 @ 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Pride in Tech Chicago TeamWorking by TechNexus, 20 N. Wacker Drive

Third annual evening all about celebrating the diversity of Chicago's LGBTQ+ business and technology community. FREE with registration at lu.ma/PRIDEinTech2024

June 28-30, Fri @ 3-10 p.m., Sat & Sun @ noon - 10 p.m.

Pride North

Glenwood & Morse, right off the Morse Redline Stop

Large block / outdoor dance party, $10 suggested donation to Howard Brown Health.

June 28-30 @ 4 p.m.

BACK LOT BASH

5238 N. Clark St.

Girls come out to play at Flannel Friday and Sat/Sun during Pride Weekend. Age 21+ 1-Day $26.52, 3-Day $62.32 at backlotbashchicago.com

June 29 @ noon - 10 p.m.

Navy Pier Pride

600 E. Grand Ave.

This free, full-day event celebrates diversity, inclusivity, and support for the LGBTQIA+ community. Festivities include live music, educational programs, performances from local LGBTQIA+ artists, on-site resources from community partners and more.

June 30 @ 7 a.m.

Proud to Run 5K & 10K

601 W. Montrose Ave.

Registration required at proudtorunchicago.org

June 30 @ 11 a.m.

GAY PRIDE PARADE

Montrose Avenue and Broadway to Diversey Pkwy and Sheridan Road

"Pride is Power" is the theme of 53rd annual parade, as 125 contingents march south along Broadway, then Halsted, east along Belmont to Broadway, then south to Diversey. With one million people expected, you'll find less crowded viewing at start of the parade, but people 30 to 40 deep in Boystown; best disability-accessibility is along Diversey. With 1 million attendees expected, don’t drive; take CTA! FREE. pridechicago.org

July 6 @ 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Pride South Side

740 E. 56th Pl.

6th annual event with the theme “The Right to Pride” positioning the legacy of the LGBTQI+ Community at the front of advocacy, culture, and leadership.

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