Part of the Gay Chicago Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Monday, July 20, 2026
A book group digging into the canon of women's writing at Women & Children First, Andersonville's feminist and queer bookstore.
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Tue, Aug 25
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Charlie's, Chicago
Free salsa, bachata & cumbia dance lessons every Tuesday at Charlie's Chicago. All levels welcome. $4 drinks, Jell-O shots for charity.
Monthly
Tue, Aug 25
6 PM - 10 PM
Kit Kat Lounge, Chicago
Weekly Wednesday drag cabaret at Kit Kat Lounge featuring live performances, dinner, and cocktails. Glamorous entertainment in an intimate supper club setting.
Weekly
Tue, Aug 25
6:30 PM - 9 PM
Cell Block, Chicago
Every Tuesday at Cell Block, Chicago's leather bar — doors close at 7:30pm for an evening of uninhibited fun at the city's most unapologetic leather space.
MonthlyTue, Aug 25
7 PM - 12 AM
Charlie's, Chicago
Weekly Tuesday karaoke at Charlie's in Chicago with hosted chaos, song sabotage, and comedy. Hosted by Bella DeBalle and Sutton Fister.
Weekly
Tue, Aug 25
7 PM - 8:30 PM
Dorothy, Chicago
Pitch Your Peeps: Late Bloomers is a slide-deck matchmaking show at Dorothy in Chicago, centering LGBTQ+ folks who came into it later in life.
Tue, Aug 25
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
2Bears Tavern Uptown, Chicago
Weekly Tuesday poker night at 2Bears Tavern Uptown. All skill levels welcome. No gambling—just cards, friends, and prizes in a laid-back gay bar vibe.
WeeklyLet people know you're going, see who else is attending, and share the event with friends.
Your complete guide to LGBTQ+ Chicago — the best gay bars, annual events, neighborhoods, hotels, and things to do in the Windy City.
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Everything you need for Chicago's Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade — the route, the costume contest, the Northalsted bars that go all out, and where to stay that's gay.
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Parvati Shallow's Survivor brunch, Queen! celebrates Lucy's birthday, and G.E.M. turns five at Jackhammer — plus 92 ways to fill your weekend.
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A citywide guide to the best gay bars and clubs in Chicago — Northalsted's neon-lit video bars, Andersonville's laid-back locals, historic South Side spots and everything between.
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Laid-back patios, karaoke, and the least pretentious crowd in the city — here's where Chicago's bears, cubs, and otters actually hang out, night by night.
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From cruise bars in Rogers Park to the Chicago Eagle, here's every corner of Chicago's leather and kink scene — the birthplace of IML.
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