March 5, 2009
Community supports Lakeview fire victims
On Friday evening, Scarlet Bar co-owner Paul Cannella stood inside the wreckage of his Halsted Street bar before workers boarded up the fire-damaged building.
"I’m still in shock," Cannella said, looking around at the smoky and soaked space in disbelief... Full Story / Comment
Freestyle
Gentleman prefers blonde: an interview with Gentleman Reg
Down here in the lower 48, out Canadian musician Gentleman Reg might not yet be an immediately recognizable name, but that could change with the release of his new album “Jet Black” (Arts & Crafts). Reg Vermue (a.k.a. Gentleman Reg), who has collaborated with queer musical acts including The Hidden Cameras and Final Fantasy... Full Story / Comment
March 5, Thursday: Lesbian writer Achy Obejas reads from her new novel “Ruins” at 7:30 p.m. at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark. Call (773) 769-9299... Full Story / Comment
What better way to kick off Women’s History Month than with a celebration of the spectrum of the diva, the chanteuse, the grand dame? Annie Ross, the “Ross” in jazz vocal trio Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, was an... Full Story / Comment
Francesca’s Forno: Something wonderful from the oven
g hit, it usually means that another branch will start up. If that one becomes popular as well, more will follow, reproducing like spores. Too often this means that what made the original restaurant so popular is diluted... Full Story / Comment
“Two Lovers” isn’t so much a black comedy as it is a grey and shadowy one. Unstable Leonard (Joaquin Phoenix) is saved from drowning after jumping into the bay near Brighton Beach. He returns home, dripping wet, to the house he shares with his parents Ruth (Isabella Rossellini) and... Full Story / Comment
CFP reviews 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat', 'The Cherry Orchard' & 'Into the Woods'... Full Story / Comment
2009 Real Estate Guide
Still Strong: Chicago Neighborhoods That Are Holding Up
Which Chicago neighborhoods are considered A-list? Not too long ago, buyers cared about the answer to that question only in as much as it might affect their bragging rights. Today, they care because the answer may determine whether or not they’re able to get a mortgage... Full Story / Comment
Being a first-time home buyer can be scary and overwhelming, and the declining economy doesn’t help alleviate the heartburn and worry that many people experience while going through the process... Full Story / Comment
Moving in: The ends and outs of apartment hunting
As you get ready to move out of Mom and Dad’s, some upfront leg work could save you many a headache. In many cities around the country, it’s a renter’s market. Renters have more choices—from traditional apartments... Full Story / Comment
Redecorating your bedroom, without breaking the bank
We’re normally a nation of impulse buyers, but economic worries lately have many of us thinking twice before swiping our credit cards. In this climate, redecorating your bedroom may seem like a luxury that will have to wait... Full Story / Comment
Beauty rest: Getting a deep sleep
Spring is ahead, to the relief of many Chicagoans. And it is time to spring ahead, to the dismay of some who don’t appreciate adjusting their internal—and external—clocks... Full Story / Comment
Home inspection: Key step in home buying process
Savvy shoppers will do their homework before making a large investment, and even though in this economy many folks are looking for ways to cut costs, scrimping on a quality home inspection before you buy is something you might regret later on... Full Story / Comment
News
GLBT allies win 5th District primary
Two strong GLBT supporters, Mike Quigley and Matt Reichel, emerged as winners of Tuesday’s special primary election and will battle for Rahm Emanuel’s open U.S. Representatives seat in the 5th Congressional District on April 7... Full Story / Comment
Judge: Cook County Jail strip searches violated rights
A federal judge found that over a period of years, thousands of former Cook County Jail inmates’ civil rights were violated during unnecessary and humiliating group strip searches... Full Story / Comment
Harris to call civil unions bill to vote
State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, plans to call his civil unions bill for a committee vote. On March 6, Harris will call the legislation for a vote in the House Committee on Youth and Family, which he chairs... Full Story / Comment
Students to counter-protest Phelps
After getting wind that members of the anti-gay Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church plan to protest University of Chicago March 9, several students are planning to counter-protest the controversial group if and when they step foot on campus... Full Story / Comment
Activist fined for anti-Prop 8 march
Gay Liberation Network co-founder Andy Thayer was fined for his participation in November’s anti-Prop 8 march downtown... Full Story / Comment
SAN DIEGO—A San Diego Harbor police officer has been cleared of wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of a male cruise ship dancer during last year’s gay pride festivities... Full Story / Comment
Prop. 8 challenge reaches Calif. court
SAN FRANCISCO—One year and one day after the state Supreme Court entertained arguments on extending marriage to gay couples, many of the same lawyers will be back before the same seven justices Thursday arguing why California’s voter-appproved ban on same-sex marriage should stand or fall... Full Story / Comment
Calif. congresswoman: Repeal DADT
U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) this week was to introduce legislation to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on gays in the military, the San Francisco Chronicle reported this week... Full Story / Comment
Forum focuses on HIV prevention and youth
Medical experts, policy makers, advocates and most importantly, youth, gathered at Chicago Cultural Center Friday for a day-long forum about HIV/AIDS prevention and young people... Full Story / Comment
Opinion
Maybe it’s just the listservs and e-mail lists I’m on, but it seems to me that a very large portion of the gay community discussion is taken up with gay marriage—efforts to obtain it, why gay marriage lost in California, how few politicians are courageous... Full Story / Comment
“What I honestly don’t understand is why some conservatives think that gay people marrying will hurt straight marriages,” I said at a debate held at a law school last week... Full Story / Comment
Editorial
The long-running saga of gay marriage in California continues this week as the state Supreme Court hears arguments about the legality of Proposition 8. Just a year after the court opened the door for gay marriage in that state, they’re now hearing arguments that the referendum that discontinued those marriages was unlawful... Full Story / Comment
For more than 20 years, James Dobson has used his expansive, well-funded media platform to promote defamatory and false information about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people... Full Story / Comment
Freetime
Three cheers for the government in the city of Zhengzhou in the Henan province of China. They’ve decided that public servants should not wear “unnatural hair styles” or clothes that are too colorful or don’t match. At last, a Fashion Police State I can live in... Full Story / Comment
GEMINI: Healing your relationship will require major adjustments in attitude. Getting over the resentments that have eroded your connection will demand that each of you become more honest about how things got this bad... Full Story / Comment
This week in 1990: Outstanding cabaret performer Michael James performs at Stars, 3209 N. Halsted St.... Full Story / Comment
