Andersonville Uthåller [ andersonville endures

Q + A with Khloe Couleé

[ by Abhijeet Rane, co-founder of A Queer Pride and Chicago is a Drag Festival ]

Abhijeet: What was the first moment you thought about being a Drag Queen? Khloe: I’ve always been a very creative person who’s obsessed with makeup, performing and making videos. When I was still in High School in Indiana, my mom told me about RuPaul’s Drag Race and we sat down together to watch season one of the show together. Watching those artists werk their way on stage definitely inspired me to start in my bedroom at first, and then in the Chicago nightlife scene.

How has your style/look developed over the years? I started with a very “girl next door” aesthetic and experimented with how I would dress if I was a girl, making do with stores around me. Over the years I’ve transformed to a much cooler and fashion-forward aesthetic - and you can always catch me in the club with custom fashion, sparkly jewelry and new hair!

Describe your “getting ready” process. I can never get ready without having a Netflix show on or some music playing nearby. I always start with a concept and map everything out in my head, then take things slow and steady, one step at a time. There’s never a reason to rush, they can’t start the party with ME!

What’s your favorite makeup product you can’t live without? I think neutrals are a must have for everyone who wears makeup, and my favorite is Urban Decay’s Naked Heat eyeshadow palette.

What are your performances like? A Khloe Couleé performance is always high energy and upbeat. My strength is bringing elements of interactivity and all the drag stunts to every number no matter the genre - catch me going from doing a handstand during a k-pop number to a jump-split in hip-hop. Plus I can bring you a funny and goofy moment when needed.

Which other performers do you admire? Chicago has some of the best drag in the world and I’m really lucky to be here in a time when it’s so active and accessible. I really look up to legends like my drag mother Shea Couleé, The Vixen, and Lucy Stoole, along with my drag family Bambi Banks-Couleé, Kenzie Couleé, Abhijeet, and JForPay.

What was it like being part of the first Chicago Is A Drag Festival? I’ve worked with A Queer Pride on a bunch of events before and was extremely excited to be asked to host such a major inaugural event despite being new to the scene. It was a whirlwind of new experiences but amazing to emcee for one of my biggest crowds to date. Looking back at it now, I still can’t believe I was the opening host at the largest drag event in Chicago, and one that was celebrating 50 years of Chicago Pride and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. A Queer Pride is always at the front of bringing you the coolest events and special guests in Chicago.

What can people expect from the experience? With anything A Queer Pride produces, expect the unexpected - but always expect a good and memorable time.

Why is Drag important to the Andersonville neighborhood? Drag in Andersonville shows that the art does and needs to exist outside of just North Halsted. Drag can be as interesting and creative outside of nightclubs and exist alongside a family neighborhood. Who doesn’t want to see a queen cartwheel outside on a Sunday morning? Chicago Is A Drag Festival also showcased how many residents of the neighborhood are fans of drag and are interested in supporting local artists and national headliners. There’s so much potential to keep growing.

Tell us about your experiences with Drag in Andersonville. Sunday Social with Chamilla Foxx at Meeting House Tavern is one of my favorite shows in the neighborhood. It brings together such a diverse crowd of performers and audiences to enjoy an amazing evening of drag and drinks together. I’ve also had the opportunity to work with Replay Andersonville, Hamburger Mary’s when it was still open, Octavio’s (now The Bird Cage) and The Call, and the staff and crowd are always super welcoming and supportive. Drag fans can stop by RAYGUN to get merch from some of your favorite local drag performers. Plus, people interested in starting drag can go outfit shopping right in the neighborhood at AKIRA for the perfect ensemble.

There seems to be more drag queens than drag kings? Why do you think that is? I think there has always been a mainstream visibility of drag as a “male to female” transformation but it is so much more than that and beyond gender or sexuality. We should continue to create spaces for drag kings and other AFAB performers within our shows and venues. Some amazing drag kings to check out in Chicago are Tenderoni, Travis Fiero and Mick Douch, and outside of the city Dragula’s Landon Cider and Spikey Van Dykey who headlined Chicago Is A Drag Festival (in the heart of Andersonville) in 2019.

Tell us about Drag in the COVID-19 era. With venues closing down, everyone is back to their roots of doing drag in their bedrooms. It has definitely become more focused on appealing to audiences from a distance, with an emphasis in the visual aspect. I’ve learned to spend more time experimenting with creative ideas, transforming my high energy to high concept.

Follow Khloe on Instagram and Twitter at @khloecoulee and follow A Queer Pride at @aqueerpride. Photos of Khloe by Adam Ouahmane.

Women & Children First 5233 North Clark womenandchildrenfirst.com

After serving Andersonville for 30+ years and recently being inducted into Chicago’s LGBT Hall of Fame, Women & Children First strives to create a safe and welcoming space for its customers. Explore the highly curated collection of books, in person or online! Plus, engage in programming from author conversations to books groups. As a mission-driven business, owners Lynn Mooney (left) and Sarah Hollenbeck (right) recognize that so much work remains to be done. “It’s not like misogyny, homophobia, ableism and systemic racism will disappear during a pandemic!”

Pride Trees

[ 5400 block of Magnolia ]

Every June, the residents of the this quiet, tree-lined street in the historic Lakewood Balmoral neighborhood district decorate their trees for Pride. The project was started by resident Jeannette and her son Solomon to express the themes of inclusion, diversity and community he was learning about in school. Several years later, and their neighbors have followed their example. Follow the journey on Instagram @pridetrees.

At Cowboys and Astronauts, guests are reminded that you don’t get to the hilltop without often going through the valley. More importantly, you don’t conquer any big challenge by going it alone. Their mix of apparel, home goods, self care products, and lifestyle supplies are here to help us all live life hopefully and fully even in challenging times. “To those we’ve met, thanks for supporting us. To those we’ve not, welcome to the journey!” Cowboys and Astronauts 1478 West Summerdale cowboysandastronauts.com

RAYGUN has been called “The Greatest Store in the Universe” by RAYGUN. Owner Mike Draper opened the Chicago location in Andersonville in 2018 under the watchful care of managers Claire Anderson (left) and Alyx Rice (right), and the store has fit right into this small city-within-a-city, built around friends. RAYGUN sells clothing, home goods, and time travel supplies. They are the largest unionized clothing chain in the country and have worked hard to practice what they preach, to stay safe in these times, and to build toward the future. They honor a responsibility to their employees, community, and neighbors to keep going! The Clark has been redefining the patient experience in Andersonville since 2019 as part of the Swedish Hospital and NorthShore family. The medical team provides local healthcare from the patient’s perspective with spa-like exam rooms and hand-tailored treatment plans. Patients can rest assured that they will experience an unrivaled level of care in an elegant, comfortable environment with enhanced safety protocols and contactless check-in. Or, choose to visit with a doctor virtually on video visit from the comfort of your home. Welcome to feeling cared for.

Verksamheter

[ businesses ]

SHOPPING

Locations on Tear-Out Map, page 48.5

/ ADULT

Early to Bed 5044 North Clark 14 773 271 1219 early2bed.com

Full Kit Gear 5021-23 North Clark 17 773 657 8000 fullkit.com

/ ANTIQUES + VINTAGE

Andersonville Antiques 5245 North Clark 11 773 944 5665 andersonvilleantiques.com Brownstone Antiques 5234 North Clark 11 773 878 9800 Instagram @brownstone_ antiques

FOURSIDED 5061 North Clark 14 773 506 8300 foursided.com

Good Deal Garage 1552 West Olive 5 773 807 5585 gooddealgarage.com

Mercantile M 5409 1/2 North Clark 8 773 899 0847 mercantilem.com

Scout 5221 North Clark 11 773 275 5700 Instagram @scoutdesign

Early to Bed has called Andersonville home since 2014, but has been promoting a sex-positive mentality for nearly 20 years! Owner Searah Deysach wants customers to feel safe while purchasing, with 24 hour online shopping, access to quick, discreet shipping, easy in-store pick-up and limited in-store shopping hours. “By supporting local shops now, you are helping to keep us in this neighborhood that you love, and you are helping to keep Andersonville healthy and vibrant.”

Woolly Mammoth Antiques & Oddities 1513 West Foster 14 773 989 3294 woollymammothchicago.com

/ ART SUPPLIES

Martha Mae: Art Supplies & Beautiful Things 872 806 0988 Instagram @marthamae_ andersonville marthamae.info

/ BOOKSTORES +

COMICS

AlleyCat Comics 5304 North Clark Rear 11 773 907 3404 alleycatcomics.com