by Harry Taint Congratulations to Gay Chicago Magazine on its 35th anniversary, which decided to do as all folks should do on their 35th and got a make-over. The new look drops the Magazine from the title and puts it in the category of the Red Eye, which better showcases the publication’s new focus on news and entertainment. Let’s get all socially conscious for a couple of secs, shall we? Have to say congratulations to James Cappleman who defeated Molly Phelan in 46th Ward, giving the City Council its second openly gay alderman. However, I’m even more excited by that fact that incumbent Ald. Bernie Stone (who has run the 50th ward as his own little fiefdom) was upset at the polls by Debra Silverstein. You can bet that both those wards are going to see some drastic improvements. Wow, being serious is exhausting, let’s get on to the dish. There’s some major housecleaning going on at Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC). It’s all part of restoring the trust the community had in HBHC and comes none too soon, with the clinic’s annual fundraiser coming in May… Fashion designer and “Project Runway” season four winner Christian Siriano will be the featured guest for Columbia College Chicago’s Conversation in the Arts on Apr. 25. Nena Ivon, former long-time Chicago Saks Fifth Avenue fashion director, will interview him. Siriano, who made “Hot Tranny Mess” a catch phrase, has designed clothing for Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, and Heidi Klum. The open to the public lecture will be held in the Film Row Cinema, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Theater seating is limited so advanced registration is highly recommended. For seat reservations, go to at www. colum.edu/conversations. Halsted’s is giving new meaning to the phrase “He is Risen” this Easter with a gospel brunch hosted by Tajma Hall. It will be more like, “He is raising the roof!”…Speaking of Easter, Madam X performs at Kit Kat for “The Big Divalicious Easter Brunch.” . . .If you like to slip it in the backdoor, mark May 27 on your calendar. That’s the date of The Ram’s “Shameless” party. It’s being held during IML weekend and everyone must use the rear entrance…Parlour is bringing the young guys up to Rogers Park with its new “BoyBar” dance party on Friday nights. It seems hot young guys dancing draw a bigger crowd than drag queens. Imagine!?!?!
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus knows how to throw a party, as anyone who attended the “Big Package” auction at Sidetrack can attest. The next thing up their collective sleeves is the Divas Ball on Apr. 30 at Hydrate. The $15 admission includes 2 drink tix. DJR will be spinning all the greatest divas’ hits and you can expect a plethora of divas crowding the dance floor…Cocktail is going to Jack you up on Apr. 29. The famous Tennessee distiller of moonshine, served in fine establishments and questionable joints since 1866, will be giving away samples of their sipping whiskey…Spin, home of all things related to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” welcomes the lushly hipped Alexis Mateo from this season’s show with local phenom, Jade, on Apr. 30, with special guest, Alexis’ cast-mate the undecipherable, Yara Sofia. Tix are $5 in advance, $10 at the door and VIP “Meet & Greet” Place your order at http://spin-nightclub.tix.com. When folks ask why “Glee” is so popular with gay men (other than the obvious combination of handsome men and singing divas) they need look no further than the witty writing. Such as the words uttered by the dim-bulb character Brittany, “Dolphins are just gay sharks.” She must have been thinking of Monday’s “Boom Boom Room” party at Green Dolphin Street, which may just be the foremost house music party in Chicago…”Twinkie and the Beast”, now playing at Hydrate, is brought to you by the same folks who did “Snow White and the Seven Drag Queens” and “Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Queer Tale”. This time Tony Lewis and his accomplices the story of a young twink named Swell who is taken prisoner in the home of a beastly drag queen (oh, that same old story). While we’re being all artsy, the classic novel “From Here to Eternity,” which was made into a famous movie starring Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra, will soon be re-released with gay content censored in the original restored. The novel is about life on a U.S. military base in Hawaii in 1941. Author James Jones fought bitterly to keep two references to homosexuality in the book, which was published in 1951, but his editors overruled him. In one scene, a character (played by Frank Sinatra in the movie) talks about prostituting himself and performing oral sex on wealthy men. Frank Sinatra giving blow jobs, now that I would pay money to see! boi 25