It's one of the most popular bars in Boystown, but you're missing out if you let that keep you from coming here. Sometimes people shy away from the popular choices when it comes to choosing a bar because those choices might seem too "mainstream." Sidetrack is no secret. A rotating lineup of fruity frozen alcoholic beverages curated by local mixologists will keep your sweet tooth happy. Oh, yes, that's the other thing you should know about this place. A beautiful interior, multiple bars and an outdoor space makes it spacious enough to hit the dancefloor or find a quiet corner to sip down a few alcoholic slushies. Sidetrack is a great hang out on any night of the week though.
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I was first lured there by Sidetrack's "Musical Mondays." I thought to myself, I get to watch clips from musicals, sing along loudly, dance and drink-in public?! It's a night worth checking out if you're into having fun. It's only a matter of time before young Chicagoans transplanted from another Midwest state make their way over to North Halsted to see what Boystown is all about. This is a very good thing because when you take a tequila shot while the bar sings "You Oughta Know" at top-volume, you don't even notice the harsh taste.
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The lady-heavy environment ensures the karaoke song rotation will include more Alanis Morissette than Bon Jovi. The crowd will clap no matter how much you suck. You never feel alone when you're singing, even if it's an off-key rendition of an obscure Letters To Cleo song. The best part of singing karaoke at Spyners is the friendly crowd. Karaoke every Thursday, Friday and Saturday is the main attraction to Spyners, and it's the best place to try it for the first time.
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Bartenders Maureen and Irma serve up good, cheap drinks with a smile. It has a reputation as a lesbian bar, and it's packed with ladies, but it's a welcoming environment for everyone every time. Glenwood Ave., 77Ī divey environment makes Spyners the perfect laidback gay bar experience. If you're looking for a slightly hipper scene with more of a cocktail focus, head down the street to Sidecar, a GLBT cocktail bar from the same owner. They make a mean martini, you can hear your date and if you walk in without your hair done, no one will throw any shade your way. It's relatively quiet, comfortable, serves a mixed crowd of all ages and has (gasp) an actual selection of interesting craft beers. That's why I love the Glenwood in Rogers Park. I'm not a huge Bud Light drinker, Absolut isn't my spirit of choice and, while I love a pretty man as much as anyone, I don't generally need a shirtless one serving me my alcoholic slushies. Photo via The Glenwood's Facebook page/Kirk Stokes.ĭespite my status as a confirmed homosexual, I'm not generally a gay bar patron. Shaken or stirred, Marty’s Martini Bar offers tasty cocktails and a fabulous mix of gay and straight patrons. Typically, the bar will donate the profits from Sunday afternoon sales to various local charities such as the American Theater Company Youth Ensemble, the National Runaway Safeline, or Team Cheetah’s Ride for AIDS. Another reason to raise a glass to Marty’s-Rogo’s generous community involvement. Until then, enjoy a cocktail at the convivial, custom-built bar (mahogany, cherry and oak) or at the outside patio during warmer months. The intimate 560-square foot bar can hold about 43 people, although owner Marty Rogo is carefully eyeing an expansion next door if and when Huey’s Hot Dogs decides to hang-up its shingle and call it a day. And speaking of the martinis, be sure to check out the lemon drop and pear martinis as they are particularly satisfying during the warm, summer months. With a subtle interior that calls to mind Toulouse-Lautrec and Montmartre, Marty’s has an attentive, but never over-solicitous staff who I find as refreshing as their cucumber martinis. Located just steps off Clark Street in Andersonville, Marty’s Martini Bar is one of the premier gay bars in Chicago quite simply because it’s not a gay bar at all, but rather a charming little tavern that just happens to attract like-minded people, no matter who they do the fandango with in the boudoir. I love that there is a video monitor so you can see who is coming into the bar as the entrance is this super-long, sort of intimidating stairway.
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Cocktails are cheap (cash only though, kids) and on slow nights the bartender will even order in food for you, if you want. So, it's like this hidden oasis that you kind of have to be in the know about, or you'd swan right by it. It's located above Sayat Nova and next to a cheesy fortune teller's lair, a stone's throw away from the Gap on Michigan Ave and all the annoying hustle and bustle of shoppy-boppy tourists. Second Story Bar (Photo credit: Chicagoist/Tony Peregrin)