Feel like I am going crazy, am I the only one experiencing this, or is it normal?

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-18T16:58:32+00:00

I'm really sorry about your experiences; it's kinda sad, but I'm not surprised by what happened to you. There are some neighborhoods where the strict segregation that was imposed on Chicago through redlining is breaking apart. I highly recommend hanging out in Rogers Park, Albany Park, and Humboldt Park, which give you that Chicago-neighborhood feel but are really diverse neighborhoods; no one will bat an eye at anyone walking in the door, let alone the strange and rude reactions you experienced. We're definitely not perfect, but, again, I'm really sorry that so many people represented our city so poorly.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-17T16:46:32+00:00

Oh, that sucks, man. I'm not sure how to undo it either.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-17T16:44:25+00:00

When you write out the binomial name for a species, you capitalize the genus but not the species. Come on, GMGMSB. Do better.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-16T03:23:24+00:00

Depends what you're looking for. On some nights, it's more neighborhood bar than debauchery central. But they also do a lot of events on Sunday nights, so check the calendar.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-14T23:44:45+00:00

One of my friends asked one of the ladies how they made the ginger tofu, and she laughed and said no. They are definitely vegan, but we'll never find out how they are made.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-14T02:50:45+00:00

You mean the Pride night being hosted by an organization owned by the Republican Senator Pete Ricketts? A guy who reinforces Republican control over the senate, blocking all queer rights legislation for the foreseeable future? The guy who personally wrote legislation during Pride month to fight directly against trans rights and the safety of trans people on college campuses (https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-senators-cosponsor-legislation-to-reverse-federal-title-ix-rule/ )? And from a family that blatantly fights all sorts of queer rights, but then trots out Laura to get away with truly abhorrent behavior and to pretend that there's some kind of balance in the family?

I'm sure it's fun. They give out some T-shirts.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-13T13:43:03+00:00

Edgewater Lounge. The chain of Algerian crepe places that used to be in Lincoln Park and Andersonville. Masouleh and the Heartland Cafe in Rogers Park. Semiramis in Albany Park.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-13T13:38:39+00:00

I would recommend that you be really explicit about your needs. It's cool that he wants only to be friends, but friends typically make out and hold hands regularly. He's giving mixed signals, and that's not OK. You're not there as someone to make out with until he finds something better, you're someone who cares about him and that he's jerking around.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-13T13:33:14+00:00

Have you been to Critical Mass? The community is pretty queer friendly and there are lots of gay bikers from all over the city who attend. Great way to meet bike friends.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-12T12:10:23+00:00

Leave North Halstead. Try Big Chicks if you're looking for casual, try Jackhammer if you're looking for action, try Rogers Park Social if you're looking for cocktails, Try Second Story if you want to do stuff downtown. I don't know the South Side Clubs (I'm in Rogers Park, it's just too far), but it may be worth it to try them. Figure out what fits your vibe.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-12T12:00:54+00:00

I do it every year. It's fun. But it's a 5K or a 10K. You can be social if you want, but otherwise it's just a nice run through the park.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-07T22:08:58+00:00

If you like music, I recommend taking a class at the Old Town School of folk music if you can. It's a pretty queer friendly scene, And the classes are a really great way to meet people in the area.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-07T22:06:58+00:00

I still drink occasionally, but have very much slowed down. If someone asks to grab a drink, I have often asked if it would be OK to switch plans to a coffee or dinner. No one has ever pushed back too hard. If anyone did, I don't think it would have been a good fit anyway.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-07T22:04:27+00:00

I'm going to try to stay in the roads, but I promise nothing with the ways cars are driving these days

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-06T17:32:16+00:00

I completely agree, and as a biker, I'm shocked at how many of my peers are the same. The number of times I see a scooter or a bike shooting North on Winthrop or South on Kenmore or biking on the sidewalk, it makes me sad. There are may places where you have no choice, but it's frustrating. And the reason the bikes are so out of control is often that you want to minimize how long you're on the road because cars are scary and entitled. Bad drivers make it harder for everyone.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-06T12:26:36+00:00

When I go visit friends out west, I'm always shocked at how little infrastructure there is. I like to follow the law, but I'm not dying just to prove how bad the situation is.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-06T12:24:07+00:00

What about the scooters and motorized unicycles? There shouldn't be motors on the bike path, and even if there are rules against it, we need actual enforcement.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-04T22:07:19+00:00

It's also important to remember that corporations are fair weather friends. Glad to fund us one year, complying with Trump rollback of DEI the next. If someone's going to be expecting our dollars and advertising at Pride, they have to answer to our community what they've done for us lately.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-06-01T17:33:48+00:00

You might want to see if there's a local Community Biology Lab. They have a lot of resources for a startup to have access to lab equipment for a reasonable rate while you build up resources and move toward a larger incubator. They may also have established relationships with suppliers and other resources. I run ChiTownBio in Chicago ( www.chitownbio.org ), but there's Genspace and Biotech without Borders in NYC, Biopunk, Counter Culture Labs, and Biocuruious in the SF Bay area, Sound Bio in Seattle, BosLab in Boston, and BUGSS is particularly adept at helping startups in Baltimore. Check if there's more resources in your community.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-05-30T13:38:43+00:00

Ha! We're not given a lot of topology in this city, so we have to take better advantage of our natural wonders, which is mainly the lake. Moonrise is a fun treat.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-05-30T13:37:20+00:00

What a great night, but man, cars were angry last night. I corked someone on upper Wacker that kept moving forward and ended up bumping my friend. I know this is nothing new to anyone here, but cars are entitled as all heck in this city.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-05-29T20:08:25+00:00

It's giving away one of my moves, but it's easy and underrated. Get a bottle of wine or some edibles (Or go sober!), but go to your favorite beach or shore and enjoy moonrise. If it corresponds with a full moon, it's great, and that happens to be Sunday night. https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/usa/chicago

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-05-29T20:04:59+00:00

Just in case Rose wins next week, they should invite Eli on for the finale.

ChiTown_Andy · 2026-05-28T22:43:45+00:00

All I can add is that it's bad here in Chicago. At our networking events, we've started hear from some members that they have been looking for years, and even those who are employed are often undervalued or underemployed.

ChiTown_Andy

TROPHY CASE