Cock Eyed Optimist

Does anyone have knowledge of how the stripper bars in NOLA have fared after hurricane IDA plowed through? (Corner Pocket, Oz, Bourbon St. Pub, etc?)

In Chicago all indoor establishments require masks except when eating or drinking. All bars in Boystown require that your show your Vax card or at least a picture of it as well as your ID. I was there a few weeks ago, and once inside, things are pretty much the same. I assume that all dancers are wearing masks now, since the "masks required" edict only went into effect last week. The vaccination rate in Chicago exceeds 70% especially in the northern sections of the city where The Lucky Horseshoe is. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me.

I particularly like the idea of the M4M field trip! I remember the days when we had regular "nights out" with the HooBoy gang in Chicago.

I was wondering if a long term escort/client relationship might occur more often than we suspect. I have known two escorts in Florida for over ten years. The first 5 or 6 as a client, but the remaining years as a friend on Facebook and texts and emails. I believe they have both stopped escorting. In Illinois, I have known two escorts for about 6 or 7 years. The first 4 years as a client, but since then as friends. In fact, I introduced them to each other, and we go our frequently for dinner, drinks, and the theatre. I was invited to the wedding of one of them, and there I met another client with whom I have become good friends. And as a result, we now go out as a group of 4 for drinks and to the theatre. I feel that this is more common than one would think.

Thanks! Hopefully they will be done by November when I go back down.

I did the same! I loved that umbrella!!!

https://cockbar.ca

RB, I am waiting with bated breath for your report! 😷 LOL

Big Val Boy Rick Munroe

Oh YES! How could I ever forget Rounds! Awesome!

This thread brought back fond memories of Stella's and The townhouse in NYC. BTW, does The Townhouse still exist?

And we will expect a full report! LOL. Hopefully you will check in at LeBoy during your stay. That is where I spend my winter. 😇 But most importantly, Have a Good Time!

Well you can't believe how surprised I was this morning to open up the Chicago Tribune and find a front page article, complete with pictures, about a new gay bar opening in Chicago! This bar called, Nobody's Darling, is in our secondary GAYborhood in Chicago, called Andersonville. You could have pushed me over with a drink stirrer! https://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/drink/ct-food-drink-lesbian-gay-bars-evolving-queer-lgbtq-chicago-20210715-275673b33vco3fa36gg5loujri-story.html

In Chicago, our gay neighborhood used to be called Boystown - a mile and a half stretch of gay bars, restaurants, shops, a bathhouse, sex shows, and cute boutiques. It is lined with rainbow pillars all up and down the street, and exhibits plaques honoring famous gay Chicago residents. But it is changing. Last month the official name was changed from "Boystown" to North Halsted Merchant's Association in deference to the "Boy" connotation (but most everyone still calls it Boystown). In addition, many of the bars and shops have closed - some due to the Covid pandemic but some of those closings have occurred before Covid. I am hoping that when things get back to normal, some of those empty storefronts will be filled.

He has such perfect skin! Almost as if it were airbrushed.

That is exactly what was troubling me when I saw the video. Doesn't seem to make sense. Do we know what has transpired since?

I went on a Thursday to avoid the weekend crowds.

Oh! Madrigals! I had forgotten. How I loved that place and the private parties help upstairs by the owner. I visited his bar in New Orleans but it didn't last. I wonder what happened to him.

What is your favorite source for tickets?

Sadly to say, that is how it has been in Chicago for a long, long, time. That is why so many of us in Chicago travel to cities like NYC, Ft. Lauderdale, etc. Give "The Shoe" another try; I was there last week and although I prefer twinks, it was all big buff guys. LOL

How does one get on the email list for these events? Thanks.

Yes, I remember the "seedy reputation" The Shoe had back in the day, LOL, although I sort of liked it. The dancers that I saw the other night were more the "masculine hunky types" that you described. There were no twinkly types that night much to my dismay. More dancers tend to be there on the weekends. The dancer that I knew that night, was the only one I recognized; the rest seemed new to me. I'm not sure the last time you were there, but Micah has really renovated the place and cleaned it up. There are three rooms there now - each with its own bar. And the middle room with the recessed floor in the middle has been leveled so no one is falling down the steps as they enter.

I went there two weeks ago (before the CDC announced the new mask policy). I thought they were very well organized. The two of us were met at the door and escorted to a place at the bar 6 feet from the nearest patron. The bar was limited to 50% capacity at that time. The bartenders and dancers wore masks as well as the patrons until they were served a drink. We were able to walk up to the stage (with our masks on) and tip the dancers. One of our favorite dancers stopped by the bar where we were sitting to talk to us as usual. This was on a weeknight, and he said that on weekends, there is a line outside where people wait to get in. (two come out; two come in). So different from Florida where I was the previous month where over half of the patrons were maskless and smashed into the place at full capacity. (I didn't stay long)

I am sad to report that this is true. Even though it reopened for a bit during Covid, it didn't last. It will be missed.