Where to meet ladies who like other ladies in the Windy City
August 7, 2010 7:29 AM

GetMeTheHellOutOfTheHouseFilter: I need to get out badly, I need a temporary escape from the insanity I'm in right now. My fantasy? To go somewhere and be straight up hit on by a lady (who likes other ladies (who are butch-ish (as in I will not be seen in pink ever, but can't fix my own car))). And this needs to happen in Chicago. Please help!!!

I want to get out of my house and go somewhere really, really, unbelievably, gay. Not kind of gay, not sort-of gay, but the gayest place you could ever imagine. I want to go there and be hit on by a girl. Hell I'll settle for just getting a second glance. And this needs to take place in Chicago (will also settle for suburbs). On second thought, I'll take a gay place no matter how gay it is. I welcome them all.

This is going to sound ridiculous, but I want to go somewhere where I can be completely relaxed, and I know that I'm more relaxed in mostly gay settings. I've been so stressed (and yes some of it is due how other people are handling my dyke-ness) lately that it's starting to make me sick and I need to get out.

Snowflake details: I work nights, so my horizons cannot be limited to clubs and bars (but I would love suggestions on those for my nights off). Bonus points for access to public transportation.

Me: Mid-twenties, single, loves food like there's no tomorrow, has a car (that hasn't broken down yet),

If you could find me a drag show you would be my new best friend.

I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am for all of your help, seriously you all are lifesavers in my book. Thank you!
posted by anonymous to Human Relations (10 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
I can recommend lots of places, but for the immediate future, get thee to the stage at Roscoe & Halsted at 8:30 pm tomorrow to see Joan Jett & the Blackhearts perform for Market Days. Every dyke I know is going. Actually you should probably hang out on Halsted all weekend, it's already a gaysplosion there. More dudes than chicks but plenty of chicks too.
posted by Lieber Frau at 7:54 AM on August 7, 2010


Yeah, I came here to recommend Market Days too.
posted by desjardins at 8:49 AM on August 7, 2010


Go to Andersonville. How are you not in Andersonville right now? When I lived there, one of my neighbors referred to it as "Gayberry" (after Mayberry/Andy Griffith) because it's so friendly and queer-friendly. Go to T's for a drink or just wander into Women and Children First Books (like, maybe for Sappho's Salon if you have a Saturday evening free?) or pretty much any other store/restaurant in Andersonville on Clark. Good chance you will get hit on by a girl, or at least meet some nice queer (and not queer) folks who will have no problem handling your dyke-ness.
posted by Meg_Murry at 9:42 AM on August 7, 2010


T's in WomAndersonville is the biggest clam jam I can think of. I like Big Chicks too (I once got my ass straight up grabbed by a girl on the dancefloor at Big Chicks) but it definitely tends to fill up with more gay boys than ladies, like pretty much every bar in Boystown.

The Center on Halsted has all sorts of events that do not involve staying out late or drinking, including Speed Dating for lesbians.

Market Days second thirded and fifthed.

Lastly, just a little bit of advice; you can do the flirting too, you know, you don't have to wait for someone to straight up hit on you. On the Savage Lovecast it was mentioned recently that because women are socialized to wait for someone else to hit on them, a girl who's confident enough to swagger into gay bars and hit on anything that moves is going to have really good chances.* My friends and I have decided we're going to test this theory, I think we're going to go to T's one night and the first person to make out with a girl gets their drinks bought by everyone else for the night.

Memail me if you want to know when we have the Slutathon Contest because you're welcome to join us, but also just take a wee bit of swagger and confidence wherever you end up escaping to and I think you'll have a good time.




*totally paraphrasing but this is the gist I got out of it
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:43 AM on August 7, 2010


Oh, and Berlin has amazing drag shows all the time, including this one I can't wait for, but I will only recommend Berlin with a few caveats:

A) It is mostly boys

B) It is not unheard of for straight male creepsters to go to Berlin looking for drunk girls who have their guard down because they think they're safer at gay bars. Don't get super fall down drunk at Berlin, or take a friend, and if you don't feel comfortable around a guy you don't owe him shit, not a dance or a conversation or an explanation. Just walk away.

That being said I love Berlin, and I don't find it gross or creepy especially during the shows where everyone is just clapping and watching and drinking, but just be responsible and don't let creepsters ruin your fun.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:52 AM on August 7, 2010


Apologies for posting three times in a row but I just realized that I actually linked to a comedy/vaudeville kind of thing at Berlin, which is fun but doesn't involve as many Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton impersonation as you might be craving at a proper drag show! Check out their Event Calender for drag nights; there's one going on tonight, in fact.
posted by Juliet Banana at 10:02 AM on August 7, 2010


P.S. I live in Milwaukee and we have plenty of lesbians here too. It's a nice train ride from Chicago, really. I live in Gay View, I mean Bay View, and I usually can't go for a walk without seeing a couple of women holding hands.
posted by desjardins at 10:48 AM on August 7, 2010


Big Chicks (the bar) and Tweet (the next-door brunch spot), 5024 N Sheridan. Some nights are more lesbiriffic than others, so you might want to call ahead, but it's a fun place and tasty food.
posted by tyrantkitty at 11:01 AM on August 7, 2010


Dance parties you should know about:

First Thursdays of the month at Big Chicks: FKA, Formerly Known As. Lots of ladies, ladyboys, transgents and transgals.

Chances Dances

Stardust every Thursday at Berlin

Bars and clubs you should know about:

T's Bar and Grill, as mentioned above. Actually, Sunday nights they show the Real L Word, and there are beaucoup dykes.

Scarlet is in Boystown but it's very girl-friendly.

There are sometimes drag events at The Call. There is often dancing.

I haven't been to Temptations since God was a child, but the last time I went in the early 2000's it was a hoot.

MeMail me for more recommendations.
posted by Lieber Frau at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2010


Have you been to a Chicago Sky game? WNBA games draw lots of lesbians.
posted by Carol Anne at 5:38 AM on August 8, 2010


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