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The gay and lesbian Chicago bar @mosphere fits with the vibe of Andersonville: laid back, friendly and down-to-earth.

The good news is that gay and lesbian bars are growing in the North Clark St. area, and neighbourhood bars like @mosphere are becoming favourite spots to grab a drink and maybe even a date.

Like most other gay and lesbian Chicago drinking holes, this place is small. There’s a small dance floor across from the one bar, and the French doors in the front open into the street (it’s great in the summer). There are the dance club staples – drink specials, DJ’s and dancers – however, @mosphere is also offering various dance lessons, theatre group performances, piano players, and even Tea Dances. They are definitely trying to go for a more upscale spot, but without the attitude and pretentiousness that seems to affect some of the gay Chicago spots.

The Windy City has long been a favorite spot for gays and lesbian vacations, and many call Chicago home. Part of the reason is sheer size: Chicago is a large city and therefore has a larger gay community. The plethora of entertainment, sports and arts options, fabulous restaurants and bars, and plenty of career options also make Chicago attractive to students, professionals and families.

If you do plan your next vacation in Chicago, you’ll find that there are two main gay areas: Boystown and Andersonville. Boystown actually refers to the East Lakeview area. As the name suggests, Boystown caters to the gay dudes, and Halsted St. and Broadway are the core of the neighbourhood. Broadway has tons of shops to browse, while Halsted has around 30 gay and lesbian clubs, bars and restaurants.

Andersonville stretches from Winnemac St. to Peterson Ave., and is definitely lesbian Chicago. Here, you’ll find an eclectic mix of lesbians and gay families. Andersonville is packed with charming boutiques, gay clubs and bars, cafes and restaurants for the gay traveler.

Chicago has several gay friendly and gay events that attract big crowds:

May: International Mr. Leather Weekend
June: Chicago Gay Pride
September: AIDS Walk Chicago
November: Chicago Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival

For great resources on gay and lesbian Chicago, visit Gay Cities.