Connections to

Community: Boystown
Alyssa, John, Marcelina,
Monica

How To Get There From

LUC
Hop onto the Red Line towards 95th
Either from Granville or Loyola

Get off at Addison or Belmont

Walk a couple blocks and youre there!

History
1970- the unofficial designation of Boys Town, where the first annual Gay Pride Parade was held (150
residents involved)
1973- the parade had moved its starting point to Belmont Harbor
1975- the first gay bar on was opened and others quickly followed:
1. Little Jims
2. Loading Dock (now the Kit Kat Club)
3. Christopher Street (now Hydrate)
4. Sidetrack (opened in 1982 and still in business)
. 1981- Mayor Jane Byrne issued a Gay Pride Parade Day proclamation
. 1997- Mayor Daley declared the six-block stretch of Halsted from Grace to Belmont the first official
gay neighborhood in America
. 1997- the city of Chicago proposed a $3.2 million renovation for the area
. 1998- the city raised eleven pairs of 23-foot-high pillars with rainbow rings

Demographics
Boystown-a community in Lakeview East- is the most populated area in the
Midwest due to its dining, shopping, and nightlife
The total population of Lakeview East is 117,595 people and the average
income for a household is $80,000. The population largely consists of people
that are working and have earned a bachelors degree
The majority of the community is around the age of 30 because the cost of
homes is slightly less expensive than it is near the Loop
Boystown is one of the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT)
communities in the nation

Fun Facts, Activities, and Landmarks

The Vic theatre

Sakura Japanese

Laugh Factory

Standard Grill

Hollywood Mirrors
The Alley
Home to Gay Pride Parade in June
Annoyance Theatre
Playground Theater
House of Hookah

Yoo Fresh
Big & Littles
Cheesies
DMK Burger
Kumas Too

Continued
The Vic Theatre

Continued

Reflection
This experience of going to Boystown was not only a chance for us to explore the
culture of Boystown (East Lakeview), but it also allowed the four of us to bond. First
and foremost, Boystown is very vibrant and is home to Chicagos own Gay Pride
Parade in June, but besides that, we learned that even on a Monday night at 5pm it is
still extremely busy and full of life. One of the places we tried was a place on Belmont
and Sheffield called Cheesies, and it was simply the cheesiest thing we have ever
had: Macaroni & Cheese sandwich, Pasta and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, anything you
want with cheese-- they have it! During this time we got the chance to get to know
each other further and all of us are apart of the College of Arts & Sciences. Overall,
this assignment forced us to involve ourselves with three other people that we
wouldve never did beforehand and for that we are grateful to start friendships that
will last a long time.

Citations
SULLIVAN, EMMET. "A Brief History of Chicagos Pride Parade." Politics City Life. N.p., 24
June 2015. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
Lakeview &Wrigleyville. Chicago Real Estate. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2015.
"The Vic." N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Nov. 2015.
<http://d1b8n6kng8vcnt.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/thePlayground Theater. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.ppmapartments.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/PlaygroundTheater.jp>.