Asians & Friends Chicago

Tons of fun at AFC’s first Hug an Asian Day. We started at Sidetrack with four people and grew to 10 by the time we moved from Roscoe’s to minibar and then to Spin–where we saw RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Phi Phi O’Hara and Madame LaQueer perform. In the meantime, we introduced everyone we met to Hug an Asian Day and AFC. Thanks to our Boystown bars and for GRAB magazine for publicizing our first HAAD pub crawl. See everyone for HAAD 2013!

AFC members, it’s Hug an Asian Day tomorrow (Sat. May 12) in honor of Asian Pacific Islander month. We’ll be starting at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted (Cherry Lounge) in Chicago at 7 p.m. and heading from there to Roscoe’s, minibar and then Spin. We’re dressing in ethnic outfits and hugging folks. See you there!

There’s more Chicago-area “In the Family” showings starting tomorrow! (Fri. 5/11) We just got word from the director Patrick. So please go if you can. AFC members went during its Chicago premiere last month. It’s a wonderful movie about two gay dads, one of whom is of Chinese descent.

Chicago, IL (Wilmette)

Opening May 11

Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave.

Chicago, IL (La Grange)

Opening May 18

La Grange Theater, 80 S. La Grange Road

This Saturday (5/12) will be our first ever “Hug an Asian Day” pub crawl, starting at 7 p.m. at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted in Chicago. We’ll start in the front room also called the “Cherry Lounge.” The idea is to dress in ethnic outfits (all nationalities welcome). We’ll roam the bar soliciting hugs and other forms of affection. Our proposed route will be Sidetrack, then Roscoe’s, then to minibar and then to Spin.

Then Sat., May 19, we’re getting a group together to go see AFC member Joel Camden in a show choir called “The Chicago Red Line” in their latest production “Neverland.” It’s like Glee but hipper. Call our hotline to get in on the fun. (312) 409-1573. The show is at 8 p.m. at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse at the Morse Red Line stop. Group rate is $20. Please RSVP by this Friday (5/11), so we can make sure it’s not sold out and we can get the group rate.

Other upcoming events include our May Dining Club at Jack’s on Halsted, at Halsted and Belmont in Chicago), on Thurs., May 24 at 7 p.m. and a Pride Week party at Kevin and John’s on Sat., June 16. Anyone who wants to march with AFC on Pride Day, just let us know! (312) 409-1573. And watch out for a July AFC fundraiser of “treasure/trash” auction items we’re calling “He-Bay.” Details to come!

In addition to our first Sunday of the Month Dim Sum at Furama (4936 N. Broadway, 12:30 p.m. on Sun., May 6), AFC has invented “Hug a (Gay) Asian Day” for Sat. May 12, 2012. It’s in honor of Asian Pacific Islander month (May) and will be a pub crawl starting at 7 p.m. at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted in Chicago. We’ll move to Roscoe’s, then minibar and end up at Spin (switching bars on the hour).

Come dressed in ethnic outfits and we’ll have little pluggers explaining what we’re doing (Hug an Asian Day) with Asians and Friends activities on them.

For more info, leave a number for us to reach you on our hotline: (312) 409-1573.

Even though this is not a planned AFC event, consider seeing this Asian-Themed cabaret show. It’s playing for two more weekends at the Silk Road Rising theater company. http://www.silkroadrising.org/live-theater/re-spiced-a-silk-road-cabaret