By Sukie de la Croix

This week in...

1973 A Chicago-area gay law students association holds its fourth meeting in the Up North bar/restaurant, 6244 N. Western Ave. The group plans to present a public gay law forum during June’s Gay Pride celebration.

1977 Female impersonator Mr. Kay Howard stars at the grand opening of Mama Jan’s, 2659 W. 21st St.

Of interest to lesbians this week is feminist comedienne Ivy Bottini at the Aurora Elks Club, 77 S. Stolp, just down the street from Spectrum, Aurora’s gay disco; the event is sponsored by Fox Valley Women Against Rape and the Women’s Development Council.

Joan Baez performs at the Arie Crown Theatre, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive.

1978 At One of Chicago’s 14th annual banquet at the Bismarck Hotel, 171 W. Randolph St., lawyer Paul R. Goldman presents “Little Jim” Gates with the Paul R. Goldman Award. Gates, who was a former chairman of the gay rights group, tells the crowd of 250 people, “The war is raging, and it is time we re-armed ourselves. Our rearmaments must be both new and effective.”

John M. Palade is picked by the judges to be Mr. O’Banion. O’Banion’s is a gay punk bar located at 661 N. Clark St. Palade wins a roundtrip air fare to any city in the continental United States and a $10 bar tab. He was judged on the basis of masculinity, poise, overall appearance and sexy outfit, but he won big points for his sexual fantasy “…he’s on a hunting trip with straight friends, when he wakes up in the middle of the night to find them ‘making it’ and then casually…”

1981 An automotive workshop is presented by automechanic Nancy Lingway at the Lesbian Community Center at 3435 N. Sheffield.

1986 The 6th Annual “Sisters Madness Bar Awards” takes place at Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont, with special guest performers.

“Black Workout” starring Paul Hanson, Gary Tuttle, Ron Davis and a gymnasium full of hot black studs, and “Sizing Up” with Brian Maxon, Matt Ramsey, Jeff Pirelli and Kurt Marshall, are showing at the Bijou, 1349 N. Wells.

1993 Events in the bars this week include David Hamilton tickling the ivories at Dandy’s, 3729 N. Halsted; Zona Rosa salsa nite at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; the Miss Gay Western Suburbs Extravaganza and Contest with Daisy Mae at the Nutbush, 7201 Franklin, Forest Park; Climax at Picasso’s dance club, 3938 N. Lincoln, with DJ Oscar McMillan and your host Orlando; and Aqua Neta and London Broil perform in a benefit for Open Hand at Foxy’s, 800 W. Belmont.

An Evening with Andrea Marcovicci at Park West benefits AIDS Legal Council of Chicago.

2002 The Royal Imperial Sovereign Barony of the Windy City proudly presents “Dragocious Revisited” hosted by Fabiola, Grand Marquessa I and with guest emcee Sheri Payne at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St.

Thanks to the Gerber/Hart Library at 1127 W. Granville for the use of their collection and archives.