Sidetrack Chicago https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:34:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Santa Speedo Run 2025 is Saturday December 6 at Sidetrack Chicago https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/santa-speedo-run-2025-is-saturday-december-6-at-sidetrack-chicago/ Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:33:19 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177607 SANTA SPEEDO RUN NORTHALSTED RETURNS THIS YEAR FOR A FESTIVE, FUN CELEBRATION The Annual Fundraiser seeks to raise over $200,000 for Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s Most Comprehensive LGBTQ+ Community Center CHICAGO, IL — The highly anticipated Santa Speedo Run Northalsted returns Saturday, December 6, 2025, promising a joyful day of festive fun. The annual fundraiser kicks off at noon, with an entertaining afternoon of festivities that culminate in a fun 1-Mile run for a great cause. All proceeds from this annual gathering will once again benefit Center on Halsted, a cornerstone of support for the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago. Conceived in 2011 by visionary duo Karl Sponholtz and Jeffrey Colgan, this event began as a small gathering among friends. Today, it stands as one of Chicago’s premier fun-runs,and has raised an impressive total of $800,000 to bolster programs and services that uplift the Chicagoland LGBTQ+ community. Colgan and Sponholtz, the founders of the Santa Speedo Run Northalsted event, shared their sentiments about the event’s growth, saying, “Santa Speedo Run Northalsted has been dear to our hearts since we created it. It has been so rewarding to watch it grow each year, raising vital funds to support the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people across Chicagoland.” Participants will gather at Sidetrack, located at 3349 N. Halsted, when doors open at noon before embarking on the charity run (or walk!) at 2 p.m. In total, more than 1,000 enthusiastic individuals will come together to run or cheer on participants donned in little more than swimsuits and creative holiday-themed outfits. Registration to join this festive occasion, whether as an individual or part of a team, opens Saturday, November 1, 2025. For complete information and to sign up, please visit our official website: bit.ly/SantaSpeedoRun2025 Supporters are encouraged to contribute in advance on our website. Donations will also be accepted at Sidetrack on event day. Fundraising efforts continue through December 31st. Last year’s event, powered by the collective support of participants and donors, raised a record-breaking $182,000 for Center on Halsted! The festivities don’t conclude at the finish line! Join us for an unforgettable after-party at Sidetrack, featuring performances by renowned Chicago drag entertainers. The party promises a day of excitement with prizes, games, and an awards ceremony to honor top individual and team fundraisers. The revelry extends well into the evening as Sidetrack remains open until 3 a.m. The 2025 Santa Speedo Run is supported by Sidetrack , Alderman Bennett Lawson, American Airlines, Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA), Men’s Room, Molson Coors, Perrier, Tito’s Vodka, and Vivent Health + TPAN.

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]]> SANTA SPEEDO RUN NORTHALSTED RETURNS THIS YEAR FOR A FESTIVE, FUN CELEBRATION
The Annual Fundraiser seeks to raise over $200,000 for Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s Most Comprehensive LGBTQ+ Community Center

CHICAGO, IL — The highly anticipated Santa Speedo Run Northalsted returns Saturday, December 6, 2025, promising a joyful day of festive fun. The annual fundraiser kicks off at noon, with an entertaining afternoon of festivities that culminate in a fun 1-Mile run for a great cause. All proceeds from this annual gathering will once again benefit Center on Halsted, a cornerstone of support for the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago.

Conceived in 2011 by visionary duo Karl Sponholtz and Jeffrey Colgan, this event began as a small gathering among friends. Today, it stands as one of Chicago’s premier fun-runs,and has raised an impressive total of $800,000 to bolster programs and services that uplift the Chicagoland LGBTQ+ community.

Colgan and Sponholtz, the founders of the Santa Speedo Run Northalsted event, shared their sentiments about the event’s growth, saying, “Santa Speedo Run Northalsted has been dear to our hearts since we created it. It has been so rewarding to watch it grow each year, raising vital funds to support the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people across Chicagoland.”

Participants will gather at Sidetrack, located at 3349 N. Halsted, when doors open at noon before embarking on the charity run (or walk!) at 2 p.m. In total, more than 1,000 enthusiastic individuals will come together to run or cheer on participants donned in little more than swimsuits and creative holiday-themed outfits.

Registration to join this festive occasion, whether as an individual or part of a team, opens Saturday, November 1, 2025. For complete information and to sign up, please visit our official website: bit.ly/SantaSpeedoRun2025

Supporters are encouraged to contribute in advance on our website. Donations will also be accepted at Sidetrack on event day. Fundraising efforts continue through December 31st.

Last year’s event, powered by the collective support of participants and donors, raised a record-breaking $182,000 for Center on Halsted!

The festivities don’t conclude at the finish line! Join us for an unforgettable after-party at Sidetrack, featuring performances by renowned Chicago drag entertainers. The party promises a day of excitement with prizes, games, and an awards ceremony to honor top individual and team fundraisers. The revelry extends well into the evening as Sidetrack remains open until 3 a.m.

The 2025 Santa Speedo Run is supported by Sidetrack , Alderman Bennett Lawson, American Airlines, Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA), Men’s Room, Molson Coors, Perrier, Tito’s Vodka, and Vivent Health + TPAN.

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]]> Ken Mejia Beal https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/ken-mejia-beal-2/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:31:42 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177468 November storyteller Ken Mejia Beal is a writer/politico/ and activist. In 2015 Ken began writing for the platform DemWrite Press. In 2021 Ken became the first openly LGBTQ political Chair in the State of Illinois. In 2024, Ken served as a Delegate at the 2024 Chicago Democratic Convention. He also did not seek re-election to the position of County Chairman, and stepped into a new role: Treasurer of Youth Outlook. Youth Outlook is an organization that provides resources and structure to LGBTQ youth across the state and also provides resources for their parents. Hear Ken’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> November storyteller Ken Mejia Beal is a writer/politico/ and activist. In 2015 Ken began writing for the platform DemWrite Press. In 2021 Ken became the first openly LGBTQ political Chair in the State of Illinois. In 2024, Ken served as a Delegate at the 2024 Chicago Democratic Convention. He also did not seek re-election to the position of County Chairman, and stepped into a new role: Treasurer of Youth Outlook. Youth Outlook is an organization that provides resources and structure to LGBTQ youth across the state and also provides resources for their parents. Hear Ken’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> Jeff Berry https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/jeff-berry/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:30:57 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177465 November storyteller The Reverend Jeff Berry is a life long Chicagoan who seriously can’t imagine living anywhere else in the country. Jeff stands firm that Chicago is the best option for him to openly express who he is and who he is becoming. He used his time during Covid to get his education and become an ordained Unity minister. He has since launched a program at Center on Halsted called “Zoomed Out” asking participants to step back and consider life from a broader perspective. Jeff is positioning himself as a guide for our community to discover or rediscover a safe and loving connection to the idea that we are all worthy of living authentically in peace. Hear Jeff’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> November storyteller The Reverend Jeff Berry is a life long Chicagoan who seriously can’t imagine living anywhere else in the country. Jeff stands firm that Chicago is the best option for him to openly express who he is and who he is becoming. He used his time during Covid to get his education and become an ordained Unity minister. He has since launched a program at Center on Halsted called “Zoomed Out” asking participants to step back and consider life from a broader perspective. Jeff is positioning himself as a guide for our community to discover or rediscover a safe and loving connection to the idea that we are all worthy of living authentically in peace. Hear Jeff’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> Suzie Campbell https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/suzie-campbell/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:30:11 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177462 November storyteller Suzie Campbell lives in Ravenswood and is a single mom to two small humans and a pair of kittens named Freddie (Mercury) and Marvin (Gaye). Suzie has performed at shows such as Story Collider, Pour One Out, Is this a thing?, and Fillet of Solo. Her one woman show, Get F*cked, is about her quest to have sex before getting a hysterectomy at 35 years old. Suzie believes our most difficult chapters often contain our most important stories, if we’re brave enough to share them with honesty. When not on stage, Suzie can be found hunting for the best less than $5 record in Chicago or explaining to Freddie and Marvin that knocking things off shelves is not an acceptable critique of her writing style. Hear Suzie’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> November storyteller Suzie Campbell lives in Ravenswood and is a single mom to two small humans and a pair of kittens named Freddie (Mercury) and Marvin (Gaye). Suzie has performed at shows such as Story Collider, Pour One Out, Is this a thing?, and Fillet of Solo. Her one woman show, Get F*cked, is about her quest to have sex before getting a hysterectomy at 35 years old. Suzie believes our most difficult chapters often contain our most important stories, if we’re brave enough to share them with honesty. When not on stage, Suzie can be found hunting for the best less than $5 record in Chicago or explaining to Freddie and Marvin that knocking things off shelves is not an acceptable critique of her writing style. Hear Suzie’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> Tim Barnett https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/tim-barnett/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:29:21 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177459 November storyteller Tim Barnett is a professor of English and gender/sexuality studies at Northeastern Illinois University and a single dad of a great son, Tyler. He’s also spent almost a decade in higher education programs serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students at NEIU and Stateville Prison. Hear Tim’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> November storyteller Tim Barnett is a professor of English and gender/sexuality studies at Northeastern Illinois University and a single dad of a great son, Tyler. He’s also spent almost a decade in higher education programs serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students at NEIU and Stateville Prison. Hear Tim’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> Roberta Miles https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/roberta-miles/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:28:36 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177456 November storyteller Roberta Miles is a jazz singer, poet, writer, and visual artist. Her award-winning autobiographical monologues touch on growing up in Chicago in the 70’s and her life’s indiscretions and romantic regrets. She has laid her soul bare at Steppenwolf Theater, Second City, I.O, Beast Women, Prop Thtr, and Three Cat Productions. She’s been described as a mix of Spalding Gray, Nora Ephron, and Samantha from Sex and the City — if they all had a psychotic break and wrote about it in the tub after eating a gummy. She is the producer of the long-running shows Cafe Cabaret and Loose Chicks. Hear Roberta’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> November storyteller Roberta Miles is a jazz singer, poet, writer, and visual artist. Her award-winning autobiographical monologues touch on growing up in Chicago in the 70’s and her life’s indiscretions and romantic regrets. She has laid her soul bare at Steppenwolf Theater, Second City, I.O, Beast Women, Prop Thtr, and Three Cat Productions. She’s been described as a mix of Spalding Gray, Nora Ephron, and Samantha from Sex and the City — if they all had a psychotic break and wrote about it in the tub after eating a gummy. She is the producer of the long-running shows Cafe Cabaret and Loose Chicks. Hear Roberta’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> David Beam https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/david-beam/ Wed, 29 Oct 2025 04:27:27 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177453 November storyteller David Beam is a semi-retired legal communications professional who survived the de-evolution of print journalism and still enjoys reading books and articles on paper. Born and raised in a small town in upstate New York, David left for the mid west the week after graduation on a one-year internship that to-date has lasted 42 years. He spent the majority of his professional life managing legal trade publications (where he took burlap and turned it into brushed cotton), but began his career as an evangelical youth director and seminary student who occasionally waited tables and taught aerobics classes to senior citizens. Hear David’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> November storyteller David Beam is a semi-retired legal communications professional who survived the de-evolution of print journalism and still enjoys reading books and articles on paper. Born and raised in a small town in upstate New York, David left for the mid west the week after graduation on a one-year internship that to-date has lasted 42 years. He spent the majority of his professional life managing legal trade publications (where he took burlap and turned it into brushed cotton), but began his career as an evangelical youth director and seminary student who occasionally waited tables and taught aerobics classes to senior citizens. Hear David’s story Tuesday, November 4, at OUTspoken – seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm at Sidetrack.

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]]> Mac Cherny https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/mac-cherny/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:35:40 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177187 October storyteller Mac Cherny is a Chicago-based comedian and playwright returning for his third story at Outspoken. He tours his one-person show, No Outlet, and performs globally as his drag persona, Merriam Levkowitz, America’s Favorite Drag Bubbie. This November, Mac will be running his seventh race with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Team to End AIDS in the NYC Marathon. Hear Mac’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> October storyteller Mac Cherny is a Chicago-based comedian and playwright returning for his third story at Outspoken. He tours his one-person show, No Outlet, and performs globally as his drag persona, Merriam Levkowitz, America’s Favorite Drag Bubbie. This November, Mac will be running his seventh race with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Team to End AIDS in the NYC Marathon. Hear Mac’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> Le’Trice Buckingham https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/letrice-buckingham/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:34:05 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177184 October storyteller Le’Trice Buckingham is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist whose work blends visual art, storytelling, and poetry. Her practice explores the intersections of imagination and Black identity. Her work can be found at artconjure.com. Hear Le’Trice’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> October storyteller Le’Trice Buckingham is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist whose work blends visual art, storytelling, and poetry. Her practice explores the intersections of imagination and Black identity. Her work can be found at artconjure.com. Hear Le’Trice’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> Kyle Sanders https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/kyle-sanders/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:32:38 +0000 https://www.sidetrackchicago.com/?p=177181 October storyteller Kyle Sanders is a Kentucky native, Chicago resident, and all-around national treasure. He works in the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University, where every year, he asks the school’s beloved “Sister Jean” to pray for him before IML and Market Days weekend. In his free time, he writes for CHIRP Radio, reviewing the latest films and film festivals in the Chicago area, and also co-programs the CHIRP Music Film Festival, which will hold its fourth annual event next fall. You can usually find him hanging out at his favorite place in all of Chicago, the Music Box Theater, which now has a seat with his name on it, so feel free to stop by and sit on him anytime! Hear Kyle’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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]]> October storyteller Kyle Sanders is a Kentucky native, Chicago resident, and all-around national treasure. He works in the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University, where every year, he asks the school’s beloved “Sister Jean” to pray for him before IML and Market Days weekend. In his free time, he writes for CHIRP Radio, reviewing the latest films and film festivals in the Chicago area, and also co-programs the CHIRP Music Film Festival, which will hold its fourth annual event next fall. You can usually find him hanging out at his favorite place in all of Chicago, the Music Box Theater, which now has a seat with his name on it, so feel free to stop by and sit on him anytime! Hear Kyle’s story Tuesday, October 7, at OUTspoken at Sidetrack. Seating from 6pm, stories 7-9pm.

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