Big Chicks
  Big Chicks Location within Chicago metropolitan area  Big Chicks Location within Illinois | |
| Address | 5024 N Sheridan Rd Uptown, Chicago, Illinois United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°58′26″N 87°39′18″W / 41.974°N 87.655°W |
| Type | Gay bar |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Website | |
| bigchicks | |
Big Chicks is a gay bar and neighborhood restaurant that opened in 1986 in Uptown, Chicago.[1] It serves as a diverse community space for the LGBTQ community, the Chicago art scene, and the kink community. Both Big Chicks and neighboring restaurant Tweet are owned by Michelle Fire.
History & Overview
[edit]Big Chicks opened on December 11th, 1986[2] and is located in Chicago's Uptown community area.[3] Prior to this, the location had been a bar since 1944, primarily catering to military veterans and other local clientele; when Michelle Fire purchased the bar in 1986, she inherited these bar regulars (and their dogs) as well as the bar's original bartenders.[4]
The name of the bar was inspired by an experience Fire had on a trip to India, where she was referred to as "Big Chick" by men in Bandra.[5]
Over time, Big Chicks has become an "informal gay community center" in Uptown.[6] During the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the bar served as a hub for HIV education and medical outreach to the LGBTQ community.[2] Over the years Big Chicks has hosted drag shows, political events, poetry readings, and musical performances.[7]
In 2016, the bar was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.[2]
Big Chicks is also known as an informal art gallery space, having hosted works by Diane Arbus, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Leon Golub, Tony Fitzpatrick, Lee Godie and Hollis Sigler,[8] among many others. The art on display comes from Michelle Fire's own collection.[2]
Big Chicks is a cash-only establishment. Tweet, the adjoining restaurant, is also owned by Michelle Fire, and provides the food which can be ordered in the bar.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Big Chicks". Chicago Reader. January 30, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 "BIG CHICKS". Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ↑ Obejas, Achy (September 30, 1994). "Big Chick's Still Keeps Pace With Uptown". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Tamarkin, David (June 6, 2018). "'I Think We Have a Gay Bar'". Bon Appetit. Archived from the original on June 7, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ↑ Hammond, Gretchen Rachel (December 7, 2016). "Big Chicks turns the big 3-0". Windy City Times. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
- ↑ Janega, James (January 16, 2004). "Gays, Straights Agree: Bar Worth Fighting For". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Big Chicks and Tweet". Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 2, 2026.
- ↑ "Art". Chicago Tribune. March 31, 1998. Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.