Insider tips: Deep dish pizza and Boystown! Welcome to Chicago!

Meet Ahmed from Mexico and Bronson from Minnesota, and our cat Baxter. They've been together for around 9 years and love cooking, nature, Bikram Yoga, "Netflix and chill", camping, travelling, road trips, bar crawling, and of course, CLUBBING! They just moved to Chicago after travelling around the world for a few months, and love what the city has to offer. They are also fabulous hosts on misterb&b. Read below for their take on their newly found home city!

What makes Chicago a favorite gay destination?
Chicago is the main pole of attraction for Midwest America, a melting pot of cultures, and recently a rising tech startup scene, creating a super diverse and vibrant gay community mixed with affordable prices to create the best atmosphere for parties and cultural events.

Despite the city's extreme climates, there are things to do year-round: from sunbathing in Hollywood Beach during the summer to a gay trolly that goes bar hopping when it's cold, to a Halloween parade down Halsted. In August there's Market Days, in June there's Pride, and in the South Side Saint Patrick's Day attracts both LGBT and LGBT-friendly. The drag scene is huge as well: Berlin, off Belmont station on the redline, features artists including Trannika Rex. And of course Chicago gave us LGBT supporters Obama and Hillary as well as house music.

What is the best gay event that takes place in Chicago?
There are so many. Pride draws massive crowds, and Market Days is more Chicago — said to be the largest outdoor street festival in the Midwest, with vendors, entertainment, arts, crafts, and food. There's also the International Mr. Leather Convention in late May.

What is your favorite gay establishment to grab a bite?
Wood for dinner, Nookie's for breakfast. Halsted's on the Halsted strip for lunch because they serve large portions and have an outdoor patio and nice staff. Yoshi's, and The Chicago Diner, on Halsted and Rosoce's -- go for the blackbean burrito and a chance sighting of Lady Gaga.

Best gay bar for a cheap beer?
Scarlett is a hipster-ish place to dance with a young crowd and everyday $5 well drinks, or the classic Roscoe's on Sundays for all-day $1 tap beers and free burgers. If you're still feeling the party head to Charlie's after 2 a.m. (closes at 4 a.m.) for cheap weekday well drinks, a large dance floor, non-pretentious atmosphere, fun events, and good music and lights.

Best gay bar for a refreshing cocktail?
Sidetrack. Cheap, potent drinks, and a pleasant terrace on the weekends. One of the few places without a cover charge on weekend nights. Sundays and Mondays draw large crowds for musical singalongs.

Which famous gay people are from Chicago?
The Wachowskis, Dan Savage, Patricia Barber. LGBT-friendly president and soon-to-be, Obama and Hillary.

Ready to go dancing--what is the best gay dance club?
Hydrate for sexy shirtless guys dancing electronic after midnight, Scarlett for a tight squeeze, good lights, hot alternative  guys, a mix of hip-hop/pop/EDM/#beyonce, and $10 sparkling wine bottles on Sunday afternoons, Smart Bar on Sundays for drag, Roscoe's dance floor for a fun variety of people, club kids at Berlin, Kit Kat for divas. Fantasy (formerly Circuit), a Latino club with both free and cover-charge dance floors, and Charlie's are one of the few places closing at 4 a.m., the latter of which draws a late-night unpretentious crowd any day of the week.

Which gay bar offers the best happy hour on a Wednesday?
For sure it's Charlie's, which is just a block from our place. It has cheap drinks and shower contests on Wednesdays.

Where should we start a gay focused tour of Chicago?
Boystown (Halsted and Broadway run parallel to each other, and everything in between), starting on the south end at Diversey. But don't forget Andersonville and Edgewater, the two northern neighbors of Lakeview's Boystown.

Best place to socialize with the local gay community?
Sidetrack bar on Sundays. Grab a pizza or sandwich at Whole Foods on Halsted and eat it the neighboring lobby, with huge windows and great people watching.

Best place to be surrounded by the local gays?
Any supermarket in Boystown, including Whole Foods on Halsted, Jewel-Osco on Broadway/Addison or Treasure Island Foods, just a few blocks south. All of Boystown in general — Halsted, off Belmont, to Waveland. Hollywood Beach in the summer and the walking/bike path along Lake Shore Drive. The Ram or Steamworks for action. Second Story in the Loop for a more local, intimate scene.

How gay-friendly is Chicago?
4.5 stars out of 5 stars. It is really amazing. As long as you stay in Boystown, Andersonville, Edgewater or Downtown,  it's really great. But as in any big city, Chicago has its LGBT-friendly spots, and places where you should be discreet. As a gay couple we haven't encountered any discrimination.
 

A gay place for brunch on weekends?
DS Tequila for Tex-Mex food, Angelina's for Italian, and Kit Kat for American food, margaritas, and divas. In Andersonville, Reza's has a delicious Mediterranean/Persian buffet with a large vegetarian selection. 

What is gay life like ?
Chicago is the hub for gay life in the Midwest. Very diverse, open-minded city drawing LGBT folks from around the world, offering something for everyone. Entertainment and dining options abound, and the city provides great health services, such as the Howard Brown Health Center, where one can get low-to-no-cost STI and HIV testing and treatment.

What are your personal favourite gay venues?
We love Hollywood Beach in the summertime and Boystown all year round. Our favorite places are Scarlett for dancing, its great customer service, handsome servers, setting and good drinks. We also love Charlie's, which is open until 4 a.m. and has great music, dancing, and great drinks.