Sidetrack named best in U.S.

Sidetrack named best in U.S.
By Gary Barlow
Copyright by The Chicago Free Press

Folks looking for the country’s top gay bar need look no further than 3349 N. Halsted St. in Chicago, according to Gaybar.com.

The online international guide to going out gay last week put Sidetrack at the top of its list of best gay bars in the United States, praising the Lakeview gay institution for its spaciousness, welcoming atmosphere and ambience.

It marked the third time in the past two years that such a guide has rated Sidetrack the best gay bar in the country.

“We’re thrilled,” said Art Johnston, who owns the club along with partners Pepe Peña and Chuck Hyde.

“It’s tribute to our staff—to our current staff and to all the great people who’ve worked at Sidetrack for more than 20 years,” Johnston said

About two years ago, Instinct magazine awarded Sidetrack top honors in its listing of gay bars in the U.S., and last October, The Advocate’s OutTraveler.com put Sidetrack at the top of its Reader’s Choice Awards.

“If you were going to bet, you’d guess it would be a New York or L.A. place that would be recognized,’ Johnston said. “Given the usual bi-coastal nature of the national media, I think it’s wonderful that a Chicago institution was recognized.”

Hyde, Johnston and Peña have made sure that Sidetrack has kept its look and feel fresh, constantly updating the club’s appearance and adding new public areas. In recent years, they’ve opened the popular Glass Bar section of the club and added a new area on the north side of the original bar.

Last year, they unveiled a renovated rooftop deck that won top design honors from a New York-based architectural group.

Johnston said being regarded as the best in the U.S. also brings challenges, albeit welcome ones.

“Frankly, it makes our job more difficult because it raises the expectation level here,” he said. “I hope we can continue to meet people’s expectations. We’re going to try very hard.”

Rounding out Gaybar.com’s top 10 U.S. clubs list, in order, were Sue Ellen’s, in Dallas; The Mint, San Francisco; Boom, Minneapolis; Cattyshack, New York; I-Candy, West Hollywood; Therapy, New York; Wild Rose, Seattle; Brazos River Bottom Club, Houston; and My Sister’s Room, Decatur, Ga.

Gaybar.com also published its top 10 list of gay bars outside the U.S., with London’s Heaven placing first, followed by Le Drugstore, Montreal; Diva Bar, Melbourne, Australia; Le Vogue Club, Paris; Lick, Vancouver; Le Boy, Rio de Janeiro; The Candy Bar, London; Midnight Shift, Sydney; SO36, Berlin; and Fly, Toronto