Erica Levin

Minibar is a great place to go for a happy hour with the girls, but you might want to leave before it literally becomes Boys Town. Brunches are good too.

The Center on Halsted is a LGBT center attached to the Whole Foods in Boystown. A wonderful concept that's great for the community.

If you're ever lucky enough to walk past Scarlet at 2pm on a Sunday, you'll enter the twilight zone and feel like you've regressed to last night (Saturday) at midnight.

Hydrate rhymes with gyrate. And there's a reason for this at this very sensual gay club.

Yet another reason to head ALL the way up North: Jerry's Quality Meats. Your Jewish grandma won't be disappointed.

The north side is good for a lot of things (the Cubs?), but especially Holzkopf Meat Market.

Paulina Market is the cream of the crop of meat markets (ask any chef in town); just don't go on a Sunday...it's closed. I learned the hard way.

The Butcher & Larder is good on so many levels; on their own and also for what they supply to local restaurants. Chicagoans can't get enough of their meat.

Gepperth's: the meat market where all Lincoln Park foodies buy their meat.