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| Hydrate: 3458 N. Halsted Street. Photo: Ren H. |
The reports of violence came from a north side nightclub called Hydrate at 3458 North Halsted Street, near the intersection of North Halsted Street and West Cornelia Avenue.
At 2:21 a.m., someone named "Angel" called 911, because several men waiting outside the bar, were threatening to assault the 911 caller and his friends.
Police arrived around 2:26 a.m.
At 2:46 a.m., another 911 call was placed from Hydrate. This time, a 911 caller claimed he or she was attacked and was waiting inside the bar for police.
On January 9, 2011, police were called to several gay bays, including Hydrate.
OK, this isn't cool. hateful people waiting outside to beat up gay people? I hardly think it's gay people waiting to beat up gay people..not the MO of gay people. This happened about 24 years ago in that area. Skin heads were walking the neighborhood beating the crap out of gay people. I know, myself and about 4 of my friends were attacked on Broadway by them. We were trashed BUT, we hurt them pretty bad...took a couple lumps ourselves too. That's the thing bout being drunk, you feel no pain! We went to Melrose and called 911, gave descriptions and found out they were arrested later that "morning" around Halsted doing the same thing. With the hateful atmosphere in this country, it doesn't surprise me that this is starting up again.
ReplyDeleteTowanda, please. Gay people beat up gay people, too. Trust a homo.
ReplyDeletetowanda the incident you are talking about happened in the 80s. I think I remember hearing about that, or a similar incident. If I am not mistaken, there were sticks or bats involved.
ReplyDeleteHydrate must be attracting the wrong crowd lately. I heard the place is now closed on Tuesday because of poor business.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said: Towanda, please. Gay people beat up gay people, too. Trust a homo.
ReplyDeleteYou made a very valid point.
Towanda, I usually agree with you (you thanked me for agreeing with you regarding White people that need subsidized housing too). However, there's a 90% chance your way OFF with this post.
ReplyDeleteThe "ethnic" gays beating each other bloody on Halsted Street needs to be addressed by the police and moreso by the business owners. The name of "Angel" here is a dead giveaway. I highly disagree this was a "gay bashing". You're living in the 70's.
If the Halsted St. business owners can't "man-up" and address this problem head-on (including "S.T.") they're not getting any more of my GWM $$.
I've visited Detroit many times and never experienced viewing what I saw on Halsted/Belmont this past Summer. Bloodshed. Calling 911 resulted in the phone ringing TWELVE times before anyone picked up. They don't care either. Nor do I at this point.
Forget your tips bartenders. Blame it on "transient youth" but I disagree. We have to save our extra cash for cabfare as it's basically become unsafe to walk in this "neighborhood" even before midnight.
Chicago didn't make it on the "Top 15 Gayest Cities" list (not that I really care) but your violent crime is keeping people away. NEWSFLASH.
AW, I like to think we're a "peaceful" lot:) I get that alcohol is involved and the flirting getting out of hand and someone getting pissed off about it, but what other reasons would gay people want to beat gay people up? I don't go to the bars anymore so I am way out of touch on that. How do you know they were gay?
ReplyDeleteIn that incident, chains were also used. BUT they WERE caught and these thugs will be as well. You're right Timothy, it was like 1983-84 and we had just left the Closet after closing.
Towanda, I have not been to a bar in over ten years. But I have seen plenty of fights start on the dance floor. Someone bumps someone else and all hell breaks loose.
ReplyDeletePeople have such short fuses these days.
YALL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. THOSE CRAZY ASS YOUNG QUEENS ARE A MESS. THEY HANG ON THE STREETS HARASSING PEOPLE AND TALKING SHIT. CHILE SOME OF THOSE QUEENS HAVE MUGGED PEOPLE!!!MRS TOWANDA GIRL YOU NEED TO GET OUT MORE. THINGS HAVE CHANGED SISTER.
ReplyDeleteAnd 50% of those "queens" sho-nuff ain't "gay" Patti Labelle. Where ya'llz think we're that stoopid is almost amusing at this point. Maybe some 20 y.o. displaced gay guy from Oaklahoma might buy it but please.....keep it real Chicago (and watch your back).
ReplyDeleteWell darlings, If this is the state of the bar seen and the gays in those bars..NO THANK YOU! I can remember when Hydrate was Christopher Street and a great place to go party. Hell, I was around when Rosco's and Sidetracks were being buit. My partying days took me down big time so, drinking and drugging is WAY over for me. We Never had these problems back than. What the hell is going on? All I can say is you can bring back the 70's & 80's anytime. I guess this time, I don't have a clue what I'm talking about:( I had no idea. Do most people know who's causing the problems and if they do, why isn't it being addressed? Gay people pour a ton of money into this city. What the hell is Tom Tunney doing about this? What about the Center on Halsted? Where is our community? Is there no solidarity anymore? Key West is starting to look mighty fine right about now!
ReplyDeleteMS TOWANDA GIRL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MISS THANG IS TALKING ABOUT AND NEITHER DOES SHE! THERE'S A GAGGLE OF YOUNG ASS QUEENS THAT HANG OUT ON BELMNT AND HALSTED EVERY NIGHT!!!!!! WHEN IT GETS CHILLY THEY FLOCK TO DUNKIN DONUTS ON THE CORNER. THEM SAME QUEENS ROAM UP AND DOWN HALSTED CAUSIN DRAMA.
ReplyDeleteTHE GROUP IS FULL YOUNG QUEENS AND YOUNG QUEENS PRETENDING TO BE THUGS GIRL! SO BUMP WHAT YOU HEARD DARLING.
"People have such short fuses these days" You're right Timothy and they are very thinned skinned as well.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it pathetic that the gay community has fought so hard for so long to make strides towards being accepted into mainstream society and NOW we are fighting ourselves? What the hell is wrong with this picture?
I remember when people could hang out in those bars ALL NIGHT and people had a REALLY GOOD TIME!
ReplyDeleteNo guns. No knives. No drama. If an disagree arose, it was usually settled by buying someone a beer!
I think the world is going mad! Halsted & Broadway USED to be a lot different. People could walk over to the Melrose to "soak it up" and get breakfast WITHOUT any fear after the bars closed and more often than not, we were ALL trashed. NOW? I wouldn't be over there walking around at night for no amount of money. Why aren't Pepe, ART or Jim doing something about this? Are they all tired? Has it gotten worse since The center on Halsted opened? I know there are a few low income housing sites there but I'm thinking these thugs are coming from OUT of the neighborhood and causing all this trouble. After all, we ALL know that they go where the money is.
ReplyDeleteI want to address Mr. Anonymous who has a lot of nerve asking the Halsted business owners to "man up" Pay attention fool! I have worked on the street for over ten years and have personally witnessed our community "bar owners" Making huge strides to help keep our streets safe! By having neighborhood watch meetings,putting up cameras, working very closely with the police, as well as keeping there security staffs up to date on all incidences! especially the last few years as things started to escalate! Oh and that also includes "S T" which I can only assume you mean SideTrack! Soo if you're that ignorant to point fingers we don't want your GWM$$$ Stay home :)
ReplyDeleteBrian Branagham, they're not doing a good enough job. Halsted St. wasn't like this when I moved here 4 years ago. Will take my GWM$$$ elsewhere. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Chicago didn't make the top 15 list of "gayest cities" across America. NBD to me but I truly think there is a reason. Clean it up!
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, back at the ranch......"C.O.H." makes the headlines.......again.....
ReplyDeleteVictim pepper sprayed and robbed
Jan. 13, 3 a.m.
A 27-year old female resident of Melrose Street and Broadway was robbed by an unknown male offender after he sprayed her repeatedly in the face with pepper spray, forcing her to fall to the ground, according to reports. The offender got her attention by asking where the Center on Halsted before incapacitating her and taking her purse, she told police. He fled in an unknown direction. No arrests.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.....it was 3:00 a.m. and what was she doing out on the street at that time of the night? Maybe she was a nurse, a bartender? (see I am kinda open minded).
Wow, things have changed since we lived in Boystown 1994-2001. We had a lot of fun then and the worst incident might have been the occasional gays beating up a drag queen outside Circuit for selling bunk shit. The bouncers knew who was who, and kept out trouble. I once saw the off-duty cop (drove a red SLK) working the door at Roscoe's call 911 for assistance over something outside. You would never have guessed how many undercovers were immediately at the corner of 7-11 instantly responded, with cruisers rushing in within 2 minutes to support. About 12 cops deployed at the scene within 120 seconds. A bad guy would be crazy to try anything. The cute Hispanic Lt at the Addison Stn was very supportive of gay people.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, but I suspect there is drug trade involved in the present fights. Where before, there was one corporate hierarchy doing the command and control over sales locations, that has splintered into competition after the Michael Jackson-dead taxi driver/Michael Anderson-Howard Brown-Hearts Foundation mess. Now, it is probably more like the traditional competitive "territorial" model, much less genteel. In a limited economy, moving in on someone's customers might even get one killed. Lucky to just have threats and fist fights and not guns and knives. Those calling 911 may or may not be innocent. Doesn't it seem strange that cops show up at Hydrate after a call, and nothing happened? Then, 20 minutes later, the caller was attacked after the cops leave? Think of it as maybe the caller did not want too much attention because of what he was carrying. Filing a report with real ID could come right back at them.
-Former Boystown resident,