All Things Beyoncé

Sidetrack's turning 44 and throwing a proper party — $3 cocktails, beers, and frozen drinks all night, live performances from Boy J and Veronica Pop with special guest Brooke Lynn Hytes, and a dance floor packed with people who've made this place legendary. There's lite bites, annual drawings at 8:30 and 11pm, and a chance to support Groceryland by bringing personal care or paper products. No cover, no RSVP — just show up and celebrate four decades of Chicago's most iconic LGBTQIA+ video bar.

Sidetrack's birthday bash takes over the whole venue for a night — multiple floors, rooftop included, all celebrating the legendary video bar that's been the heartbeat of Chicago's LGBTQ+ scene. Expect the energy that made this place iconic: themed dance floors, sing-alongs, and a crowd that knows how to mark an occasion. 9pm-2am.

Friday afternoons at Sidetrack belong to Show Tunes — a weekly 3-7pm sing-along that's part celebration, part community ritual. The kind of event where everyone knows the words, the crowd gets louder with each drink, and you leave hoarse from singing but somehow happier than when you walked in.

Catch All Stars every Friday night at Sidetrack — the kind of viewing party where the crowd knows every lip sync, every elimination, and exactly when to lose it. Settle in from 7-9pm with people who actually care about the drama, the runways, and who's going home.

Every Friday at 7pm, Sidetrack transforms into the ultimate viewing experience for RuPaul's Drag Race — massive screens across seven rooms, no cover charge, and a crowd that actually knows how to react. Stick around after the episode for a live Chicago drag showcase featuring local queens who bring the same energy Ru demands.

The rooftop comes alive Friday nights at Sidetrack — a reliable weekly reset where the dance floor fills up early and stays packed until 2am. DJs keep the energy moving, the crowd knows how to have a good time, and the rooftop opens early evening if you want to ease into it. It's the kind of Friday night that reminds you why you love this place.