Running Tour of Lesbian Bar History

The Southport Corridor’s historic Music Box Theatre is celebrated as one of Chicago’s go-to destinations for indie films, cult classics, and sing-alongs—but its adjoining Music Box Lounge also holds an important, and often overlooked, place in the city’s saphhic history.

In the midst of our society's sapphic revolution, we're celebrating this lost 1970s-era Lesbian bar and the launch of the second season of Gerber/Hart Library & Archives's Unboxing Queer History with podcaster and Read & Run Chicago guide Quinn Rose.

Over three miles with Quinn and our friends at Out There Chicago, you'll visit former sites of other 1970s lesbian bars identified in the book Last Call Chicago and hear first-hand stories about other bars that didn't make it in to the podcast episode they hosted.

After the route, stick around to celebrate Unboxing Queer History at Music Box Theater.

No pre-reading required to attend running tours. If you'd like to purchase the books inspiring this event, head to our Bookshop.org affiliate page.

 

The TL;DR:

DOORS OPEN: Doors open at Music Box Theater at 5:30 PM. Check in, make a name tag, purchase merch, and mingle with other readers & runners.

ROUTE: Easy-paced (11:00-12:00 min/mile) 3-mile route through Lakeview with three stops.

PODCAST LAUNCH: Stick around after the route to celebrate the podcast Unboxing Queer History with Gerber/Hart Library & Archives.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold a modified version of the event at the venue starting at 6pm. You will be notified via email no later than 5pm on Monday, September 22 if there are any changes to the event.

All ticket holders will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

 

About your hosts:

Quinn Rose: Quinn is a digital librarian with a passion for queer history, theater, digital humanities, and anything that can combine all three at once. They spend their time working in metadata, volunteering at Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, and managing two black cats.

Geber/Hart Library & Archives: Founded in 1981, Gerber/Hart Library and Archives seeks to collect, preserve, and make accessible the history and culture of LGBTQ+ communities in Chicago and the Midwest in order to advance the larger goal of achieving justice and equality.

Read & Run Chicago is the flagship chapter of Read & Run Tours, LLC—the nation’s first and only organization hosting running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, writer, and runner Allison Yates, our mission is simple: to use movement and stories to explore place. Our community-centered programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs—all inspired by books set in our cities and written by local authors. Along the way, we champion literacy initiatives, public libraries, independent bookstores, and the writers who bring our communities to life. In Chicago, we’ve hosted nearly 120 events featuring 30+ authors and local experts. Our work has been highlighted by CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, FOX32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Club Chicago, and more. More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

Out There Chicago: A queer and trans led run and walk club hosting weekly Wednesday evening meetups out of Logan Square. Follow at @outtherechicago.