The Cellblock
Rating: ****
Type: Leather/Levi bar
Crowd: Whatever
Pooltable: Yes, and a fairly good one.
Best time to go: Don't know since we were on vacation

Had a nice evening here, although we were on the tailend of IML and there on a school night. Bartender was very friendly (we met him the night before while he was on a date with a guitarist/actor). Locals are fairly friendly, although they stick to themselves. Convenient access from the el station.

The bar itself is about the size of the Lone Star in San Francisco, but shorter and darker. The twinks all go next door to what we think was a lipstick lesbian bar. It's hard to tell them apart. There are a lot of televisions in the bar, which I think is a big mistake since it gives people a reason not to talk to each other.

The Eagle (The Chicago Eagle)
Rating: **
Type: Levi/Leather
Crowd: Gay men
Pooltable: No

The Eagle has the best entrance of any gay bar we visited (you gotta see it), but after that it's straight downhill. I'm not sure if it was because we were there during IML or not, but it was pretty dull. There's a back room and a smaller waaaay back room where who knows what goes on, but it was too crowded for us to enjoy ourselves. We left after about 20 mins. I'm sure it's not as crappy during the rest of the year, but even Scott (who never complains) wouldn't go back.

FYI: Drink system pours the SMALLEST cocktails I've seen outside of Montreal. Full size prices though.

Jackhammer
Rating: **
Type: Levi/Twinks
Crowd: 90% gay, some straight girls
Pooltable: Yes, two and in fairly good condition.

Not a leather bar at all, but full of boys when we visited (both nights). I can't really remember if they had a drink system or not because we were plastered when we arrived. The inside is very LA, but there wasn't a lot of attitude.

Tiny back patio, which is nice for relaxing. We went a second night and they were doing karaoke. We met some interesting locals, although I think they were just trying to pick up Scott. This wouldn't be my hangout if I lived here.

Right next door to Touche. Surprisingly, when I was a kid 30 years ago I lived about a half-mile from both of these bars, but had no idea they were gay.

Touche
Rating: ***
Type: Levi/Leather/Whatever
Crowd: 100% gay men
Pooltable: Yes, and also in good condition

I'm not sure what to make out of this bar. It's the Renegades of Chicago I'm guessing. Older crowd (as in over 30) and a bit rough around the edges. Front bar is very subdued; back bar is pretty dark and more interesting to sit around in. But even during IML this place was fairly slow. Bartenders and people that we chatted with very very friendly however, and this would probably be my number two choice.