LGBT Food, Fun, Travel, & Social Group

🕯️🏛️Gold, Icons & Tradition: St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church Tour ✨⛪

🌿 An Inspiring Afternoon Inside One of Chicago’s Most Beautiful Orthodox Landmarks ✨

Join us for a special guided visit to St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church, a stunning sacred space on Chicago’s North Side and a beloved spiritual home for generations of Greek-American families. This church is known for its breathtaking interior, rich Orthodox symbolism, and powerful sense of tradition and community.

This immersive experience explores Orthodox faith, iconography, ritual, and immigrant history, all within an awe-inspiring setting filled with sacred art and architectural beauty.

This is a stationary guided church visit — no walking route or neighborhood stroll — allowing us to slow down and truly absorb the art, architecture, iconography, and spiritual atmosphere of this remarkable church.

Expect vivid icons, gold accents, candlelight, incense, and meaningful stories of faith and immigration — all shared in a respectful and informative setting. ✨

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🕰️ Schedule, Meeting Info & Cost
📅 Saturday, January 31, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church 5649 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL
⏱️ Visit length: ~90 minutes
💰 Cost: $15 per person
💵 Cash strongly preferred (Zelle/Venmo/PayPal are accepted if needed so I can submit one group donation)

⚠️ All attendees must check in with me at the start of the tour and submit payment directly to me so I can give to the church

📸 Photography is allowed — please be respectful of the sacred space and follow any onsite guidance.

🎤 Private guided experience arranged for our group.

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🌟 What We’ll Experience
⛪ A beautiful Orthodox sanctuary filled with sacred atmosphere
🎨 Traditional Orthodox iconography and stunning artwork
🕯️ Candles, incense, and sacred ritual elements
📜 The history of the parish and its immigrant roots
🏛️ Architectural and artistic details that reflect Orthodox tradition and spiritual meaning

This visit takes place entirely inside the church and its immediate grounds.

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📖 About St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church
Built in 1926, St. Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Church has been a spiritual and cultural anchor on Chicago’s North Side for nearly a century. As the surrounding neighborhood evolved through generations — shaped by waves of immigration, lakefront growth, and the vibrant mix of communities that define this part of the city — St. Andrew’s remained a steady presence, offering faith, tradition, and connection.

The church reflects the deep roots of Greek-American families who helped build and strengthen Chicago, creating a home away from home where language, customs, and religious life could be preserved and passed down. For many, St. Andrew’s was not only a place of worship, but also a gathering space for community life — a setting for baptisms, weddings, memorials, celebrations, and the rhythms of Orthodox holidays that continue to shape the parish today.

Like many Orthodox churches, the interior is designed to teach and inspire through symbolism — from icons of Christ and the saints, to sacred imagery that fills the space with meaning and beauty. Whether you come for the history, the art, or the spiritual atmosphere, St. Andrew’s offers a powerful glimpse into how immigrant communities helped shape the cultural landscape of Chicago — one neighborhood and one church at a time.

Located near the lakefront in the Edgewater/Loyola area, the church sits in one of Chicago’s most welcoming and diverse neighborhoods — a community known for its mix of longtime residents, students, immigrants, and beautiful residential streets. With its close connection to the shoreline and North Side energy, this setting makes the visit feel both peaceful and distinctly Chicago.

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🍽️ Optional Coffee or Lunch After the Visit
Those interested are welcome to join me afterward for coffee or lunch at a nearby neighborhood spot.
🍽️ Options will be shared closer to the date.
⚠️ Please bring cash — some venues may not split checks.

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👟 What to Bring
• Camera
• Respectful attire
• $15 tour fee (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)

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🚇 Getting There
Public transportation is easy and encouraged.
Use Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

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🚗 Parking
• Street parking is available in the surrounding area (please always check posted signs)
• Metered parking may be found along nearby main streets, including Sheridan
• Residential side streets nearby often have additional parking options
• This area can be busier due to proximity to the lakefront and Loyola/Edgewater, so consider arriving a little early or us SpotHero or ParkWhiz

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📝 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✔️ Please keep your RSVP updated
✔️ Cancel promptly if your plans change
❌ Repeated no-shows may result in removal from future events

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✨⛪ Join us for a meaningful opportunity to experience Orthodox faith, sacred art, and community history — all inside one of Chicago’s most beautiful spiritual spaces. ✨

CUBA TRIP!

• Dates: March 14 - 22, 2026 (9 days / 8 nights)
• Cost: $2700 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: $450
• Detailed itinerary, visa info, FAQ, etc: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/cuba-march/

See photos from previous trips here: CUBA TRIP PHOTOS

For more information or if you have questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com

Cuba travel, legal and local… Thanks to the small group size, we avoid the big, government-run establishments, most of which US travelers aren’t allowed to patronize. As a small group, we can also dine at privately owned restaurants to support everyday citizens. Our groups of 12 travelers or less can visit smaller, more off-the-beaten-path places for more meaningful interaction with locals. Below are some of the things that make our small group trips to Cuba unique:

Authentic, local interaction: Your own dedicated Cuban trip leader throughout the trip will be your friend and show you Cuba through the eyes of a local.

Playa Larga: A sleepy beach town on the Bay of Pigs to escape the hordes of travelers at the major tourist hotspots. It’s a great place to witness everyday Cuban life in a typical Cuban town.

FAC: The Fábrica de Arte Cubano is a great place to mingle with Cubans over a drink while listening to live music and admiring works of art by local artists.

PORTUGAL SLOWCATION!

• Dates: April 9 - 19, 2026 (11 days / 10 nights)
• Cost: $4450 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: NONE!
*Room upgrades available for premium rooms.
• Details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/portugalslowcation/

Check out pictures from previous trips to see what we do, where we go and who goes on the trips: PORTUGAL PHOTOS!

If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.

What is a slowcation? Click here to find out: https://globe-drifters.com/slowcations/

Experience the magic of Portugal at your leisure on our slowcation… Explore Sintra’s fairytale castles, verdant hills, and charming cobblestone streets returning each day to a dreamy 19th-century estate. Then, head to Porto for wine tasting, golden sunsets aboard private sailboats, and strolls through colorful, lively neighborhoods. With hands-on experiences, unforgettable meals, and time to truly connect with each place; this is Portugal at your pace!

Portugal like a local: Step off the tourist trail into authentic Portuguese traditions. Learn the art of cheese making at a family-run dairy farm, paint your own azulejo (traditional tile), and wander through the unique landscapes of a working cork plantation.

Fairytale castles: Roam through Sintra, where enchanting palaces, lush gardens, and picturesque streets reveal centuries-old legends and hidden gems at every turn.

Douro Valley delights: Sail in style down the Douro River and indulge in the finest wines at exclusive quintas nestled in the scenic, rolling hills of Portugal’s award-winning wine country.

SICILY SLOWCATION!
• Dates: April 22 - May 1, 2026 (10 days / 9 nights)
• Cost: $5400 (per person, excluding flights)
*NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/sicily-slowcation/

Email info@globe-drifters.com if you have questions!

Explore Sicily, one of Italy’s best-kept secrets on our laid-back slowcation… Stay in Syracuse and Palermo, two beautiful Sicilian cities where you’ll take in the region’s unparalleled beauty, rich history, and unique traditions. And true to our slowcation style, we’ll take things slow so you can have time to really experience the vibrant streets, expansive piazzas, exquisite architecture, and bustling markets — Not just check them off a list. Taste authentic Sicilian flavors, enjoy farm life experiences, and soak up the local culture at a relaxed pace. This is your chance to live the dolce vita and savor every moment, one cannoli at a time!

In the heart of it all: Centrally located hotels in Syracuse and Palermo mean easy walks to cafés, markets, must-see landmarks, and Sicily’s hidden gems. No taxis or rental cars needed!

A taste of Sicily: Street eats, a countryside cooking class, a chocolate workshop, and farm-fresh lunches — Discover the real flavors of Sicily, one bite at a time!

Conversations with a contessa: Step inside one of Palermo’s oldest private homes and hear first-hand stories from the Contessa who still calls it home.