Wonderwall's Ukulele Meetup Group & Ukulele Suburbia

OCTOBER 2020 UPDATE: WE'RE STAYING PUT RIGHT HERE!! After much discussion, Clar and I decided to stay with Meetup.com. We'll continue to provide everyone with FUN, WEEKLY, VIRTUAL UKE Meetups via ZOOM and MORE SONGBOOKS in the near future! See you Tuesday nights for STRUM & SINGALONG FUN! And, FRIDAYS are 'HAPPY ALOHA FRIDAY - LEARN A HAWAIIAN SONG DAY!' This is a fee-based, class, not like Tuesdays strum alongs. If you have any question, please contact us at wonderwallemporium@yahoo.com.

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AUGUST 2020 - UPDATE REMINDER: Our Meetup Group will MOVE from Meetup.com. With increased Meetup.com fees over the years and the coronavirus situation, it's become financially difficult to keep this Meetup group going here. The October 2020 Meetups will be our last scheduled sessions on this site. I will CONTINUE on a DIFFERENT PLATFORM. Stay tune for more info in coming weeks.

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MARCH 2020 UPDATE: DUE TO THE COVID-19 SITUATION IN ILLINOIS, WE ARE MEETING 'VIRTUALLY' VIA THE ZOOM APP UNTIL THE 'SHELTER IN PLACE' ORDER IS OVER. CLICK ON THE EVENT PAGE TO SEE DETAILS AND LINKS. MAHALO.

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[Photos from Ukulele Suburbia's 2019 St. Patrick's Day Uke Meetup and 2017 Tiki Terrace Halloween Uke Meetups.]

Aloha Kakou! We are WONDERWALL'S UKULELE MEETUP GROUP (formerly known as Wonderwall's Oak Park Ukulele Meetup Group aka The Harrison Street Ukulele Players) and UKULELE SUBURBIA.

We are one of just a couple of Chicagoland area Ukulele groups that play Hawaiian songs, paying homage to Hawai'i, where it came, as well as other genres of music. The Ukulele was adapted and modified by the Hawaiians after the Portuguese came to the islands with their 'machete' and 'braguinha' and made it their own. Today, the Ukulele is globally the most beloved and easiest instrument to play.

Wonderwall's Ukulele Meetup Group meet on the first Tuesday AND 3rd Thursday of each month at Tiki Terrace Hawaiian Restaurant, Des Plaines, 60018. The name of our Meetup group changed in October 2013 due to our new location.

Our 'sister' group, UKULELE SUBURBIA - Ukulele Group of Chicago's South Suburbs meets on the Wednesday, (next day after first Tuesday) from 6 PM - 8 PM....AND 3rd FRIDAYS @ 11:30 AM each month at Wonderwall Music Shoppe in Chicago Heights 60411. MANDATORY RSVP due to Limited Space.

***THIS MEETUP IS MORE CLASS-LIKE but not entirely. All material, use of music stands, bottled water and snacks provided. You're welcomed to bring your own non-alcoholic beverage.

We welcome like-minded folks who Love and Respect the Ukulele, the Hawaiian culture from which it came from, and other other. Open to all levels, ages, though young minors must be accompanied by their parents/guardians.

We play songs of Hawai'i, Beatles, Tin Pan Alley, Country Western, Folk, Pop, Rock, Contemporary, and more! We have easy 2, 3, and 4 chords songs, as well as more challenging songs for more advance players. We mix it up to have a nice variety for all to enjoy!

Our once-a-month meetups are sponsored by WONDERWALL Music Shoppe & Emporium (https://www.facebook.com/pages/WONDERWALL-Music-Shoppe-Emporium/369451369205?directed_target_id=0), created and founded by GiGi Wong-Monaco (Wonderwall's co-owner) in 2008.

Chicago's North Suburbs (Des Plaines): WONDERWALL'S UKULELE MEETUP GROUP

FIRST TUESDAYS & 3RD THURSDAYS 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM.

VENUE: THE TIKI TERRACE - HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT & TIKI BAR, Des Plaines.

Donation: $5 per person. Song booklets are distributed. We encourage everyone to order food and/drinks from our host venue who generously accommodates our Uke group.

Limited space. RSVP IS A MUST as we need to know how many song booklets to bring and number of tables Tiki Terrace will need to set up for us.

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wonderwalls-Ukulele-Meetup-Group/64609897319?ref=hl) YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/HarrisonStUkulele)

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Chicago's South Suburbs (Chicago Heights): UKULELE SUBURBIA! Established January 2013. This is the original and official Ukulele Suburbia.

First (or 2nd) WEDNESDAY (day following first Tuesday) AND 3rd Friday of each month unless a holiday, private restaurant booking or illness occurs. Then, we'll meet the following Tuesday. Information will be emailed to Meetup group then.

First (or 2nd) Wednesday 6:00 - 8:00 PM (2 hours)

3rd Friday 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM (1 hour, focused session)

VENUE: Wonderwall Music Shoppe - Showroom, Chicago Heights.

FEE: $10 (cash only). Songbooks are distributed. Bottled water for all attendees. This group is more focused, an intimate, class-like group that works on various songs and strums.

JOIN our Meetup Group and receive notices and announcements.

What We Play? Hawaiian. Beatles & post-Beatles. Tin Pan Alley. 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's. Contemporary. Country Western. Folk. Pop. Rock. Show tunes/Musicals. Like WXRT 93.1 FM radio host of "Breakfast With The Beatles" always said, "Bring your Ukulele & Enthusiasm"!

WHO: Open to all levels, all ages. Beginners-novices-pros.

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Founded and led by GiGi Wong-Monaco, Honolulu native; Co-owner of WONDERWALL Music Shoppe; Co-owner of SITAR Emporium (www.sitaremporium.com); co-founder of SANDALWOOD Sitar Music Ensemble.

More info: http://www.sitaremporium.com

Background photo: Ukulele with lei by G. Wong-Monaco, 2012.