About us
This group is for food lovers and travelers who don’t want to wait on their friends to finally say “yes” to get out to enjoy some good eats, socialize, and see the world. Life is too short and the world is too big!
The food events in this group are member-driven so if you’d like to host a Meetup in your area (i.e. brunch, cooking class, happy hour, a meal out at a new restaurant, etc), feel free to let me know and I'll help you get it set up in the group!
The trips in this group are usually 90% solo travelers but everyone is welcome, female/male, solo/couple/friends, straight/LGBTQIA+! So let’s travel together with fun, like-minded travelers! If you have an open mind and are kind to fellow travelers, you will fit in perfectly on these trips!
NOTE: The people on these trips are from all over the States but you’ll always be connected with people from the same city on a trip so you can meet up face to face and get to know your future travel buddies prior to the trip. You’ll also be connected to the whole group via email prior to the trip so you can virtually get to know those that are from different areas. On average, the people on each trip are 90% solo travelers but it’s hard to predict the exact demographic for each trip so please keep this in mind.
Feel free to join the Facebook group to connect with past travelers on these trips, see pictures, ask questions, funny travel memes, travel-related articles, etc: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613025845523107
The trips in this group are put on by a tour company called Globe Drifters and they focus on small group trips geared towards solo travelers with the mission of giving new meaning to travel by putting the human experience at the heart of their trips. The groups are small, usually with 12 people maximum per trip and about 90% of everyone on each trip are solo travelers so you’re not stuck being the odd man out on trips with mostly couples. You’ll have the best of both worlds, solo travel with the security of a small group of other solo travelers for some company on your adventure! To contact Globe Drifters directly, you can email [info@globe-drifters.com](mailto:info@globe-drifters.com).
Upcoming events
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Karaoke at Randall's Pub!
Randall's Pub, 6341 N. Clark Street Chicago, IL, CHICAGO, IL, USLet's sing karaoke together! August heat turning your outdoor plans into indoor plans? Make those indoor plans with your pals at Randall's! Sunday, August 2nd, Sunday August 16th & Friday August 28th.
Randall's is a fun and friendly environment where you can be comfortable to sing your heart out to a supportive crowd. Lisa Lenny runs a good vibes only room with a 2-drink minimum to participate in karaoke (drinks include non-alcoholic beverages).
🌟Karaoke is EVERY 1ST & 3RD SUNDAY and LAST FRIDAY of the month - Songs start at 9PM and karaoke runs until midnight🌟
If you'd like to check out our karaoke song list ahead of time, follow the link below:
https://www.karafun.com/karaoke-song-list.html2 attendees
🏰🍺 Beer Barons, Millionaires & Hidden Gems — Wicker Park Uncovered! 🏛️✨
WILDERHOUSE, 1339 N. Damen, Chicago, IL, US🏰🍺 Beer Barons, Millionaires & Hidden Gems — Wicker Park Uncovered! 🏛️✨
🌧️ Rained out last time? We're bringing it back for those who missed due to weather. Back by popular demand — now with additional stops and stories added!
Step into Wicker Park’s Historic District on a Saturday morning stroll through one of Chicago’s most architecturally spectacular neighborhoods.
Explore Gilded Age mansions, legendary Beer Barons’ homes, historic churches, elegant boulevards, grand public buildings, and hidden gems while hearing the stories of the immigrants, brewers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries who helped shape this fascinating community.
Discover Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Italianate, and other architectural treasures — along with the German, Norwegian, Jewish, Polish, and other communities that helped make Wicker Park what it is today.
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, photographers, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city! 😊
👥 Multi-group event — expect a great crowd!
***
📍 QUICK DETAILS
🗓️ Saturday, August 29, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM–1:30 PM (~1.6 miles)
📍 Start: Wilderhouse
1339 N. Damen Ave.
🏁 End: Flatiron Arts Building
1579 N. Milwaukee Ave.
💰 $20 per person
Due at start. Cash preferred/exact change appreciated; Zelle, Venmo & PayPal accepted.
🌦️ Outdoors | Casual pace | Rain or shine***
🏰 WHAT WE’LL SEE
🍺 Beer Barons & Mansions
Discover the lavish homes of wealthy brewers, businessmen, and industrialists.
🏛️ Architecture & Hidden Gems
See Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Italianate, and other beautiful late-19th-century buildings.
🏘️ Immigrant History
Learn how German, Norwegian, Jewish, Polish, and other communities shaped Wicker Park.
🌳 Wicker Park & Boulevards
Explore the neighborhood’s namesake park and surrounding historic streets.
⛪ Churches & Community Buildings
Discover historic religious, educational, and civic buildings.
🎨 Old Meets New
See how former banks, bathhouses, hotels, and commercial buildings have been reinvented for modern Chicago.***
🗺️ ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS (Stops subject to change.)
🏠 Wilderhouse
🏡 Harris Cohn House
🏘️ Dr. Nels T. Quales House
🚢 Ship Captain Double House
🌳 Wicker Park
🏫 Pritzker School
🏠 William H. Thompson House
🏘️ Rapp House
⛪ Wicker Park Lutheran Church
🏡 Adolph Borgmeier House
🏠 Hermann Gaul House
🏘️ Hermann Weinhardt House
🏠 Hans D. Runge House
🏡 C. Hermann Plautz (Cannon) House
🏛️ Marius Kirkeby House
🏠 Frederick Gehrke House
🏡 Nels C. Nelson House
🏠 Ole A. Thorp Houses
🏡 Theodore Juergens House
🏢 Eleanor Club
🛁 Former Luxor (North Avenue) Baths
🏨 The Robey Hotel
🏦 Historic Noel State Bank
🏛️ Flatiron Arts Building📍 Route Maps:
Part 1: https://tinyurl.com/ypfm2szk
Part 2: https://tinyurl.com/2cjwmmjb***
🌟 WHY WICKER PARK?
Beginning in the 1870s, German and Norwegian immigrants helped transform Wicker Park from farmland into an elegant residential neighborhood. Wealthy brewers, merchants, and industrialists built impressive homes around the park, while later Jewish and Polish families added new layers to its history.Today, beautifully preserved Victorian architecture stands alongside restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and creative spaces — making Wicker Park a fascinating example of how Chicago neighborhoods evolve while retaining their character.
📸 Not a dedicated photo walk, but you'll definitely want your camera!
***
🎒 GOOD TO KNOW
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
💧 Water bottle
🌤️ Weather-appropriate clothing
📸 Camera or phone encouraged⚠️ Parking: The walk ends about 4 blocks from where we start, so plan accordingly!
🚗 Weekend parking can be challenging. Check posted signs and consider SpotHero or ParkWhiz.
🚇 CTA: Blue Line and multiple bus routes are nearby.
***
🍽️ OPTIONAL LUNCH AFTER
Want to keep the fun going? Join us for lunch afterward at one of these nearby favorites:
🥙 Sultan’s Market
🥗 CAVA
🌮 Big Star
💵 Bring cash if possible — some restaurants don't offer separate checks.***
📱 LOST OR RUNNING LATE?
Call or text Giovina at 312-835-4259
👋 Please check in with Giovina when you arrive!***
⚠️ RSVP REMINDER
✔️ Update your RSVP if your plans change.
✔️ RSVP changes should be made before the event begins.
❌ Three no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event restriction.***
🏰🍺 Come discover Wicker Park beyond the nightlife — where Beer Barons built mansions, immigrant communities shaped the neighborhood, and Chicago’s architectural history is still waiting around every corner! 🏛️🌿
2 attendees
Tuscany/Umbria Slowcation! - Sept 2026
Location not specified yet• Dates: September 18 - 27, 2026 (10 days / 9 nights)
• Cost: $5400 (per person, excluding flights)
• Single supplement: None! *Upgrades available for premium rooms
• Trip details: https://globe-drifters.com/trip/tuscany-umbria-slowcation-sept-2026/Check out pictures from previous trips to see what we do, where we go, and who goes on the trips: ITALY SLOWCATION PHOTOS!
What is a slowcation? Click here to find out: https://globe-drifters.com/slowcations/
If you have any questions, please email info@globe-drifters.com.
Experience small-town Italy like a local on a slowcation… Tuscany conjures up dreams of life at a slower pace where you can soak in the Italian countryside’s culture, food, and picturesque vistas. Stroll through narrow passageways of medieval villages perched on hilltops. Pick out cheese & wine at the market in town and chat with the locals. Tuscany is the dream vacation and now is your chance to go!
Live like a local: Skip the hoards of tourists in Italy’s more popular towns and cities and live the good life in a true Italian village with barely any tourists. If you want to experience the real Italy, this is your chance!
Ideal location: This villa was converted into a hotel in the early 1900s and is situated right in town making it easy to explore. A cafe, grocery store, and many restaurants are just a few steps away from your accommodation.
Discover Italy: Many of Tuscany & Umbria’s most famous towns are only 30 – 45 minutes away from the hotel so you can explore all the best locations in the region without going far.
1 attendee
Past events
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