ChicagoLand Art Gallery, Museum & Music Events... Plus!

Led by an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, you’ll trace Lincoln Square’s journey from immigrant roots to creative hub. Spots are limited—reserve yours today to get an up-close look at the history, charm, and character of Lincoln Square!
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🏛️ Stops & Highlights
🧱 Berlin Wall Monument at Western Station
🎨 Lincoln Square Mural & Maypole
💊 Merz Apothecary
🪑 Giddings Plaza
🥨 Gene’s Sausage Shop
🌿 Savory Spice Shop
🗽 Abraham Lincoln Statue
🏤 DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
🎥 Davis Theater
🎻 Krause Music Store
🎶 Old Town School of Folk Music
🍺 Niedersachsen Club
📚 Sulzer Regional Library
🍰 Lutz Bakery
🌳 Welles (Gideon) Park
⛪ Queen of Angels Church
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🍽️ Optional After-Tour Lunch
After our walk, some of us will grab a bite at:
🍗 Luella’s Southern Kitchen
🥪 Jerry’s Sandwiches
🥨 Gene’s Sausage Shop
⚠️ Bring cash if joining for lunch, as some venues don’t do separate checks!
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👟 What to Bring
✅ Good walking shoes
✅ Water
✅ Sunscreen/hat
✅ Weather-appropriate clothing for Chicago summer
💵 Cost: $20 per person – please pay at the start of the tour
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🚗 Parking & Transit Tips
• Metered parking on Lincoln, Western & Lawrence
• Free street parking on side streets (watch permit signs)
• Easy CTA access via Western Brown Line
• Plan your route with the CTA Trip Planner
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📌 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✅ Please keep your RSVP up to date.
✅ No-shows without updates hurt planning for everyone.
✅ Cutoff time to update your RSVP is the event start time.
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Come experience Lincoln Square like never before! Let’s explore its Old World charm, German heritage, and diverse small businesses together on a lovely summer Saturday morning.

✨ Space is limited—RSVP now and join us for this unique neighborhood adventure! 🇩🇪🏛️

**Tickets are $55 for GENERAL ADMISSION LAWN SEATS + service fee. You can also rent a chair and/or table if you do not want to lug one from home. Chairs are $10 and tables are $12.Just add before checkout. I already rented 1 table, so maybe we only need 1 more table? Go here to purchase a ticket, Pick SATURDAY 7/5/25, GENERAL ADMISION LAWN
"Chicago with special guest Stevie McVie"
https://www.ravinia.org/events/detail/chicago#showing_87

REMEMBER, BEFORE YOU CHECK OUT, YOU CAN ADD A CHAIR AND/OR A TABLE SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LUG ONE ALONG ON THE TRAIN!
ALSO KEEP IN MIND THERE IS A $24 SERVICE PROCESSING FEE, BUT IT IS FOR THE WHOLE CART, SO IF YOU ARE ATTENDING MORE THAN ONE SHOW, IT IS STILL $24! OR SEE IF YOU WANT TO BUY TICKETS WITH OTHER MEMBERS TO SAVE FEES! ALSO, YOU CAN GO TO THE HIGHLAND PARK BOX OFFICE FOR NO FEES!

We are doing the following shows this season at Ravinia, so click on the link here ChicagoLand Art Gallery, Museum & Music Events... Plus! Events to sign up for any of those shows as well:

1. 6/6/25 An Evening with Heart
2. 6/28/25 Al Green with special guest The O'Jays
3. 7/5/25 Chicago with special guest Stevie McVie
4. 8/21/25 Lenny Kravitz

All of these are posted on Meetup, so sign up for one or all of them! Best to purchase all at once to save fees if attending several shows! It will be a fun summer!

Please try to come early so it is to meet at the front & sit together. I will post my location once I arrive. I plan to arrive at 5 pm when the gates open!

We’re teaming up with several other Meetup groups for this fun event, so it’s a multi-group gathering! If you see my name with a large number next to it, that means lots of people are attending from various groups — it's going to be a great crowd!

If you drive, it is $25 for parking. For bigger shows, they may send you to satellite lots, so I strongly suggest coming early if you can! Otherwise, you will have to wait for shuttle buses to bring you to the venue. Can also park at the Highland Park Metra station after 4 pm for free & shuttle over. More details here:
https://www.ravinia.org/visit/getting-here#train

I will most likely take the Metra. You will need to take the Union Pacific North line. You can get on at Chicago OTC, Clybourn, Ravenswood etc.
If you want to ride the Metra with me, meet me at the Ravenswood station, or if you get on before me, then we can meet on the train. Once it gets closer, we can coordinate train time as the summer schedule is not out yet! The train stops at Ravinia’s Tyler Gate (“Ravinia Park” stop)*.
The nearby “Braeside” stop is only a quarter mile walk from Ravinia. For more info, go here
https://www.ravinia.org/visit/getting-here#train

PLEASE, BRING FOOD OR DRINKS TO SHARE. WE DO THIS PICNIC POTLUCK STYLE SO ALL MUST BRING SOMETHING! JUST LEAVE A COMMENT AS TO WHAT YOU WILL BRING! I WILL RENT A TABLE, BUT BRING A TABLE IF YOU CAN, SO WE CAN SET UP EVERYTHING!

Chicago is a pioneering American rock band formed in 1967, known for blending rock and roll with a bold brass sound to create a genre-defying mix of jazz-rock, pop, and classical-infused music. Originally named Chicago Transit Authority, the band quickly shortened its name after their debut album and went on to become one of the most commercially successful and longest-running bands in history. Their lineup has evolved over time, but founding members like Robert Lamm (keyboards/vocals), James Pankow (trombone), and Lee Loughnane (trumpet) have remained active.

Chicago made its mark with ambitious compositions and a politically and socially conscious edge in the early years, producing enduring classics like “25 or 6 to 4,” “Beginnings,” and “Saturday in the Park.” In the 1980s, the band transitioned into a more pop-oriented sound, scoring major hits with power ballads like “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “You’re the Inspiration,” and “Hard Habit to Break.” Their ability to evolve with the times without losing their core identity helped them maintain a multi-generational fan base.

To date, Chicago has sold over 100 million records, earned more than 20 Top 10 hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. They are recognized as “The Band with Horns,” one of the few rock acts to make horns a central part of their sound. With over 38 albums and a non-stop touring schedule, Chicago continues to be a vital presence in the world of live music. https://chicagotheband.com/

Ravinia Festival is an outdoor music venue in Highland Park, Illinois. It hosts a series of outdoor concerts and performances every summer from June to September. The first orchestra to perform at Ravinia Festival was the New York Philharmonic under Walter Damrosch on June 17, 1905. It has been the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 1936. Located in the Ravinia neighborhood, the venue operates on the grounds of the 36-acre (15 ha) Ravinia Park, with a variety of outdoor and indoor performing arts facilities, including the architectural prairie style Martin Theater. The Ravinia Festival attracts about 600,000 listeners to some 120 to 150 events that span all genres from classical music to jazz to music theater over each three-month summer season.
https://ravinia.org/

If you are taking public transportation, please check Google Maps for directions or use the Metra trip planner. https://ridertools.metrarail.com/maps-schedules/train-lines/UP-N

If you drive, see info I gave above on parking or check Ravinia's website

PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!

✅ Registration is required:
👉 Reserve your spot on Eventbrite
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🏘️ What You’ll Discover
We’ll stroll through the leafy, historic streets of Old Irving Park to uncover:
• 🏛️ Historic Architecture
• ⛪ Diverse Religious Heritage
• 🌳 Small-Town Feel in the City
• 🌍 Cultural Layers & Immigrant Roots
• 💎 Local Gems and History

📸 Not a formal photo walk, but you’ll find plenty of Insta-worthy stops along the way! ✨

👥 This event is a fun collaboration — multiple meetup groups will be attending, so come meet new friends and explore together!
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📜 Why Old Irving Park?
Old Irving Park is a distinct neighborhood within Chicago’s Irving Park community. Locals say it offers the best of both worlds—the conveniences of city living combined with a charming suburban feel.
It’s home to iconic Chicago architecture, from elegant Victorian mansions to turn-of-the-century bungalows—some buildings here even predate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Originally named “Irvington” after author Washington Irving, the name changed to “Irving Park” when it was discovered another Illinois town already had the original name. The area attracted Chicago’s wealthiest families who built grand mansions along Irving Park Boulevard between 1870 and 1874.

The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 accelerated Irving Park’s growth, as many sought refuge outside the devastated city. By 1889, Irving Park was annexed into Chicago as part of Jefferson Township. Improved infrastructure like city streets, streetcar lines, and water services drew more residents. Between 1895 and 1914, over 5,000 buildings were constructed by new owners, shaping the neighborhood’s unique character.

🏘️ Stops & Highlights
A few places we will stop at during the walk:
• 🚉 4200 W Irving Park Rd – The Whistle Stop Inn
• 🏠 3926 N Keeler – Charles Loucks House
• 🏡 3900 N Keeler – C.O. Loucks House
• 🏠 3945 N Tripp – The Race House
• 🏠 3916 N Tripp – Nuveen House
• ⛪ 3850 N Tripp – Mt Olive Church
• ⛪ 3801 N Keeler – Irving Park Methodist Church
• 🏫 3601 N Milwaukee – Carl Schurz High School
• 🏛️ 4362 W Grace – John Gray Mansion
• 🏠 3854 N Kostner – John & Clara Merchant House
• ⛪ 3857 N Kostner – St John’s Episcopal Church
• 🏠 4041 N Lowell – Emeril Jensen House
• 🏋️ 4251 W Irving Park Rd – Irving Park YMCA
• 🍺 4240 W Irving Park Rd – ERIS Brewery and Cider House
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🤝 About Chicago for Chicagoans
Founded in 2016 by Patti Swanson, Chicago for Chicagoans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit using pay-what-you-can tours to connect residents to their city.
🌐 Learn more or donate
💖 Make a tax-deductible contribution to support community learning.
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🚇 Getting There
✅ Easy CTA access—plan with CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
🚗 Driving? Metered parking on Irving, Keeler or Pulaski. Free side street parking nearby (watch permit signs).
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📌 RSVP & Attendance Policy
✅ Please keep your RSVP up to date.
✅ No-shows without notice make planning difficult for everyone.
✅ Cut-off time to update your RSVP is the event start time.
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Can’t wait to walk with you in my neighborhood! Come discover Old Irving Park’s history, charm, and community spirit on this special summer Sunday morning.

✨ RSVP today and join this unique Chicago adventure! 🏡🌳

Bring wine, snacks, blankets, chairs if you like. Bottle opener or two for the wine. Dress for the weather. Look for us in our spot way on the back of the lawn near the sidewalk. You can't miss us! See map pin or this image at the link: http://bit.ly/2H6tuWw

This is a joint meetup with the 1001 Things, Windy City Wanderers & a few other meetups, so it is going to be a fun event! (Windy City Wine goes every Wednesday.) Tom Susan & Nelson are hosts for that event!

IF ANYONE HAS A SMALL PORTABLE TABLE TO BRING THEN PLEASE DO! IT MAKES IT EASIER TO PUT THE WINE & SHARED FOOD FOR ALL TO ENJOY! I HAVE 2 TABLES BUT SINCE BIG GTOUP, WE WILL NEED SOME EXTRA!!! (if you been to these you know we have a lot of food and wine!!!)

Bring some wine, beer, and some food/snacks to share and enjoy! Mariano's is close by on Randolph St. and Macy's on State St. Food suggestions include cheese & crackers, fruit plate, baked goods, hummus & chips.

It's always a nice gesture to bring some extra cups, napkins, toothpicks or small plates if you can.

EVERY WEEK IS A DIFFERENT CONCERT LINEUP. CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR SCHEDULE

The entire festival lineup can be found here: https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/music/2025-season

Please note these security details for the park: https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/plan-your-visit/millennium-park-security-protocols

VENUE MAP: https://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/seating-venue/venue-map

We will meet way at the back of the great lawn, right next to the sidewalk. If you're early, just sit on one of the benches and wait for the group to assemble. You can't miss us! See map pin or this image at the link: http://bit.ly/2H6tuWw

If you are taking public transportation, please check Google Maps for directions or use CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/ - easily accessible by bus and train.

If you drive, use SpotHero or ParkWhiz as it is a challenge over there. Look for the Grant Park North Parking Garage or the Harris Theater Garage. There is some metered parking but best to use a parking lot or garage.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!