About us
The Chicagoland Live Music & Dance Meetup Group is for those who love to listen to live music & dance.
Upcoming events
6
🏰🍺 Beer Barons, Millionaires & Hidden Gems — Wicker Park Uncovered! 🏛️✨
WILDERHOUSE, 1339 N. Damen, Chicago, IL, US🏰🍺 Beer Barons, Millionaires & Hidden Gems — Wicker Park Uncovered! 🏛️✨
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 15, 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! 🏛️🌿
1 attendee
🎤😂 Heaven, Hell & Hilarity: Amy Armstrong Live at Hydrate! 🎶✨
hydrate nightclub, 3458 n halstead street, Chicago, IL, US🎤😂 Heaven, Hell & Hilarity: Amy Armstrong Live at Hydrate! 🎶✨
Get ready for an unforgettable night with one of Chicago's most entertaining performers! Join us for Amy Armstrong: Heaven, Hell & Back Again Tour—a hilarious and heartfelt evening filled with powerhouse vocals, outrageous comedy, and unforgettable stories.
A two-time cancer survivor, Amy transforms life's biggest challenges into laughter, inspiration, and incredible music. One minute she'll have you wiping away tears of laughter, the next she'll leave you speechless with her amazing voice. She's witty, warm, fearless...and yes, she swears like a sailor! 😄 If you're easily offended by adult humor or racy stories, this may not be the show for you. Otherwise, you're in for a fantastic evening!
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
🕕 Meet: 6:00 PM (doors open)
🎤 Show: 7:00–9:00 PM
📍 Hydrate Nightclub 3458 N. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60657
🎟️ Tickets Required
General Admission: $33.85 (includes fees)
Purchase tickets here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/amy-armstrong-heaven-hell-back-again-tour-tickets-1991424647729❤️ A Personal Recommendation from Giovina: I've been going to Amy Armstrong's shows since the mid-1990s, back when she lived in Chicago and frequently performed with the legendary Freddy Allen. Although she now calls Mexico home, she still tours the U.S. and always makes a stop in Chicago. I can honestly say her shows are consistently hilarious, heartfelt, and packed with incredible vocals. Every time she comes back to town, I make it a point to see her—and she never disappoints!
### 🌟 About Amy Armstrong
Known as the "Diva of Song and Fun," Amy Armstrong combines an extraordinary voice with razor-sharp comedy and heartfelt storytelling. Whether she's belting out Broadway favorites, pop classics, or sharing hilarious tales from life on the road, Amy creates an evening that's uplifting, funny, and unforgettable.
🌐 Website:
https://amythedivaarmstrong.com/### 🌈 About Hydrate
Hydrate has been one of Chicago's most popular LGBTQ+ nightlife destinations since 2003. Located in the heart of Northalsted, the club features live entertainment several nights a week before transforming into a high-energy dance club with nationally known DJs later in the evening.
We'll meet at 6:00 PM so we can grab seats together before the show begins.
🍹 Everyone orders drinks individually and keeps their own tab at the bar.
https://hydratechicago.com/⚠️ RSVP Reminder
Please update your RSVP if your plans change.If you're running late or can't find the group, call or text Giovina at 312-835-4259.
Come enjoy an evening of incredible music, outrageous laughs, and one of Chicago's most beloved entertainers. It's guaranteed to be a night you won't forget! 🎤😂🎶
7 attendees
🏘️🔥 Fire Survivors, Funny Stories & Hidden Gems — Old Town Uncovered! 🎭
Sedgwick Brown Line Stop (CTA), 1536 N. Sedgwick St., Chicago, IL, US🏘️🔥 Fire Survivors, Funny Stories & Hidden Gems — Old Town Uncovered! 🎭
Back by popular demand — now with additional stops and stories added!
Step into Old Town’s Historic District on a Sunday morning stroll through one of Chicago’s most charming, fascinating, and architecturally distinctive neighborhoods.
Explore Victorian homes, historic churches, immigrant history, legendary comedy clubs, artists’ studios, historic taverns, and hidden architectural gems while hearing the stories of the people and places that helped shape this unique Chicago community.
Discover winding streets that predate Chicago’s street grid, buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire, and artistic enclaves connected to some of Chicago’s most creative residents.
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, comedy fans, photographers, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city! 😊
👥 Multi-group event — expect a great crowd!
***
📍 QUICK DETAILS
🗓️ Sunday, August 16, 2026
⏰ 10:45 AM–1:00 PM (~2.2 miles)
📍 Start: Sedgwick Brown Line Station
1536 N. Sedgwick St.
🏁 End: Carl Street Studios
155 W. Burton Pl.
💰 $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
🔥 Great Chicago Fire History
Discover the buildings and stories connected to the devastating 1871 fire — including one of the city’s most famous survivors.
🏛️ Victorian Architecture
Explore beautiful row houses, cottages, historic churches, and charming residential streets.
🎭 Comedy & Entertainment
Hear stories connected to The Second City, Piper’s Alley, and Old Town’s long history as an entertainment destination.
🎨 Artists & Creative Enclaves
Discover the remarkable studios and artistic communities associated with Edgar Miller, Sol Kogen, and other Chicago artists.
⛪ Churches & Immigrant History
Learn how German immigrants and later generations helped shape the neighborhood.
🌳 Old Town’s Historic Streets
Walk tree-lined streets and winding paths that existed before Chicago’s modern street grid.
🍺 Taverns & Neighborhood Landmarks
See some of the longtime gathering places that helped give Old Town its distinctive personality.***
🗺️ ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS
(Stops subject to change.)
🍴 Twin Anchors Restaurant
⛪ St. Michael’s Catholic Church — Great Chicago Fire survivor
🏯 Midwest Buddhist Temple
🍸 Margie’s Still
🎨 Kogen-Miller & Glasner Studios
🏘️ Crilly Court Historic District
🏳️ Henry Gerber House
🏡 Olsen-Hansen Row Houses
🌳 Eugenie Triangle Park & Chicago Fire “Blob”
⛪ Moody Church
🏛️ Chicago History Museum
🏰 Former Germania Club
🎭 The Second City
🎬 Piper’s Alley
🎨 Theophil Studios
🏛️ Sol Kogen & Edgar Miller Studios
🎨 Carl Street Studios📍 Route Map:
https://tinyurl.com/5mwcxrc5***
🌟 WHY OLD TOWN?
Old Town is one of Chicago’s most distinctive historic neighborhoods, known for its Victorian architecture, winding streets, arts scene, and immigrant history. Originally settled by German immigrants in the 1850s, much of the neighborhood survived the Great Chicago Fire, leaving behind some of Chicago’s oldest streets and buildings.Today, Old Town combines historic homes and churches with legendary comedy, artists’ colonies, restaurants, and neighborhood gathering places. From St. Michael’s Church and the Old Town Triangle to The Second City and Carl Street Studios, there’s a fascinating story around nearly every corner.
📸 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!
🚗 Street parking is available, but weekend parking can be challenging. Check posted signs or consider SpotHero/ParkWhiz.
🚇 CTA: Brown Line — Sedgwick Station***
🍽️ OPTIONAL LUNCH AFTER
Want to keep the fun going? Join us for lunch afterward at one of these Old Town favorites:
🍻 Woodie’s Flat
🍝 Topo Gigio Ristorante
🌮 Adobo Grill
🍺 Corcoran’s Grill & Pub
💵 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 Old Town beyond the bars and restaurants — where Chicago’s oldest streets, Great Fire survivors, legendary laughter, remarkable architecture, and artistic history come together! 🌿🏛️
1 attendee
Past events
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