Windy City Wanderers!

🎤📚Chicago Misconceptions: Al Capone Stories | CFC Winter Lecture Series🍸

Tue, Feb 3 · 18:00 CST

Bad Apple Lincoln Park, 658 W. Belden Avenue, Chicago, IL, US

🎤📚 Chicago Misconceptions: Debunking Grandma's Al Capone Stories | CFC Winter Lecture Series 🍸

Join us for the FIFTH lecture of the season in Chicago for Chicagoans’ 9th Annual Winter Speakeasy Lecture Series.

Every small town, grandparent, realtor, and restauranteur likes to brag about their connection to the likes of Al Capone, Charlie Chaplin, and Johnny Weissmuller. In reality, these Chicago “celebrities” were often ducking in side doors of obscure hotels, barely passing through town, or eating lunch somewhere much nicer than your local bar.

🎤 Lecture by Adam Selzer — expert historian, tour guide, and author.

REGiSTER NOW AS THIS ONE WILL GO FAST AS ADAM AS A BIG FOLLOWING!!!!

FIFTH LECTURE OF THE SEASON!
Lecture by Adam Selzer
📅 Tuesday, February 3, 2026

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🚨 REGISTRATION REQUIRED — READ FIRST
You MUST register outside of Meetup on Eventbrite to attend the live, in-person lecture.

This event is FREE, but registration is required to enter the speakeasy area for the lecture.
🗓 Registration opens: Tuesday, 1/20/26 at 9:00 AM (set reminder)
⚠️ Space is limited — register ASAP
👉 Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-misconceptions-debunking-grandmas-al-capone-stories-registration-1975057162139

If registration is full:
• Join the Eventbrite waitlist — people cancel and waitlist guests DO get in
• Walk-ins are allowed, space permitting at 7 pm

⭐ NEW, BIGGER VENUE — but it still fills up fast!

****IMPORTANT!! PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKETS FOR THE EVENT ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT EVERYONE SETS A REMINDER TO REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2026, AT 9 AM. RSVPING ON MEETUP DOES NOT SECURE YOUR SPOT. YOU MUST GO BACK AND REGISTER ON THE 23RD VIA THE EVENTBRITE LINK TO CONFIRM YOUR ATTENDANCE. ****

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🕕 ⏰TIMING & ENTRY DETAILS (VERY IMPORTANT)
• Meetup group meets at 6:00 PM
• Doors open at 6:30 PM
• Registered ticket holders admitted first
• Walk-ins may enter starting at 7:00 PM, space permitting
• Lecture begins promptly at 7:10 PM
➡️ If you are not registered, arrive close to 7:00 PM and be flexible.

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📍 Venue
Bad Apple Lincoln Park
658 W Belden Ave · Chicago
Historic, handicap accessible, with great food & cocktails
🍔 YES — food is available during the lecture
✔ Separate checks allowed
✔ More seating than past venues
✔ Food is excellent
https://www.badapplebar.com/the-bad-apple-lincoln-park

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🏙️ About the Series
Chicago for Chicagoans returns for their 9th Winter Speakeasy Lecture Series, designed to teach Chicago residents about the history of their own city.

Hosted at Bad Apple Lincoln Park, these pay-what-you-can events spark discussion about Chicago’s past — and how it continues to shape our future.

📅 NOW ON TUESDAY EVENINGS!

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🔍 This Year’s Theme: MISCONCEPTIONS
This season explores the unfair stereotypes, urban legends, and dubious assumptions surrounding Chicago’s past.

Each week features a different local Chicago historian & expert for 12 one-of-a-kind evenings of:
• Legendary tall tales
• Corrected mischaracterizations
• Disproven myths
• Lively discussion + tasty cocktails
Attend in person or watch the recorded lectures online afterward.

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📚 THIS WEEK’S LECTURE — 02/03/26
Debunking the exaggerated and often fictional celebrity connections claimed by towns and storytellers everywhere, this lecture separates myth from reality surrounding Chicago’s most famous names — including Al Capone, Charlie Chaplin, and Johnny Weissmuller.

🎤 Lecture by Adam Selzer

🗓 Registration opens 1/20/26

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👩‍🏫 About the Speaker: Adam Selzer
Adam Selzer is a historian, author, and tour guide known for his deep dives into true crime, cemeteries, gangsters, ghosts, and Chicago history. After years of fact-checking popular tour narratives, he rebuilt Chicago’s most repeated stories from the ground up through original research using microfilm, legal archives, photographs, and historical documents.

He runs tours through Mysterious Chicago and has worked with Chicago Hauntings, Shoreline Sightseeing, and Weird Chicago.

Adam is also an acclaimed novelist and nonfiction author. His books include:
• Ghosts of Chicago (2013)
• Flickering Empire: How Chicago Invented the U.S. Film Industry (2015)
• The Smart Aleck’s Guide to American History (2015)
• Ghosts of Lincoln (2015)
• Mysterious Chicago (2016)
• HH Holmes: The True History of the White City Devil
His novels include Just Kill Me, Play Me Backwards, and cult favorite I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It.

Adam regularly appears on television, including American Ripper, Mysteries at the Museum, Haunted History, Monumental Mysteries, and more. Most recently, he appeared in the Scary Stories documentary.
🌐 https://mysteriouschicago.com/

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🌐 Learn More & Watch Recordings
Chicago for Chicagoans:
http://www.chicagoforchicagoans.org/
Effing Chicago:
http://effingchicago.com/

🎥 Recordings posted the following Thursday:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagoforChicagoans
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagoforchicagoans/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagoforchicagoans

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💛 Support the Nonprofit
Chicago for Chicagoans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Tax-deductible donations:
http://www.chicagoforchicagoans.org/donate.html

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🚇 Getting There
Public transit:
Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

🚗 Parking:
• Metered parking on Lincoln, Fullerton & Halsted
• Some free side-street parking (watch signs)
• SpotHero lot directly across the street

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⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY (PLEASE READ)
• 3 no-shows without updating RSVP = 3-month event freeze
• RSVP cut-off = event start time
• If late, message the host directly
• Failure to check in counts as a no-show
• Continued no-shows may result in removal from the group

💡✨ Tiffany, Oz & Gilded Grandeur — FREE Evening at the Driehaus Museum 🖼️🎨

Wed, Feb 4 · 17:00 CST

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 40 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL, US

💡✨ Tiffany, Oz & Gilded Grandeur — FREE Evening at the Driehaus Museum 🖼️🎨

Spur-of-the-Moment Event: FREE Evening at the Driehaus Museum with Tiffany Lamps & The Land of Oz — Plus a Self-Guided Tour

Since I will already be downtown for a Broadway in Chicago matinee, let’s take advantage of one of Chicago’s best-kept secrets: free Wednesday evenings at the Driehaus Museum!

🗓 Wednesday, 2/4/26
⏰ 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Richard H. Driehaus Museum 50 E. Erie St, Chicago
💸 FREE after 4 PM until 7 PM
🎟 No ticket needed — just meet inside the main lobby
🔗 Plan your visit:
https://driehausmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit

If you cannot make it at 5 pm, then join later as long you arrive by 6 pm as museum closes at 7 pm!

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🏛️ What We’ll Do
This visit isn’t just about the exhibitions — we’ll also tour the museum itself, exploring the lavish historic interiors of the 1883 Nickerson Mansion, one of Chicago’s most extraordinary Gilded Age homes.

Expect marble staircases, stained glass, fireplaces, carved woodwork, mosaic floors, and over-the-top decorative arts that make the building a destination all on its own. We’ll move through the permanent collection and then spend time with the special exhibitions.

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🌟 Current Exhibitions
Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade
Sept 12, 2025 – March 15, 2026
From the 1890s to the 1920s, artisans at Tiffany Studios created luminous works using bronze, enamel, pottery, and glass. This exhibition invites us to see these iconic lamps not just as objects, but as works of art shaped by innovation, craftsmanship, and design history.

The Land of Oz: Beyond the Page
Nov 13, 2025 – March 15, 2026
A fascinating look at the creative process behind The Wizard of Oz, from book to screen. Highlights include a replica of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, early script drafts, a Flying Monkey costume prototype, Emerald City costume pieces, and rare production artwork.
📍 Located on the 3rd floor

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🏛️ About the Driehaus Museum
The Driehaus Museum is dedicated to art, architecture, and design of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It spans two historic landmark buildings — the Nickerson Mansion and the Murphy Auditorium — and presents collections and exhibitions in a fully immersive setting.

Saved from demolition in 1919 by a group of concerned Chicagoans and later restored by philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus (2003–2008), the museum reflects Driehaus’s passion for historic preservation and classical design. It remains one of the most elegant and underappreciated museums in the city.

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🍸 Optional Drink or Dinner After
Anyone who wants to keep the night going is welcome to join me afterward at a nearby spot.
🍽️ Options will be shared closer to the date.
⚠️ Please bring cash — some venues may not split checks.

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🚇 Getting There
• CTA: Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner
• Driving: Metered street parking on Erie & nearby streets
• Garages nearby — SpotHero or ParkWhiz recommended

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⚠️ Important Notes
• Multi-meetup group event
• If joining late, please arrive by 6:00 PM
• RSVP responsibly — space is limited

🚫 No-Show Policy
• 3 no-shows = 3-month event freeze
• RSVP cut-off = event start time
• If running late, message the host
• Repeated no-shows or failure to check in may result in removal

✨ Gilded Age glamour, Tiffany glow, Oz magic — and a full museum wander. A perfect winter evening! ✨

🎭🥛 Chicago Theater Week Kickoff: $10 Creamboy Show @ iO Theater 😂

Thu, Feb 5 · 19:00 CST

The iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury, Chicago, IL, US

🎭🥛 Chicago Theater Week Kickoff: $10 Creamboy Show @ iO Theater 😂

Chicago Theater Week 2026 Play #1 - $10 Tix-The Creamboy Show @iO theater

📅 Thursday, Feb 5th, 2025
⏰ 7:30 PM
📍 iO Theater | 1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642

🎟 General Admission Seating
We’re kicking off Chicago Theater Week with The Creamboy Show, the flagship iO House Team known for fast, funny, fully improvised comedy. Cast members have appeared on Deli Boys (Hulu), The Second City, The Annoyance, and more. Every show is completely different — and one lucky audience member may be crowned 👑 Cream of the Week!

✨ New this year! Tickets are available through Hot Tix — no special codes needed.

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### 🎟️ Theater Week Ticket Deal (Hot Tix)

• $10 tickets + fees (normally $17.80 — save $7.80!)
• Limited quantity — very likely to sell out
👉 Buy tickets here:
https://hottix.org/shows/io-theater/the-creamboy-show-2/
✔️ Select 2/05/25 – 7:30 PM
✔️ Choose iO Theater – GA Seating
📞 Hot Tix Help Desk: (312) 977-9483
📧 help@chicagoplays.com

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### ⚠️ IMPORTANT TICKET RULES — PLEASE READ

• You must buy your own ticket
• DO NOT RSVP YES until you have purchased your ticket
• General Admission seating — we’ll meet in the bar and sit together
• High probability of value-priced tickets selling out — BUY ASAP!

I’ll arrive around 7:00 PM and plan to order food during the show.

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### 🍕🍸 Food & Drinks at iO

iO Theater serves food and drinks and partners with Candlelite Pizza, offering cracker-crust pizza, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
🍽️ Kitchen opens daily at 4:00 PM
🍹 Full bars with craft cocktails, local brews, and non-alcoholic options
👉 You may eat before the show or order during the performance
🔗 https://ioimprov.com/food-and-drinks/
💵 Cash preferred if dining with the group
• No split checks for large groups
• Please add 32% total (20% tip + 12% Chicago tax)

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### 🎭 About The Creamboy Show

Perfect for date night, girls’ night, or a work outing people will actually enjoy. Fast, funny, and frothy, this entirely improvised show features a different guest opener every week. Ideal for improv fans, Tina Fey lovers, and even your cousin visiting from Kansas.
Cast includes: Sage Huston, Jake Prizant, Conner Stumm, Claire Noone, and Matty Vergun.

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### 🏛️ About iO Theater

The home of long-form improv since 1981 and Chicago’s comedic epicenter. iO has trained generations of America’s top comedy talent and hosts shows across four stages, five nights a week.
🔗 https://ioimprov.com/

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🚗 Parking: Metered street parking nearby; SpotHero & ParkWhiz recommended
🚇 CTA Accessible: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

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❗ No-Show Policy
• 3 no-shows without updating RSVP = 3-month event freeze

🎭🥛 This is one of the best Theater Week deals — grab tickets ASAP!

🍽️🍷 Chicago Restaurant Week 2026–Stop #3: $45 Dinner @ Bistro Campagne🥂🌿

Fri, Feb 6 · 18:30 CST

Bistro Campagne, 4518 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL, US

🍽️🍷 Chicago Restaurant Week 2026–Stop #3: $45 Dinner @ Bistro Campagne 🥂🌿

📅 Friday, February 6, 2026 • 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Bistro Campagne– 4518 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago

Join us for the third stop of Chicago Restaurant Week 2026 at Bistro Campagne!

Bistro Campagne is a warm, welcoming restaurant rooted in the traditions of a true French bistro. Inspired by the cozy neighborhood cafés of Paris and rural France, it captures that perfect mix of comfort, lively conversation, and excellent food. The space blends prairie-style charm with a spirited Gallic vibe, creating a setting that feels both relaxed and special.

At the heart of Bistro Campagne is the food. Chef Adam Grandt offers a seasonally changing menu of classic French bistro fare, made with the best ingredients available. The restaurant is deeply committed to organic agriculture, sourcing from local Midwestern organic farms during the growing season and trusted organic farms nationwide in winter. Sustainability and low-impact farming are central to everything they do.

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### Why Bistro Campagne:

• Classic French bistro cuisine with seasonal updates
• Strong commitment to organic & sustainable ingredients
• Cozy neighborhood atmosphere with Parisian flair
• A longtime Lincoln Square favorite

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### Dinner Details:

• $45 Prix Fixe Dinner (+ tax & tip; BRING CASH – cannot split checks)
• Cocktails extra
• Regular menu also available: Dine In — Bistro Campagne
• Restaurant Week menu info: Bistro Campagne | Choose Chicago
• No substitutions; no splitting Restaurant Week menus

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### FOR THIS RESTAURANT WEEK DINNER:

• I’ve secured a restaurant with a credit card hold, so a $4 fee will be charged this year
• Strict no-show & last-minute cancellation policy – must cancel at least 48 hrs in advance
• Failure to cancel → automatic strike; 3 strikes = removal from the group
• Due to this, additional fees may apply at some fine dining restaurants; fee is non-refundable

Payment Options for $4 Fee:

• PayPal/Credit Card via Meetup to RSVP
• No PayPal? Select “No PayPal / Guest” and use Guest Checkout
• Other options: Venmo (giovinaro@hotmail.com) or Zelle (Giovina Romandine, 312-835-4259)
• Once paid manually, you’ll be added to the event
• No online waitlist for paid events

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### Reservations & Table Info:

• 4 tables of 4 people each (16 total: 4+4+4+4)
• Tables may not be together – patience required

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### Chicago Restaurant Week Overview:

• Jan 23 – Feb 8, 2026
• 17-day celebration of Chicago’s top restaurants
• Brunch/lunch $30; dinner $45/$60 (excl. drinks, tax, gratuity)
• Hundreds of restaurants participating

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### Transit & Parking:

• Public transit: CTA Trip Planner
• Driving: metered street parking; watch for permit-only/no parking signs
• SpotHero / ParkWhiz recommended

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⚠️ No-Show Policy:

• 3 no-shows → 3-month RSVP suspension
• Must update RSVP if unable to attend
• Check-in required