About us
🎉 Welcome to & Windy City Wanderers! 🌆
We’re so glad you’re here!
Whether you’re new to Chicago or a lifelong local, these sister groups are all about being a tourist in your own city—discovering hidden gems, rich history, fun facts, and unforgettable experiences across Chicagoland. 🗺️✨
Windy City Wanderers is the sister group to 1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die, and we host many joint events together—so you’ll often see crossover adventures and shared outings. 🤝
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🗓 What to Expect
We host fun, social outings year-round (yes, even in winter ❄️). Expect:
• Walking tours & neighborhood explorations
• Concerts, lectures & theater
• Pop-up dinners, trivia & social nights
• Museums, festivals & special events
Events take place throughout Chicago and nearby suburbs like Evanston, Oak Park, and Park Ridge.
🚇 All events are CTA-accessible.
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💬 Why Join?
• Discover new places all over Chicagoland
• Meet new people and make real connections
• Enjoy an active, well-curated event calendar
• Try the group FREE for 90 days
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💰 Membership
• 90-day free trial
• Annual dues: $12/year after the trial
• 🎉 Host an event and your dues are waived!
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🚨 RSVP / No-Show Policy (Please Read)
To keep events fair and running smoothly:
• A no-show without updating your RSVP = 1 strike
• 3 strikes = a 3-month pause from events
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🤝 Stay Connected
📘 Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576822533554
👥 Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1571684466442303
📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/1001thingstoseeinchicago/
🌬️ !001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die Meetup (sister group)
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers
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💡 Have an idea for an event? Want to host or co-host?
Just message me—I’d love to hear from you!
Can’t wait to explore, wander, and discover Chicago together 💙
Cheers,
Giovina Romandine
Organizer, Windy City Wanderers 🌬️🚶♀️🚶♂️
Upcoming events
27
💚☘️ Watch the Chicago River Turn Green! St. Pat’s Day Kickoff (Part 1) ☘️💚
Hyatt Regency, 151 East Upper Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, US💚☘️ Watch the Chicago River Turn Green! St. Pat’s Day Kickoff (Part 1) ☘️💚
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day River Dyeing, Brunch & Parade
🎉 A beloved Chicago tradition — ALL IN ONE DAY!
We’re continuing a long-standing Chicago tradition and watching the Chicago Plumbers Union Local 130 dye the Chicago River BRIGHT green! 🌊💚 Come dressed in your best green and join us for a 3-part St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring the river dyeing, brunch, and the downtown parade — all on Saturday, 3/14/26.
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⚠️ IMPORTANT MEETING INFO — PLEASE READ
🚧 The City CLOSES the Riverwalk during the dyeing
⚠️ After 9:00 AM, several bridges CLOSE — arrive early or risk being stuck on the wrong side.
📍 We will meet at the Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 E. Wacker Dr, Chicago
➡️ From there, we’ll cross the street to Wacker & Stetson, standing by the railings overlooking the river for a great view.
🚫 Riverwalk access is closed to the public unless you have boat tickets.***
📅 EVENT DATE
Saturday, March 14, 2026***
⏰ PART 1: CHICAGO RIVER DYEING
🕗 8:00 AM – 10:20 AM
📍 Hyatt Regency Chicago 151 E. Wacker Dr · Chicago
Tentative Schedule
• 8:00–10:20 AM — Secure a viewing spot & watch the river turn electric green 💚
• Chicago Plumbers Union pours the dye directly into the river
👕 Dress in layers & wear green! We’ll be outdoors for a long stretch.***
🍽️ PART 2: BRUNCH (SEPARATE RSVP REQUIRED)
🕥 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Avli on the Park
➡️ Brunch is scheduled as a separate event to keep things manageable and due to limited space.
👉 Sign up here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/312990305/***
🎺 PART 3: ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE (SEPARATE RSVP REQUIRED)
🕛 12:15 PM – 2:30 PM
📍 Columbus Drive & Balbo (We usually miss the first ~15 minutes of the parade)
➡️ Parade viewing is also scheduled as a separate event.
👉 Sign up here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/312990333/***
☘️ A LITTLE CHICAGO HISTORY
🇮🇪 Chicago’s Irish population grew rapidly in the mid-1800s, but St. Patrick’s Day celebrations didn’t take off until the 20th century.🌊 The Chicago River was first dyed green in 1962, thanks to Stephen Bailey of the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union. A dye originally used to detect river pollution happened to turn the water the perfect shade of Irish green.
• Originally: 100 lbs of dye (lasted a week!)
• Today: ~40 lbs, lasting about 5 hours🎺 The first official St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in 1956 under Mayor Richard J. Daley, featuring:
• 65 marching units
• 5,000 marchers
• 11 bands
• 29 floats
• 100,000 spectatorsToday, Chicago celebrates with two major parades and the iconic green river 💚
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🚧 TRAVEL & LOGISTICS
⚠️ After 9:00 AM, several bridges CLOSE — arrive early or risk being stuck on the wrong side.🚇 Public Transit:
Use CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/🚗 Driving & Parking:
• Metered street parking is very limited
• Best options: SpotHero or ParkWhiz
• Many park near Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel and walk over (short walk)***
👕 IMPORTANT NOTES
• Dress for the weather & wear layers 🧥
• Check back for updates — times & locations may change
• Expect crowds — this is one of Chicago’s busiest weekends!***
🚨 NO-SHOW POLICY (PLEASE READ)
• 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event freeze
• RSVP cut-off = event start time
• If running late, message the host directly
• Failure to check in counts as a no-show
• Continued no-shows may result in removal from the group***
💚☘️ Nothing says Chicago like a green river, good food, and a parade! ☘️💚 Can’t wait to celebrate with you!
16 attendees
🍽️💚 St. Paddy’s Brunch at Avli on the Park After River Dyeing Part 2☘️🥂
Avli on The Park, 180 N Field Blvd, Chicago, IL, US🍽️💚 St. Paddy’s Brunch at Avli on the Park After River Dyeing ☘️🥂
St. Patrick’s Day Brunch @ Avli on the Park
Part 2 of 3: River Dyeing ➝ Brunch ➝ Parade
Let’s grab brunch after the river dyeing and before the parade at a beautiful spot in the heart of Lakeshore East 🌿🏙️. Avli on the Park offers great views, tasty Greek-inspired dishes, and excellent drinks — the perfect mid-day pause in a very Chicago St. Patrick’s Day.👉 Not attending the river dyeing earlier? No problem — just meet us directly at the restaurant!
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📅 EVENT DETAILS
Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕥 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Avli on the Park 180 N Field Blvd · Chicago***
☘️ THIS IS A 3-PART EVENT (ALL ON 3/14/26)
Tentative Itinerary
• 8:00–10:20 AM — Watch the Chicago River turn green 💚
• 10:30 AM–12:00 PM — Brunch at Avli on the Park 🍳🥂
• 12:15–2:30 PM — St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Columbus/Balbo) 🎺🍀
(We usually miss the first ~15 minutes of the parade)***
🍽️ RESERVATIONS & SEATING
We have 6 reservations, each limited to 4 people per table
➡️ Total capacity: 24 people
Reservations are under:
• Giovina Romandine
• Rose Luciani
• Laura Bandas
• Melissa Bandas
• Mary Danahy
• Ashley Marie
⚠️ Tables may not be next to each other, but we’ll do our best to sit nearby.🚨PLEASE ONLY RSVP IF YOU ARE 95% SURE YOU CAN ATTEND Dining events must stay small due to limited seating.
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⚠️ IMPORTANT RSVP & PAYMENT INFO — PLEASE READ
• No separate checks for groups
• BRING CASH 💵 (easiest for group dining)
• Take your total and add 35%
▫️ Includes Chicago tax, gratuity & venue surcharge***
🧭 GETTING THERE (READ CAREFULLY!)
🚧 This location can be tricky to find!
Best walking directions:
• Walk east on Randolph to Field Blvd
• Turn left (north) on Field Blvd
• If you reach the Maggie Daley tennis courts, you’ve gone too far
• Turn left on Benton Place — the restaurant will be visible
⚠️ Depending on your route, you may need to use stairs or a ramp into Lakeshore East Park. Can also get to venue/park thru Mariano’s Lakeshore East
📍 BEST GPS TIP:
Use “Lakeshore East Park” as your destination if you’re lost.
🚗 Driving:
• Roads loop around the park — no parking directly at the restaurant
• Park first, then walk to Avli***
🔗 SEPARATE EVENT SIGN-UPS (REQUIRED)
To keep things manageable, each portion of the day is listed separately:
🌊 River Dyeing (Before Brunch):
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/312985358/🎺 St. Patrick’s Day Parade (After Brunch):
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/312990333/***
🇬🇷 ABOUT AVLI ON THE PARK
Chicago’s Inspired Greek 🇬🇷 — where tradition meets contemporary elegance.
Avli invites you to enjoy life through:
• Classic & modern Greek dishes
• A lively beverage program 🍷
• An atmosphere inspired by GreeceFounded by Louie Alexakis, who grew up in a Chicago hospitality family (fun fact: his parents ran hot dog stands in Chicago parks for over 50 years!), Avli continues to expand its contemporary Greek vision across the city.
🌐 Website:
https://www.avli.us/avli-on-the-park
📘 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AvliOnThePark
🍳 Brunch Menu:
https://www.avli.us/avli-on-the-park-brunch-menu***
🚧 TRAVEL & LOGISTICS
⚠️ After 9:00 AM, several bridges CLOSE — arrive early or risk being stuck on the wrong side.🚇 Public Transit:
CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/🚗 Parking:
• Metered street parking is very limited
• Best options: SpotHero or ParkWhiz
• Many park near Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel and walk over (short walk)***
👕 IMPORTANT NOTES
• Dress for the weather & wear layers 🧥
• Check back for updates — times & locations may change
• Expect crowds — this is one of Chicago’s busiest weekends!***
🚨 NO-SHOW POLICY (PLEASE READ)
• 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event freeze
• RSVP cut-off = event start time
• If running late, message the host directly
• Failure to check in counts as a no-show
• Continued no-shows may result in removal from the group***
💚☘️ Nothing says Chicago like a green river, great food, and a parade! ☘️💚 Can’t wait to celebrate with you!
20 attendees
Past events
877
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Members
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