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 🌬️🚶♀️🚶♂️
Featured event
🌮 Post–Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Manchamanteles: Margaritas, Tacos & More! 🍹🔥
🌮 Post–Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Manchamanteles: Margaritas, Tacos & More! 🍹🔥
Post–Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Manchamanteles Restaurant!
Missed Cinco de Mayo? No worries—we’re keeping the celebration going! 🎊
Since many of us will be at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum on May 5, we’re heading to Bucktown on Wednesday, May 6 for a festive post–Cinco dinner!
✨ Bonus: It’s Happy Hump Day, so we get to enjoy their awesome Wednesday specials!
🍨 Sweet ending alert! We’ll keep the night going with a stop at nearby Margie's Candies for ice cream after dinner. 🍨
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🍹 WEDNESDAY SPECIALS
Margarita Pitchers — $40 (usually $55)
• Traditional or Fresh Fruit
• Flavors: Lime | Spicy | Mango | Guava | Cucumber | Hibiscus | Passion Fruit
🌮 Dos Tacos (2 tacos with onions & cilantro)
• Steak $14 | Chicken $12 | Veggie $12 (3 tacos usually $24)
🥑 Guacamole — $10 (usually $15)
✨ Don’t miss their famous moles and regional specialties!
💵 PAYMENT INFO (IMPORTANT)
💰 CASH STRONGLY PREFERRED
➡️ Take what you ordered and add 32%
(12% Chicago tax + 20% tip)
🚫 No separate checks for large groups
💳 Multiple cards slow things down—cash keeps it easy!
👥 GROUP DETAILS
We’ll be seated at two tables of 10, so we may be split up—but still close enough to mingle!
⚠️ PLEASE RSVP ONLY IF 95% SURE YOU CAN ATTEND
Seating is limited and fills quickly!
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🌟 ABOUT THE RESTAURANT
“La Casa de Sabores,” Manchamanteles Restaurant delivers bold, authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by all 32 states of Mexico.
Led by Chef Geno Bahena, the menu highlights seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and rich regional flavors.
🔥 Their signature “Cocina de Humo” (wood-fired cooking with mesquite & oak) adds incredible depth—think Black Angus steaks, ABF chicken, handmade tortillas, and complex mole sauces like Mole Rojo & Negro.
Expect a menu that delights on every level:
🥩 Black Angus steak cuts
🍗 ABF (antibiotic-free) chicken
🌮 Handmade corn tortillas
🌶️ Complex mole sauces like Mole Rojo & Mole Negro
🌽 Seasonal and regional Mexican specialties
Expect bold flavors, colorful presentations, and a true taste of Mexico—perfect for a fun night out! 🇲🇽✨
🌐 Website: https://www.manchamantelesrestaurant.com/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManchamantelesRestaurant
📋 Menu: https://www.manchamantelesrestaurant.com/menus
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🚗 PARKING & TRANSPORTATION
🚗 Small rear parking lot available
🚘 Metered parking on Western & Armitage
🅿️ Free street parking nearby (watch permit signs!)
🚇 CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
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📌 NO-SHOW POLICY
⚠️ 3 no-shows = 3-month event ban
⏰ Update RSVP before start time
📱 Running late? Message the host
👋 Please check in upon arrival
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Come for the tacos, margaritas, and moles—stay for the great company and post-holiday vibes! 🌮🍹💃
Let’s keep the Cinco celebration going! 🎉
Upcoming events
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🌸 Hidden Gems & Grand Mansions — Logan Square Heritage Walk! 🏛️
St John Berchmans Catholic Church (Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish), 2519 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL, US🌸 Hidden Gems & Grand Mansions — Logan Square Heritage Walk! 🏛️
Walking Logan Square’s Grand Boulevards
Celebrate spring with a private guided walk through one of Chicago's most architecturally and historically rich neighborhoods!
🌳✨ As the boulevards come into bloom, we'll explore the heart of Logan Square's Historic Boulevard District — where elegant homes, lush landscaping, and landmark monuments tell the story of a community shaped by design, diversity, and time. 💫
Come walk, learn, and enjoy the spring sunshine with us — it's a great way to explore Chicago and meet new faces! 🌇🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that's me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, history buffs, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city! 😊
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📍 LOGISTICS
📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
⏰ 12:00–2:15 PM 📍
Start: St. John Berchmans Catholic Church, 2519 W. Logan Blvd, Chicago
🏁 End: Illinois Centennial Monument, Logan Square
💰 $20 per person — due at start of tour
💵 Cash preferred (exact change appreciated) | PayPal, Zelle & Venmo also accepted🌸 Tour Highlights:
- 🏛️ Architectural gems from the 1880s to the 1930s — Prairie, Queen Anne & Romanesque styles
- 🦅 The Illinois Centennial Monument and its symbolic carvings
- 🌳 Landscaped medians and spring blossoms lining the boulevards
- 📚 Stories of the people, homes & movements that shaped the area
⚠️ IMPORTANT PARKING NOTE The tour ends approximately 1 mile from the starting point — plan your parking accordingly! I recommend finding a spot in the middle of the route to minimize your walk back. 🚗
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🗺️ Route Highlights (stops subject to change):
🏛️ St. John Berchmans Catholic Church
🏠 John Rath House
🏠 Ryan House
⛪ Episcopal Church of the Advent — now condos
🏢 Gerson Apartment Building
🏠 Uber House / Uber Flats
🏠 S. Finchell House
🧊 Rustman Ice House
🏠 T. Steinbach House
🏦 Former Logan Square Trust & Savings Bank Building
🏡 Comfort Station 🎭 Logan Square Auditorium
⛪ Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church
🏛️ Illinois Centennial Monument (tour ends here!)
⛪ Grace United Methodist Church (optional)
🎪 Aloft Circus Arts (optional)***
🏛️ ABOUT LOGAN SQUARE
Named for Civil War general and statesman John A. Logan, Logan Square is home to one of Chicago's most striking intersections — a grand convergence of Logan Boulevard, Kedzie Boulevard, and Milwaukee Avenue. 🌟 At its heart lies the Illinois Centennial Monument, an iconic column erected in 1918 to celebrate 100 years of Illinois statehood, designed by leading minds including architect William Le Baron Jenney and landscape architect Jens Jensen as the northwest terminus of Chicago's elegant Boulevard System.The neighborhood stretches back to early settlements annexed to Chicago in 1889, home to waves of English, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, and Jewish immigrants. Milwaukee Avenue — one of Chicago's oldest roads — became the community's central cultural and commercial corridor. From monumental architecture to immigrant roots, this tour uncovers the layers of history that make Logan Square one of the city's most storied neighborhoods! 🏘️
👟 WHAT TO BRING
- 👟 Comfortable walking shoes
- 💧 Water bottle
- 🧥 Weather-appropriate attire
- 💰 $20 tour fee (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo & PayPal accepted)
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🍽️ OPTIONAL LUNCH AFTER After the walk, some of us may grab a bite at one of these nearby spots! 🍴 💵 Bring cash — some venues don't do separate checks!
- 🍺 The Harding Tavern — 2732 N. Milwaukee Ave | https://thehardingtavern.com/
- ☕ Café Con Leche — 2714 N. Milwaukee Ave | https://www.cafeconlechels.com/
- 🍫 Chiqueolatte Chicago — 2643 N. Milwaukee Ave | https://chiqueolattelogansquare.square.site/
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🚇 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Street parking along Milwaukee, Logan Blvd, Kedzie & surrounding side streets
⚠️ Watch for permit parking signs!📱 Lost or running late? Call/text 312.835.4259
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⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
- 😬 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event ban
- ⏰ Update your RSVP before the event start time; after that, message the host directly
- 👋 Check in with the host upon arrival
- 🚫 Continual no-shows = removal from the group
17 attendees
Past events
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Group links
Members
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