Windy City Wanderers!

4.7•360 ratings

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

📝🔑READ ONLY Guide: Waitlists, Event Alerts, Trial Periods & Annual Dues 💡📅

Tue, Mar 31 · 7:00 PM CDT

Online

📝🔑READ ONLY Guide: Waitlists, Event Alerts, Trial Periods & Annual Dues 💡📅

🚨 READ-ONLY INFO POST – DO NOT RSVP HERE 🚨

This is not an event. Please read THE WHOLE MESSAGE carefully — especially if you’re new or have been away for a while — so you understand our current group policies on:
✅ Dining Etiquette
✅ Waitlists
✅ Event Notifications
✅ Trial Periods
✅ Annual Dues
✅No-Show Policy

📲 Event Notifications
Make sure you’re getting notifications!
Check your Meetup app settings or enable email notices.
If you still aren’t receiving anything, contact Meetup Help:
👉 https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us

⭐ Pro tip: Check the ALL events page weekly for new posts (we’re very active!):
👉 https://www.meetup.com/1001-Things-to-See-in-Chicago-Before-You-Die/events/
🚨 ALWAYS CLICK THE LINK ABOVE to see all upcoming events — especially if you are not receiving notifications!

📝 Waitlists
Don’t let long waitlists scare you! I actively manage them.
I often secure extra reservations or work with venues to add more spots.
Many people get moved off the waitlist — so sign up for everything that interests you! ✨

If you’re on the waitlist but plans change, please update your RSVP so the next person can move up.

🍴 Dining Out Etiquette
We’ve had some issues with short bills — please read carefully!
💵 CASH ONLY for Group Checks
✅ No separate checks
✅ Bring cash to cover your meal & drinks
✅ Add 32% to your total (12% tax + 20% tip)
❌ Credit cards make it too complicated with large groups — cash keeps it fair & easy for all!

💡 Group Dining Guidelines

We always tip 20%.
If there’s an issue with service, please let me know — I’ll speak with the manager.
Everyone pays for the food & drinks they ordered (including tax + tip).
Some places include a surcharge — I try to get it removed where possible, but if unavoidable, add another 3.5% to your portion.
Make sure to add your portion correctly & in full! People often forget the little extras that are sometimes charged by restaurants.

🤝 Be Kind + Be Welcoming (No Cliques!)
When dining and attending events, please be respectful of others’ feelings. Have good manners.
🚫 No rude comments
🚫 No bad attitude
🚫 No “playing favorites” (moving seats to sit only with certain people)
🚫 No mean behavior
We have had occasional issues with hurt feelings, and that is not what this group is about.

✨ We are NOT a clique here — ALL are welcome!
This is Meetup — the whole point is to meet NEW people, be friendly, and make everyone feel included and I mean EVERYONE!

💵 Membership Dues
Dues = $12 annually
New members: 90-day trial period → dues required after to stay active
To check your status: Go to your member profile on Meetup (will show trial status & time left)

🔑 Payment Options
Pay directly on Meetup (auto-renewal available)
OR pay Giovina outside Meetup via:
• PayPal / Venmo → giovinaro@hotmail.com
• Zelle → (312) 835-4259
• Cash (in person)
⚠️ If your membership lapses, you lose visibility to the group. To rejoin, you’ll need to pay dues and find the group again via:
👉 https://www.meetup.com/1001-Things-to-See-in-Chicago-Before-You-Die/

🚫 No-Show Policy (3 Strikes Rule)
We have a 3-strike rule for no-shows.
RSVP “yes”? We expect you there. If you don’t show, that’s 1 strike.
After 3 strikes = permanent removal.
⚠️ We have had LOTS of no-shows lately, and that is not fair to the host or those waiting to get into an event. I WILL be enforcing this policy. If you are over 3 strikes, you will be removed from the group!!!

🎉 About Our Group
Very active: 4–5 events per week! 🌟
Outings are unusual, educational, fun, and welcoming.
Meetup charges fees & events take planning, so please respect RSVPs.
Want to host an event? Message me — we’re always open to new ideas & hosts! 🙌

📢 Stay Connected
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576822533554
Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/1001thingstoseeinchicago/
Eventbrite Page:
👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/o/1001-things-to-see-in-chicago-before-you-die-67124474083

🙏 Thanks for being part of the group! We look forward to seeing you at one of our many adventures around Chicago!