What we’re about
Welcome to our fun and active group!
Whether you're new to Chicago or have lived here for a while, becoming a member of this group allows you to explore the Chicago area in ways that most residents may never experience. It’s like being a tourist in your own city as we uncover hidden gems and unique experiences.
This group is a sister to the original, "1001 Things to See in Chicago Before You Die," and we will be hosting many joint events together.
Our goal is to create a club filled with enjoyable events, giving you the chance to meet new people while participating in unique and diverse outings throughout Chicagoland. This is a year-round group, and winter won't slow us down!
The annual dues are $12 per member, but you get a 90-day free trial to see if you enjoy the group! If you choose to host an event, your annual dues will be waived. We are a highly active and social group with a wide range of activities throughout Chicago.
Most of our events take place in Chicago or nearby suburbs like Evanston, Oak Park, and Park Ridge. All events are accessible via public transportation, which is why we primarily focus on Chicago.
Please note that we have a firm "three strikes" policy regarding no-shows. If you don't attend an event without updating your RSVP, you will receive a strike. After accumulating three strikes, you will be suspended from the group for three months. We aim to maintain fairness and fun for all our members.
If you have any questions about the group, suggestions for events, or would like to lead an outing, please let me know. Hosting an event allows you to waive your annual dues!
Please also check out & join our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1571684466442303
We also have an Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/1001thingstoseeinchicago/
Giovina Romandine
Organizer for Windy City Wanderers!
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- 🎶✨ Weekly Wednesday Concerts at Millennium Park – Summer 2025! ✨🎶Millennium Park, Chicago, IL
🎶✨ Weekly Wednesday Concerts at Millennium Park – Summer 2025! ✨🎶
Multi-Group Event
Hosted by Giovina, Tom, Susan & Nelson!Join us all summer long for the Grant Park Music Festival Wednesday night concerts! This has become a beloved tradition for our Meetup groups—great music, good company, and plenty of shared food and wine.
Whether you’ve been coming for years or it’s your first time, you’ll feel right at home.
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📅 WHEN:
Every Wednesday (weather permitting)
🎵 Music begins at 6:30 PM
⏰ We start gathering around 5:45 PMNote: Giovina won’t be hosting every week. When she isn’t there, Tom, Susan, or Nelson will be your hosts. Look for any of us—either way, we’re always in the same spot every week.
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📍 WHERE:
Millennium Park – Great Lawn
We meet way at the back of the lawn near the sidewalk.
You can’t miss us!
📌 Map Pin & Visual Guide: Group Spot Map
🎟️ Gates open 90 minutes before the concert.
Please allow extra time for bag checks & security screening.***
🍷 WHAT TO BRING:
✅ Wine, beer, or your favorite beverages
✅ Snacks & food to share—think cheese, crackers, fruit, dips, baked goodies
✅ Blanket or low lawn chairs
✅ Bottle opener or corkscrew
✅ Cups, napkins, plates, or toothpicks (if you can)
✅ Dress for the weather (bring layers!)✨ If anyone has a small folding table, please bring it! I have 2, but we always need more for all the food and drinks.
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🛍️ Food Nearby:
Running late or don’t want to cook?
Grab something at:
• Mariano’s (Randolph St.)
• Macy’s Food Court (State St.)***
📍 WHERE TO FIND US:
We always sit way at the back of the Great Lawn near the sidewalk.
✔️ It’s easy to spot us—we’re the big group with blankets, chairs, wine, and food!
✔️ If you’re early, just grab a bench nearby and wait for the group.
✔️ See our spot here: Map Link
🎼 Concert Schedule:
Every week features a different performance!
✅ See the full 2025 season lineup:
Grant Park Music Festival Schedule
✅ Know before you go – security details:
Millennium Park Security Info
✅ Venue map & seating:
Venue Map***
🚗 PARKING & TRANSPORTATION:
Public Transit:
• Easy access via CTA trains & buses
• Plan your trip: CTA Trip Planner
Parking:
• Grant Park North Garage or Harris Theater Garage recommended
• Limited metered parking nearby—arrive early if driving
• Use SpotHero or ParkWhiz for deals***
🙌 RSVP & NO SHOW POLICY:
✅ Please update your RSVP if your plans change!
✅ The cutoff to change your RSVP is the event start time.
✅ If you’re running late, message your host directly.
❗ 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month RSVP freeze.***
🌟 Ready to unwind midweek with great music, good food, and fun people?
Bring your friends, a bottle of wine, and a blanket—and let’s make the 2025 season the best yet!
See you on the lawn! 🎶🍷🌿✨
- 🎶 Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Square – The Beaus Live! 🎤Giddings Plaza, Chicago, IL
🎶 Summer Concert Series in Lincoln Square – The Beaus Live! 🎤
📅 Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
🕔 Time: Meet at 5:50 PM · Concert 6–8:30 PM · Optional Hangout After
📍 Location: Giddings Plaza, Lincoln Square (4731 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago)
🎟️ FREE Admission | Family-Friendly | Outdoors
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The summer outdoor music season keeps rolling—and we’re heading back to Lincoln Square to check out a fun new band: The Beaus! If you joined us last time, you know this one’s a blast—but heads up: this is a very family-friendly event, so it can get crowded. Arrive early to grab a good lawn chair spot!
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📅 Tentative Itinerary:- 5:50–6:00 PM: Meet & greet at Giddings Plaza (bring your lawn chair!)
- 6:00–8:30 PM: Enjoy live music by The Beaus
- 8:30–10:00 PM: Optional hangout after—grab food or a drink nearby
🎷 The Summer Concert Series is a beloved Lincoln Square tradition, featuring Chicago's best local talent in a laid-back plaza setting with beer & wine from Ricochet’s Tavern.
🪑 Bring your own lawn chair! No reserved seating.
🍻 Food & drinks available for purchase (no BYOB).
***### 🎶 About The Band – The Beaus
Chicago’s favorite “MAN-band” brings tight harmonies, Broadway flair, pop covers, and musical parody to life with piano-driven energy and audience interaction. Their blend of showmanship, humor, and musical talent guarantees an unforgettable night of fun.
More info:
👉 https://www.lincolnsquare.org/summer-concert-series
***### 🍽️ Optional Dinner/Drinks After the Show
We’ll likely head to a nearby spot like Jerry’s, Garcia’s, Barba Yianni, Essence of India, or Daily Bar & Grill.
Bring CASH—many places don’t split checks for large groups!
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### 🚇 Getting There- By CTA: Brown Line to Western, or Lawrence/Western buses
- By Car: Metered parking on Lincoln, Lawrence, and Western; free street parking on side streets (watch for permit signs!)
- Trip planner: CTA Planner
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✅ RSVP & Attendance Policy
❌ 3 no-shows without notice = 3-month RSVP suspension
⏰ Please update your RSVP by the event start time
📲 If you arrive late or can’t find us, message the host
✔️ Be sure to check in with the event host at the start
***
Come enjoy live music, warm summer vibes, and great company—Lincoln Square style! 🎶🌆 - 🌊☀️ Sand, Sun & Shenanigans: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park 🍹 (Part 1 of 2)Jarvis Beach & Park, Chicago, IL
🌊☀️ Sand, Sun & Shenanigans: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park 🍹 (Part 1 of 2)
Mahony Griffin Beach to Berger Park: A North Side Lakefront Adventure
Join us for a Friday afternoon walk along the far north end of Chicago’s beautiful Lakefront Trail! We’ll start at Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park by Loyola and follow the scenic lakeshore to Rosemont Avenue (Edgewater) Beach, then relax with an early dinner and live music at the Waterfront Café.2-part event with multi-meetup groups!
⚠️ NOTE: The Waterfront Café dinner & live music is being scheduled as a separate Meetup event since space is limited.
👉 If you want to join for dinner and music too, please RSVP here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/309202088🌤️ This is a weather-dependent event. We’ll confirm if the forecast looks good!
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🚶♀️ About the Walk
✅ Distance: ~3.1 miles
✅ Route: Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park (1208 W Jarvis Ave) to Rosemont Avenue Beach / Edgewater Beach (6259 N Sheridan Rd)
✅ Note: The trail doesn't fully connect here—we'll zig-zag along Sheridan Rd and side streets, and walk along the beach wherever possible.
✅ End Point/Restaurant: The Waterfront Café, 6219 N Sheridan Rd⚠️ Important! This is a one-way walk.
- If you park at the starting point, you'll need to walk back or take a bus.
- Consider parking closer to the end point or along Sheridan Rd.
- Easy transit from Berger Park: Red Line or CTA #146, #147, #151 bus.
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🌆 Highlights Along the Route
We’ll see or stop at:
🌊 Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park
🌊 Sherwin on the Lake
🌊 Leone Beach Park
🌊 Loyola Beach
🌳 Loyola Park Natural Area
🌊 Tobey Prinz Beach Park
🌊 Columbia (Helen Doria) Beach
🌊 North Shore Beach Park
🌊 Hartigan Beach
🌊 Rosemont Avenue Edgewater Beach
🍹 The Waterfront Café
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🍴 After the Walk
Some of us will grab a bite and drinks with live music at The Waterfront Café (6219 N Sheridan Rd).
✅ The Waterfront Café is a casual, family-friendly lakeside dining & performance venue with a historic landmark setting and amazing lake views.
✅ Menu: http://waterfrontcafechicago.com/fooddrink👉 If you want to join for dinner and music too, please RSVP here:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/309202088
***
📌 What to Bring
✅ Water
✅ Sunscreen
✅ Hand sanitizer
✅ Good walking shoes
✅ Summer-appropriate clothes
🚻 Note: Public beach/bathroom facilities may be limited or seasonal—please plan ahead.
***
📍 Transportation & Parking
🚗 Limited street parking near Mahony Griffin (Marion) Beach Park.
🅿️ Nearby paid lots can be expensive—try SpotHero or ParkWhiz.
🚇 CTA-friendly—use Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner.
🚌 Easy bus connections from Berger Park.
✅ Chicago Park District Trail Info
***
⚠️ RSVP & No-Show Policy
✅ Please update your RSVP if your plans change.
✅ You have until the event start time to update your RSVP.
✅ If you arrive late, message the event host directly.
✅ 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month signup freeze.
***
🌊 Ready for lake breezes, skyline views, and a fun end-of-week vibe? Come stroll with us along the best of Chicago’s northern lakefront beaches and parks.✨ RSVP now and let’s make it a summer Friday to remember! ☀️
- 🏖️🎶 Beachside Beats & Bites: Waterfront Cafe Jazz Night 🌴🎷(part 2 of 2)The Waterfront Cafe, Chicago, IL
🏖️🎶 Beachside Beats & Bites: Waterfront Cafe Jazz Night 🌴🎷(part 2 of 2)
🌴 Let’s Go Back to Waterfront Cafe! Dinner, Drinks & Live Jazz!🎷
We love this spot! It’s like being whisked away to Miami right here in Chicago—great lake views, live music, and a laid-back beach café vibe. We’ve had many fun nights here over the years. Join us for food, drinks, and live jazz on the patio at the Waterfront Café in Berger Park!🎵 Live music on Friday, July 18th features Second City Jazz (7–9 pm). They'll play classics and originals in the style of Herbie Hancock, Coltrane, Miles Davis, and more.
NOTE:
This Meetup is only for the dinner & music portion. We’re doing the Sand, Sun & Shenanigans: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park Walk as a separate event earlier that day. Numbers are limited for each, so please RSVP for both events separately if you want to attend both!
👉 Link to Walk Event
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🌞 The Plan- Meet at Waterfront Café in Berger Park (6219 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago)
- We’ll arrive early to grab tables since there are no reservations and it’s first-come, first-served
- Tables are limited to ~4–6 people each. We’ll try to grab a cluster
- If you can’t arrive early but want to come later, let me know—we’ll try to hold a spot (but no guarantees!)
🎶 Live music starts at 7 pm, but tables fill up well before that!
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🍔 About the Venue- Historic landmark coach house attached to one of the last remaining lakefront mansions in Chicago
- Outdoor patio dining with amazing lake views
- Casual, take-out–style menu and full bar
- Cashless venue (credit/debit only)
- Check the 2025 menu may vary slightly from 2024’s online prices
- 📜 Menu Link
🪑 Counter service: Everyone pays separately.
Price Tip: Please plan to add 32% (12% Chicago tax + 20% tip) to your order total.
Website:
🌐 waterfrontcafechicago.com
📘 Facebook page
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⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT
✅ PLEASE only RSVP if you’re 95% sure you’ll attend! Seating is tight so we need accurate headcounts.
✅ No-show policy: 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month pause on RSVPs
✅ Cutoff time to update RSVP is the event start time
***
🧭 Transportation
🚇 CTA: Check Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner
🚗 Driving: Metered parking on Granville + limited free side-street parking (watch permit signs!)
🅿️ Consider SpotHero or ParkingWhiz for easiest parking
***
🦟 Pro Tip
Bring bug spray! It can get buggy right by the beach.
***
🎷 About Second City Jazz
Chicago-based ensemble playing classic and original straight-ahead jazz since 2008. Expect music inspired by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, and more.
🌐 secondcityjazz.com
***
Let’s soak up summer, enjoy the music, and pretend we’re on a beach in Florida! 🌴🍹🎷
REMEMBER: This Meetup is only for the dinner & music portion. We’re doing the Sand, Sun & Shenanigans: Mahony Griffin to Berger Park Walk as a separate event earlier that day. Numbers are limited for each, so please RSVP for both events separately if you want to attend both!
👉 Link to Walk Event
