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
53
🎶🎂 Willie Dixon Birthday Blues Party @ Legendary Chess Records! 🎸🔥
Chess Records, 2120 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, US# 🎶🎂 Willie Dixon Birthday Blues Party @ Legendary Chess Records! 🎸🔥
Willie Dixon's Birthday Bash @ Chess Records! 🎶🔥
🎵 FREE Record Row Concert Series Featuring Joanna Connor Band & Special Guests 🎵
Let’s go BACK for one of the best free blues events of the summer!
Join us at the legendary Willie Dixon Blues Garden next to the historic Chess Records building for a special evening celebrating the birthday of blues legend Willie Dixon. This annual event is always a favorite—and this year features the incredible Joanna Connor Band along with special guests.
Even better? 🎉 They’ll be serving a FREE BBQ dinner with a complimentary plate of food and a soda for attendees!
We attended this birthday celebration several years ago, and the food was fantastic—delicious BBQ, great music, and an amazing neighborhood atmosphere. 😋🌭🎶
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📅 WHEN:
🗓️ Thursday, July 2, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM📍 WHERE:
Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation
2120 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL***
🎶 TENTATIVE ITINERARY:
🕔 5:00 PM — Meet & greet in the Blues Garden and grab seats
🎸 5:00–7:00 PM — Willie Dixon Birthday Celebration Concert featuring Joanna Connor Band & Special Guests
🌭 7:00–8:00 PM — FREE BBQ dinner and soda served (while supplies last)
🍻 8:00–9:00 PM — Optional socializing afterward at a nearby restaurant or bar***
🎸 FEATURED PERFORMER:
🎤 Joanna Connor Band & Special Guests
🌐 https://www.joannaconnor.com/
Widely recognized as one of the most electrifying blues guitarists in the country, Joanna Connor has been a fixture of the Chicago blues scene for decades. Known for her fiery slide guitar work, powerhouse vocals, and high-energy performances, she’s shared stages with blues legends around the world and continues to carry the Chicago blues tradition forward.***
🍖 FREE BBQ DINNER!
As part of the birthday celebration:
✅ Free BBQ plate
✅ Free soda
✅ First-come, first-served
This is always one of the highlights of the event!***
🪑 SEATING:
The Blues Garden typically provides chairs, but seating is first-come, first-served.
Feel free to bring:
✅ Lawn chair
✅ Folding chair
✅ Small cushion***
🏛️ ABOUT THE VENUE
The concert takes place at the historic Chess Records building, one of the most important sites in American music history.Founded by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, Chess Records became America’s most influential blues label, launching the careers of legends including:
🎸 Muddy Waters
🎸 Howlin’ Wolf
🎸 Chuck Berry
🎸 Bo Diddley
🎸 Little Walter
🎸 Etta JamesWillie Dixon served as songwriter, producer, arranger, and creative force behind many of Chess Records’ biggest hits.
The famous studio at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue became known worldwide and was immortalized by The Rolling Stones, who recorded there during their first U.S. tour.
Today the building houses Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation, dedicated to preserving blues history and supporting musicians.
🌐 Website: http://www.bluesheaven.com
🌐 Record Row Concert Series: http://www.bluesheaven.com/record-row-concert-series.html
🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bluesheavenfoundation***
🍽️ OPTIONAL DINNER & DRINKS AFTERWARD
If anyone is still hungry, we may head to one of several nearby spots:
🍗 Jerk Villa Bar & Grill
🍺 Fatpour Tap Works
🍕 Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar
🍝 Il Culaccino
🍕 Pizano’s Pizza & Pasta***
🚇 GETTING THERE
CTA:
🚉 Red Line & Green Line nearby
🚌 #1 Bronzeville
🚌 #3 King Drive
🚌 #4 Cottage Grove
🚌 #29 State Street
CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Driving:
Metered street parking is usually available nearby, along with several parking garages.***
📱 LOST OR RUNNING LATE?
Call or text Giovina: 312.835.4259***
⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
✔️ Please keep your RSVP updated
✔️ Cutoff to update RSVP is event start time
✔️ If you're running late, contact the host directly
❌ 3 no-shows without updating RSVP = 3-month event restriction
🚫 Continual no-shows may result in removal from the group***
🎸🎂 An evening of free blues, free BBQ, Chicago music history, and great company at one of the most legendary addresses in American music. It doesn’t get much more Chicago than celebrating Willie Dixon’s birthday at Chess Records! 🎶🔥
29 attendees
🎆🌭 Red, White & BBQ: 4th of July Potluck at Halle's House! 🍉🍻
Exact Location to be given privately, Montrose & Central Park, Chicago, IL, US🎆🌭 Red, White & BBQ: 4th of July Potluck at Halle's House! 🍉🍻
🍔 Meetup 4th of July Party at Halle’s House! Potluck style🧨
Let's celebrate Independence Day the Meetup way—with great people, good food, backyard fun, and plenty of summer vibes in Albany Park!
A huge thank you to Halle for graciously opening her home once again for one of our favorite annual traditions. Whether you're a grill master, dessert enthusiast, cocktail creator, or simply looking for a fun way to spend the holiday, we'd love to have you join us!
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📅 WHEN:
🗓️ Saturday, July 4, 2026
⏰ 3:45 PM – 11:00 PM
📍 WHERE:
🏡 Halle's House (Albany Park around Montrose & Central Park Ave)
Address will be provided to those who RSVP via private message***
🎉 WHAT TO EXPECT:
🍽️ Potluck-style feast — bring a dish to share
🍔 Grill available — bring your favorite item to cook
🍻 BYOB — beer, wine, cocktails, mocktails, whatever you enjoy
🪑 Bring a lawn chair for maximum comfort
🧊 Ice and coolers EXTRAS are always appreciated! (please bring)
🎲 Lawn games, conversation, music, and good company
🇺🇸 Patriotic attire encouraged!🚫 NO FIREWORKS PLEASE!
This is the Northwest Side—trust us, the neighborhood will provide more than enough fireworks for everyone. The alleys, parks, and nearby streets always become an unofficial fireworks show. We'll sit back and enjoy the spectacle as spectators!***
🍴 POTLUCK PLANNING
Please leave a comment when you RSVP letting everyone know what you're bringing. We'd love a variety and want to avoid duplicates.
Ideas include:
🥨 Snacks & appetizers
🥗 Side dishes
🌭 Main dishes
🍔 Grill items
🍉 Fruit trays
🍪 Desserts
🧊 Ice
🍷 Beer, wine & cocktails
🥤 Soda, water & mocktails
✨ Get creative! It doesn't need to be expensive—just something tasty and easy to enjoy at a backyard gathering.***
🌿 ECO-FRIENDLY NOTE
Halle is a dedicated recycler and separates items carefully.
♻️ Please pay attention to recycling bins and disposal instructions.
🍽️ We encourage everyone to bring their own reusable plate, cup, and utensils if possible.
Paper plates and plasticware will be available if needed.***
😺 CAT ALERT
Halle has cats, so please plan accordingly if you have allergies.***
🌤️ INDOOR & OUTDOOR EVENT
We'll be using both the house and backyard.
If anyone has a folding table they can lend for the afternoon and evening, please mention it in your RSVP comment.***
🚇 GETTING THERE
Public Transit:
Halle lives near Montrose & Central Park.
CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
🚗 Parking:
Halle's street is permit parking only.
She has a limited number of guest parking permits available on a first-come, first-served basis. We like to save it for those with mobility issues.
If available, pull up in front of the house and check with Halle.
Otherwise, parking is generally available on Montrose and nearby side streets within a block or two.
Northwest Side parking is usually pretty manageable.***
📱 QUESTIONS OR RUNNING LATE?
Call or text Giovina:
312.835.4259***
⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
✔️ Please keep your RSVP updated.
✔️ RSVP changes close at the event start time.
✔️ If you're running late, contact the host directly.
✔️ Check in with the host when you arrive.
❌ 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month RSVP restriction.
🚫 Continual no-shows may result in removal from the group.***
🌭🍔🍉🇺🇸 Grab your favorite dish, your favorite beverage, and your holiday spirit, and join us for a fun-filled Independence Day celebration with friends old and new. Let's eat, laugh, and toast to summer under the stars!
34 attendees
Past events
975
Group links
Members
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