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. 🤝
***
🗓 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.
***
💬 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
***
💰 Membership
• 90-day free trial
• Annual dues: $12/year after the trial
• 🎉 Host an event and your dues are waived!
***
🚨 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
***
🤝 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
***
💡 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. 🍨
***
🍹 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!
***
🌟 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
***
🚗 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/
***
📌 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
***
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
23
🧱 Every Brick Has a Story — Quam & Baer Book Launch! 📖✨
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 40 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL, US🧱 Every Brick Has a Story — Quam & Baer Book Launch! 📖✨
🧱 Fire And Clay: Book Launch — Will Quam & Geoffrey Baer
Chicago's bricks have stories to tell — and now there's a whole book about them! 📖✨ Join architecture historian and photographer Will Quam and ten-time Emmy-winning WTTW host Geoffrey Baer as they celebrate the launch of Fire and Clay: How Brick Reveals the Hidden History of Chicago — the first book of its kind tracing how brick evolved from a simple fireproof material into a defining element of Chicago's architectural identity. Followed by a book signing! 🏛️
***
📍 LOGISTICS
📅 Tuesday, May 5, 2026
⏰ Doors open 5:30 PM | Lecture starts 6:00 PM | Event ends 8:00 PM
📍 Richard H. Driehaus Museum — Murphy Auditorium, 50 E. Erie St, Chicago
💰 General Admission: $20
🎟️ BUY TICKETS: https://driehausmuseum.org/programs/detail/fire-clay-book-launch📚 Copies of Fire and Clay available for purchase at the event
🔗 Plan your visit: https://driehausmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
***
🎙️ ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
🧱 Will Quam is an architecture historian and photographer who has shared Chicago's architecture and history since 2016 through his beloved project Brick of Chicago, leading award-winning walking tours for thousands across the city. His work has been featured by PBS Chicago, the Chicago Tribune, Block Club Chicago, and more. Find him at @brickofchicago on Instagram.📺 Geoffrey Baer is a ten-time Emmy-winning writer, producer, and host who has been a fixture at WTTW for 30 years. Best known for his popular Chicago architecture and history specials — including Chicago by 'L', The Chicago River Tour, and Chicago on Vacation — he has also hosted the PBS primetime series 10 that Changed America and has been a Chicago Architecture Center docent since 1987.
***
🏛️ ABOUT THE DRIEHAUS MUSEUM & MURPHY AUDITORIUM
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum sits near the Magnificent Mile on the Near North Side and is dedicated to art, architecture, and design of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It spans two historic Chicago landmark buildings — the Samuel M. Nickerson Mansion and the John B. Murphy Memorial Auditorium — presenting collections and exhibitions in a fully immersive setting. 💎🏠 The Nickerson Mansion was designed by architect Edward J. Burling and completed in 1883 at a cost of $450,000 — reportedly the most expensive and elaborate private residence in Chicago at the time. Its interiors are replete with marble, onyx, carved exotic and domestic woods, glazed tiles, and stained glass, with original Nickerson-era furnishings alongside American and European decorative arts including works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 and designated a Chicago landmark in 1977. In 2003, philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus acquired and restored it, opening the museum to the public in June 2008. ✨
Saved from demolition in 1919 by a group of concerned Chicagoans and later lovingly restored by philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus between 2003 and 2008, the museum reflects Driehaus's lifelong passion for historic preservation and classical design. It remains one of the most elegant and underappreciated cultural gems in Chicago. ✨
🏛️ The Murphy Auditorium was built between 1923 and 1926 by the American College of Surgeons and designed by renowned Chicago architects Benjamin Marshall and Charles E. Fox of Marshall and Fox.
Erected as a monument to Dr. John B. Murphy (1857–1916) — a founding member of the American College of Surgeons, pioneer of the appendectomy, and the surgeon who performed a life-saving operation on President Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 — the building is an architectural landmark in its own right. 🏥
Its iconic limestone exterior is Marshall's interpretation of the double-columned façade of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Consolation (1900) in Paris. The entrance features a magnificent pair of cast bronze doors by Tiffany Studios, with six panels depicting historic figures in medicine: Aesculapius, Pasteur, Osler, Lister, McDowell, and Gorgas. Inside, a towering multicolored stained-glass window crowns the auditorium. 🎨
The Driehaus Museum acquired the Murphy Auditorium in 2022 and opened the expanded campus on June 21, 2024 — making tonight's event one of many exciting programs this remarkable space will host for years to come. 🎉
***
🍸 OPTIONAL DRINKS OR DINNER AFTER
Keep the night going and join us afterward at a nearby spot!
🍽️ Options shared closer to the date
💵 Please bring cash — some venues may not split checks***
🚇 GETTING THERE 🚇 CTA: Google Maps or CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/ 🚗 Metered street parking on Erie & nearby streets 🅿️ Garages nearby — use SpotHero or ParkingWhiz for best rates
📱 Lost or running late? Call/text 312.835.4259***
⚠️ 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
10 attendees
Cancelled - 🎤🌮🎶 Live Band Karaoke/ Multi-Group Meetup! 🎶🌮🎤
All Star Seafood and sports, 730 South Clark, Chicago, IL, US🎤🌮🎶 Live Band Karaoke /Multi-Group Meetup! 🎶🌮🎤
**⭐ Hosted by Deanna (**musiclovermay18) ⭐
Come on out for an incredibly fun Tuesday night—join multiple Meetup groups for Live Band Karaoke at All Star Seafood & Sports!
If you've never done live band karaoke before, you're in for a treat! This isn't your standard machine karaoke—the band plays live and helps you out if you don't know all the words or need support. Whether you want to take the mic or just watch and cheer on others, it's a blast either way.
✅ No experience necessary! The band will back you up and keep the energy high.
✅ Or just hang out and enjoy! Watching people perform with a live band is half the fun.
✅ Multi-group event: Expect a bigger, livelier crowd than the RSVP count—these typically average 10–12 people from our group alone, plus attendees from other groups.We want laid-back, non-judgmental, fun-loving folks who want to have a good time and support each other—even if someone can't carry a tune in a bucket!
🎉 TACO TUESDAY SPECIAL!
Come hungry and enjoy their awesome Tuesday Taco specials. Pair your food with drinks from their full bar.***
📅 WHEN:
Tuesday night! Live Band Karaoke starts at 8 PM.
🕗 Arrive early to get a good spot, hang out, grab food and drinks before the singing starts!***
📍 WHERE:
All Star Seafood & Sports
730 S. Clark St., Chicago, IL
✅ Website
✅ Facebook
✅ Menu***
🚗 PARKING INFO:
Street parking on Clark, Polk, and Wells Streets (watch for no parking and permit-only signs—it can be tricky).
⭐ Highly recommend using SpotHero or Parking Whiz for the safest and easiest option.
🚇 PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
Plenty of CTA options—plan your route here: CTA Trip Planner***
✨ WHAT TO EXPECT:
✅ Sing with a live band (they’ll help you!)
✅ Amazing taco specials
✅ Drinks, friends, fun vibes
✅ A supportive crowd from multiple Meetup groups
✅ Outstanding food & a full bar
✅ Even if you don't sing, it's a great show!***
⚠️ OUR NO-SHOW POLICY:
✅ Please update your RSVP if you can’t make it!
❗ 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month hold from events.
✔️ Cut-off to update is the event start time.
✔️ Message the host if you’re running late.
✔️ Always check in with the host when you arrive.***
✨ Come sing your heart out, try some delicious tacos, cheer on your friends, and have an unforgettable Tuesday night with great people. Whether you’re the next Beyoncé or just want to laugh and clap along, this event is for you.
See you there! 🎤🌮🍻
1 attendee🌮 Post–Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Manchamanteles: Margaritas, Tacos & More! 🍹🔥
Manchamanteles, 2009 N Western Ave.,, Chicago, IL, US🌮 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. 🍨
***
🍹 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!***
🌟 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 specialtiesExpect 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***
🚗 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/***
📌 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***
Come for the tacos, margaritas, and moles—stay for the great company and post-holiday vibes! 🌮🍹💃
Let’s keep the Cinco celebration going! 🎉5 attendees
🍷 36 Wines. 12 Stops. Spring Into Lincoln Square for The 2026 Wine Stroll! 🌸
DANK Haus, 5th Floor Ballroom, 4740 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL, US🍷 36 Wines. 12 Stops. Spring Into Lincoln Square for the 2026 Wine Stroll! 🌸
LINCOLN SQUARE SPRING WINE STROLL – ROUTE C-BUY TIX NOW AS THIS WILL SELL OUT!
Wine Stroll is the Lincoln Square's most popular bi-annual event, and a great way to support the neighborhood while tasting and discovering new wine regions and varietals. Taste through a carefully curated variety of wines, along with a light assortment delicious hors d'oeuvres from area restaurants. Wine Stroll is the perfect way to explore new businesses and see just what makes this community so special!
📍 LOGISTICS
📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026
⏰ 5:50–9:00 PM (stroll starts at 6 pm)
📍 Meet at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center (5th floor), 4740 N Western Ave, Chicago
👟 Wear comfortable shoes — we'll be walking in and out of stores all evening!
🌧️ Rain or shine event🎟️ TICKETS REQUIRED click link below
💰 $60 + fees —
🎟️ Get tickets on Eventbrite: 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-wine-stroll-2026-tickets-1985460237016⚡ Tickets sell fast — last year sold out in 4 days! Check back here for the link.
🪪 All ticket holders must be of legal drinking age. IDs checked at check-in.
***
🌸 THE SCOOP Lincoln Square's beloved bi-annual Wine Stroll is BACK — and we're doing Route C together! 🥂 Sip your way through 12 local shops and restaurants along Lincoln, Lawrence, and Damen, tasting up to 36 different wines paired with light bites from neighborhood eateries. 🍽️ It's the perfect spring evening out — and a great way to explore what makes this community so special! ✨
🍾 WHAT TO EXPECT
- 🍷 Check in at DANK Haus (5th floor) to receive your wine glass and tasting guide
- 🏪 Visit 12 businesses and taste up to 36 wines (2 oz pours at each stop)
- 😋 Sample food bites along the way — many stops offer tasty treats!
- 👟 Walk ends at a different location than where we start, so plan accordingly
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Route C businesses are NOT revealed until the night of the event — that's part of the fun!
The LSR Wine Stroll transforms the retail establishments and restaurants of Lincoln Square and Ravenswood into wine tasting destinations.
Each Spring, the LSR Wine Stroll transforms the retail establishments and restaurants of Lincoln Square and Ravenswood into wine tasting destinations. Over 30 businesses participate, each offering a carefully curated variety of wines in 2-oz sample pours, along with a light assortment of hors d’oeuvres from area restaurants. This event is a great way to tour new businesses and see just what makes our community so special.
🎉 Here's a sneak peek at the full pool of the 22 participating businesses we could visit:
• Augusta Food and Wine
• Bistro Campagne
• The Book Cellar
• The Chopping Block
• DANK Haus
• ENJOY, An Urban General Store
• Fleet Feet Lincoln Square
• Gearhead Outfitters
• Genevieve
• Jerry's
• L&M Fine Foods
• Lincoln Square Dental Spa
• Lincoln Square Spice Co.
• Lyons Family Eye Care
• Midwest Nice
• Neighborly
• Nomadic Ant
• Planet Access
• Raw Edge
• Stanley Brown Jewelist
• StretchLab
• Timeless Toys🚌 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/🚗 Limited street parking in Lincoln Square — use SpotHero or ParkingWhiz for best rates
📱 Lost or running late? Call/text 312.835.4259
***
⚠️ 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
7 attendees
Past events
921
Group links
Members
189
