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🎅🎄 6TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER UNDER THE GREAT TREE AT THE WALNUT ROOM! 🎁🍽️

🎄✨ A Chicago Holiday Tradition — Dinner Under the Great Tree! 🌟

Let’s kick off the holiday season with one of Chicago’s most beloved traditions: a festive dinner beneath the spectacular Great Tree inside the gorgeous Walnut Room at Macy’s — forever known to many of us as Marshall Field’s! ❤️🎄

For the 6th year in a row, we’re keeping this beloved 1001 holiday tradition alive! And this year, we’re BACK to BLACK FRIDAY! 🎉

The holiday decorations will be in full swing, making downtown Chicago the perfect place to soak up the Christmas magic.

✨ The Christkindlmarket opens November 21, so you can enjoy the holiday lights, festive decorations and seasonal atmosphere downtown, too!

⚠️ IMPORTANT: ONLY 20 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
I couldn’t get my usual 40 spots this year, so we’re limited to just 20 people at one big table reservation.

😢 Please RSVP only if you’re 100% sure you can attend!
Please note: There is NO online waitlist for paid events. If the event is full, keep an eye out for an opening or consider my second Walnut Room dinner scheduled for Wednesday, December 16, 2026. That will be a separate Meetup event.

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🎄 BEFORE LUNCH: CHRISTKINDLMARKET WALK (SEPARATE EVENT!) 🎁
I’m hosting a walk through the 30th Annual Christkindlmarket BEFORE our Walnut Room lunch this year! 🇩🇪✨

⚠️ IMPORTANT: The numbers are limited, and this is a SEPARATE EVENT with its own RSVP. Your Walnut Room reservation does NOT automatically register you for the market walk.
👉 Want to join BOTH events? Make sure you register separately for the Christkindlmarket walk here:
🔗 Meetup Link:
https://www.meetup.com/windy-city-wanderers/events/317059727/

Come enjoy some holiday shopping, festive German treats and Christmas-market magic before we head to the Walnut Room for lunch! 🎄🥨🍷

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🍽️ DINNER DETAILS
📅 Friday, November 27, 2026 — BLACK FRIDAY!
🕐 1:00–3:15 PM
📍 The Walnut Room at Macy’s
111 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60602
👥 Limited to 20 guests!
⏰ PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME! The restaurant will not seat our group until everyone has arrived. Allow extra time for downtown traffic, parking and walking to the restaurant.

💳 NEW THIS YEAR: $4 NON-REFUNDABLE EVENT FEE
I’ve secured our restaurant reservation with a credit card hold from back in July 2026, so there will be a $4 fee per person this year. This fee helps cover the reservation commitment and is separate from your dinner bill.

⚠️ STRICT NO-SHOW & LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATION POLICY

  • You must cancel at least 48 hours in advance if you can no longer attend.
  • Failure to cancel on time will result in an automatic strike.
  • 3 strikes = removal from the group.
  • Additional fees may apply at certain fine-dining restaurants because of reservation requirements.
  • The $4 event fee is non-refundable, including if you cancel or do not attend.

Thank you for understanding that restaurant reservations are a commitment. I want to keep organizing these special dining experiences, and that means respecting the restaurants and the time and effort involved in securing our tables. ❤️

💳 PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR THE $4 EVENT FEE
Option 1: Pay through Meetup

  • Pay by credit card through Meetup when you RSVP.
  • No PayPal account? Select “No PayPal / Guest” and use the guest checkout option if offered.

Option 2: Pay manually

If you pay manually through Venmo or Zelle, please make sure your payment includes your name so I can match it to your RSVP. Once your payment is received, I’ll add you to the event.

💵 BRING CASH FOR YOUR MEAL — NO SEPARATE CHECKS!
The Walnut Room cannot provide separate checks for our group. Please calculate your own food and drink total and add 32% to cover the estimated 12% tax and 20% tip.
For example, a $25 food and drink total comes to $33 with tax and tip.

Please bring enough cash to cover your own meal. The $4 event fee is paid separately in advance. Thanks for helping make the payment process easier for everyone!

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🕯️ ABOUT THE WALNUT ROOM
Opened in 1905, the Walnut Room is famous for being the first restaurant inside a department store. Its beautiful Circassian walnut paneling, Austrian chandeliers and festive holiday atmosphere make it a Chicago classic.

And who can forget the legendary Mrs. Hering’s Chicken Pot Pie? 🍗

The restaurant is steeped in history, nostalgia and holiday memories — a wonderful place to gather with friends and celebrate the season!

🌐 WALNUT ROOM WEBSITE & MENU
🍽️ View the restaurant’s menu and information here:
https://macysrestaurants.com/walnut-room/

Check the official website for the latest menu offerings and updated 2026 holiday dining information as our Black Friday dinner approaches. 🎄✨

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🎄 MAKE A DAY OF IT — HOLIDAY FUN DOWNTOWN!
Since it’s Black Friday, there’s plenty to enjoy before or after our meal!
✨ Explore Macy’s holiday decorations and window displays.
🎁 Browse the shops along State Street and the Magnificent Mile.
🎄 Visit the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza, which opens November 21.
📸 Take in the beautiful holiday lights and festive downtown atmosphere.

The Christkindlmarket walk before lunch is a separate event with a separate RSVP. Other activities are optional and are not included in the dinner RSVP. If another group outing is organized, please RSVP to that event separately.

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🚆 GETTING THERE — PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The Walnut Room is conveniently located inside Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.
🚇 CTA trains and buses serve the downtown area.
📱 CTA Trip Planner:
https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

🚗 DRIVING & PARKING
Black Friday means downtown traffic and parking can be busy, so please allow extra time!
Metered street parking may be available on Randolph, Monroe and nearby streets, but spaces are limited and restrictions vary.
💡 Parking tip: Compare garage rates and reserve in advance through:
🚘 SpotHero: https://spothero.com/
🚘 ParkWhiz: https://www.parkwhiz.com/
Please check parking signs carefully and allow enough time to reach Macy’s before our seating.

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📌 PLEASE KEEP YOUR RSVP CURRENT!
With only 20 spots available, I need an accurate headcount. Please RSVP only if you’re confident you can attend, and update your RSVP promptly if your plans change.

⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
❌ You must cancel at least 48 hours before the event if you can no longer attend.
❌ Failure to cancel within the required timeframe results in an automatic strike.
❌ 3 strikes = removal from the group.

💵 The $4 event fee is non-refundable.
📲 Please check in with the host when you arrive.
⚠️ Repeated no-shows may result in removal from the group.

🚫 Please remember: Paid events do not have an online waitlist. If you can’t attend, cancel promptly so I can manage the limited spots and reservation responsibly.

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🎅🎄 A LITTLE SPARKLE, A LITTLE NOSTALGIA — AND A WHOLE LOT OF HOLIDAY CHEER! 🎁🍽️

This is one of my favorite Chicago holiday traditions, and I’m thrilled to keep it going for the sixth year! Join our 1001 Meetup family for a memorable afternoon of good food, great company and Christmas magic beneath the Great Tree. ❤️✨

Only 20 seats — RSVP early if you’re sure you can make it! 🎄🥂

Related topics

Events in Chicago, IL
Eating & Drinking
Social
Holidays

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