Skip to content

Details

🎅🎄 6TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY DINNER UNDER THE GREAT TREE AT THE WALNUT ROOM #2! 🎁🍽️

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

🚨🎄 IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ BEFORE RSVP’ING! 🎄🚨
ONLY SIGN UP FOR THIS DECEMBER 16 DINNER IF YOU COULD NOT GET A SPOT FOR BLACK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27!
If you’re already signed up for the Black Friday dinner, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS EVENT. Let’s give others who couldn’t get in the first time a chance to enjoy this special holiday tradition, too! ❤️🎅🎁
Thank you for helping keep things fair for our Meetup family!

Let’s keep the holiday magic going 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! If you couldn’t get a spot at our Black Friday dinner or were out of town, here’s your second chance to join us!

🎉 PART 2: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2026, AT 5:15 PM!
The holiday decorations will be in full swing, making downtown Chicago the perfect place to soak up the Christmas magic.

✨ The Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza is also open during the holiday season, so you can enjoy the festive atmosphere and seasonal treats before or after dinner.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: ONLY 12 SPOTS AVAILABLE!
I couldn’t get my usual 40 spots this year, so we’re limited to just 12 guests at one big table reservation.
😢 Please RSVP only if you’re 100% sure you can attend!
🚫 There is NO online waitlist for paid events. If this event fills up, keep an eye out for an opening or check out my separate Walnut Room dinner on Friday, November 27, 2026.

***

🍽️ DINNER DETAILS
📅 Wednesday, December 16, 2026
🕔 5:15–7:15 PM
📍 The Walnut Room at Macy’s
111 N. State Street, Chicago, IL 60602
👥 Limited to 12 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 secured our restaurant reservation with a credit card hold back in July 2026, so there is 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 their 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 guest checkout if offered.

Option 2: Pay manually

If you pay manually through Venmo or Zelle, please include your name so I can match your payment 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!

***

🕯️ 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
🍽️ https://macysrestaurants.com/walnut-room/
Check the official website for the latest menu offerings and holiday dining information. 🎄✨

***

🎄 MAKE A DAY OF IT — HOLIDAY FUN DOWNTOWN!
✨ Explore Macy’s holiday decorations and window displays.
🎁 Browse the shops along State Street and the Magnificent Mile.
🎄 Visit the Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza.
📸 Enjoy the beautiful holiday lights and festive downtown atmosphere.
Other activities are optional and are not included in the dinner RSVP. Any separately organized group outing requires its own RSVP.

***

🚆 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
Downtown traffic and parking can be busy during the holiday season, 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.

***

📌 PLEASE KEEP YOUR RSVP CURRENT!
With only 12 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
❌ 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.

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

***

🎅🎄 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 holiday dinner with good food, great company, and Christmas magic beneath the Great Tree. ❤️✨

🎄 Only 12 seats — RSVP early if you’re sure you can make it! 🥂

Related topics

Events in Chicago, IL
Eating & Drinking
Social
Holidays

You may also like