What we’re about
The Windy City Wine+ Meetup is a group of friends who enjoy wine, food, spirits and social activities throughout Chicagoland. We're primarily based in the city but will take excursions from time to time in search of new venues & events. However, we are more than just wine tastings & festivals with lots of varied events!
Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions. As of 9/10/23, I have taken over this group from Tom Besore as he moved out of state. I will continue with the weekly wine meetups in the summer at Millenium Park as we all love those gatherings. I will add a lot of year-round events like dinners with wine pairings, wine classes, wine tastings, wine festivals and maybe an out-of-town trip to nearby vineyards in Michigan.
I run another meetup group called, 1001 Things to See In Chicago Before You Die since 2018 so I am an experienced organizer. We will do a lot of events together with our above sister group so please consider joining that in addition to the wine group. That group is extremely active with 4-5 events a week with all kinds of different events like walking tours, historical sites, museums, live music, festivals and unique experiences! Click here to join: https://www.meetup.com/1001-things-to-see-in-chicago-before-you-die/
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us via meetup.
Giovina Romandine (organizer for Windy City Wine+)
🍷 Swirl, Sip, Repeat: $10 Wine Tasting Wednesdays at Buzzed by ZEA 🍷
🗓️ Wednesday, July 23, 2025
🕔 5:00–8:00 PM (we will meet at 5:30 pm but can come earlier)
📍 Buzzed by ZEA Salon & Bar – 3707 N Halsted St, Chicago
💰 Only $10
Unwind midweek with a relaxed and fun wine tasting experience hosted by the always engaging Michael Roberts, expert sommelier and chocolatier! For just $10, you’ll enjoy generous pours of up to 6 wines from around the globe—plus the chance to purchase your favorites (most bottles under $25). 🍷🍫
✨ Highlights:
- Casual, walk-around format—perfect for after work
- No food pairings, but chocolates are for sale 🍫
- Several lite bites/charcuteries available for purchase 🍴
- All wines 🛍️ are available for purchase at discounted prices
- Great way to sample new wines and discover hidden gems
- Ideal for both newbies and wine nerds alike—Michael keeps it fun and informative!
- 🥂 Stay afterward if you’d like to grab a bite nearby—there are plenty of great options
🍽️ Buzzed by ZEA doesn’t serve food, but we’ll grab dinner nearby afterward for anyone interested.
💬 If you love Michael’s Wine Classes but can’t always make the big month-end sessions, this is your chance to experience his magic in a more casual, weekly Wednesday night setting—still fun, still informative, but more low-key. No food pairings, just great wine and great company!
🚫 No wine snobs here! Michael keeps things educational, approachable, and super enjoyable for all levels
***
📍 Venue Vibe:
Buzzed by ZEA Salon & Bar is a stylish neighborhood spot—a hybrid hair salon + craft cocktail bar where you can sip, socialize, and savor. During the day, it’s a salon; by night, the music goes up and the vibe turns lounge-y! Chic, cozy, and lively, it’s the perfect midweek escape.
More info:
🔗 Buzzed by ZEA Website
🔗 Facebook Page
🔗 Michael’s Chocolate & Wine Classes – Divine Dales
***
🚗 Getting There:
🚇 Easy by CTA: Use CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
🚘 Driving? Metered parking on Halsted + limited free parking on side streets. Check signs carefully!
🅿️ For best parking: use SpotHero or ParkWhiz
***
⚠️ RSVP & No-Show Policy:
🚫 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month RSVP freeze
⏰ Cut-off to update RSVP = event start time
📲 Missed check-in? Message the host directly
❌ Repeated no-shows = removal from the group
***
🍷 Come solo or bring a friend—Michael always makes it a great night. Whether you’re wine curious or wine obsessed, this is the perfect way to ease into summer Wednesdays!
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.
***
📅 WHEN:
Every Wednesday (weather permitting)
🎵 Music begins at 6:30 PM
⏰ We start gathering around 5:45 PM
Note: 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.
***
📍 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.
***
🛍️ 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! 🎶🍷🌿✨
- 🍽️ BYOB Dinner at Bina’s Place with Yumi (Balkan Food) 🌿Bina's Place, CHICAGO, IL
🍽️ BYOB Dinner at Bina’s Place with Yumi 🌿
Balkan Food📅 Friday, July 18, 2025
🕕 6:00 PM (please be prompt—they close at 8 PM!)
📍 Bina's Place – 2210 W Touhy Ave, Chicago
Host for this Meetup: Yumi
Multi-Meetup group event!
🌐 Yelp | 🌐 Website***
🌳 Dining outdoors (weather permitting)
🌧️ If it rains, we'll move indoors***
⚠️ Pre-Order Request
Bina's asked us to share orders in advance since:
✅ We’re a big group
✅ It’s summer and they may have limited menu items
🗓️ Please comment or message me your order by Wednesday 7/16/25 – Thank you!***
🍷 BYOB
✅ Bring wine or beer to share
✅ Don’t forget a corkscrew just in case!***
💵 CASH ONLY for Group Checks
✅ No separate checks
✅ Please bring cash
✅ Add 32% to your total (12% tax + 20% tip)
❌ Credit cards are too complicated for large groups—help us keep it easy!***
🚇 GETTING THERE
🚌 Use CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps for transit
🚗 Driving? Try SpotHero or ParkWhiz for parking deals. Metered street parking is also available nearby.***
🚫 NO-SHOW POLICY
• RSVP or update by event start time
• 3 no-shows = 3-month RSVP restriction
• Always check in with the host—especially for large groups!***
✨ We hope to see you then!
Please RSVP, pre-order, and come hungry. Let’s make it a fun summer dinner!Thanks,
Yumi - 🏛️ 🚶♀️ Gilded Age Glamour: Prairie Avenue Architecture & History Tour✨Digital Realty Chicago ORD10 (Former RR Donnelly & Sons Plant), Chicago, IL
🏛️ 🚶♀️ Gilded Age Glamour: Prairie Avenue Architecture & History Tour ✨
Stroll through one of Chicago’s most historic neighborhoods on this guided walk exploring Prairie Avenue’s Gilded Age mansions, landmark churches, and architectural gems. Discover stories of Chicago’s elite, industrial might, and stunning design in a district that defined the city’s rise.
***
📅 Saturday, July 19, 2025
🕚 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Start: RR Donnelly & Sons Plant 350 E Cermak
🎯 End: Chess Records, 2120 S Michigan Ave, (~3 blocks away from start)
💥 Cost: $20 per person (paid at start — Cash, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo accepted)
🚶♀️ Distance: Approx. 1.5 miles outdoors
⚠️ Note: The walk ends about 3 blocks from where we start. Plan parking accordingly—it’s an easy walk back if you park in between.
***
🚶♂️ What to Expect
✅ ~1.5 miles of relaxed outdoor walking
✅ Gilded Age mansions & landmark churches
✅ Chicago industrial & business history
✅ Surviving architecture from Prairie Avenue’s golden era
✅ Stories of Pullman, Armour, Field & other Chicago titans📸 While not a formal photo walk, there will be plenty of incredible architecture and historic spots to snap!
Multi-meetup groups will be attending!
Led by an official, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable guide (that’s me!), this tour will trace Prairie Avenue’s journey from an 1800s frontier to Chicago’s “sunny street that held the sifted few,” packed with fascinating local history.
***
🏛️ Stops & Highlights
✨ Wheeler Mansion – 2020 S Calumet Ave
🏠 Harriet F. Rees House
🏛️ Marshall Field Jr. Mansion
🪑 Glessner House (exterior)
⚔️ Battle of Fort Dearborn Park
🌳 Chicago Women's Park & Gardens
🌳 The Battle of Fort Dearborn Park
🏠 Henry B. Clarke House (exterior)
🏭 RR Donnelley & Sons Plant
🚗 BF Goodrich Co Building
⛪ Second Presbyterian Church
🏛️ And more landmark homes & buildings!
***
🍽️ Optional After-Tour Bites & Drinks
After our walk, all are welcome to join for food or drinks at one of these nearby spots:
🍺 Fat Pour Tapworks
🍝 Il Culaccino
🍕 Williams Inn Pizza & Sports Bar
⚠️ Bring cash if joining for lunch—some places don’t do separate checks!
***
👟 What to Bring
✅ Good walking shoes
✅ Water
✅ Hand sanitizer
✅ Weather-appropriate clothing for a Chicago summer day
💵 Cost: $20 per person – please pay at the start of the tour (Cash, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo accepted)
***
🚗 Parking & Transit Tips
• Street parking on Calumet, Cermak, Indiana & side streets (watch permit signs)
• Remember: The Tour ends ~3 blocks from where we start, so plan parking accordingly
• Easy CTA access—check your route with the CTA Trip Planner
***
📌 RSVP & No-Show Policy
✅ Please keep your RSVP up to date.
✅ No-shows without updates make planning harder for everyone.
✅ Cutoff time to update your RSVP is the event start time.
***
Come experience the hidden history, Gilded Age architecture, and fascinating stories of Prairie Avenue on this guided summer morning walk.✨ Space is limited—RSVP now and join us for this unique neighborhood adventure! 🏛️🚶♀️✨
- 🍷 Swirl, Sip, Repeat: $10 Wine Tasting Wednesdays at Buzzed by ZEA 🍷Buzzed By ZEA - Salon & Bar, Chicago, IL
🍷 Swirl, Sip, Repeat: $10 Wine Tasting Wednesdays at Buzzed by ZEA 🍷
🗓️ Wednesday, July 23, 2025
🕔 5:00–8:00 PM (we will meet at 5:30 pm but can come earlier)
📍 Buzzed by ZEA Salon & Bar – 3707 N Halsted St, Chicago
💰 Only $10Unwind midweek with a relaxed and fun wine tasting experience hosted by the always engaging Michael Roberts, expert sommelier and chocolatier! For just $10, you’ll enjoy generous pours of up to 6 wines from around the globe—plus the chance to purchase your favorites (most bottles under $25). 🍷🍫
✨ Highlights:
- Casual, walk-around format—perfect for after work
- No food pairings, but chocolates are for sale 🍫
- Several lite bites/charcuteries available for purchase 🍴
- All wines 🛍️ are available for purchase at discounted prices
- Great way to sample new wines and discover hidden gems
- Ideal for both newbies and wine nerds alike—Michael keeps it fun and informative!
- 🥂 Stay afterward if you’d like to grab a bite nearby—there are plenty of great options
🍽️ Buzzed by ZEA doesn’t serve food, but we’ll grab dinner nearby afterward for anyone interested.
💬 If you love Michael’s Wine Classes but can’t always make the big month-end sessions, this is your chance to experience his magic in a more casual, weekly Wednesday night setting—still fun, still informative, but more low-key. No food pairings, just great wine and great company!
🚫 No wine snobs here! Michael keeps things educational, approachable, and super enjoyable for all levels
***
📍 Venue Vibe:
Buzzed by ZEA Salon & Bar is a stylish neighborhood spot—a hybrid hair salon + craft cocktail bar where you can sip, socialize, and savor. During the day, it’s a salon; by night, the music goes up and the vibe turns lounge-y! Chic, cozy, and lively, it’s the perfect midweek escape.More info:
🔗 Buzzed by ZEA Website
🔗 Facebook Page
🔗 Michael’s Chocolate & Wine Classes – Divine Dales
***
🚗 Getting There:
🚇 Easy by CTA: Use CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
🚘 Driving? Metered parking on Halsted + limited free parking on side streets. Check signs carefully!
🅿️ For best parking: use SpotHero or ParkWhiz
***
⚠️ RSVP & No-Show Policy:
🚫 3 no-shows without updating = 3-month RSVP freeze
⏰ Cut-off to update RSVP = event start time
📲 Missed check-in? Message the host directly
❌ Repeated no-shows = removal from the group
***
🍷 Come solo or bring a friend—Michael always makes it a great night. Whether you’re wine curious or wine obsessed, this is the perfect way to ease into summer Wednesdays!
