Windy City Wanderers!

🌟 About the Bands
🎵 Serendipity
A Chicago-area pop/rock band known for blending beloved 60s, 70s, and 80s covers with current pop hits. They've been featured on live television, radio, and commercials — known for their high energy and sharp musicianship.
🎵 Serendipity — https://serendipityband.com/

🎸 7th Heaven
A true festival legend — 39 years in the business! 7th Heaven has charted #1 on the Midwest Billboard Charts three separate times and racked up 7 major radio hits. They've toured the U.K., Ireland, Greece, Amsterdam, Panama, Mexico, and across the U.S. Famous for their unforgettable "30 Songs in 30 Minutes" medley spanning the 70s and 80s — a can't-miss closer to the night!
🎸 7th Heaven — https://www.7thheavenband.com/

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🏛️ A Brief History of the Taste
The Taste of Park Ridge has deep community roots. It was founded in 2000 by the late Harry O'Brien (former Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce Executive Director), Dave Iglow (owner of Pine's Menswear), and noted restaurateur Dean Patras — evolving from an earlier event called the "Taste of Uptown," originally created to enhance the neighborhood's traditional Summer Sidewalk Sale.

By 2005, the festival had grown popular with residents but was struggling to sustain itself financially and nearly folded. Newly elected Mayor Howard Frimark secured seed funding and asked founder Dave Iglow to assemble a volunteer management committee. In just seven weeks, that committee pulled off a fantastic civic celebration — and the Taste has thrived ever since, entirely run by non-compensated civic-minded volunteers from the Park Ridge community.

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What started as a sidewalk sale boost in the early 2000s has grown into one of the northwest suburbs' premier summer festivals — all powered by volunteers giving their time for free, year after year. That's a pretty great Chicagoland story. 🎉🍴

📱 Lost or late? Call 312-835-4259

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🚗 Getting There:
🚇 Transit (recommended — the festival is RIGHT at the Metra station!):
🚆 Metra UP-NW Line → Park Ridge Station, 100 S. Summit Ave. The festival booths line Summit Ave directly north of the station!
🚇 CTA Blue Line options:

• Jefferson Park stop → hop on CTA #68 Northwest Hwy bus toward Park Ridge
• Harlem stop → connect to Pace bus service into Park Ridge
• Cumberland stop → connect via Pace Routes 209 or 290

🚌 Pace Routes 209, 241, 290 and CTA Route 68 all serve the Park Ridge Metra station directly
🔗 Plan your trip: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/ or https://metra.com/

🚗 Driving & Parking:
🅿️ On-street parking available along Summit Avenue and Busse Highway on the north side of the tracks
🅿️ Parking lot at the southwest corner of Summit & Touhy Avenues
📱 Some lots use the PassportParking app — pay by phone instead of searching for a meter!
⚠️ Expect heavy congestion and limited parking near the festival itself — taking the train in is genuinely the easiest option for this one!

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📌 NO-SHOW POLICY:
❗ 3 no-shows without updating RSVP = 3-month freeze
⏰ Update RSVP by event start time — after that, message host directly
✅ Check in with the host upon arrival

🕘 Tentative Itinerary
10:30 AM – Meet & greet at Bowmanville's Gateway Garden entrance. Pick up your guidebook for a $10 donation (supports the BCO).
10:40 AM–3:30 PM – Self-guided tour of 30+ gardens using the official map (to be released in July).
3:30–5:00 PM – Optional post-walk gathering at a local favorite:
🍻 Half Acre Brewery — 2050 W. Balmoral Ave — https://halfacrebeer.com/
🍽️ Lady Gregory's — 5260 N. Clark St — http://www.ladygregorys.com/
🍝Calo Ristorante - 5343 N Clark St, - https://calorestaurant.com/

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🎉 What to Expect:
✅ 30+ lush residential & community gardens
🎨 Live art creation by visual artists
🎶 Local musicians & neighborhood specials
🌱 Ask-the-Master-Gardener table for expert plant advice
📸 Amateur Photography Contest — winning photo used in next year's promo!
🌼 Garden Party for participating gardeners and volunteers later that evening

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📍 Note: The walk does NOT end where we begin, so if you're driving, plan accordingly and check back for the finalized garden map.
🅿️ Street parking (metered + free) is available, but it can be tricky — allow extra time. Be mindful of permit signs.
🚇 Taking transit? Use CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps for the best route: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

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🔗 Stay tuned for the official garden map & final list of stops:
💻 https://bcochicago.org/garden-walk
📘 https://www.facebook.com/bcochicago

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⚠️ RSVP Policy Reminder:
❌ 3 no-shows without notice = 3-month RSVP restriction
⏰ Cut-off to change your RSVP = event start time
📲 If you arrive late or miss check-in, message the host directly

Let's soak in the summer blooms, connect with neighbors, and celebrate 26 years of this fantastic Chicago tradition! 🌼✨
— Giovina

🗺️ Route Map: https://tinyurl.com/3vu9f24r
🗺️ Route Map Part 2: https://tinyurl.com/4s4aczrh

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🌟 WHY OLD IRVING PARK?
Old Irving Park is often described as a "suburb within the city" — a peaceful, tree-lined enclave just seven miles from downtown that blends historic elegance with everyday livability.

The neighborhood began in the early 1870s when real estate developers laid out a planned community centered around a stop on the Chicago & North Western Railway. Designed to attract affluent residents seeking cleaner air and more space, it quickly became one of Chicago's earliest commuter suburbs. Grand homes lined Irving Park Boulevard, many built by prominent families who helped shape the area's early identity.
Originally named "Irvington" after author Washington Irving, the name was later changed to avoid confusion with another Illinois town.

The aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire accelerated the neighborhood's growth, as displaced families moved northwest in search of stability and opportunity. When the area was annexed into Chicago in 1889, new infrastructure — including paved streets, streetcar lines, water service, and fire protection — transformed it from a quiet suburb into a fully integrated urban neighborhood.

Today, Old Irving Park stands out for its remarkable preservation. Walking its streets feels like stepping through a timeline of Chicago architecture — from ornate Victorian mansions and Queen Anne homes to Craftsman residences and early 20th-century bungalows. Combined with its strong community spirit and leafy streetscapes, it remains one of the city's most distinctive and livable historic neighborhoods. 🏡🌳

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📸 Not a dedicated photo walk, but you'll definitely want your camera!

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💟 WHAT TO BRING
👟 Comfortable walking shoes
💧 Water bottle
🌤️ Weather-appropriate attire
💰 $20 tour fee (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo & PayPal accepted)

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🍽️ OPTIONAL POST-WALK HANGOUT
Stick around after the tour and join us for a drink or bite at:
🍺 Eris Brewery and Cider House — right where the tour ends!

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🚇 GETTING THERE
🚇 CTA Blue Line & multiple bus routes nearby — use the CTA Trip Planner or Google Maps
🚗 Metered parking on Irving Park Rd, Keeler & Pulaski
⚠️ Watch for permit parking on side streets

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📱 LOST OR RUNNING LATE?
Call or text (312) 835-4259 and I'll point you in the right direction!

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⚠️ NO-SHOW POLICY
😬 3 no-shows without updating your RSVP = 3-month event ban
⏰ Update your RSVP before the event starts; after that, message the host directly
🚫 Continual no-shows = removal from the group

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🧭 Come discover where grand Victorian mansions, railroad history, hidden gems, and Chicago's immigrant heritage come together — and experience Old Irving Park in a whole new way! 🏡💎🌳