Windy City Wanderers!

🍽️ BYOB Dinner at Lao Der with Yumi 🌿

📅 Thursday, May 21
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Lao Der (Laotian) 3922 N. Elston Ave, Chicago
📞 (872) 241-4879
👩‍🍳 Host: Yumi
🤝 Multi-Meetup Group Event!
Reservation under Yumi for 12 people

✨ Beyond Six Corners: Theatres, Bungalows & Portage Park Walking Tour 🎭

✨ “Discover the history, homes, and hidden gems of Portage Park’s east side!” ✨

🌳 Step into one of Chicago’s most charming and overlooked neighborhoods on this guided walking tour through East Portage Park! Beginning at the historic Six Corners intersection, we’ll wander past beautiful vintage theatres, lush parks, beloved local businesses, and block after block of classic early 20th-century bungalows. 🏡

Along the way, you’ll uncover stories of immigrant communities, neighborhood transformation, iconic local landmarks, and the rich history behind Chicago’s beloved Bungalow Belt — all right here in my own backyard! 💫

Come walk, learn, and enjoy a beautiful spring morning — the perfect way to explore the city, connect with fellow curious Chicagoans, and experience the Northwest Side through fresh eyes. 🌇

🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture lovers, local history buffs, urban explorers, and anyone who enjoys being a tourist in their own city 😊

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📍 LOGISTICS
🗓 Saturday, May 23, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM (approx.)
☕ Start: City News Café 4018 N. Cicero Ave
🏁 End: Biagio Banquets 4242 N. Central Ave
👟 Distance: Approx. 2 miles
⚠️ Tour ends approximately 1.2 miles from the starting point — please plan parking accordingly!

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✨ ABOUT THE TOUR
Join us for a special public walking tour of one of Chicago’s most underappreciated neighborhoods — Portage Park! This is Part 1 of a two-part series of Portage Park with this walk focusing on the East Side of the Portage Park neighborhood.
Presented in collaboration with Chicago for Chicagoans, a local nonprofit dedicated to educating residents about their own communities, this walk is open to the public — Meetup members, friends, and newcomers are all welcome!

🎸☀️ 41st Annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest: Kick Off Summer! 🎪🍹

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest: Live Bands, Food & Summer Vibes

The outdoor festival season is officially HERE—and we’re starting strong for our 2nd festival of the season! 🙌☀️Plus it is Memorial Day Weekend, so we are off on Monday!

Join us for the 41st Annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest, one of Chicago’s most beloved early-summer street festivals, taking over Sheffield Ave in the heart of Lakeview—just steps from the Belmont “L”! 🎶

Expect a full evening of live music, great food, cold drinks, and festival vibes as we hang out, explore, and catch some fantastic bands together. This is always a fun one!

💰 Free admission (suggested $10 donation—optional!)

⚠️ Note: This year we’re attending purely for fun—I will not be volunteering. The Chicago for Chicagoans crew will instead be volunteering at Taste of Randolph in June—so we’re all just here to enjoy the fest! 😎

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📍 LOGISTICS
📅 Sunday, May 24, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM (arrive on time—we’ll head in together!)
📍 Meet at: 3200 N Sheffield Ave
🎪 Festival runs along Sheffield Ave (Belmont → Roscoe), Lakeview
💰 Free admission | $10 suggested donation (not obligated!)

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🎪 WHAT TO EXPECT
🎶 Two stages of live music (tribute bands + local acts)
🍔 Great eats from local vendors
🍺 Beer, wine & summer drinks
🛍️ Artisan vendors & neighborhood businesses
💃 A lively, high-energy crowd to kick off festival season!

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🎵 SUNDAY BAND LINEUP (OUR GAME PLAN)
🎸 Main Stage (Sheffield & Roscoe)
12:30 PM — Generation Band ⏭️ (skip — too early)
2:00 PM — RAVIV – Electric Cellos ⏭️ (skip — too early)
4:00 PM — Petty Union ⏭️ (skip — too early)
6:00 PM — The Divas 🤔 (maybe — depends when we arrive)
8:00 PM — Hello Weekend ✅ (WE WILL SEE!)

🎤 Belmont Stage (Sheffield & Belmont)
12:30 PM — Bear & Jake Acoustic ⏭️ (skip — too early)
2:00 PM — Sucker Punch ⏭️ (skip — too early)
3:30 PM — My Weekend Crush ⏭️ (skip — too early)
5:00 PM — Rumor Hazit 🤔 (maybe — if we get there early)
6:45 PM — Chasing Rumours (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) ✅ (WE WILL SEE!)
8:30 PM — Mellencougar 🤔 (maybe — depending on energy level!)

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🎯 Game Plan for the Group
🎤 Chasing Rumours — 6:45 PM ✅
🎸 Hello Weekend — 8:00 PM ✅

🌟 FEATURED BANDS
🎤 Chasing Rumours (Fleetwood Mac Tribute)
A fan-favorite tribute bringing the timeless sound of Fleetwood Mac to life—expect all the classics, rich harmonies, and that unmistakable 70s vibe!
👉 https://www.facebook.com/chasingrumourschicago/

🎸 Hello Weekend
A high-energy cover band known for keeping the crowd dancing with a mix of party hits, throwbacks, and crowd favorites—perfect for closing out the night!
👉 https://www.helloweekendband.com/

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest is one of the first of scores of Windy City warm weather fests. Top local tribute bands on the main stage (near Roscoe), great eats, libations (beer and wine), artisans and a groovin’ second stage featuring local artists and entertainment are on tap for this iconic 41st annual happening. The fest’s second (aka ‘community’) stage, located on Sheffield at Belmont, will showcase an eclectic entertainment mix that includes deejay sets, cover bands, and other nifty local acts and performances.

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