Meet new friends groups near Gurnee, IL

Добро пожаловать в группу для русскоязычных жителей Чикаго!

Присоединяйтесь и предлагайте ваши идеи где и когда встретиться! В этой группе мы: - Встречаемся в барах и ресторанах - Ходим в гости - Вместе отмечаем праздники - Помогаем друг другу - Переписываемся Если вы - Соскучились по русскоязычному общению - Ищете людей с родной культурой - Просто хотите завести друзей - вы попали по адресу. Любой челоек, живший в СНГ, найдет другей в нашей группе.

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This is a network of classy and savvy Russian-speaking people living in the suburbs of Chicago. If you are married, divorced, or single, please join the group to expand your social circle!

We have many Russian-American couples who are married or dating (Ladies, if your significant other is American, he will not be bored), we have married Russian couples and Russian single men and women as well. Join this club for inspiration, friendship, fun times and exciting social activities!  The dinners and events provide great opportunities for an evening of Russian food, culture, and conversation.

This group is also a great choice for accomplished and successful Russian professionals to connect and network. Escape from your busy life at least once a month to expand and enjoy your social circle by connecting with other fabulous Russian-speaking friends. 

We will be dining out, having picnics, enjoying outdoor activities and camping trips, speed boats, travel, birthday celebrations,  live music and entertainment, holiday celebrations, and so much more. The majority of the events are on weekends with occasional week night events on Fridays. Some events are combined with other groups for more mixing and mingling. Plenty of friendships to be made! 

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Guess what? SINGLE no longer means SOLITARY! Get off your computer and get into Real Life, with single FRIENDS eager to know you. You, as a welcomed and active member of this fun group, will now join activities, make friends, meet up, hang out, pick brains, get hugs, walk dogs, bring pets, enjoy cocktails, chow down, showcase talents, slow dance, accept compliments, pitch tents, suggest adventures, burn calories, share dreams, offer advice, travel everywhere, eat pizza, smile broadly, discuss books, laugh aloud, clean the highway, support our soldiers, hold benefits for pet and homeless shelters, shake hands, create ideas, clean up (OK, we may need your help SOMETIMES here!), and maybe even find love!

You'll also find we LOVE to travel! In groups of all sizes, on separate trips we've visited Puerto Rico, cruised the Caribbean 12 times (another coming every January!), beached it at gorgeous all-inclusive resorts all over Punta Cana and Mexico, and explore new and exciting countries in Europe for 10 nights every September (this year, Budapest, Prague & Krakow)! All our package deals are incredibly affordable, so forget about being an armchair traveler...pack your bag and let's GO!

By the way, our age group is almost entirely people in their 40s and 50s, and the age range we're including will be 38-65 years old. For those who do join, you'll need to have a real first name (no cutesy handles) and a profile here, and we suggest a photo too, as that's the best way to actually make new Single Friends!

Meet new friends and taste great wines!

Whether you are serious about wine or simply enjoy a relaxing glass, we welcome aficionados of all types. We meet 3-4 times per month and focus on both wine Education and Appreciation.

We host Wine Tastings, Wine Classes, Casual Get-Togethers, Fun Social Events, Winery Tours, Vineyard Trips, Wine Making Adventures and More!

We also have a diversely experienced group of Winemakers, so if you have ever thought about making your own wine but don't feel like spending the big bucks, we have already made the investment for you, and ferment four times per year.

Join our group today and let's get sipping!

Every summer (June-September) our city of Chicago hosts its annual Chicago SummerDance. The Chicago SummerDance has FREE ballroom dance lessons (swing, waltz, salsa, tango, etc.) and live music at the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park.

Come join us as we carpool from Vernon Hills to the city on weekends in the summer to learn new dances, meet new people and enjoy dinner on Michigan Avenue afterwards.

This meetup will be bringing events from highly trained tutors to assist with developmental mediumship at its finest!

Do you have a stack of unread books collecting dust on your night stand? Do you PIN books to your "Bookworm Pinterest Board" and that's as far as you get? Is 2018 your year to get out of your comfort zone and meet more people? Well, hot damn! this just may be the book club for you.

Take a break from the rat race and get back to more important things like: good conversation, laughter, women supporting women, dinner and drinks that contain alcohol (or not) completely your choice and of course, reading! Ladies, this is a no judgement zone... trust me, your only regret will be, "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

If you have the slightest interest in meeting new people, open to laughter and of course, fitting in more reading time in your busy life... I'd say, this group is for you!

This group is intended to bring like-minded women together. To welcome women that live in our community, who may be new to the area or who may be considering a move to Illinois. For any woman that simply wants to read a little more, laugh a little more and enjoy the company of human beings over social media. Because I know, I am not the only wine drinking, food loving, hopeful reader who is tired of texts, instant messenger and emails & desperately wants to do this the old-fashioned way, face to face.

Who's with me?! Go on then, push that "Join Group" button & let's get socializing!

Each month, let's collectively pick a book and try to find the time in our busy lives to read it. Not to worry, if your job gets crazy, the flu sneaks in or you just didn't like the book, we will still get together to discuss the parts of it we did read. Drinks, food & good company.  Start the beginning of your month stress free and form some new friendships as an added benefit. Quite a concept, hey? This is more about women supporting women and less about, there will be a quiz at the end of the book.     

Please don't misunderstand. You really should try to read the book. Reading is good for you. Reading encourages conversation. Conversation leads to friendship. Friendship leads to fun. See how that works?  Read The Book. Make the time.  At the very least, have an extra glass of wine & be open in discussion.  There's no judgement here. Above all, be courteous and really mean it when you RSVP. There is work that goes into reserving the location and count expected.

Have social location ideas or input as to how our events could be greater events?  Please share!  I encourage a collaborative effort! Here's to future conversations, friendships & fun!  - Lora

Don't have kids?  Don't have pets?  We are your people!

Tired of friends who can never do anything, or stay out longer than a few hours because they have to get home to their kids and/or pets?  Or maybe just tired of them always talking about either their kids or their pets!  😆

Here is your chance to finally meet people like you who could decide right now to go to Brazil.  For a week. Tonight.  (finances aside)  Or something as simple as Milwaukee for the day.  Or friends that can actually commit to your Saturday night dinner party without having to wait until an hour before to tell you if they will have a sitter or not.  (And they think that is NORMAL!)  😑

I'm thinking travel, dinner parties, weekend trips, wine trails, bar crawls, bad movie nights, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and of course VEGAS BABY!

Join now and give us your suggestions!  😎

Buckette Club is a new idea that I would like to try out with two or three small groups of women who live in Grayslake. My idea is to "Re-invent book club and invent your life!"

Are you visiting Meet-Up hoping to find a group of new friends that, over time, will become wonderful old friends who understand you, support you, and encourage you to live your best life? If you are interested in making the most of the rest of your life, filling it to the brim with the "good stuff", broadening your horizons, learning new things, trying out interesting hobbies, and planning it all in the comfy, laughter-filled presence of other optimistic women, please join us!

This will, of course, involve delicious food and drinks; wine and appetizers, coffee and cake, nachos and beer...whatever floats your boat!

I have written a book called "Buckette Club" which gives a basic outline on how to start your club, and then provides lists of ideas for your bucket list that you can score and discuss. Visiting Venice, going to a Bears game, learning how to crochet, going strawberry picking this summer. The lists are just a jumping off point. Maybe you've always wanted to go blueberry picking instead! Or go on a safari! Conversations can go in any direction. You can all share your experiences, ideas and information.

I would like to provide the books free of charge in hopes that you will give me honest feedback about your group's experience. Have you ever wanted to be a guinea pig, beta tester, or focus group member? If so, please join us so that you can cross that experience off your bucket list! The secret sauce to this idea is "encouragement". Not only are you building your own list, you are going to be listening carefully and encouraging your friends to pursue their own dreams!

Depending on who responds and their schedule preferences, these groups could meet during the day or evening. I would love to attend your first get-together at a restaurant, but eventually you may prefer to take turns hosting at your houses.

There are a few things that may dissuade you from joining:
- Club meetings are meant to be a time of fun and relaxation and must be run with the following caveat: "No complaining." (Whining, crabbing, etc.) This is not the place to talk about your latest diet, how badly you need to go to the gym, how your kids are driving you crazy, or the nightmare that is your ex-husband's new wife. You get the idea...this is not your normal conversation/gripe club. If someone veers off into negativity, the others are encouraged to point this out and get the conversation back on track to fun!
- Has anyone ever called you a Negative Nancy or a Debbie Downer? Then this group may not be for you.
- If you need to be cajoled into participating or exhibiting enthusiasm for other people's interests, this group may not be for you.

I will pay the meet-up fees for six months while we see how this goes. I've noticed that a lot of meetups draw from very large geographical areas and I definitely believe that these groups should be more local. Long-term friendships, the kind where you can call up and meet for coffee on a moment's notice are easier when you live in the same community. Grayslake is the first place I'd like to start, but then I would love to have other groups try the idea out in other NW suburban towns.

If you think you "get it" and would like to start a group with some women you already are friends with I can provide you with books. I have printed 100 to give away...first come, first served!

The "No Flake Policy" is particularly important to these small groups. Pleeease don't sign up and take up one of the spaces if you are not going to follow through and attend the first few meetings. Yep, I called it a meeting because if you are asked to drive car pool, or invited to a Tupperware party, it's much easier to say, "I can't. I have a meeting that night" than to say you're going out with friends. In reality, it should bear very little resemblance to a meeting! :-)

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: bucketteclub@gmail.com

Thanks for your interest!