A Weekend in Oak Park, Illinois
Comprised of only 4.5 square miles and bordered by Lake Street and Chicago, Oak Park and Harlem avenues, the suburb makes for a perfect afternoon stroll especially for those interested in historic homes. Several Victorian “painted ladies” and prairie style properties adorn the tree lined streets.
Located just ten miles West of Chicago, Oak Park offers suburban living with urban conveniences. Life-long resident Jack Burr knows that the community has a little bit of everything. “I like living here because I think it’s a pretty diverse place. It’s not too busy, but if you want a little hustle and bustle, you can head into Chicago.” Just as the big city offers public transportation, Oak Park can be accessed by taking the Green Line to its last stop, Harlem. Once in Oak Park, Pace buses can be utilized, but because of its size, your own two feet will do just fine. Weather in Oak Park is typical for its Midwest locale, displaying each of the four seasons to their fullest.
Due to its size, one would think that it would be difficult to miss anything, but since the little suburb is jam-packed with amenities, choosing the perfect stops before visiting is highly recommended. Fitting all of it into a weekend stay will never leave opportunities for down time. Thanks to the literary and architectural prominence of the city, getting insight on the genius that has made it great can be found inside many of its museums. An obvious first stop is at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Located at 951 Chicago Avenue, this work of art magnificently exhibits his Prairie Style architecture and is one of the 25 properties designed by Wright in Oak Park. From his studio and home, where he raised his six children during the first twenty years of his career, you can trek out into the village on a self-guided architectural tour. Following the exploration of Wright’s influence on the community, the Earnest Hemingway Museum, located just blocks away at 200 N. Oak Park Avenue, makes a perfect stop while heading towards the heart of Oak Park. Housed in a Church of Religious Science, kiosks formed from old doors serve as display cases for Hemingway memorabilia. The author’s childhood diary is included in the collection, as well as rare photos and early writings. Finally, for those with a green thumb, the Oak Park Conservatory at 615 Garfield Street, is blooming with all types of botanical wonders and as is common to all the places of interest in the suburb, it just can’t be passed up.
While Oak Park could keep you busy ogling over the architecture of its homes and buildings, the Chicago suburb also has a plethora of specialty boutiques geared toward just about any type. Antique stores, craft shops and the like are grouped amongst fancy restaurants and art galleries on Oak Park Avenue. The Irish Shop at 100 N. Oak Park Avenue glistens in the sunlight with its collection of fine crystal and just across the street at 111 North, the Lindsey Gallery features hand-crafted jewelry, including a line of sterling silver pieces entitled the Frank Lloyd Wright Collection.
For filling your belly after a long day of sight-seeing and shopping, Oak Park Avenue can satisfy your grumbling stomach. Its several restaurants and cafes serve almost every international cuisine imaginable. At Papaspiros Grecian Taverna, patrons gush over the traditional lamb dishes. Owner Sofia Papageorge is thankful to the customers who leave her 733 Lake Street restaurant happy and satisfied. “Because of our good food and ambience, we get a lot of people through word of mouth.”
In order to get a little more of a nightlife scene, The Avenue Ale House at 825 S. Oak Park aims to please. Featuring an American-style menu, full of the best cuts of steak and a full line of beer, this venue is perfect for those shy to new flavors. Jessica Scott, a seating hostess boasts that the live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays can draw quite the crowd. “Our roof-top bar and grill is somewhat like a beergarden and during the summer it’s one of the liveliest places in town.”
