CTA Green Line: Harlem Station
Harlem Station is the western terminus of the Green Line.Find schedules here.
North Blvd. & Marion: METRA Oak Park Station
METRA Union Pacific West Line: Oak Park StationFind schedules here.
1026 W. North Ave.: The Beer Shop
BeerShop features 16 lines of revolving beer on tap and over 250 different packaged beers. Packaged beer can be consumed at our shop or taken take home. They also serve a limited amount of cider, wine, non-alcoholic beverages & coffee, merchandise including hats, beanies, shirts, hoodies and gift cards. There is not a kitchen, but guests are encouraged to order food for delivery from restaurants nearby and carry-in.https://www.beershophq.com/#home-section
1028 W. North Ave: Pumpkin Moon
From the Pumpkin Moon Website: "Specializing in eclectic and whimsical toys and gifts, Pumpkin Moon is the place for good time stuff for all ages. The always refreshed inventory includes toys, mugs, books, tin signs, magnets, and cards. There is an incredible stock of T-shirts along with reproductions of vintage items.Everyone will find something to love among the large array of old-time candy and wind-up tin toys. Prices are realistic, starting at five cents, with a wonderful selection of great gifts for adults and children. The best place to find: Superheroes, pop culture figures and more of all your favorite characters. Stop by today and start smiling!"
Downtown Oak Park: Lake and Harlem
There are several commercial areas in Oak Park but the one at the intersection of Lake St. and Harlem Ave. is generally considered to be "downtown". It's where in the 20's Marshall Field's, Weiboldts, and Carson Prarie Scott had their suburban stores. Today it's home to numerous small boutiques, restaurants, offices, and homes. The Green Line elevated train ("EL") terminates here and it's the first express stop of the Burlington Northern West line. Being so close to the City of Chicago and being tied to it through the rails makes Oak Park not quite urban and not quite suburban. Because of its proximity to Chicago, starting in the 1960s Oak Park deliberately chose to welcome all families from the city looking for a place in the suburbs.Find a brief history of Oak Park here.
1129 Lake St.: Target
Every town needs a Target!
106 N. Marion St.: Lea French Street Food
Lea is the passionate love child of the the bi-cultural couple Nicolas Caulliez and Colleen Wagner-Caulliez. After living in France they decided to bring French food and sensibilities to the Midwest. Learn more about their story here."We have worked to adapt our traditional French recipes to the local ingredients. We have amazing farmers and artisan ingredients right here in the Midwest! Our menu recipes are simple with the intent of allowing each ingredient to shine."
1045 Lake St.: Book Table
The Book Table has been "Fiercely Independant since 2003".In the words of the owners Rachel and Jason:"You learn really quickly when you own a retail store that you can't be everything to every person, but we like to think that we try especially hard, and that we're more successful at more things than your average store. We have the most exciting new releases at discount prices. We have quality used books. We have great publisher's overstock, and we do just about every other legal thing you can imagine to stock great titles at even better prices. After working in seven different bookstores between the two of us over the years, we learned a lot of secrets on how to get the best books and sell them at the best prices, so we do just that. Also, if we don't have a book in stock, we'll happily special order it--and even most special orders will be offered to you at a 20% discount, and it generally only takes a few days. So stop in and give us a challenge. "708-386-9800mail@booktable.net1045 Lake Street Oak Park, IL 60301
1022 Lake St: Lake Theater
At the Lake Theater in the 80's "all seats were always $1.00" but that was before they split the enormous theater into multiple smaller theaters. The Lake has and will be a part of Downtown Oak Park for many years.Programing information here.
167 Forest Ave.: Austin Gardens
Austin Gardens is sometimes referred to as "The Secret Garden" as it is tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood just North of all the hustle and bustle of Lake Street. Woodland plant life and mature trees shelter Austin Gardens from the urban life that surrounds it, offering a valued respite for those that live and work nearby. According to the Park District tree identification program, there are currently 285 trees in Austin Gardens located within its minimal 3.64 acre boundary.In September 2015, the Park District of Oak Park began construction of a 2,100 square foot multi-use “Environmental Education Center” which hosts children’s nature day camps, environmental education programs for adults and children and other community events. The Center opened to the public on June 11, 2016 and is accessible during Park District programs and events.The Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center is a LEED Platinum certified facility. It is also on the list of Illinois' 200 Great Places by the Illinois chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Learn more here.In the summers the Oak Park Festival Theater produces plays in the park.
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio & Forest Avenue
To fully experience the beauty and richness of this magnificent street, please take my walking tour entitled: "Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park" available at PocketSights.com
Lake St: Oak Park Public Library
James W. Scoville helped establish a Pastor’s Library room at First Congregational Church (now First United Church) next door to the current Main Library building at 834 Lake St. Eventually this library moved into a room in a frame building on Lake Street near Harlem Avenue. Scoville announced he would donate money for construction of a library building. The cornerstone of the Scoville Institute was laid at 834 Lake St. in 1886. The building, completed two years later, was a private subscription library until 1902, when Oak Park voters approved a tax to fund a public library.Today the library continues to be a central part of the community. "Our library embraces a turning outward approach. This is an intentional process, a stance, for listening to and learning about our community. It also means we make the choice to ground library work in the community’s shared aspirations.Since 2014, we have turned outward, listening, learning, and acting on feedback from library patrons, governmental peers, community members, and community partners. All have shared their hopes, dreams, and emerging concerns. Through continued conversation, shared aspirations in Oak Park include literacy, education, diversity, inclusion, equity, empathy, health, safety, and affordability." - Library Director, David Seleb
Lake and Oak Park Aves.: Scoville Park
The tradtional home of Day In Our Village.
845 Lake St.: Unity Temple
When I first moved to Oak Park I looked forward to seeing Wright's masterpiece, Unity Temple. At first I was sorely disappointed. I felt it too closely resembled the post office next door. It wasn't until I wandered inside (you could do that 40 years ago!) that I truly understood why this magnificient space is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I've since grown to appreciate the exterior but my heart still belongs to the interior. I encourage you to view the building to see for yourself. Buy tickets here.Some history from the Unity Temple Website.In 1905, the original building was struck by lightning and destroyed. It was resolved immediately that the group would rebuild, and the architect was chosen from within the congregation. His name: Frank Lloyd Wright, nephew of the great Universalist preacher and social reformer Jenkin Lloyd Jones. His design embodied the spiritual vision of the Unitarian Transcendentalists. Among these bold and prophetic voices in religion and society were Emerson, Margaret Fuller, William Ellery Channing and Theodore Parker.There is no steeple pointing up to a "God-Out-There" in the distant heavens. Instead, you find a remarkable sacred space, a temple that stands foursquare, where no one is more than forty-five feet from the pulpit, where the congregation can see each other, and where all are invited to look into other human faces and find divinity there.View the video to appreciate the renovation of this historic structure and Wright's design concepts.
136 N. Oak Park Ave.: Mulatta Kitchen
From their website:OPEN NOW!A Mulata is a beautiful, unique, and exotic blend of people, cultures, nations, ethnicities, and languages.Our founder, Cristiane Pereira (a proud Brazilian Mulata herself), has created a welcoming space to serve the very diverse community that we have here in Oak Park. Visit us and enjoy our creative menu of soups, salads, empanadas, gourmet sandwiches, and of course fan favorite items that we have brought over from our last venture at Taste of Brasil! We also offer our very own customized blends of coffees highlighting regions of Brazil that are perfect for your morning jot to the train, or your afternoon break. We can't wait to see you!https://www.mulatakitchen.com/
100 N. Oak Park: The Irish Shop
For a touch of Ireland you must visit The Irish Shop!Not only is it a great source for Irish woolens, linnen, caps, hats, and tableware, but if you go on a Friday morning the owner sells freshly baked scones and Irish soda bread that is to DIE FOR!They also sell Irish foodstuff. Try the bangers... You'll never eat another Jimmy Dean's sauage again.More information here.
101 N. Oak Park Ave.: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services- Oak Park Office
While not exactly an historic site, it is where I practice my career in real estate. If I can help you buy or sell property in the Western Suburbs, please contact me at: (708) 488-9280 | KCrowell@BHHSChicago.com | https://www.bhhschicago.com/kevincrowellA little about me:Change Agent: As a real estate agent I help clients buy and sell homes. But really, I’m achange agent. I help people change their living situation to meet the changes in their lives. I help my clients make a change for the better.I listen to them, help them identify their needs, and work with them to profitability purchase or sell their home.Professional Background: For the 25 years I worked at the company I built, Asia Business Group, successfully selling high-tech products in Japan, the world’s most demanding market. My work there required a close attention to detail, superior customer service, exacting quality, and continuous improvement. Working in Japan taught me the importance of target marketing and the value of product differentiation so my clients could stand out in a crowded marketplace.To build a thriving business I developed lasting relationships with my clients. I listened to them. I asked questions until I could negotiate and effectively communicate their needs to their business partners in a way that would be understood and ultimately accepted.These are the same skills I use to bring buyers and sellers together in a real estate transaction.
Oak Park and South Blvd: Green Line Oak Park Station
Find schedules here.
163 S. Oak Park Ave.: L!ve Cafe
L!ve Cafe is a coffee house/workspace tucked neatly into the Oak Park/Lake St. district.From their website:MissionTo innovate transformational event cafes as a place to enjoy quality coffee, and leverage the space as a means for inspiration towards courageous, authentic, and abundant L!VING!VisionL!VE will create a movement to pursue transformational excellence in all that we are, for ourselves, and on behalf of one another. This movement will ultimately comprise:*Multiple free standing Transformational Event Cafes *A Social Enterprise component that provides opportunities for training in Leadership, Life Coaching, and Entrepreneurship that emphasizes supporting budding entrepreneurs *Service and volunteer opportunities that emphasize the support of emerging leaders *Consulting Services for ministries, NPOs, and companies who seek support in the development of a “Launch to L!VE” Movement within their organizations *The facilitation of global mission opportunities for transformation *A global goods program that offers local entrepreneurs retail space that creates profit generation both for L!VE and for small business owners, both locally and globallyLocationOur intentional location in Chicagoland’s Oak Park community, amidst the Hemingway District & a neighbor to the Austin community, the largest of 77 neighborhood in Chicago, makes us a primary choice for a destination coffee experience with a local community presence.163 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302
1042 Pleasant: Carnivore
Local butcher shop and restaurant.Find more information here.
217 Home Ave: Pleasant Home & Mills Park
Pleasant Home is considered one of the earliest and most distinguished examples of Prairie School Architecture in the nation and is operated by the Pleasant Home Foundation as a living museum, which is open to the public and offers a year-round schedule of educational programs, community events and festivals and cultural performances. Pleasant Home was designed in 1897 by noted architect George W. Maher for investment banker and philanthropist John W. Farson and his wife Mamie Ashworth Farson. The design of Pleasant Home broke with the traditional Queen Anne and colonial revival styles of most of the homes in Oak Park. The simplified massing of Farson’s house, its broad front porch, the smooth surfaces of Roman bricks and stone, and the use of decorative motifs to unify the interior decoration and furnishings mark it as an outstanding Prairie Schoolhouse.The 30-room architectural gem is a showcase of 19th-century craftsmanship and artistry, with rich custom woodwork throughout the location, extraordinary art glass windows, a massive fireplace, intricate woodcarvings, and tile work.Pleasant Home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. That same year, it was included in the Illinois Historic Structures Survey. In 1996, the National Park Service made Pleasant Home a National Historic Landmark and the Village of Oak Park named it one of the first Oak Park Landmarks.Tour information here.
