Oak Park

We don’t have any official reports or scientific evidence to back it up, but it seems as if most celebrities who were born and/or raised in the Chicago area are from Oak Park. Take a quick look at Oak Park’s Wikipedia page (see, we’re not talking official here), and the list of notable people from the just-outside-the-city ’burb includes Betty White, Kathy Griffin, Ludacris, Peter Sagal, John Mahoney and many more. But when you spend an afternoon in the charming suburb, there are only two famous former residents to be concerned about: Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. Join the other design and literary pilgrims and spend a spring afternoon learning more about Oak Park’s most famous sons.

Noon–1:30pm
Oak Park is just ten miles from the Loop, so it doesn’t take much of a trek to get here (the Green and Blue Lines, as well as Metra, all make stops in the ’burb) At the intersection of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street (about a block from the Oak Park Metra stop), you’ll find a few Chico’s-esque boutiques. Unless you’re a fiftysomething woman with a penchant for flowy skirts and crinkled scarves, you won’t mind skipping the shopping on this street—Chameleon (130 N Oak Park Ave, 708-445-1175) skews younger and is trendier than its neighbors, even though its selection of Puma and Ben Sherman gear isn’t terribly exciting—and heading straight for the food. The Pasta Shoppe’s (116 N Oak Park Ave, 708-763-0600) back room and brick patio will remind you of hanging out on an Italian piazza, but since you’re here to enjoy Oak Park, order homemade pasta from the takeout counter up front and have a picnic in Scoville Park just up the street. The park is next to Oak Park’s main public library (834 Lake St, 708-383-8200), which includes a gallery on the second floor with work by local artists. May’s featured artist is Stephen Green, the official photographer for the Chicago Cubs for 26 years. The library also offers free tours of its permanent collection twice a month (the next one is scheduled for Saturday 2 at 1pm).

1:30–2:30pm
Once you’ve had your fun in the sun, eating in the park and checking out boutiques such as The Irish Shop (100 N Oak Park Ave, 708-445-1149) for all your, uh, Celtic needs, head down the street to the Ernest Hemingway Museum (200 N Oak Park Ave, 708-848-2222) and birthplace home (339 N Oak Park Ave). Eight bucks gets you admission to both venues, where you can view the The Old Man and the Sea author’s high-school report cards and other artifacts from his Oak Park upbringing—he lived in the ’hood through high school. Lit fans could easily spend a couple of hours here, but you can also cover a lot of ground in just 60 minutes.

2:30–3pm
Head back to Lake Street and walk west, where you’ll find indie bookstores such as Book Table (1045 Lake St, 708-386-9800) and the beloved Barbara’s Bookstore (1100 Lake St, 708-848-9140). This location of Barbara’s doesn’t seem to have as many events and author visits as its Old Town outpost once did (and the UIC location currently has) but is still worth browsing. The classic Lake Theater (1020 Lake St, 708-848-9088) has been showing films for more than 60 years, and you can always duck in for a $5.50 matinee of one of the mainstream movies showing on the cinema’s seven screens.

3–4:06pm
Save the best for last, because any excursion to Oak Park would not be complete without some Frank Lloyd Wright worship. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (951 Chicago Ave, 708-848-1976) is a must-visit for fans of architecture (and as Chicagoans, we’re all big fans, right?). The stunning, dark wood/light brick shingle-style home was where the famous architect came up with his legendary Prairie style (buildings characterized by nature-inspired elements, horizontal lines and low-pitched roofs). Save the guided tour ($15) for when your parents or other tourists are visiting, and instead explore the grounds and check out the gift shop. Finish your afternoon gawking at more Wright-designed homes by strolling the neighboring streets (especially Forest Avenue, just around the corner) and fantasize about living in one.

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