Oak Park Attractions

 

Oak Park Tourism

A great starting place for anyone looking to visit Oak Park.  Check out their Events Page for featured and upcoming events!

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust's Mission Statement: "The mission of the Trust is to engage, educate and inspire the public through interpretation of Frank Lloyd Wright’s design legacy and preservation of his original sites for future generations." (About Us).  Explore information on Wright's life & works online or in-person, and check out upcoming adult programs, youth & family programs, school & teacher programs, and the general calendar of events.

Ernest Hemingway Birthplace & Museum

The Museum: "Just a short walk from the birthplace, housed inside the Oak Park Arts Center, the Ernest Hemingway Museum is host to permanent and temporary exhibits that explore the author's life. Kiosks fashioned from historic doors hold exhibits of rare photos and artifacts, including Hemingway's childhood diary and the famous letter from nurse Agnes von Kurowsky-later portrayed in A Farewell to Arms-terminating their engagement. Special exhibits highlight Hemingway's love of nature and the arts, along with his involvement in both World Wars and the movies. Other exhibits include The Eye of the Writer, Picturing Hemingway, and Hemingway and the Arts. A museum bookshop features books by and about the author, gift items, videos and posters." (About Page)

The House: "Hemingway's Birthplace is a good place to begin to explore the roots of the author's life and art. Here Ernest was born in a second floor bedroom on July 21, 1899. This Queen Anne house, built by his maternal grandparents and recently restored, is as it was when Ernest lived there. Young Ernest spent his first six years in these grand rooms rich with Victorian decor." (About Page)

The Oak Park Conservatory

"Owned and operated by the Park District of Oak Park, the Conservatory carries the distinction as one of the top three historical sites in Oak Park drawing up to 30,000 visitors annually.  Staff and volunteers grow an astounding 20,000 bedding plants from seeds and cuttings annually that are planted at 90 public parks and sites throughout the village." (About)

Cheney Mansion

"Cheney Mansion, reminiscent of a gracious English country home, was designed in 1913 by Charles E. White, Jr., a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. This 12,000-square-foot mansion boasts many handsome reception rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and separate servants' quarters. The two acres of beautifully landscaped grounds also include a coach house and greenhouse. These showcase gardens include a kitchen and cutting garden with an espalier fence, a woodland walk, and the great lawn for picnics." (About Us) Check out their event calendar via the Park District of Oak Park!

Pleasant Home

"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." (About Us) Check out their event calendar!

Local Businesses in Oak Park

 

Sugar Beet Food Co-op

"Sugar Beet Food Co-op has been in the works by owners of the community since the beginning of 2012. A group of folks from northeast Oak Park came together and decided that Oak Park and surrounding communities needed something new: a full-service, co-op grocery store that would provide a neighborhood source for local, sustainable, healthy foods and a way of connecting farmers and producers to their customers.

But, we didn't stop there. Throughout a three year journey guided by many leaders and a strong board of directors, Sugar Beet Food Co-op has engaged the surrounding communities by participating in neighborhood events, by hanging out with folks at the Oak Park Farmers' Market, by meeting with individuals, organizations, and businesses, and by facilitating food growing, learning, sharing, and eating events. Sugar Beet Food Co-op is leading the Good Food Movement in our area." (About Page)

Lake Street & Downtown Oak Park

 

Winberie's

"Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar is located at the Southwest corner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street, in the historic Scoville Square building (National Register). Built in 1905 by the Scoville family—the founding family of Oak Park—and designed by EE Roberts, Scoville Square is rich in architectural detail as well as history. One of the few examples of Prairie-style architecture applied to commercial buildings, this structure is the cornerstone of Oak Park’s Avenue Lake Commercial Center." (About Page)

Maya Del Sol

"Maya Del Sol is a Latin-fusion restaurant located in Oak Park, Illinois that features cuisine from South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Spain and Mexico, alongside an innovative cocktail selection. Hospitality is of the utmost importance at Maya Del Sol. Our goal is to provide warm, attentive and professional service to all of our guests. We hope to create lasting, genuine relationships by making every visit a memorable and enjoyable experience. With a guest-centric approach to hospitality and dining, Maya has enjoyed tremendous success in Oak Park since opening in October, 2007. We are grateful to be in a vibrant, welcoming, and supportive neighborhood and look forward to continued success" (About Page)

Prairie Bread Kitchen

"In 2009 Doran Payne, former Chef of Rhapsody Restaurant bought Prairie Bread Kitchen, ideally located in the heart of downtown Oak Park’s Marion Street. Doran always envisioned having a café-bakery where he could craft fresh, seasonal foods that could simply be enjoyed everyday. Prairie Bread Kitchen has been a loyal part of the community for over 15 years. In keeping with the original vision of Prairie Bread Kitchen, Doran set out to maintain everything you love about the café and create new offerings to enhance your overall experience." (About Page)

George's Restaurant

Established in 1984, George's Family Restaurant & Pancake House is a local gem.  Family owned & operated, it caters to the breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner crowds!

Lake Street Theater

Run by Downers Grove business, Classic Cinemas, the Lake Street Theater shows all of the latest films as well as hosts a variety of events and special features.  See Classic Cinemas' Special Events page for more information.

Lake Street Kitchen + Bar

"Lake Street Kitchen + Bar is located in the heart of downtown Oak Park, and features eclectic dining and a full bar with artisan cocktails, global wines, and a large variety of local and craft brews in a relaxed atmosphere."  (About Us)

The Buzz Cafe

"Founded in 1998 by Laura and Andrew Maychruk, Buzz Café is a place that IS Oak Park.  We believe good food, community and family are the ties that bind, and the café embodies those ideals wholeheartedly. For the past 15 years Buzz Café has been a vibrant part of the Oak Park Arts District showcasing local art and music, serving as a community center and serving delicious food and coffee! Specializing in locally sourced, organic, vegan and vegetarian foods as well as fair trade coffees from around the world, Buzz Café has become an Oak Park tradition."  (Main Page)

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