Your Guide to Oak Park Apps

Apps are best when they're useful. Sprinkle in some local knowledge, and they become downright essential.

But with hundreds of thousands of choices in Apple's App Store and the Android Market, it's hard to get a handle on what's worth your time and money. That's why we've created this handy guide.

Patch

OK, OK. We're partial to this one. But it's for good reason. The app's "Front 5" landing page displays current local news stories, today's events and the latest from our Twitter feed.

Dive into the Dashboard, and you'll see a slick, clean user interface directing you to categories for News, Events and the Directory, packed with up-to-date information, pictures and maps of your favorite local destinations. Plus, the Dashboard displays the current weather, complete with a five-day forecast. See? Handy.  Free

Whole Foods Recipes

You've navigated the sometimes-tight aisles of the in River Forest. Make the trip a little easier with the Whole Foods Recipes app. Users can pare their search down by categories (budget, make-ahead, one pot meals, etc.) and seek out recipes for special diets. Think gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan. 

There's also a handy section to input the groceries you have on-hand, and the app will return recipe ideas. A convenient "Add to Shopping List" button sends the ingredients to the app's built-in grocery list. Free

The Wright Guide

Developed by Azara Apps, the Wright Guide uses information from William Allin Storrer, a visiting professor of architecture at the University of Texas at Austin and author of The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion.

The app is basically a stylish, 21st century version of the Companion, which offered a $60 companion CD-ROM packed with Wright-centric content. On the app, each of the nearly 500 listings comes with a photograph, a building history and driving directions to the site based on your current location. $9.99

Earthcomber's Oak Park App

A relative newcomer to the local apps landscape, Earthcomber's "Oak Park App" promises the "fastest way to find exactly what you want from the greatest diversity of interests in Oak Park and the surrounding area."

The software uses location-based technology to display nearby businesses and institutions on your desktop, smartphone or cell phone. The listings are provided by Yellow Pages. The app also incorporates content from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, MassTimes.org, Citysearch, Booksense, U.S. Parks Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. Free

Garage Sales Tracker

Who doesn't love a good garage sale? Find out when and where area sales are taking place with the Garage Sales Tracker app.

Fair warning: it's a little light on exclusively local content, but for those willing to travel a few miles, the app will have some value.

Buyers can search out sales by entering their zip code and filter their searches for certain items, like furniture, bikes and clothes; Sellers can list what's being offered, change sale dates and more. Free

Cardstar

No more Costanza wallet. Cardstar keeps all of your rewards, discount and membership cards in one place — your smartphone. Users enter their membership or card numbers and the app creates a scannable display on your screen to use at more than 500 national merchants, many with locations in Oak Park and River Forest. Free

Foursquare

A growing number of local businesses are rewarding patrons who "check-in" at their establishments. If you're not familiar with the concept, Foursquare — and other location-based apps, like Gowalla – allow users to check in at their destination, then collect points and unlock virtual badges. Example: The user with the most check-ins at a certain place is dubbed The Mayor.

Sometimes, the check-in gesture is as simple as letting people know "hey, I'm here." But many businesses are dangling incentives for shoppers who check-in: Oak Park MidWeek Market knocks off a buck the price of beer and wine at the weekly event; offers a free bumper sticker; is offering free margaritas for Mayors and a free round-trip limo ride for those who've checked in five times. Free

Instagram

Making decent iPhone photographers out of lousy ones, Instagram is a photo filter and photo sharing app. The filters take the skill out of creating contrasts and tones; the sharing feature allows you to tag photos, follow other Instagrammers and contribute to the quickly expanding — and endlessly fascinating — pool of photos. 

OK, so it's not terribly useful. As far as I know, it won't save you time or money. But search out the #oakpark tag and you'll encounter dozens of photos from around town, from public parks and the to the Ferrara Pan factory and Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

At Patch, we've done two impromptu photo galleries using the Instagram App. Check 'em out! Free