Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Dining outdoors has its perks in Downtown Oak Park—live music, entertainment and deals are included in this guide to summer dining. Thursday Night Out runs May 23 through Aug. 29.
It's finally getting warmer out, and that means more restaurants will offer outdoor seating. But in Oak Park, the downtown businesses are going all-out to bring deals, entertainment and more to dining al fresco. The Downtown Oak Park business district returns its Thursday Night Out starting May 23, and it will last through Aug. 29. every Thursday. Diners can purchase $12 ticket booklets, which contain four "dine-around" tickets and one voucher for $2.50 off two adult-priced movie tickets. A dine-around ticket is good for one item from the Thursday Night Out menu. Ticket booklets are available at the Downtown Oak Park kiosk at Lake and Marion from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. If it's raining, they will be available at 115 N. Marion St. For every two …
Monday, May 20, 2013
We'll give a "shout out" to local small businesses who fill out the form below and upload a picture.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The former Murphy's Pub in Forest Park changed to "Chalk" this spring.
As the craft beer industry continues to grow, especially in the Chicago area, one Forest Park owner has taken advantage and used the opportunity to reinvent his bar. Matt Mathey, owner of Chalk bar, renamed and redesigned the Madison Street hotspot after it spent many years as Murphy's Pub. In addition to a large selection of craft beers, Chalk now features a large upstairs party room, which has a private bar, a stage for live music, a much larger selection of beer and a limited menu to give patrons some food options. Write a review of Chalk in Forest Park. The highlight and namesake for the bar is the chalkboard walls on which patrons can draw and write. "We just wanted to do something new with the chalkboard concept," Mathey said. "If…
Monday, May 13, 2013
Sen. Don Harmon was on hand to help smash the guitar, and multiple bands rocked out to ring in the new music school.
The School of Rock announced its arrival in Oak Park loudly Saturday, with a guitar smashing and multiple bands featured at the grand opening. State Sen. Don Harmon, of Oak Park, assisted with a guitar smashing (see the video above) and the show team from the Chicago School of Rock performed many songs, along with local punk bands When Flying Feels Like Falling and Uptown Mayhem. "You can do this, too," music director Jennifer Malone said about the Chicago show team while speaking to children and their parents during the grand opening. "I don't care if you've never picked up a guitar before, if you think you have no talent. We can help you with that." Write a review of the School of Rock in Oak Park. School of Rock is an international …
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Don't want to make breakfast in bed? Don't worry. Here's some places in the Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest area you can try.
Want to treat mom to a nice Mother's Day Brunch? Don't worry—Patch did some research for you! Here's some great places in the area to grab a bite on Sunday, May 12. Do you have one to add? Share it in the comments below. Barclay's American Grille/Carleton Hotel — Oak Park Barclay's brunch is served in the Grand Ballroom of the Carleton Hotel from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $34.95 for adults and $11.95 for children 5-12. Kids under 4 are free. Barclay's will be serving dinner at 5 p.m. Call 708-848-4250 for reservations. Marion Street Cheese Market — Oak Park Offering a hybrid brunch buffet. $35 for adults and $12 for children 12 and younger. Mom gets a complimentary mimosa. Regular menu will not be available. Call 708-725-7200 for …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Although Oak Park doesn't allow food trucks, except for a few already sanctioned, there will be a great variety of vendors at a special event this Saturday, May 11.
Although Oak Park doesn't allow food trucks—except for a few already sanctioned in town—a wide variety of vendors will descend on the village this weekend. The Oak Park Great Food Truck Rally is from noon to 6 p.m. this Saturday, May 11, in the parking lot of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St. in Oak Park. For more event info, visit our community calendar: Oak Park's Great Food Truck Rally The featured vendors include gourmet grilled cheese, jerk chicken and meatloaf cupcakes. (There are also cake cupcakes.) Go here for a full list of vendors. Also featured is Oak Park's Mojo Express coffee vendor, which has previously blasted the village's rule that only allows mobile food vendors to park in one spot for 30 minutes. But …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
The rocking begins May 11, when the grand opening will feature lives bands, tours and, of course, a guitar smashing.
Are you ready to rock, Oak Park? Resident Amy Renzuilli is bringing the School of Rock to town in May after firsthand experience with the Chicago location piqued her interest. School of Rock is an international music school with locations in 31 states and four countries outside of the U.S. It teaches music to children, primarily ages 8-18, by preparing them for live concerts in a tuition-based program. The Oak Park location is at 219 Lake St., and there will be a grand opening from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 11. There will be tours, signups for free trials and a guitar smashing. Three bands will also perform, including the Chicago School of Rock show team and punk bands When Flying Feels Like Falling and Uptown Mayhem, in which Renzuilli's …
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Nora's Shoe Shop in Oak Park is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a charitable race. The only catch? Try doing it in 2-inch heels. The top three finishers get awesome prizes, and an exclusive sale will follow the event.
Nora's Shoe Shop is celebrating five years in business with two big events: a sale at its Geneva location and a Stiletto Race around Oak Park, where the original location is based. Owner Nora Brennan opened the shop in Oak Park, saying there was a "need for a women's shoe store in the area that would offer beautiful, comfortable and fashion forward shoes and accessories." Five years and a new location later, Brennan said things have been great, and changing every day. A full online store also launched last summer, making shopping availble 24/7. Write a review of Nora's Shoe Shop in Oak Park. To celebrate five years in business, the Geneva location, at 12 N. 2nd St. in Geneva, is having a "Spring Soiree" event from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. …
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
To celebrate, the bike rental shop in Oak Park will have deals on bike locks, share safety tips and organize a Bike to Work Week challenge.
As a "social mission" business in Oak Park, Greenline Wheels' primary goal is to encourage cycling, bike-friendly communities and bike safety. So this May, the shop is making a big effort to help people in the community and live that mission. The store will be selling all bike locks at cost, for no profit, "so people can stock up and keep their bikes safe," general manager Abigail Miller said. They're also runnings PSAs in local media to help educate people. In the middle of the month is Bike to Work Week, and Greenline will be organizing a community challenge. It's an informal contest in which people can share photos of them and their bikes at work through the Greenline Facebook page. Write a review of Greenline Wheels in Oak Park. …
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Green Line Wheels
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Friday, April 26, 2013
Oak Park resident Tracy Boone and her niece, Heather Mathias, offer full afternoon tea service and a chalkboard menu updated daily.
Oak Park resident Tracy Boone grew up drinking tea. And with a new tea shop in the village, she wants to bring tea education and appreciation to her neighbors. Serenitea opened April 20 at 1046 Pleasant St. in Oak Park. Boone and her niece, Heather Mathias, closed their Naperville location about two years ago and couldn't be happier to open a business in their village. "The downtown area of Naperville has become more for the franchises," Boone said. "The people here have been really nice. Everybody just walks in and says they’re glad we’re here." Boone moved to Oak Park about 13 years ago, but moved to Naperville for a couple of years to help take care of her mother. She's originally from St. Louis and lived on the East Coast for about …
Maureen Barrett Realtor
11:07 am on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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