The Wright Stuff

By
Appears in the August 2024 issue.

Spend the day sipping, shopping, and more in Oak Park

Oak Park Microbrew Review
Oak Park Microbrew Review

As the west burbs’ easternmost city, Oak Park offers plenty of reasons for a day trip in the waning weeks of summer: Think festivals, museums, and more than its fair share of fabulous food.

Fans of craft beverages will want to snag a ticket ($65—$100) to the Oak Park Microbrew Review on August 17 along Marion Street. This long-standing craft brew fest—in its 17th summer—has expanded over the years to include not only beer but also hard cider and seltzers from local breweries. On September 13 and 14, streets in downtown Oak Park close to traffic for Oaktoberfest, which features live music, food vendors, and a Root Beer Garden for kids with games, hands-on activities, and root beer floats (free admission, Marton Street and North Boulevard, oaktoberfest.net).

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

FANS OF PRAIRIE-STYLE ARCHITECTURE will want to carve out time to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (951 Chicago Ave., flwright.org), where the prolific architect lived and worked for the first two decades of his career, 1889 to 1909. Tours are offered Thursday through Sunday and range from an outdoor-only neighborhood walking tour to a guided interior tour ($15 to $60).

Wonder Works Children’s Museum

HAVE A KIDDO WHO LOVES CREATIVE PLAY? Plan to spend some time at Wonder Works Children’s Museum ($15 per child or adult, 6445 W. North Ave., wonder-works.org). Daily rotating programming at 11 a.m. might include toddler yoga, interactive storytime, live music, or parachute play. The week of August 8–12, “Swords, Fins and Tails” celebrates ocean life from a scientific, historical, and fantastical perspective with mermaid and sea creature costumes, a pirate ship to play on, and real ocean critters to observe.

From left: Maya Del Sol; Anfora Wine Merchants
From left: Maya Del Sol; Anfora Wine Merchants

PLENTY OF OPTIONS AWAIT FOR WINING AND DINING. While away an afternoon on the sprawling backyard patio of Maya Del Sol (144 S. Oak Park Ave., mayadelsol.com), where Mexican beers, sangria, and select margaritas are half off during happy hour (4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays; 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays). Extend your day trip after dark with a glass of wine alfresco at Anfora Wine Merchants (128 S. Marion St., anforawinemerchants.com) or grab a bottle from the retail shop inside to savor at home later.

Publican Quality Bread’s tiramisu cones
Publican Quality Bread’s tiramisu cones

FUEL YOUR DAY. The new outpost of Chicago favorite Publican Quality Bread (211 Harrison St., publicanqualitybread.com) offers a reason to visit at pretty much any hour. At 7 a.m., more than a dozen varieties of pastries—croissants, scones, quiche, buns, danishes, muffins, shortbreads—make their debut. At 9 a.m., fresh-baked loaves of sourdough, multigrain, and more are ready. At 10 a.m., the lunch hour begins, bringing with it open-faced tartines, sandwiches, and side salads. Arrive at 1 p.m. to nab a jambon beurre, a Parisian specialty that stacks ham, Comté cheese, mustard, and butter on fresh-from-the-oven baguette. From 4 p.m. on, Roman-style pizza is the star, along with wine and beer to sip on the sidewalk patio. For dessert, tiramisu scooped into a freshly griddled chocolate waffle cone is great to go.

Broken Tart’s kale salad scones
Broken Tart’s kale salad scones

IF SHOPPING IS MORE YOUR SPEED, Parisian-inspired outdoor market Le Marché (lemarcheoakpark.com) takes place 9 to 11 a.m. August 25 and September 21 at 1117 Chicago Avenue, hosted by two local businesses, bakery Broken Tart and interior design firm Mood Design + Build. Browse artwork, vintage finds, and gourmet goodies, such as cheese from Chicago shop Beautiful Rind and Broken Tart’s signature kale salad scones.

Einnim Candle Bar + Apothecary

CHECK OUT HANDMADE CANDLES, goat milk soaps, body lotions, and more at Einnim Candle Bar + Apothecary (1020 Lake St., einnim.com), which owner Lita Selmon named after her grandmother Minnie (Einnim is “Minnie” spelled backward). Or take part in a DIY candle experience, starting with selecting a custom scent blend ($13 to $65 per candle). “We have more of the unique essential oils you would never imagine, like palmarosa and copaiba—all oils extracted from plants and flowers,” Selmon says.

 

Photos: Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, Chicago. Photographer James Caulfield; Gosia Photography (Oak Park Microbrew Review) Wonder Works Children’s Museum; Galdones Photography (Publican); Lucha Photography (Maya del Sol); Chelsea Goodwin (Anfora); Potluck Creative (Broken Tart); Phillip Tang (Einnim)