I love this town of mine. There are so many distinct areas, and a few weeks ago I walked around downtown Oak Park with the kids and took photographs. It’s a pretty charming place.
Related posts
Changing Taste
January 7, 2014Diaper Storage in the Nursery
May 8, 2013
Large Tripod Pot
May 3, 2011
46 comments
Kath
Love Oak Park! I stayed there recently while attending a college graduation. Oak Park/River Forest are one of the few places I’ve been I’d consider moving too. I love the Frank Lloyd Wright influence on the signs and planters. Lovely!
Shell
It’s so cute! My town is not so cute, so major jealousy at the moment :-)
yvette
How is it possible that I’ve been following your blog for some time now and had no idea you were in the Chicago area?? I’m in Evanston! I have a couple of friends in Oak Park and they really love it! Lovely photos!
Sarah @ Freestyle Home and Life
We live in Chicago, but have hopped on the Green Line out to Oak Park on a number of occasions — it’s such a lovely place to go for dinner and/or a movie. I think these pics really capture the atmosphere well.
Juliana
Awww, my hometown! I grew up on Oak Park Avenue, blocks from the Frank Lloyd Wright home & studio. We used to sneak out to Erik’s for lunch in high school! All this awaits Eleanor and August…..
Sarah
My bro and SIL live on S. Ridgeland. You are, to me, a celebrity, so to see all the same areas and landmarks on your blog (and mention of restaurants like Maya del Sol) that we see when we visit is really nifty to me. :) xo
Susan/Project Balancing Act
Go to Red Hen Bread Company (grab a sandwich, yum)… walk to the back and look at the framed photo of the baby boy holding up a bread roll in the corner… That’s my James!
erin mck
adore that rustic movie theatre. these photos really make me want to visit. the whole town looks almost modern-quaint if there is such a thing.
claire@gibsonking
wow! your hometown is the cutest. what excellent pictures! thanks so much for the tour!
Amanda
I live in Oak Park too! Thanks for giving me a renewed love of the town with your pretty pretty pictures.
rebecca
Hey, that’s my home too! Like the first Rebecca, I live on Marion. Been here for a while, didn’t realize you were local!
May I ask what discount and thrift stores you like in the area and greater Chicagoland? We’re furnishing our first owned place and I want to buy used, not new & overpackaged, furniture! Thanks if you–or anyone–can offer advice!
Jeran
Great pictures. Do you like to set your exposure a little higher to get that antique/faded effect for your images? Or do you fade out some of the color after in photoshop or another software? Please do share.
Making it Lovely
It’s in the editing. I’m a fan of these Photoshop actions.
Tracy
We moved to OP a month ago from Hyde Park–I can’t tell you what a difference it is. The Village ought to hire me on as an ambassador, as my incessant love for it fills all conversations at present. Thanks for sharing your photos.
Maybe you’ll consider a meet-up with readers?
Making it Lovely
I may be meeting up with someone on Friday… maybe I should see if she’s up for it being a bigger thing? It would be during the day though — people might be working.
sangeetha
I second Tracy’s meetup idea! :)
Tena
I am from Lockport, but have lived in Alabama for almost 27 years. Your pictures draw me home.
Emily
great Art Deco details.
Karena
An amazing setting and I love these urban images!!
Danielle
I also live in Oak Park and spent the weekend at the Farmer’s Market as it’s currently in it’s full glory! Do you know what the white bikes are for that are around town (the one in one of your photos)…are they a memorial?
Your web site(s) (personal and business)are brilliant. I love living in a village with so many talented and creative people like you!
Making it Lovely
Usually white bikes are in memorial, but I think this one just happens to be white by coincidence. It’s outside the flower shop, and they often fill the bike with plants and flowers.
Tequila b
I love Oak park, when my Fiance gets to Ref soccer at Oak park river forest High, im excited bc we get to eat dinner in the city.
MJ
Found you through Gretchen Rubin’s email – pretty funny, I was born and raised in Oak Park, and my dad still lived there till about a year ago. I spin through now on my way to see him in a nearby town. Definitely need some photos of the Farmer’s Market though! Have a couple cinnamon or powdered sugar doughnuts for me. :)
Making it Lovely
Maybe I’ll get some shots at the market this weekend, weather permitting!
Katie
So so cute! I love finding little areas like this :)
Amanda
Great pics! I used to live on Ridgeland and now live on Grove. Love this town!
{leah}
I <3 Chicago architecture. Thanks for sharing!!
Rebecca
Aw! That’s my ‘hood! I live on Marion and love it!
Circa1972vs1906
My pal Andrea Jablonski did that Nelson Algren mural! It is rad! woo hoo! props.
Making it Lovely
Awesome! That’s my favorite one.
RD
I want a $1.00 movie theatre! Wow! Neat town.
Making it Lovely
Well, they’re not usually a dollar. That’s just a summertime special. ;)
alexis
can i ask what photo filter/effect you use on these? it is so subtle and lovely.
Making it Lovely
It’s a combination, but the main one that you’re noticing is “Lux (Hard)” from Totally Rad.
Sangeetha
I love it too! i live in river Forest and love to come out there on the weekends especially for the Farmer’s Market. Your photos provide me a new appreciation of OP.
Malinda
I’ve only been once to do Focus Group testing for my web site, but I literally took every spare second I could to explore the Oak Park area – absolutely LOVE it. Would consider moving there if it didn’t snow ;)
Elizabeth Peremans
I’ll be in Chicago this weekend, what good eating places would you recommend in Oak Park?
Making it Lovely
Megan has some great recommendations! I’ll also throw Erik’s Deli in if you want a casual kid-friendly kind of place. It’s across the street from Maya del Sol.
Elizabeth Peremans
Thank you so much for your recommendations… specially for the kid friendly ones. We’ll probably go there after visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo.
Megan
If it’s nice outside, you can’t beat the patio @ Maya del Sol. It is THE BEST. The staff is great, and the food is amazing. They catered my wedding last summer and everyone said it was the best wedding food they ever had. I highly recommend the nachos as a appetizer if you eat meat. They will change your life.
If you’re a foodie, definitely go to Marion Street Cheese Market. Great food, too, and a very knowledgeable staff…they catered my rehearsal dinner…
Both are accessible by the Green Line–Maya is just south of the Oak Park stop, Marion Street is just south of the Harlem Stop (which is also the Metra station, fyi.) If you’re a vegetarian, Munch is pretty new, and it’s on the north side of the Harlem stop–right near the fountain with the kids. Hope this helps!
Elizabeth Peremans
Thanks so much! Maya Del Sol sounds amazing!!!
Michelle
It is nice seeing Oak Park through your lens. I am from Minneapolis, but moved to Oak Park almost three years ago. I learned about your blog from a friend in Minnesota and I love it! Thanks for sharing your ideas and creativity!
Ele
So cute! Is that where the Renaissance Art Fair is?
Beautiful photos as well:)
Making it Lovely
I’m not familiar with that one, but they hold a lot of art fairs in the park at Lake St. and Oak Park Ave. (about a mile away from Downtown Oak Park).
Abbi
I love it too! And I love that every.single.time. I walk down Marion there is always a cute kid in that fountain!
heather
I love your town too! I did an internship at the Home & Studio one summer and spent all my lunch hours exploring as much as possible! It’s a gorgeous place!!!
Comments are closed.