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Oak Park (Blue)

Gateway to the southwest 'burbs.

Thursday Sep 29, 2005.     By Jenny Seay

Lifestyle Feed

Despite the claims of diehard city dwellers, there is plenty of entertainment, culture and good eats to be enjoyed in the area due west of downtown, especially within the Oak Park city limits. In addition to playing host to some of the area's most exquisite architecture, this urban 'burb offers a wealth of hot spots. Many of them populate a patch of Lake Street spanning from Harlem to Ridgeland (accessible via the well-trod Green Line stop), but travel a bit south and you'll find a Blue Line stop surrounded by several businesses worth patronizing.

Safety rating: Excellent. This area is somewhat residential, and very quiet.

Panhandler rating: For the most part they're nonexistent, but the occasional straggler is not unlikely.

In-the-know spot
Hole in the Wall Custard and Yogurt
Claustrophobics might hesitate to enter this narrow walk-up, which accommodates no more than two or three customers comfortably. But most visitors don't mind the tiny space, often shuffling their way through lines leading out the door and onto the sidewalk, patiently awaiting their opportunity to approach the tiny counter and purchase their favorite frozen treats.

One glance at the wall menu reveals a selection rivaling that of Dairy Queen. Hole in the Wall offers frozen custard, yogurt, sundaes and banana splits, in addition to greasy goodies such as their crispy chicken sandwich. Its shakes are rich and creamy, and the dutch apple pie frozen yogurt is almost as good as the real thing. But if you're expecting dinner with your dessert make sure to get there early: No food is served after 6 p.m. or at all on Sunday.

For the artiste
The Painted Plate
Unleash your inner Picasso with a visit to a place that encourages artistic experimentation. Upon entering, you select a white ceramic object (and yes, plates are indeed an option) from a shelf lining the left-hand wall, and take it back to your table. From there you can brush it up with as little or as much acrylic paint as you like, using whatever designs or colors take your fancy. Readymade creations are also available for purchase, but it's a lot more fun to take home your own artwork. The Painted Plate also offers workshops which allow novice painters a chance to experiment, and is available for group rentals, so gather a gaggle of your best friends and get ready to be artsy-fartsy.

Late-night locale
Avenue Ale House
Open-air eateries are always great, and this traditional restaurant-pub is no exception. Enjoy a warm breeze with your meal when Avenue removes the enormous glass panels at the restaurant's entrance, or opt for a more scenic view at one of its rooftop tables. Either way, you won't be able to overlook the ample menu, and if you eat inside you'll find the sports bar atmosphere enhanced by jumbo screens meant for viewing local and national sports teams from the nearest barstool.

Avenue is known for heaping portions and hearty food, so make sure your stomach is empty when you cross its threshold. The macadamia-nut-crusted pork tenderloin puts a new spin on a dinner staple, and the char-grilled salmon is wonderfully pink and juicy. That said, entrees like these are a bit pricey ($15-$20) compared to the more modest going-rate of its salads and burgers, but you can rationalize an inflated meal ticket if you reduce your drink expense with one of Avenue's beer buckets. Or better yet, make a meal out of one of its deadly desserts, such as the peach pie or the brownie with ice cream. Live music can be found on the weekend, and while it's unlikely you'll witness a performance from the next big thing, the prospect of live tunes in the open air is nothing to be sneezed at.

Good for groups
Lalo's
With more than 10 locations throughout the Chicagoland area, this family-owned chain is gaining recognition throughout the city and suburbs as a destination for anyone seeking satisfying Mexican fare. It's a well-deserved reputation, especially in this location, where Southwest pastels join forces with high-top tables and a festive atmosphere. Casual margarita slinging may be in order, but the care you'll receive is anything but sloppy: Friendly, attentive servers emerge from thin air to refill your chips and drinks, and return often to check your progress throughout the meal.

Lalo's extensive menu goes beyond tacos and burritos, venturing into traditional territory with selections such as pollo con mole (chicken simmered in mole sauce), camaron al mojo de ajo (shrimp in a garlic and butter sauce) and carne asada. And few Mexican places offers so many seafood possibilities, which means lovers of fresh fish will be in red-snapper-veracruz-style paradise. Wash any of these down with exotically flavored margaritas (mango is the best), but be sure to watch your wallet, because although the food is reasonable in most cases, they more than make up for it with steep drink prices.

Where to chill
Nola's Cup
This recently opened cafe channels the best New Orleans has to offer. Whether you appreciate The Big Easy's casual attitude, its rich musical culture or its yummy food, you'll find what you're looking for at Nola's Cup. The space is open and inviting, with mini-Tiffany lamps and a friendly staff, who are more than willing to let you stand hemming and hawing over the menu behind them.

Food and drink selections are similar to that of most coffee shops, but some New Orleans-inspired fare is an added bonus. Get your daily sugar fix with a plate of beignets, followed by a muffaletta that you can wash down with a mocha mint julep. Standard coffee and espresso pleases those in search of their standard daily cup, and crafty girls will be thrilled to find a weekly Stitch N' Bitch meeting here every Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m.