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The 23 Best Things to do in the Hemingway District of Oak Park

You can’t speak of modern American literature without bringing up Ernest Hemingway. The larger-than-life author called the Chicago suburb of Oak Park home until he left Illinois to engage the world and pen so many classic novels.  To experience all the gifts of the area, we've compiled a list of the 22 best things to do in the Hemingway District of Oak Park.

 

Begin your exploration at the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum, 339 N. Oak Park Avenue, a Victorian home in a historic district where you’ll discover the youthful poems and love letters written to the woman who served as the inspiration for the nurse in his seminal novel, A Farewell to Arms. Learn about his first 20 years as an Oak Park youth and World War I survivor, his life as a newspaper correspondent after he left the Chicago area, and many other adventures that make this man both a compelling and polarizing figure. (Don't confuse the Birthplace Museum with the Ernest Hemingway Boyhood Home, which is a private residence along Kenilworth Avenue.)

Scoville Park: Heart of the Hemingway District
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Andrew Pielage Exterior courtesy of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation
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  • Slip into Scoville Park, at the corner of Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue. Sit a spell. This is the historic heart of Oak Park, IL 60302 and home to the Oak Park World War I Memorial, a solemn monument sited in a tranquil patch of greenery set back in the park. The park itself is a classic square, with curving pathways, play areas, and creative plantings. It's conveniently adjacent to many restaurants and one-of-a-kind local stores for unique gifts. Within a stone's throw of the park you can find so much of what defines the historic village of Oak Park:

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  • The elegant Scoville Square, a rare Frank Lloyd Wright retail building. 

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  • The contemporary Oak Park Public Library adjoining the park.  

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  • Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021 after a multiyear, $25-million restoration. 

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  • The historic Oak Park Post Office

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  • You're only a 5-to-7-minute walk west on Lake Street to downtown Oak Park and the Pleasant District.

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  • A 5-minute walk east takes you past historic Oak Park and River Forest High School (better known as OPRF), which Ernest Hemingway and his siblings attended.

Great tastes all around the Hemingway District
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Papspiros 10
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With so many eateries, the Lake Street corridor of the Hemingway district is all lined up (literally) for your next culinary adventures:

 

  • Amerikas, 734 Lake St., a Nuevo Latino restaurant celebrating the many flavors of Latin American cuisine

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  • Courageous Bakery, 736 Lake St., a full-service bakery offering all-natural cakes, breads, and treats 

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  • Papaspiros, 728 Lake St., for delightful, generous plates of Greek food

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  • Masterfully cut sushi and other Japanese cuisines at Sagano, 731 Lake St. 

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  • A boutique of Thai food flavors at New Pot, 727 Lake St.

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  • Find burgers, sandwiches, and beer at Scratch on Lake (at #733) 

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  • Dig in to a Brazilian treat at Mulata Kitchen and Coffee, 136 N. Oak Park Ave. Enjoy a creative menu that consists of soups, salads, empanadas, gourmet sandwiches, desserts, and fresh coffee. 

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Walking along Oak Park Avenue through the business district, you'll discover:

 

  • Hemmingway's Bistro, tucked into the Write Inn at 211 North Oak Park Avenue, offers continental fare and a perfect hideaway for elegant dining.

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  • Oberweis Ice Cream & Dairy Store, 124 N. Oak Park Ave., transports you back to the old-fashioned ice cream parlors of yesteryear. 

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  • Il Vicolo Trattoria, with fresh seafood, pasta, and thin-crust brick oven pizza. The owner has even been known to serenade his guests on occasion. 

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  • Citrine, at 100 South Oak Park Avenue, serves old-world cuisine with a modern flair. Dine inside or on their spacious patio. In addition to the inventive cuisine, you can enjoy a selection of international and domestic wines, plus a rotating list of creative craft cocktails. 

 

  • Maya Del Sol, at 144 South Oak Park Avenue, offers authentic Latin dishes using recipes handed down over generations. Bold flavors are complemented by unique margaritas. Maya's marvelous patio is perfect for kicking back with friends and family. 

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  • Spilt Milk, 811 South Boulevard, offers Fresh pies, cookies, cakes, and more baked and served daily along with freshly roasted coffees. Just follow your nose from the nearby CTA Green Line Station! 

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  • Grape Leaves, 129 S. Oak Park Ave., has been serving delicious Moroccan cuisine for decades. 

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  • And George’s, 145 S. Oak Park Ave., always hits the spot when you can’t decide what to eat and want all the options laid out before you. 

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Among many local shopping options in the Hemingway District, GPTetrev Pottery is a standout, offering a wide array of ceramics and porcelain for the home including tableware, vases, pet bowls, and serving pieces. They accept commission pieces, and you can watch them at work.

 

The Hemingway District is an Ernest Hemingway tale unto itself -- straightforward, full of twists and turns, with a satisfying ending to any journey.