Gary Mancuso

Were you thinking Oak Park Illinois was just homes, local commerce and schools? Did you think it was only famous for the Ernest Hemingway‘s childhood home or Frank Lloyd Wright residence? Well it has much more to offer its residence! Try spending some time with your children, grandchildren or just yourself at one of the 24 amazing parks in Oak Park.

From North Avenue to Roosevelt Road the city of Oak Park maintains parks and recreation for your family.

Just to keep you in the loop, here is a list of some of the major over halls happening to the Oak Park Parks! You can visit the parks and recreation website for more details on the terrific job the city is doing renovating the parks here. They also provide some great pictures so you can get a feel of what is happening and where.

Fox Park has some major improvements happening this summer involving the Whale Water area, new swings and a wheelchair friendly ramp for the restrooms.

Longfellow Park major work begins in August, 2008 and the city of Oak Park is going all out. Besides the new synthetic slip-resistant surfaces the park will have a water play area which will relocate the Seal Spray to a more accessible part of the park. Creative play areas for pre-kindergarten children and equally creative area for older kids will include drums to bang, bells to clang and even a sign language panel. With all this good stuff you need to know the park will be closed from August, 2008 to November, 2008, but you can walk by to see the progress anytime.

Austin Gardens is a unique park. It is home to an ice rink and Oak Park Festival Theatre. The month of July, 2008 has the Shakespearian play "Much Ado About Nothing" scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at 8PM. Entrance to Austin Gardens on the eastside will bring you directly to the theatre. August shows can be found on the calendar of events at the Oak Park Festival Theatre website.

You will be able to find more information about all 24 parks on my website later this month. Come by and visit anytime.

Oak Park Real Estate | River Forest Illinois | About Gary Mancuso

A Zoo in general is always a pleasure to young and old alike. From the cotton candy to the snakes behind glass zoological organizations go well beyond international borders.

When planning on a visit to the West Chicago Burbs one must think of Brookfield, Illinois. A quiet mostly residential town which happens to be the home of the nationally acclaimed Brookfield Zoo. When ever I have relatives or friends coming to visit, the zoo is naturally on the list for things to do.

Thanks in part to Edith Rockefeller McCormick ( yes, daughter of THE John D Rockefeller) who donated the first 83 acres to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County in the early years of the turn of the century. I doubt back then she knew exactly how wonderful her dream of a modern Zoo would be. She did not live to see the opening of the Brookfield Zoo in the summer of 1934.

The zoo was soon recognized for the innovation and unique way of displaying the wild animals using moots and cage-less arenas. All eyes were on the Brookfield Zoo when they opened the First in the U.S. exhibit of the Giant Pandas, an interesting and lovable creature that has captured our hearts ever since. Throughout the years leading up to today, the zoo has a serious side as well; becoming a force in the genetics, behavioural and nutritional advances and studies.

On a lighter note the Brookfield Zoo, from it's opening in 1934, continues to be home to Cookie the Cockatoo who is tauted as being 74 years young and still enjoys watching all the people go by. So the next time your company is thinking of a place to hold their national business meeting, or annual award ceremonies or even the employee of the month bash, think about having it at the Brookfield Zoo. I understand they have even had a wedding or two.

River Forest, Illinois is another fine suburb just west of Chicago. I found some interesting events happening in River Forest and thought I would share with you some of the cultural best in River Forest.

FYI - Since the inception of the Forest Park Historic Preservation Commission in 2007, the group has helped hundreds of homeowners research their properties origins. The HPC has joined forces with the School of Art Institute in Chicago to form a program on historic preservation. If you are a home owner in the Village you may see a student or two snapping photos in the neighborhood for his or her assignment this month. If you are in need of some assistance or need more information about YOUR home's historic value, you can call 708.366.8500.

Performances - The Dominican University in Forest Park will have a performance by Petry Dance Company of a collection of theatrical dance works called "Raw Bones & Other Stories" April 25th and 26th. Contact www.dom.edu for tickets and times.

Also as the Dominican University, Chicago Sinfonietta, Paul Freeman, music director and conductor, performs in the Lund Auditorium at Dominican University, 7900 W. Division, River Forest. Single tickets are $26-$40, with special pricing for students. Call (312) 236-3681. May 11, 2:30 p.m.: An exploration of the blues with special guests John Primer, guitar, and Leon Bates, piano. The program includes David N. Baker's "Shades of Blue," a selection of blues works arranged for guitar and orchestra, and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."

Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore in Forest Park. (708) 771-7243. April 17, 8 p.m.: "Menu Most British: A Tasting of Foods From the Classic Mysteries of the 1920s and 1930s," presented by Eleanor Hanson and Lynda Fitzgerald.

Wine and Cheese Tasting - At River Forest's own House Red this month is hosting the American Wine and Cheese Tasting to include some of America's finest with an option to purchase. Contact for reservations.

Belly dance? - River Forest Community Center has classes for you! Why not learn something new while gyratting those last few pounds away before summer? For details visit Miss Taj. Miss Taj is a world class choreographer and teaches 8 different types of belly dance.

Concord University Gym in Forest Park will be host to Arts and Crafts Chicago Show. This year the focus is on mission furniture and accents of the American Arts.