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Oak Park’s Favorite Newsletter

Oak Park news, events, and recommendations delivered free every morning.

Oak Park, IL
120Events this week
24Free things to do
45New spots
82New stories

● Checked Sunday, September 6, before the 6 AM send.

This week in Oak Park

Five picks from this week's calendar. See all 120 events, day by day →

Players Beach Series #10 😎 LABOR DAY | Monday 9/7/26 at North Avenue Beach in Chicago 🏐

Monday 9am · North Avenue Beach

Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band

Monday 1:30pm · Copernicus Center

Jarvis Square Twilight Market

Monday 4pm · Jarvis Square Alfresco

☀️ Summer Time Chi - Booze Cruises 🚢

Monday 4pm · Summer of George - Chicago Lakefront Cruises

Legendary Late Hours

Monday 5pm · Field Museum

New in Oak Park

Places that opened, reopened, or earned a mention this month — the ones we'd go back to.

Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant

Restaurants

Handmade pasta heaven: Piacere Mio Italian Restaurant keeps it cozy and Sicilian-leaning with handmade pastas, warm house bread and focaccia, and desserts worth planning around.

piaceremiorestaurant.com ↗

Caffe De Luca

Restaurants

Old-world comfort, close by: Skip the downtown fuss; Caffe De Luca does classic Italian with American crowd-pleasers, a relaxed weekend brunch, and that cozy old-world glow that makes pasta taste better.

caffedeluca.com ↗

Pleasant Home

Arts & Culture

Prairie School gem alert: Whether you geek out over Prairie School details or just want an excuse to wander a jaw-dropping mansion, Pleasant Home delivers with docent-led historic tours and thoughtful adult/family programs.

pleasanthomeop.com ↗

Oak Park’s best businesses

Every spot worth knowing, in one place.

The restaurants, shops, and services the newsletter recommends, all in one place — every listing checked, and paid pins marked every time.

Browse Oak Park’s best →

Most read in Oak Park

The five stories Oak Park readers clicked most this month, from the daily editions.

  1. Woman spreads joy in Chicago neighborhood through fresh-baked cookies

    Liz Tierney, a woman living in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood, has been using her homemade cookies to build community and bring neighbors closer.

    Full story at nbcchicago.com ↗

  2. Nature meets industry: How Chicago's Wild Mile is proving that floating eco-parks can revitalize urban rivers.

    The Wild Mile, a planned 17-acre floating eco-park along the North Branch Canal of the Chicago River, is being used as a tool to revitalize urban rivers.

    Full story at thefulcrum.us ↗

  3. Beverly Art Walk Showcases Exciting New Venues and Fan Favorites

    The 13th annual Beverly Art Walk is set to take place on Saturday, September 26 at 11 a.m.

    Full story at chicagodefender.com ↗

  4. Chicagoan dies of West Nile: city health department

    A Chicagoan has died from West Nile virus, among the first two human cases this year, according to the city's department of health.

    Full story at chicago.suntimes.com ↗

  5. 2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide

    2026 Chicago Summer Festival Guide includes a comprehensive guide to neighborhood street fests, art shows, outdoor concerts, cultural celebrations across Chicago and the suburbs.

    Full story at news.wttw.com ↗

Explore Oak Park

The rest of what BaseLocal keeps current for the city.

Oak Park eventsAll 120 events this week, day by dayThis weekend in Oak ParkThe 50 things worth your weekendFree things to do24 free events happening this weekRead the latest editionSee exactly what lands in your inboxBerwyn2 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalChicago7 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalElmhurst8 miles away — nearby on BaseLocalPark Ridge9 miles away — nearby on BaseLocal