An affluent village located in DuPage County, Oak Brook is an exclusive and vibrant community with many amenities. Residents have countless opportunities to shop and dine to their heart’s content, along with plenty of sports facilities and outdoor recreation. Given the array of luxuries in proximity to this town, plus its location only 20 minutes from downtown Chicago, it’s no surprise that residents love living here.
Realtor.com reports the median listing home price in Oak Brook is approximately $900,000, but homes can cost as much as $6 million here, adding to the opulent ambiance of this beautiful town. The real estate market in Oak Brook is currently a buyer’s market as of May 2021, making it an opportune time to purchase a property. Without further ado, let’s delve into the wonderful offerings here in Oak Brook.
Art & Culture
Oak Brook is home to some rich artistic and cultural experiences. Learn about generations past and present at the operating water wheel grist mill and homestead of Graue Mill and Museum. The museum showcases various artifacts illustrating life between 1850 and 1890, providing students and adults alike with programs about living history, weaving, spinning, and milling. You can grasp a thorough understanding of the Frederick Graue House, the Underground Railroad and relish a tour of the mill — all vital cultural aspects of United States history.
Explore the global contemporary artworks of Pitroda Art. This cultural enterprise features long-standing Costa Rica and Serbian collections. The museum’s newest addition, Movement: Art for Social Change, features quarterly curated art collections that examine crucial worldwide social issues. This new series highlights artists as assets to progress and justice, using their expression to galvanize social change. A portion of auction sales from Movement is donated to the National Urban League, a historic civil-rights establishment dedicated to social justice, equality, and economic empowerment. Stop by Pitroda Art to view or purchase incredible artwork, and know you are not only walking away with something beautiful to display in your home, but you are also benefiting the world at large.
Discover the age-old artistry of cutting and polishing stone at The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. Throughout human history, tools, weapons, and personal ornamentation items were carved from stone. In the 1950s, lapidary became a popular hobby in the U.S., with many people cutting and polishing gemstones and mounting them to jewelry settings or metalwork. There are various collections to view here, including mosaics, jade carvings, fossils, and organic gems, and the museum shares this ancient art form through various exhibits and programs.
Finally, visit the First Folio Theatre to view an inspiring live performance. For 24 seasons, First Folio Theatre has brought high-quality Shakespearean and other classic shows to the community stage of Oak Brook. Some past productions include Madmen & Prisoners: Two Tales by Poe, Henry V, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. After a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the theater is overjoyed to bring you new and exciting productions. Be sure to stop by for a show to support the artistic and cultural pursuits of First Folio Theatre.
Parks & Recreation
Getting some fresh air and dedicating time to family bonding in the great outdoors is crucial to a happy, healthy life. Fortunately for Oak Brook residents, there are plenty of opportunities to soak up some sun and get some exercise.
Immerse yourself in the stunning natural surroundings of the 69.61-acre York Woods Forest Preserve. This forest preserve is the oldest in DuPage County, and it continues to be a local favorite. York Woods features the oldest picnic grove in the county, with three acres of manicured lawn, a picnic shelter, and treetops to offer shade for a perfect picnic. Once you’ve enjoyed some relaxation in the picnic grove, head to one of the two trails to hike through the woods. There are two paved paths to follow: open to hikers, bicyclists, joggers, and cross-country skiers. Relish some bird watching, reflection, and share some stories and sandwiches with your friends and family to enjoy a day outside at the York Woods Forest Preserve.
Golf club members and their guests are welcomed with open arms at the Oak Brook Golf Club. Roger B. Packard designed the 18-hole regulation course. For those in need of sprucing up their stroke, the club provides instruction for juniors and adults. Whether you’re a golf enthusiast or a casual novice, Oak Brook Golf Club offers an “Open to the Public” guest policy and an array of packages to fit your motives.
Central Park also features a multitude of passive and active outdoor recreation amenities. This park boasts pedestrian and biking paths, fishing ponds and a fishing pier, four ball fields, natural turf fields, basketball courts, three playgrounds, a sand volleyball court, a performing arts pavilion, and more! In addition, there are three different centers available to you: a Tennis Center, a Family Recreation Center, and a Family Aquatic Center.
Visit the Central Park Family Recreation Center to enjoy a broad range of amenities and services, including meeting rooms, studios, a fitness center, and a hardwood floor gym. The Oak Brook Tennis Center provides eight indoor USTA blue/green tennis courts with aerial viewing lounges and eight outdoor courts with bleachers for spectators. Additionally, the indoor Family Aquatic Center offers a lap pool featuring six 25-yard lanes for lap swimming, water leagues, the Stars Swim Team, and Masters Swim Team. The aquatic center also provides a warm-water leisure pool for young, beginning swimmers, giving families the perfect opportunity to introduce their kids to their first pool experience. Bring your family out for a fun-filled day of activities at Central Park.
Shops & Restaurants
Oak Brook is brimming with luxury retail boutiques and fabulous restaurants, with most of these fine establishments residing in Oakbrook Center. This mall is more than a shopping center; it brings the community together to enjoy various events and enterprises.
Oakbrook Center is the premier destination for all your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. This expansive mall offers dozens of retail destinations, including Anthropologie, The Apple Store, Williams-Sonoma, Vera Bradley, Tory Burch, and Tiffany & Co. After you’ve shopped to your heart’s content, head to Venus Med Spa for a facial before watching a movie at AMC Oakbrook Center 4 & 12, complete with buttery popcorn, AMC signature recliners, and some libations from MacGuffins Bar. In addition to this center’s marvelous features, various entertainment events and activities are held here year-round, including Movies on the Lawn. Be sure to check the website for updates on the latest community affairs.
Whether you’re looking for a sweet treat from Le Macaron, a quick and casual lunch at Pie Five Pizza Co., or some Italian fare at Maggiano’s Little Italy, Oakbrook Center has a restaurant for every occasion. Seasons 52 offers 52 different wines by the glass and seasonal, fresh food cooked on their oak-fire grill and brick oven. Head here during happy hour for a $6 glass of wine or the $12 glass of wine and flatbread special. For a health-conscious grass-fed burger and citrus skinny margarita, stop by True Food Kitchen. Finally, if you’re looking for an upscale date night restaurant, check out The Clubhouse. Here you can enjoy a luscious plate of lobster and shrimp risotto and slow-roasted prime rib with your sweetheart.
Eating, shopping, entertainment, and more — everything you could want in an all-encompassing experience can be savored at Oakbrook Center.
Bars
Oak Brook has plenty of exciting nightlife, offering several mellow bars ideal for taking a load off after a long day of work or providing a more boisterous Friday night out with friends.
When seeking a laidback local bar with a kitchen and patio, head to Anyway's Pub. Some favorite house entrees include the bass ale fish & chips, blackened tilapia, and its famous ribs. Chicken tenders and loaded fries are great for sharing with friends, but you may want to keep the slice of molten chocolate cake to yourself. Anyway’s signature cocktails are affordable and classic, and the beer list is extensive and features bottled, draft, and American craft brews.
If you’re a beer connoisseur, you’ll appreciate that Old Town Pour House offers 90 craft brews on tap. This bar has a vibrant vibe and is great to visit any time of day, whether it be for a lunch date, happy hour, dinner, or your next social gathering. This expansive bar is approximately 7,000 square feet in size and offers around 190 seats, entertaining guests with two flat-screen TVs and two outdoor fireplaces. Pull up to Old Town Pour House to watch the game live on TV and share many laughs with your buddies over some tasty bar food and beers.
Interested in looking for an Oak Brook house to call your own? Contact the RE/MAX Legends Oakbrook Terrace Real Estate Team. With unparalleled market knowledge and an unrelenting work ethic, Mimi Luna and Lydia Memeti will work tirelessly to find you the ideal Oak Brook real estate for you and your family.
