Downtown Oak Park Illinois at 1 AM Nightime Bike Ride

[Poledancefan]

It's still a great place to live--we are just across the border in Forest Park and we have friends in both towns. We regularly go to restaurants on Lake Street and other OP events. My wife student taught at OPRF many many years ago! /Joel Lessing

[lifeisgood1013]

Man, even after almost 10 years of living in California, I still really miss Oak Park. I spent the first 9 years of my life in this place, and parting ways was pretty tough for me.

[Phonehed]

I'd love to see what it all looks like in a day time video. Any chance you could do another one and go down OP Ave. past St. Eds?

[Phonehed]

Wow, that was a real blast from the past! I also grew up in OP. Went to St. Edmund from 1st - 5th grade and then moved to California in the summer of '67. Any of you old Doopers out there remember my old friends, Mike, Tony, Karen or Ruth Martin? They used to live on S. Grove and before that they lived on Kenilworth. I'd love to hear from them again so thanks for pointin' 'em my way if you know 'em. Anybody here even know what a Dooper is anymore? lol

[Poledancefan]

@Phonehed I'm glad you enjoyed the video. I lived in Ohio in the 60's...but there is a FAcebok page devoted to Oak Park in the 60's and I have seen many people post about events from back then. /Joel Lessing

[kenf1ott]

I was born in Oak Park

[whitesoxR1]

What happened to the deer you ran into?

[thecompleteopposite1]

Woot Woot!!!!! Oak Park!!!!!!!!

[dickturnipmarlboro]

Hi,,great video. I used to live at 250 Lake Street opposite Dominics grocery store and worked for Oak Park Chimney Corp on East Avenue..I think its been demolished now and is a playing field. Its many years ago but still remember the place quite well. Was also a regular at some of the bars in Forest Park. Brass Bowl, Doc Ryans, The Ending, Xzotics of course and the mandatory Country club when the bars were shut.. Are they still there now or all changed. Was over in 2000

[Poledancefan]

@dickturnipmarlboro Docs is still there, having moved into the old old town pizza building. It's got new owners now and another one out in Elmhurst, too. The Brass Bowl is now Skrine Chops restaurant. Harans got sold and has another name (Duck Phat...or something) Duffy's is STILL there--EXACTLY the same--and Mike Trant still owns the place. His new baby is college aged now, lol! Xzotics (you mean what used to be Kelly's on Marengo???) has been in trouble with the village for rowdiness, lol!

[harmony000]

great video. i worked in the mall at katies country kitchen in the mid 80s when the area was closed to traffic. i actually grew up in river forest, but miss the area. so many good memories, a great place to grow up.

[Poledancefan]

@harmony000 ThankYou, Harmony...I remember Katies!

[msmandie81]

hi just want to know if w. north ave is included to this video? thanks

[Poledancefan]

No, North Avenue is parallel to Lake street, but about 12 blocks north of it. In fact, I had ridden on North Avenue out from Downtown Chicago, then turned South (i.e., LEFT) onto Oak Park Avenue, then WEST (i.e., RIGHT) onto Lake Street. This video begins around the time I turned onto Lake Street.

[msmandie81]

hmmm hope you could have video for that area? :D thanks in advance

[aeroedge91]

I've grown up here. I'm 18 and want to get the hell out.

[Poledancefan]

That's understandable...I wanted to traveland go diffeent places at that age, too. However, I guess I have not had the courage to make such a big change in my life. In my 20's I really wanted to move to French Canada...now I can't even stand the Chicago winters!

[MakeupManiac98]

I.LOVE.OAK.PARK

PERIOD.

haha

[Poledancefan]

Yes, me too! You know, this video has been up for more than one year...and it STILL gets comments. Oak Park has a lot of fans!!!

[chichiorjioke92]

AW, i miss oak park =[[

[Poledancefan]

Thanks for watching the video!

[bJoanshields]

WOW! Have things changed since in worked one summer at the Fair Store in the early 1960's.

[Poledancefan]

Yes...OP is actually unrecognizable from 1970...when I moved in as a 6th grader. The omly landmark readily recognizable is the Lake Theatre...and the Marshall Fields Building, now a Borders Book Store--but retaining the classic iron work in some places if you look closely enough. The entire mall is a TIF district (TAX INCREMENT FINANCING) and the pace of development is VERY fast...

[doublesixcoqui]

thanks for agreeing with me

[doublesixcoqui]

oak park is the best

[Poledancefan]

I agree...it is a GREAT town...even though I now live one suburb over...in Forest Park!

[ambroseja1]

Wow my mom lives in Oak Park. I remember all those areas when I lived there! I love Oak Park!

[Poledancefan]

We moved to OP in summer of 1970...it has changed quite a bit since then...but many of the landmarks on Lake Street--especially the churches--are all exactly the same!

[Broderick85]

Yeah Oak Park is very quiet at that time of the night. I usually walk up lake street when i got to close at 1 am over at Jewel.

[Poledancefan]

I worked as a deli clerk at the River Forest Jewel when it was the old building. At the time it was called store "7521." Laurie was pregnant with my son--who is now 20 years old. A few of the employees are still there from the old days. My then manager, Mitch, runs the store over on Archer avenue and 35th. Ironically, my son was a deli clerk over the summer at Roosevelt Road Jewel. I'm still a proud "withdrawn retiree" of Local 881 Meatcutters Division of UFCW. Jewel is a great store!

[purplepoision720]

did u happen to pass by a games workshop down that street?u shud have.

[Poledancefan]

Are you rederring to the hobby store that used to be nthe bottom of the 1010 Lake Street tower? They had a hex board type battlefield set-up in the back of the store. That place went out of business a few years ago and was replaced by an interent cafe. Recently, the internet gaming cafe closed also. TImes are really bad in Oak Park's downtown! --Joel

[purplepoision720]

The games workshop is still there in oak park I swear.I went to it last week.

[Poledancefan]

I'm on the mall a lot. I will check it out next time I'm there. I don't do much gaming anymore, but my son is still quite into it--at college.

[jacgallo]

Nice vid!

I'm moving to Oak Park in April. Love the library.

[Poledancefan]

Welcome to Oak Park! I live over across the border in Forest Park, now. I grew up in Oak Park and my mom, who is in her eighties now, still lives there. I got a little JUMP! when I read your post. When I was in seventh grade at Irving school, there was a girl a year older than me named...Jackie Gallo! She was the smartest kid in the school, very beautiful, and very well liked--haven't seen her since high school (30 years!).

[jacgallo]

Sorry, I'm not your school friend.. Jac Gallo is just an alias I use based on a character from a TV show I used to like called "Just Shoot Me.."

Thanks for the welcome!

[EnjoyIllinois]

Oak Park has so much history and diversity. Awesome video! Thanks for uploading.

-- Roland

[Poledancefan]

Thank You!

[tezkag72]

oak park is a damn nice place but i've never seen lake street so empty and quiet

[Poledancefan]

It can get pretty deserted late at night. Usually, in the summer, the Lake theater lets out its last movie at about midnight. After that it's pretty dead. THere is only one "Bar" type place on the mall, the chain restaurant Bar Louie--and I think it stops serving at midnight or 1AM on weekends. Thanks for watching my video! --Joel

[chistyle30]

Oh i was referring to lake st going throught the west side to the lake front.

[GeeWizz9528]

thats so weird im on lake street every day and ive never seen it so empty!

[Poledancefan]

It is very strange! In the summer it is possible, on rare occaisons, to see deer, rabbits, and possums on Lake Street. Last summer I filmed a Deer on Madison street in front of one of the bars in Forest Park--but the lighting was so poor it didn't survive the upload to You-Tube!

[syderwarp]

Could this guy ride any slower @ 1am?

[Poledancefan]

Well, no handed, holding a movie camera, and I think thw speed was about 16 MPH, my usual cruise on the bike. Hope to see you on the trails this summer, we'll have a little race and loser buys the beer, LOL!

Thanks for enjoying the video --JOEL

[OMFGsoBOARD]

cant live without whole foods either.

[Poledancefan]

Yeah, I love that place--prices are a little high, but it's a great place to hang out! Saturday mornings they have a lot of great samples! I've known some of the cashiers for a long time--Tim, the sommelier/wine guy, used to be a barrista at the COffee shop on Oak Park Avenue and the expressway. Alex is a great musician--tall red-headed kid. Love the smoothies and the strong African coffee and espresso blends. Caffeine strong enough to fuel a rocket!!! Thanks for watching the video!

[eclipsegts03]

lol i like 10 mins from there on riverside oak park.

[Poledancefan]

It's a great area! THanks for watching the video... --Joel

[Poledancefan]

Yep, there's that whole rivalry thing going. I'm a Forest Parker myself--but my 80 year old mom is still at the old OP homestead hanging in there. We love to joke about which town is better--but I honestly love different aspects of each city. No question that FP is more fun for the earthier pursuits like drinkin', smokin', and brawlin'! LOL!--but Oak Park has a nicer refined side that's great, too! Thanks for watching and enjoying the video. --Joel

[SebastionBishop]

You honestly should of rode your bike into forest park. Wearing a Oak Park T-shirt down Harlem Ave. All of the Forest PArkers would have gave you a welcome party.

[lovesdanecook]

haha yay i live in maywood, but i'm gonna do a documentary on oak park for a project, using a Flip camera!! haha. what a coinkydink. oak park is so awesome.

[Poledancefan]

Sounds like a great project. I know a journalism professor who uses FLIP's with er students to practice giving interviews. Goo luck with your project and I hope you will post the final result. Send me a PM if you do, so I can watch the final cut! Joel

[lovesdanecook]

Awesome. Thanks! I will be sure to.

[THExBEAST911]

i live in oak park i live on n cuyler lol

[Poledancefan]

I know the street well. In college I worked at Stevenson rec center, near Cuyler and Lake street--where the Dominicks is right now. I grew up in the 100 block of south Lyman and went to Irving School the last years it was still a K-8 school. Irving school is on Cuyler also. Oak PArk is a great town!

[xxDjMxx13]

stupid question, i know. i was not thinking.. haha, im such an idiot. looks like a cool place.

[Poledancefan]

I actually held the camera while riding. A few weeks ago someone told me that FLIP actually sells a bike mount/tripod for the FLIP camera.

[THExBEAST911]

cool

[xxDjMxx13]

jus wonderin, are u on a bike?

[Poledancefan]

Yes, I'm riding back from downtown. In the summer I go down to the lakefront path every night for a 35 mile round trip.

[smokedaddyo]

you ride lake street to the lake every night? a brave man you are

[Poledancefan]

No, not that route. This video starts as I round Oak Park Avenue, turning right (west) onto Lake Street. I usually take Fullerton or Belmont back at night and come down Oak Park Avenue or Harlem. In the day, I do go INBOUND to the lake on North Avenue. Actually, Lake Street isn't such a bad ride in the day. I was a caseworker at Garfield Public Aid (Lake and Pulaski) for five years. One or two of the old guys (60+yrs old) rode their bikes west to Melrose Park/Elmwood Park every day!

[chistyle30]

Lake st isnt too bad at night..... You just have to go very fast and hope you dont wipe out.

[Poledancefan]

Actually it's pretty quiet that late at night in the summer. No bars or clubs in Oak Park, LOL! But Madison street in Forest Park is just starting to get rowdy that time of night!

[xmakingmoneyx]

i was jst there! so many ppl go there one fridays. its so cool my friend lives in an apartment and if u go to the roof u can see all of lake and oak park. its so beautiful. theres a lotta trees tho!

[Poledancefan]

Thanks for watching the video. I haven't put up a bike riding video in a while--too busy with the pole dance thing! Yes, this is a great area to live in and visit. Oaktoberfest is the next big thing, 19/20 Sept. Waco Brothers/Nathan's Zydeco band are Friday/ Saturday night bands. It's free and there's usually some beer tents and good food. I ive in the next suburb over, Forest Park. We don't have as much culture, but we seem to have all the taverns, LOL! Thanks for watching!

[fffrrrg]

that looks fun and im not joking

[Poledancefan]

It's lots of fun. There is virtually no traffic late at night. It's very quiet and things look completely different. Thanks for watching!

[rsveltfranklin]

This was fun! I ride my bike down Lake Street all the time but it looks a lot different at 1 am.

[Poledancefan]

Yes, both Unity Temple and the Post Office are lit up very brightly some nights and there is an eerie, yellow glow. Another interesting difference is the wild-life. Deer and rabbits are frequently seen running about. Last night I saw a deer running by the front door of Panera's! Thanks for watching!

[smokedaddyo]

Huskies!

[Poledancefan]

Huskies indeed! I graduated in the class of 1979. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't follow sports all that much. But I think girls volleyball won state that year...Am I right? And Marjorie (Jody) Vincent graduated that year or the year after, before going on to become Miss America. And yes, I passed the Hemingway House about forty seconds before that recording started!! Thanks for your comment!