It’s really coming down to the wire if you have items left on your shopping list. I ordered several things online Sunday night and have been vigorously tracking the status of each package throughout the week. I am still waiting on quite a few; it’s an uneasy feeling. I suppose I can go out into the real world and force myself to talk to store clerks like a decent human being if my packages don’t arrive in time. Lucky for me (and any other procrastinators), Downtown Oak Park is a great place to find quality gifts and be rewarded for purchasing them. Read on for more ideas and find out what’s happening Around Oak Park this weekend.
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Downtown Oak Park (DTOP) Shopper’s Reward Program
This is the last weekend to get rewarded for supporting local shops this holiday season. Save your receipts from DTOP stores, restaurants, studios, spas, fitness clubs (virtually every business you can imagine) until Dec. 25. You are eligible to receive $50 in Shopper’s Reward certificates for receipts totaling $25 or more from at least seven different businesses, with a grand total of at least $400. You can spend your Shopper’s Reward certificates between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, 2018.
Christmas Eve at Bar Louie
Similar to Robert Doback in the movie “Stepbrothers,” sometimes the holidays make a person want a drink… Or five. On Christmas Eve Robert famously says, “I’m going down to The Cheesecake Factory for a drink,” before coming home reeking of Scotch and cheesecake. Oak Park does not have a Cheesecake Factory but we do have a Bar Louie and they will be open on Christmas Eve with a “Relative Relief” theme. The beer will be cold. The martinis will be made to order. And the full menu is available until close. Bar Louie is located at 1122 Lake Street.
Holiday One Hundred at the Oak Park Art League (OPAL)
Holiday One Hundred is both an art sale and fundraiser, designed to benefit community artists, art patrons, and the OPAL. This annual event will feature the sale of original artwork by OPAL Artist Members, affordably priced from $50 to $300 for easy holiday giving. Holiday One Hundred benefactors go home with original artwork, support local artists and help the Oak Park Art League come closer to celebrating our Centennial Anniversary milestone. OPAL is located at 720 Chicago Avenue.
Local Business Spotlight – Spilt Milk Pastry
Spilt Milk is a bakery run by sisters Molly and Meg Svec that have a wide variety of pastries, coffee, pie, and more. If you are in charge of bringing a dessert to the holiday party, Spilt Milk keeps it festive with holiday-themed menu items. You will notice the difference as all of the bakery’s items are prepared with fresh ingredients. Spilt Milk Pastry is located at 103 S. Oak Park Avenue.
Holiday Lights in the Arts District
Whether you feel like shopping or simply want to take in the beauty of Holiday Lights, The Oak Park Arts District is lit through the holiday season. Between the studios, shops, galleries, eateries, and decorations, it’s easy to spend an entire evening here. This weekend, we recommend stopping in Bead In Hand, 145 Harrison Street, to take part in their $5 drop-in workshop. These handmade crafts can make a great stocking stuffer.
“A Dickens Carol” by Oak Park Festival Theatre
That’s right; this isn’t “A Christmas Carol,” but a story about the man who wrote the most imitated Christmas tale of all time. The Oak Park Festival Theater announces the world premiere of “A Dickens Carol.” An all-new holiday tradition that re-imagines the story of Scrooge from Dickens’ point of view and real-life events. Show times are 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased through the Oak Park Festival Theatre website. Performances will be taking place at Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison Street.
Feature photo courtesy of Robby Gragg via Flickr
