🌱 Lake St. Bridge Getting Major Overhaul + Town Hall With Rep. Davis

Hi all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

A morning shower in places. High: 76 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. The Chicago Department of Transportation confirmed that the Lake Street Bridge is set to get a major overhaul next year. Built over 100 years ago, the bridge is one of three double-decker bascule bridges in the Loop, serving cars, pedestrians, and elevated trains—it's gotten minor repairs over the years, but will be fully rehabbed beginning next year. The project is estimated to take two years and will include staged closures of roads and public transit in the Loop. (Block Club Chicago)
2. A new Chase Bank branch is set to open a branch in the heart of nearby Wicker Park later this month. The bank, which is consolidating two of its Wicker Park branches into one new location, is taking over the former Tavern site which closed in 2017. The opening comes as the Milwaukee/Damen/North intersection has struggled with retail vacancies in recent years. (Block Club Chicago)
3. U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis will be hosting a town hall meeting on Monday, Aug. 21 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting is for constituents of the 7th Congressional District, which includes Oak Park, and will be held in the Council Chamber at Village Hall. This public meeting will cover several topics and will include discussions on important community issues. To learn more, call 773.533.7520. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Tuesday, August 15

• Baby Lapsit At Oak Park Public Library (11:00 AM)
• LEGO Club At Oak Park Public Library (2:00 PM)
• Oak Park Runners Club At Oak Park Public Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A new children’s playspace, Uppie Yuppy, will soon open in Six Corners down the road in Portage Park. The family-owned play space keeps little ones entertained for long periods of time with a slew of diverse activities. Uppie Yuppy caters to kids ages 1-12, with day passes beginning at $12.50—click the link to learn more. (Chicago Parent)
• The newest addition to the Brookfield Zoo herd is an adorable new Nyala calf. Nyala are a nesting species, meaning once the baby is born, they spend a few weeks hidden away from the herd with regular visits from mom to nurse. Now that she is a couple of months old, she has begun to explore more of the habitat with her family. Visit the zoo today to see the new calf for yourself! (Brookfield Zoo via Instagram)
• Restaurant critic and "Dining Table" podcast host David Manilow recently shared some of his go-to restaurants in the city, including three essential spots in the West Loop: Avec, La Josie, and Tivoli Tavern. Click the link to learn more about Manilow's favorite dishes and dining tips. (Crain's Chicago Business)

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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.