Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Oak Park Conservatory A 'Hidden Gem' In The Community: Best Of 2025
Also check out Lunch & Learn on the Oak Park Patch calendar

Hello Oak Park! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why neighbors call Oak Park Conservatory a true hidden gem
- How will a new I-294 ramp speed Oak Park commutes?
Also on today's calendar: Lunch & Learn and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Oak Park? Post it to Oak Park photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Breezy and not as cold, with a high of 37 and low of 31 degrees.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 37, low: 31.
- Thursday: Windy with rain, then cooler, with a high of 47 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
• Oak Park Conservatory A 'Hidden Gem' In The Community: Best Of 2025 (patch.com) — Oak Park residents are celebrating the Oak Park Conservatory as a peaceful, educational retreat and one of the village’s true hidden gems. A local resident praises its plant education programs, spring plant sale, and cozy winter escape, while Patch and T-Mobile invite more Best of 2025 nominations highlighting what neighbors love most about Oak Park.
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• ‘We finally got the ramp open': Access from tollway to North Avenue a game-changer (dailyherald.com) — Drivers in Oak Park could see faster trips along North Avenue thanks to a new I-294 ramp at County Line Road that gives direct eastbound access to the corridor. Officials say the $50 million project should cut local travel times, ease congestion in nearby towns like Northlake and Elmhurst, and improve safety with rebuilt roads, added signals, and better drainage.
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📸 Around Oak Park
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Park
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Lunch & Learn
West Central SDA Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park
12:30 pm
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Jimmy Kimmel's Ariel Elias in Oak Park for One Night Only
Comedy Plex Comedy Club , 1128 Lake St Lower Level , Oak Park
7:30 pm - Candlelight Oak Park: Christmas Pop Classics
Arts Center , 200 N Oak Park Ave , Oak Park
6:30 pm - Jazz Prayer - Where Jazz Meets Spirit
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , 611 Randolph St , Oak Park
7:10 pm - Comedian Pares Ratliff: The Last Truth Tellers
Comedy Plex Comedy Club , 1128 Lake St Lower Level , Oak Park
10:00 pm - Snoopy Holiday Sip and Paint Art Class
Toast To Paint , 7185 W Bloomingdale Ave , Chicago
7:00 pm - Hoiday Sing Along Concert with Gingerbread House Decorating
Unity Oak Park Spiritual & Family Center , 405 N Euclid Ave , Oak Park
9:00 am - Tis the season!
The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association , 178 Forest Ave #1 , Oak Park
1:15 pm - FREE Open Mic Comedy & Wise Cup Coffee
Comedy Plex Comedy Club , 1128 Lake St Lower Level , Oak Park
8:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Monday December 22
Wednesday December 24
📣 Oak Park Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Intramurals - 4th & 5th Grade
Elmhurst SD 205 Elmhurst, IL 60126
7:15 am - Junior High Internet Safety Presentation
Komarek School District , 8940 W 24th Street , North Riverside
8:15 am - Emerson Winter Sing
Elmhurst SD 205 Elmhurst, IL 60126
8:30 am - Tuesday Tales (Ages 0-6)
River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Avenue , River Forest
10:00 am
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Oak Park PatchAM possible:
- Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
Discover Oak Park’s Hidden Gem – A living world of beauty - Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming… - Art Studio 928 - Oak Park, IL — (312) 371-9526
From Team Off-Sites to Parties – Host It at Studio 928! - Doug Lalli - Jazz Musician, Composer and Teacher — (708) 228-7150
Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson! - Doug Lalli - Pianist/Composer/Teacher — (708) 228-7150
Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- MaidPro, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeper/Housekeeping in Oak Park. Apply here.
- Sweetgreen, Inc. posted a job opening for Chicago - Oak Park - Shift Leader in Oak Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Park here.
🗞 Nearby News
Berwyn
- Records reveal husband who shot and killed Berwyn assistant principal had his firearm license revoked by Illinois State Police (chicagotribune.com)
- The Government Unconstitutionally Labels ICE Observers as Domestic Terrorists (cato.org)
Cicero
- Person of interest in fatal stabbing in Cicero taken into custody in Chicago following pursuit, police say (wgntv.com)
- Ruling expected soon from judge overseeing lawsuit brought by Cicero diner against Illinois Gaming Board (suntimes.com)
- Cop planned hit on investigator: lawsuit (suntimes.com)
La Grange
Ok Oak Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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