"Wright and Wrong" Day Trip To Oak Park and River Forest

On Tuesday, October 18, the EP Office of Citizens' Services will host a fascinating trip into the history of two near-westside villages.

The dazzling suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest are, without question, two of the most architecturally significant areas in the entire Midwest and have worked tirelessly to preserve their rich heritages.

In 1889, Frank Lloyd Wright and his wife settled in Oak Park, where he built his home and studio, which is where he produced more than a third of his life's work. This tour brings guests to that home, where he pioneered a new vision for American architecture, called "Prairie style".

Next, the tour goes past Ernest Hemingway's boyhood home and Wright's Unity Temple before lunch at the iconic Russell's BBQ.

The afternoon half of the tour finds guests joined by John Binder, author/History Channel consultant and Chicago mob historian.

Binder takes guests past the homes and mansions of the famous organized crime figures, including Chicago bosses Tony Accardo, Paul Ricca, Machine Gun Jack McGurn and Sam Giancana. Hear of Giancana's alleged ties with JFK, the CIA and Frank Sinatra and other intriguing tales.

Later, guests pass by Accardo's second River Forest home and learn about the infamous 1978 burglary and the resulting mayhem in the mob underworld that followed.

Tickets for the "Wright and Wrong" bus tour (including lunch) are available at the Community Center, which is located at 3450 W. 97th Street. Tickets are $110 per person; the bus leaves the Community Center parking lot at 8:30am. Reservations are due this Friday, August 13, so please get your tickets ordered!

ROYAL OAK FARM ORCHARD TRIP! The department is also offering a one-day trip to this beautiful orchard in Harvard, IL on Tuesday, September 20 for a cost of $80, which includes a lunch at the orchard's Country Kitchen Restaurant. SIGN UP NOW!

For more information, please call (708) 422-8776