Democrats in La Grange, Oak Park, Riverside? (home, live)

[via chicago]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

True, but the Oak Park of his time (WASP, Republican, wealthy elite) is not the Oak Park of today.

Oh, I know this. But I still find it kind of amusing how OP loves to pride themselves on Hemingway, when he couldnt wait to get out of there.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Oh, I know this. But I still find it kind of amusing how OP loves to pride themselves on Hemingway, when he couldnt wait to get out of there.

I find it funny too, but its not unique to Oak Park. May cities lionize native sons who couldn't stand the place.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Anthera

I find it funny too, but its not unique to Oak Park. May cities lionize native sons who couldn't stand the place.

You kind of have to for the tourist dollars.

Hemingway used that famous "broad lawns and narrow minds" line to describe the Oak Park of his youth, which was WASPY, Republican elite, and a DRY TOWN! Of course Hemingway hated it. You're talking about a man who almost drank himself to death multiple times.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by via chicago

Oh, I know this. But I still find it kind of amusing how OP loves to pride themselves on Hemingway, when he couldnt wait to get out of there.

Its also ironic that the other Oak Park icon, Frank Lloyd Wright, was ostracized and essential driven out of town for having a scandalous affair with the wife of one of his clients.

Now, one hundred years later, Oak Park tourism lives on these two Oak Park expatriots!

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Its also ironic that the other Oak Park icon, Frank Lloyd Wright, was ostracized and essential driven out of town for having a scandalous affair with the wife of one of his clients.

Now, one hundred years later, Oak Park tourism lives on these two Oak Park expatriots!

I am originally from Madison, WI, and there was still controversey over Wright in that town as I was growing up. They wanted to build his 1950s design for the Monona Terrace convention center, but some old-timers in the city were against it because they disliked Wright and his politics. They didn't get that building done until the late 1990s after a LENGTHY political process.

Also, there was a rumor going around the University of Wisconsin that they never created an architecture program in Madison because they were afraid that Wright would insist on teaching there. I have no idea if that's true!

[mickey laurie]

To Sukoo and Via Chicago,

It is ironic that Oak Park now prides itself on these guys. I agree but it makes good PR for the town.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

You kind of have to for the tourist dollars.

Hemingway used that famous "broad lawns and narrow minds" line to describe the Oak Park of his youth, which was WASPY, Republican elite, and a DRY TOWN! Of course Hemingway hated it. You're talking about a man who almost drank himself to death multiple times.

There is tourism in Oak Park? Who knew!

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Its also ironic that the other Oak Park icon, Frank Lloyd Wright, was ostracized and essential driven out of town for having a scandalous affair with the wife of one of his clients.

Now, one hundred years later, Oak Park tourism lives on these two Oak Park expatriots!

Well, I think that it would make any of his potential clients with an attractive wife think twice about hiring him. It was pretty scandalous, and the aftermath was pretty gruesome.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by Anthera

There is tourism in Oak Park? Who knew!

Have you ever been there? And seen the throngs of architects and retirees walking around with headphones on looking at houses and Unity Temple? It's enough to make me avoid living in a FLW house for fear of people peaking in my windows all of the time...

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Have you ever been there? And seen the throngs of architects and retirees walking around with headphones on looking at houses and Unity Temple? It's enough to make me avoid living in a FLW house for fear of people peaking in my windows all of the time...

Well, since my great grandparents moved to OP in 1880's and my grandfather, and father and uncles and cousins were raised there, yes I do know OP. One uncle still lives in my GG's house, and a cousin lives in my grandparents house.

However, I wouldn't consider architectural tours "tourism". I was thinking more along the lives of something that would effect OP's economy, involving a hotel. I consider (having lived in a historic district) daytrippers to be an annoyance. I didn't like people staring into my windows and even weirder, strangers asking if they could come in a see my home's interior. The art students that would occasionally sit outside my place sketching were charming, but otherwise its just irritating.