Chicago advice?

[Jean Louise Finch]

Hi everyone!

I'm heading to Chicago in at the end of next month for a wedding. The wedding and reception are both in a place called Oak Park, which looks to be West of downtown. My partner and I try to avoid staying in the big giant hotels like the ones recommended by the bride and groom, and are looking for a cool place to stay for the weekend (boutique hotel, B&B or Inn). Does anyone have any particular suggestions for a place to stay? Would it be infeasible to stay Downtown when we're really just there for a Saturday evening wedding out in Oak Park? Are there particular inner suburbs that are generally awesome and between downtown/Oak Park? I have no idea about Chicago, only have been there once before.

Any advice you can offer would be great -- we like to eat and generally just wander about interesting neighborhoods. Not big into doing more touristy things.

Thanks in advance!
Jean Louise Finch

[elleng]

1. I lived in Chicago, but never made it to Oak Park,

I do recall it has some special things going for it.

Here's Frank Lloyd Wright:

http://www.oprf.com/flw/

and Ernest Hemingway:

http://www.ehfop.org/

Hotels and b&b:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=oak+park+illinois+hotels&revid=417714199&ei=6SojSsvvAsOFtgeemejbBg&sa=X&oi=revisions_inline&resnum=0&ct=broad-revision&cd=2

Have Fun!

[LuckyLib]

2. I avoid big hotels as well, but for Chicago stay near the Loop where you can walk to both sights

and neighborhoods. Then find a way (taxi, bus) to get to your Oak Park wedding. I've stayed at the Omni off of Michigan Ave., and found it quiet and many rooms are suites. You can walk everywhere, bus down the Loop, travel through wonderful neighborhood on the north side, Lincoln Park, etc.