Natasa Glamoclija

One way to get to know the Village of Brookfield,IL and La Grange,IL and their business districts is if you come October 25, 2008 for their Halloween walk. Local stores will open their doors to mummies, vampires and all other little monsters roaming through the town and offer treats to these unusual guests of all ages. While the children dressed up in their favorite costume will enjoy eating candy, the adults can learn about the local stores and their assortment of attractive goods.

La Grange Halloween walk will start at 11 a.m. in front of Cossitt School playground and go through downtown La Grange till 1 p.m.

Brookfield Monsters on the Street walk will be from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m., which will finish with costume parade in front of Brookfield Historical Society. There all little monsters will get pumpkin and it will be chosen the best costume.

Dress up your favorite costume and come for trick or treat in Brookfield, IL and La Grange, IL!

RIVERSIDE, IL is one of the first planned communities in USA, incorporated in 1875 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970. Eastern businessman Emery Childs, with group of associates, purchased 1,600 acres along the Des Plaines River for residential development. The site was highly desirable due to its natural oak-hickory forest and 11 miles distance from Chicago downtown.

Landscape architect Frederic Law Olmsted, famous for design of New York City's Central Park, and his partner Calvert Vaux planned the streets to follow the Des Plaines River. Riverside supposed to combine the pleasures of rural living with urban conveniences such as community-provided gas, water services, and maintained streets. The plan also uses several large parks as a foundation. Architects Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, William Le Baron Jenney drew the plans for some houses that still stand in the village. Olmsted's reputation, plus the lovely curvilinear streets, open spaces, expansive green parkways and attractive village, attracted Chicago's elite. By the fall of 1871 a number of large, expensive houses were occupied.

Even Chicago fire of 1871 drew money away from the construction of Riverside and into the reconstruction of Chicago, it also forced many people to move away from the crowded City of Chicago and to Riverside.

The village housing stock varies from well-maintained 1920s bungalows and huge Victorian and early-twentieth-century mansions that attract architectural tours. In the 1920s and late 1930s, many modest houses were constructed on smaller parcels.

There are several restaurants as well as coffee shops, antiques stores that also sell Victorian house fixtures, in this charming village center.

The population was 8,895 at the 2000 census. Located just 11 miles west of downtown Chicago and on Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway (Metra station in center of town), Riverside is also convenient for people working in Chicago. It is located between O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport, with approximately a 30 minute drive to each.

Riverside is served by excellent District 96 for public schools (4 elementary schools, 1 junior high school). Great High School District 208 serves Riverside high school students.

If you would like to live in a town that is an architectural museum, located on Des Plaines River and not so far from Chicago downtown no matter if you are using train or car, with excellent schools and close to shopping mall, Riverside is just a right place for you.

LA GRANGE, IL - With expansion of Chicago metropolitan area many real estate developers were buying land along the newly built Burlington & Quincy railroad through western Cook County and one of them was Franklin Dwight Cossitt, who had successful wholesale grocery business. He purchased 600 acre of farmland and named it La Grange ("barn" in French) , after his cotton farm in Tennessee that he once owned. He wanted to build ideal suburban village and started planting trees, laying out streets and building quality homes. After Chicago Great Fire of 1871 thousand of citizens sought the opportunity to move out of increasingly congested city and 1879 Village of La Grange was incorporated.

La Grange is accessible from every direction: located on Route 12/20/45 or La Grange Rd, which is the main street, Route 34 (Ogden Avenue) and close to Interstates 290 and 55 and Tollway 294. Public transportation is provided by Metra train and Pace bus. It takes only 20 minutes from downtown Chicago to La Grange by train and 35 minutes by car.

La Grange maintains the image of mature community that offers diverse selection of housing that range from $300,000 to $1,300.000. Victorian, Queen Anne, and Prairie style homes are well preserved and maintain their architectural details through sensitive restoration. Median household income is significantly above state average.

La Grange has also established business district, newly built library and excellent schools. Smaller businesses in the center of town provide quality merchandise. Row of restaurants attracts lots of people, which make this town very alive in the evening and during a weekend. Quality restaurants are especially known for Italian and pizza fare, but also ethnic and international cuisine. There is on-street parking and newly built public parking building that can support additional guests coming for different public activities like Fine Arts Festival, annual Pet Parade, Christmas and Halloween walk, historic housewalks.

Excellent educational system is supported by nationally ranked Lyons Township High School that is showing excellent results in state tests and serves over 2800 students.

If you want to live close to downtown Chicago, in mature community with beautiful houses and great school district, area with quality restaurants and close to shopping centers, village that organizes different public activities throughout the year, La Grange is just ideal place for you.

I was asking myself the same question when one my friend was about to come to visit me. With all great places that we have around Chicagoland, there should be no problem. And here is where I took her:

1. CHICAGO DOWNTOWN: This should be definitely first on your list. This is why they want to come to Chicago. I would even suggest to take the train to downtown and walk. Since there should be lots of walking it is better that you wear very comfortable gym shoes. Walk along Michigan Avenue that shows lots of prestigious buildings (one of them is Chicago Tribune Building that has inset of stones from famous buildings all over the world) and is great for shopping. When you come to Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station be sure to mention that these two building were the only public buildings who survived the fire of 1871. I would suggest that you take your guest to John Hancock Center . The restaurant on the top ("Signature Room" ) is actually higher than observatory both on Hancock and Sears Tower ( highest building in America). For almost the same amount as your ticket for observatory would be you can get a drink there. Go east toward Michigan Lake and walk to Navy Pier, where you can make lots of pictures of downtown and sit and have dinner.

2. BROOKFIELD ZOO OR LINCOLN PARK ZOO: If you live in Chicago, it is closer for you to take your guest to Lincoln Zoo. For Brookfield Zoo, which is bigger and located in near west suburb Brookfield, you will need at least half day to see everything. Lincoln Zoo you can see in about 2-3 hours. Close to Lincoln Zoo is also Michigan Lake, so you can take a walk along the lake too.

3. CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN: It is located in northern Chicago suburb Glencoe and if you like flowers you will spend really nice day. Since there are 23 gardens that sit on 385 acres, plan to stay here all day.

4. NAPERVILLE: This is a very nice town located in west suburb. Has European feel, with little stores, narrow streets and beautiful river walk. If you have not been in Europe, this town with give you some idea how it is there. You can take your guest to Naper Settlement, 19^th century historic museum village with costumed villagers, too.

5. LONG GROVE VILLAGE: Stroll cobblestone sidewalks in this charming historic village, full of stores and galleries. Lots of festivities are organized throughout the year.

6. MORTON ARBORETUM: If you enjoy nature, you can follow walking paths through forests and along the lakes and have your child play in Children's Garden and climb up the tree house. Since you can drive through the park, you can chose in which parking you want to park the car and start your hike from there. It is located in Lisle, west Chicago suburb.

7. CHICAGO MUSEUMS: There are many museums in Chicago, but I prefer to take my guests to Field Museum or Aquarium. In the evening I take them to Rush street for dinner, which is always full of people and nice restaurants.

8. RAVINIA: Located in Highland Park. During summer you can come here and enjoy this unique picnicking. Bring a blanket and look for your favorite spot on the lawn and listen symphony, pop and jazz concerts. As the night comes you will enjoy great concert at candlelight as you gaze at the stars above. Your guest will love this unique experience.

9. ERNEST HEMINGWAY BIRTH HOUSE AND MUSEUM AND FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME AND STUDIO: You can view houses of famous American novelist and architect at the same time, because they are all located in Oak Park.

10. GRAUE MILL AND MUSEUM: Located in Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook and it was once a family home used also to hide runaway slaves on their journey to freedom in Canada. President Abraham Lincoln reportedly visited Graue Mill. I like to take my guests there because there is a beautiful river walk too.

I hope you will enjoy this Chicagoland tour the same as your guest. I know I did.

Brookfield, IL, near west suburb of Chicago, is a middle-class community with circa 19,000 people. It is situated 35 min. away from downtown Chicago, or 25 minutes by train (Metra and there are 3 stations: Hollywood, Congress Park and Brookfield). Has easy access to I-55 and I-290 expressways .

The village initially was named Grossdale, after real estate developer Samuel Eberly Gross, whose influence was very visible in the village at that time. Liberal use of his name on many buildings and streets annoyed the citizens to the point that they changed the name of village into Brookfield. However, the name "Grossdale" remained on the old station building.

Housing style range from Victorian homes built by Gross to bungalows, ranches, bi-levels, Queen Anne, Georgian. Prices for most single family homes range from $220,000 to $350,000. Rentals ran from $700 for one bedroom, $770 for two bedroom and $900 for three bedroom apartments. Even Brookfield is nestled between Riverside and La Grange, towns with more expensive housing and taxes, Brookfield residents pay lower taxes.

Primary elementary school district is 95 (even districts 96, 102 and 103 also serve the village), 204 for Riverside-Brookfield High School and 204 for Lyons Township, all excellent schools who meet or exceed state goals and have very high graduation rate.

The main tourist attraction is Brookfield Zoo which draws lots of visitors every day. The zoo is located on land given by Edith Rockefeller McCormick in 1919.

With low taxes, convenient transportation, great schools, beautiful nature (named Tree City USA), famous zoo, Brookfield is a great place to live, raise a family, shop and do business.