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150 Greatest Places in IL Riverside!!!
(19 posts)-
Posted Wednesday Mar 28, 2007 09:28 #
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Thanks for posting this Kim. All the more reason to see if we can get a grant from the State of Illinois for some tourism budget $$.
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 15:07 # -
Walking Tours of Riverside - Tentative 2007
The last Sunday of each month (May-October) 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours depart from the Riverside Train Depot. A donation of $7 is suggested ($5 for seniors and students with ID). Attendees receive a commemorative Riverside map and brochure. Tours of North and South Riverside alternate monthly. Group tours for 10 or more can be arranged by calling 708-442-7675 or 708-442-0845.
May 27 (North tour)
June 24 (South tour)
July 29 (North tour)
August 26 (South tour)
September 30 (North tour)
October 28 (South tour)
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 17:12 # -
I'm interested in people coming to Riverside to learn more about Olmsted, experience his design principles, and see the Wright houses which are rally important examples of the master's work, but then what do they do. If they would patronize the local merchants, make respectful (quiet) viosits to the Library, etc., that would be perfect, but I fear thatn when you take money from the gov you have to give something back. We have had a glimmer of what the strings are/were for the Delaplaine funding, the curbs vs. electric light trade-off in town, and we will se what the strings are on the Centennial "Plaza" money in terms of lighting standards, etc. Unfortunatly, there is no free lunch. Let's do a simple brochure for archi-tourists and distribute it free at the Oak Park Visitor's Center and the Wright Studio Gift Shop - say spend $1500. on the make up and $1000 on printing and see what that does as a market test for what we can draw with the Riverside Brand and Wright, etc. Then let's se if it is what we want., if it pays, etc. If we want more, reprints are cheap. If not, we will have learned something for a lot less than Kane McKenna are costing. Why can't we just stop pallavering and try this?
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 20:19 # -
I think this is a great idea and I agree with Mr. Spatny that this is low cost way to help build the Riverside brand.
In fact, I would like to 'kick it up a notch'. Keep in mind that I am only brain storming here.
Every year, Oak Park offers a 'Wright Plus' tour. The 'Wright Plus' tour adds other well known architects to the mix.
Why don't we consider forming a 'Plus' relationship with Oak Park. First you could think about this from the perspective of an annual tour. When I go the 'Wright Plus' tours I always enjoy striking up a conversation with the people in line because they are usually very nice, interesting people and we share a common interest.
At last year's tour, I actually went back to my car for a map. The reason? The couple ahead of us flew in from out of town because they were interested in Wright's architecture. I mentioned that we had a few Wright homes in Riverside, and got a good response: "Oh that is right! Is Riverside near here?". I showed them where the Wright houses were in Riverside; and, the couple was very pleased and intended to go for a look even though there were no houses open for tour.
Beyond the tour, we could think about mentioning each other in architecture related portions of our web sites and also in each other's Wright-related marketing material.
Think about what we have to offer Oak Park: More Wright, means a larger offering which could lead to more tourism for both of us.
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 20:53 # -
While we are on the topic of our Riverside brand & tourism, take a look at the Riverside web site and look at Oak Park's new Home page.
Which one do you think looks more inviting to tourists?
First, take a Post-it note and place it over the Starbucks. Then look at how nicely the tabs are layed out on both the top and bottom of the screen. Then click through on any link. The link's all flow through to the same old web pages.
Naturally a graphics/web designer probably earned a nice fee for their home page; but I think we should consider investing a smaller amount of money (maybe ask for donations) to re-orient our home page toward tourism.
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 21:25 # -
I think we should use the classic photos of these homeas and line drawings - which can be done in sepia or even green. If you want Riverside there are easy ways to bring out the essence of the Olmsted plan - even show the plan - maybe have a contest where the people that visit drop their names in a bell jar and win a print of The General Plan or something. In Riverside you can show how something looked a long tme back - originally - and then a very similar picture now as we did for our 50th Reunion last year. If the brochure links with a clear map how to get from the Wright Studio/Unity to Riverside and back via River Forest it would be a winner. All we need is to get off our asses and do it.
Posted Friday Mar 30, 2007 21:55 # -
Wilkins, you don't like the Village website with the picture of a guy cutting down a tree right below the quote "Village In A Forest"? Or better yet the police car and a full on blaze? It says action to me, a place to visit and see chopping, burning and shooting. All we need is a saloon or liquor store on the home page and you have hit all my main areas of interest.
Mr. Spatny you are probably right about the government money. Let's see if we can't get the chamber interested in the project in addition to advertising in the Landmark. I was in Savannah and Charleston this week and the had great one (1) page maps with all the highlights plus a little advertising on the bottom of the map. It is one way to go. Or raise the money thru a non-profit organization like the FLOS so people or businesses could make contributions.
I am back in town now so we should be able to meet Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Do you need to sign up for the room in the basement of the library?
Posted Sunday Apr 1, 2007 17:05 # -
This is the week that was. Tomorrow is Evening with Olmsted. Tusday is the COW and Regular Meeting Combo, in the Library. Wed. is the Robling Dist. 208 Candidate discussion at the Irish Times Thur. is Dst 96 TIF meeting, I think. Also, I haven't been able to get my materials back - if they still exist - from the Vil. Mgr./EDC yet, which has a meeting on the 5th, I think. I'll get back to you as soon as I can track them down.
Posted Sunday Apr 1, 2007 17:12 # -
this one.
Posted Sunday Apr 1, 2007 21:35 #
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