As he walked through Scoville Park Nov. 5 and headed toward the Oak Park Public Library, Ben Shirk, 39, of Oak Park stopped to answer a few questions for the Oak Leaves.
Q: What brings you out today?
A: Going to the library; I live only a block away. I usually get movies or see what they have. I never know what I might find. I was looking for some homeless people I wanted to give leftovers to, also. We went to an Italian restaurant last night. Otherwise, the food goes bad.
Q: Favorite local restaurant?
A: I like Maya Del Sol. Honestly, what I really like: Mickey’s Gyros and Ribs has, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays, a full slab of ribs for like $14 or $15, and it’s really good.
Q: Fall activity you enjoy?
A: I’m from southern Indiana; my family’s near Cincinnati. I like to do cider tours. I don’t like beer, but I like cider.
Q: Thanksgiving dish you always reach for?
A: I’ll go into Indiana for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. There’s this dish with strawberry jello, strawberries and pineapple, and sour cream, and the juices soak into the sour cream and make it sweet.
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Q: Charity of choice?
A: I’m in banking. I work in international finance. I was on the board of a couple nonprofits, and my favorite is Youth Guidance, through The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. It offers after-school programs on the south and west sides of Chicago, to keep kids out of trouble. And I do stuff with St. Edmund’s Young Adults.
Caitlin Mullen is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.