At the center of Chicago's Northwest Suburbs, Arlington Heights has a history both as an agricultural community and as a small railroad suburb, but did not evolve its modern character of suburban nexus until relatively recently. The character of Arlington Heights today suggests a contemporary community that appreciates both the 19th-Century lineage of suburban Chicagoland and the varied oppurtunities for expression offered by postmodernity. Many of the structures in the large commercial downtown, which has emerged along the grid of streets west of the railroad station, appear new, but their architectural styles evoke the Victorian and Edwardian splendor that distinguishes Chicago's older landmarks. Farther afield, the Yaohan Plaza on Algonquin Road offers Japanese food and products in a contemporary Asian setting, and the historic Arlington Park race track on Euclid hosts world-class horseracing in a gracious locale.
< In Arlington Heights' downtown, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre offers theater, music, and comedy in an attractive new facility.
