The
Sears Tower is still well within view from this community of 16,000
-- 10 miles due west of the Loop. The village of Forest Park features
a thriving business district of restaurants, shops and art galleries
along Madison Street.
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At the Painted Board Studio, owner Jennifer Taylor paints on traditional
canvas, but she is especially passionate about painted furniture
and a practical work of art called a "rugoleum."
"I made up that word. I made it up because on the back of this-this
is actually a piece of linoleum and decided maybe we could paint
on the backs of these pieces of linoleum and I called them rugoleums,"
said Jennifer Taylor, Painted Board Studio Owner.
Making the rugoleums easy to clean, the finishing coats of polyurethane
even stand up to heavy foot traffic in a hallway or kitchen. And
at $10-dollars a square foot, a custom rugoleum can blend with any
room's décor.
"They'll come in and say 'my living room is this color wall or
sofa, or whatever and can you take those colors and somehow make
them work in the piece.' I can't help but notice your beautiful
shirt and I'm thinking in honor of the day what we'll do is paint
this rugoleum to look like your shirt. I love these colors," said
Jennifer Taylor.
With my blouse for inspiration, a few of my own brush strokes
and lots of Jennifer's talent, I must say that our rugoleum looks
great.
If you are feeling confident in your creativity, you can try stained
glass across Madison Street at Two Fish Art Glass.
"What we teach students is you do a basic drawing, lay it out
and choose your colors which is very important and then you make
a pattern for each piece and then cut the glass," said Cecilia Hardacker,
Two Fish Art Glass Co-Owner.
In the back workshop portion of the store, Two Fish offers classes
for all skill levels. The front of the store showcases an amazing
selection of windows and lighting.
"The housing stock is full of old homes that pertain to mission,
arts and crafts and prairie lighting," said Tonya Hart, Two Fish
Art Glass Co-Owner.
After creating your work of art, the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor
is great place for dessert. With sundaes named after family members,
owners Connie and Matt Brown strive for an old-fashioned, homey
feel.
"Someplace for families, kids, anybody really to come to the main
street of Forest Park and have a treat and celebrate. It's just
kind of a gathering for family and friends," said Connie Brown,
Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor Co-Owner.
These days many more people are gathering in Forest Park.
"Especially in the last year and a half since we've been open,
you're getting a lot more retail type places, a lot more family
friendly type places and it's becoming more a destination, not something
where you just stop on your way home," said Matt Brown, Brown Cow
Ice Cream Parlor Co-Owner.
For more information:
Village of Forest Park
www.forestpark.net
Painted Board Studio
7418 West Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 771-7246
www.paintedboardstudio.com
Two Fish Art Glass
7401 West Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 366-6800
www.twofishartglass.com
Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor
7314 West Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
(708) 366-7970
www.browncowicecream.com
