The Forest Park Main Street Progressive Dinner/Arts al fresco held on Sunday, July 16, 2006 was a huge success. Four hundred and seventy three hungry participants feasted on an array of fabulous appetizers, soups, salads and entrees prepared by the chefs of caffe De Luca, Chang Thai, Cocina Lobos, Flavour Cooking School, Francesca’s Fiore, Healy’s Westside, Jimmy’s Place, Madison Street Grill, Molly Malone’s, O’Sullivan’s Public House, Shanahan’s and Skrine Chops.
Throughout the dinner participants were treated to the chalk art creations and musical and theatrical entertainment of many local artists and entertainers: (Dadabeat, Jim Bruno, Black Bear Combo, Gasse School of Music, Winni Haun, Alice Max, Steckman Jazz Studio, Grown in Motion, Smith and McMahon, Glenn Braun, Allison Gawor) Many thanks to Form: Contemporary Clothing for Men and Women and Trage Bros. for providing water throughout the evening to keep our participants cool and hydrated.
At the dessert reception participants listened to the sounds of The Grand Avenue Band while enjoying dessert prepared by the owners of Blue Max Cafe, Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, Harrison Street Café and La Piazza accompanied by dessert wines presented by Famous Liquors.
The planter box Auction was a great new feature added to the sixth annual Progressive Dinner dessert reception. Wooden planter boxes, designed and built by Jay Boeldt of Plan B Gallery, were sponsored by local businesses (Accents By Fred, Boulevard Fine Art/Painted Board, Briolette, Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, Forest Park Main Street, Forest Park Review, Gallery Etcetera, Gerger and Greco Landscaping, Louie’s Grill, Pat’s Pet Emporium, Plan B Gallery, The Old School Records, The Post, Todd & Holland Tea Merchants, Trage Bros., Tri-Star Gymnastics, St. Berardine Parish) and artistically painted by local artists (Katie Alvord, Students of Ferancak Gallery, Marcia LaPorte, Jeanine Guncheon, Fred Bryant/Ann Hanson, David Manola/Jennifer Taylor, Margie Wilkinson, Steve Fisher, Sarah Abarbanel, Georgia Kmetz, Glenn Braun, Ellen Miles, Alice Max, Annie Max, Chuck Michala). Participants were able to bid on these unique and beautiful planters. Eighteen people went away with a beautiful new planter box while supporting the efforts of the Forest Park Main Street Association.
The Forest Park Main Street Association would especially like to thank the title sponsor of the 2006 Progressive Dinner, Consolidated Auto Service Center, along with the many other supporting sponsors, chalk art and entertainment sponsors: Todd & Holland Tea Merchants, Spotless CarWash, Carriage Flower Shop, Shanahan’s, Flavour Cooking School, Forest Park Development, Two Fish Art Glass, R. Quitsch Florist, Krenek’s Antiques, Forest Park Emporium, Pat’s Pet Emporium, Francesca’s, Louie’s Grill, The Old School Records, Accents By Fred, Plan B Gallery).
A special thank you goes out to the staff at Flavour Cooking School for handling registration and answering the questions of new and previous participants and to the staff at the Howard Mohr Community Center for compiling the “goody bags” given out to each of the participants.
The day of the event requires the hard work of many volunteers for set-up, registration, street patrol and safety, information and clean-up. A special thank you to the following people for their hard work: Dave and Amy Rita, Deb Michalak, Molly Hanrahan, Pamela Brookstein, Susan Montgomery, Lynn Rush, Brie Jodoin, Maggie Kloak, Christine Malone, Lou Adamak, Barb Crawford, Maureen Martin, Ann, Cara and Joan White and the Village of Forest Park Police and Fire Departments and the Village of Forest Park Public Works Department.
Thank you to the committee who worked many hours to make this event the huge success that it was. (Amy, Susie, Kim, Kim, Paige, Jayne, Deb, Pamela, Vanessa, Jodi, Georgia and Jay). Your efforts are truly appreciated.
Forest Park Main Street is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit Organization relying on funding from membership dues, grants, private contributions and events such as the Progressive Dinner/Arts Al Fresco.
The Forest Park Main Street Redevelopment Association wishes to thank all the participants and volunteers for supporting our fund-raising efforts so that we may continue to improve the social and economic environment of this great community of Forest Park.
Dorothy Gillian
Event Chairman
