Leanne Stuckey of Flossmoor grew up with a facial birthmark that caused her years of insecurity and self-consciousness. It took well into adulthood before she was able to push those feelings aside and realize that rather than viewing it as abnormal, it could be something recognized as “uniquely beautiful.” She’s[Read More…]
Author: Carrie Steinweg
Siam Thai serves final customers after nearly 40 years in business
When Siam Thai closed its doors for the last time on Feb. 28, there were customers who actually wept. After 39 years of operating their restaurant in Matteson and then Flossmoor, owners Noi and Nate Monaikul acquired a large number of regulars – many of them becoming friends. Owners Noi[Read More…]
Flossmoor woman creates intricate gingerbread village annually for more than half a century
The holiday season begins early for Janet Gustafson of Flossmoor. You’re more likely to see Easter merchandise and summer gear in the store than Christmas trees and stockings and twinkling lights when she starts getting into Christmas mode each spring. From left, gingerbread artist Janet Gustafson of Flossmoor and Flossmoor[Read More…]
Open Access provides Thanksgiving meals for 1,000 families
The holidays are a magical time filled with excess and luxury for some, but for a lot of people in the area it is a time when ongoing struggles are magnified. For those living with food insecurity, just having meals from day to day is a challenge and the idea[Read More…]
Homewood centenarian was pioneer in her profession
When someone turns 100, you might not expect that they’d have much of a social calendar. But that’s not the case for Marjorie Wright of Homewood, who hit the century mark on Oct. 10. There had been several weeks of celebrations leading up to the big day, a family wedding[Read More…]
Pandemic pivot turns permanent at Redbird Cafe
Before March 2020, Redbird Cafe was a full-service restaurant where people would linger at decorative tables with a mug of coffee and a breakfast or lunch served on ceramic dishes. Then suddenly, “everything changed,” said owner Kim Nolen. “In the week or so prior to businesses and public spaces being[Read More…]
Company hired to manage La Banque/La Voute
La Banque Hotel and La Voute Bistro + Bar are under new management. Charlestowne Hospitality Management Company began managing the 1925 former bank property last November. The company has a clientele of over 40 hotels and over 30 restaurants nationwide which now includes the downtown boutique hotel that opened in[Read More…]
Culture Food & Entertainment now open after renovations
Culture Food & Entertainment, 18031 Dixie Highway, Homewood, officially reopened Tuesday, July 12, serving its first guests from 6 p.m. to midnight. “We are so excited. We are happy to still be here, because we know a lot of businesses didn’t make it over COVID,” said co-owner Joan Sullivan. The[Read More…]
2nd Dunning’s Battle of the Chefs raising funds for autism awareness
Dunning’s Market in Flossmoor will host its 2nd Annual Battle of the Chefs event July 9. Maureen Mader, owner of Dunning’s, is passionate about supporting individuals on the autism spectrum and is again making this gastronomic event not just about the food, but a fundraiser supporting the iCanDream Center in[Read More…]
Dunning’s Market, a community staple, marks 25 years
This week Maureen Mader is celebrating a quarter century of ownership of Dunning’s Market, but the business itself goes back more than six decades. It was established in 1958 in Homewood, and Mader is the business’s second owner. The market has seen many changes over the years (including surviving a[Read More…]
