25 New Businesses Open in Lake Forest in the Past 20 Months

New businesses include a photography studio, restaurants and retail stores.

This has been a record year for small businesses in Lake Forest, according to Susan Kelsey, Lake Forest’s economic development coordinator. “In the past 20 months, 25 businesses have opened in Lake Forest. The remaining are opening up before the end of this year and early next year." "The city has been streamlining the process for new businesses and we hope that is one reason they are opening so fast,” Kelsey said. Bloom & Focus, Kerri Sherman’s photography studio and gallery, is one of Lake Forest’s newest businesses, opened on October 11. Sherman, a Lake Forester for the last seven years, said it wasn’t hard to follow her passion despite the slowly recovering national economy. She knew she had something unique to offer – a space to …

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Lake Forest Artist Among 30 On Display at Artisan Guild Holiday Boutique

Sande Noble debuts new purses made from silk ties.

Lake Forest resident Sande Noble was born with artistic talent, it’s in her DNA. “My creativity came from my mom, she could do anything, she was amazing. My sister is a studio art major, so clearly that has all carried along,” smiled Noble as she talked about her innate ability to create jewelry, crocheted scarves and hats, and silk tie purses. Noble graduated from Lake Forest College with a degree in art history and was recently named 2011 Artisan of the Year by the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Artisan Guild. The Guild was created in 2005 when 13 local artists, Noble included, decided that their work was too special to keep to themselves. They put together a Christmas show in a room at the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society. This year's …

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Lake Forest Resident Earns Award at College of Lake County Exhibit

Will be on display through Nov. 7.

Lake Forest resident Brad Coleman recently received an award of excellence for his art entry in the 31st annual Recent Works Exhibition for Lake County Artists at a Sept. 30 reception attended by 375 people at the College of Lake County Gallery of Art. The competition represents only visual artists who live or work in Lake County. The following awards were presented. The Recent Works exhibit attracted 284 entries, with 63 pieces from 60 artists selected. The exhibit will be on view in the gallery through Nov. 7. The exhibit’s jurors were David Holmes, emeritus professor of art, University of Wisconsin–Parkside, and Didier Nolet, artist and educator.

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Dickinson Hall Artists Showcase Their Work on Highland Park Art Wall

Wall created in memory of late Highland Park resident.

The Dickinson Hall Artists of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Senior Center recently showcased their artistic talents in September on the Ruth Fell Community Art Wall at the First Bank of Highland Park. The Ruth Fell Wander Community Art Wall was created in 2002 to showcase novice artwork from local schools and non-profit organizations, as well as to give visibility to the various resources and services offered to the community. Each month, First Bank of Highland Park extends a personal invitation to each artist and/or organization to attend a reception in celebration of their exhibition. Fell Wander served on First Bank of Highland Park’s Board of Directors from 1987 until 2002. She passed away in 2002.

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Photo Gallery: Deer Path Art League Brings Visual To Market Square

Sunday's Cloudy skies didn't keep the crowds away from Lake Forest's 57th annual Art Fair on the Square.

For more photos from the weekend of activity in Lake Forest - including Lake Forest High School football to the Heritage Festival to the Dave Mason Band, visit our Facebook page and "like" us.

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