I’ve always fancied myself a skilled antiquer, but Arcadia Vintage in Forest Park proved I’ve been playing in the minor leagues. Opened this summer by a longtime Forest Park Emporium vendor in the space that once housed that store, Arcadia has its own vision. Each booth is an impeccably styled vignette: Ruby-red blown glassware gleams from glass shelving; tufted chairs sit under art nouveau prints; and wallpaper, area rugs, and chandeliers make each space feel like a lived-in room — just with much more stuff. Arcadia also throws a few curveballs: lucha libre masks, a Mr. Peanut statue, token Sweet Valley High paperbacks. Forest Park Emporium, for its part, has simply moved a couple of blocks down the street. I, meanwhile, am apparently now collecting porcelain cats and Tracy Chapman records. 7345 Madison St., Forest Park arcadiavintagefp.com
Kelly Aiglon is a freelance writer for Chicago magazine.