Having hit the streets for the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Open House Chicago in 2013, I had my routine down for this year’s event. I reviewed the site list on Open House Chicago’s website and selected the sites I was eager to visit. Then, I mapped the most efficient route with Google Maps. Finally, I considered my possible modes of transportation, concluding that I could walk and bike wherever I needed to go. The weather forecast for October 18 and 19 was sunny and beautiful!
Saturday, the 18th, I awoke to clouds and sprinkles. Nonetheless, I, along with my trusty umbrella and my equally trusty husband, started out bright (well, perhaps not bright due to the clouds) and early to our first destination, the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. The church has a domed auditorium and its original Hutchings-Votey pipe organ. On display were several old photographs, including one showing an old neighbor of the church–the original Ferris wheel, which had been moved to Clark Street after the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition! I learned Christian Science churches are numbered as they are built in a particular city. As this church was the second Christian Science church built in Chicago, it was named the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. Today, it is the oldest Christian Science church in Chicago still offering services.
Next, it was umbrellas up, and on to the Brewster Apartments. Special features include glass-block walkways, ironwork, and a manually operated caged elevator. While a ride to an upper floor in the caged elevator was advertised as behind-the-scenes access for this venue, rides were not being given Saturday morning and access was limited to the first floor entry area and the second floor.
Lincoln Park Conservatory was the final stop of the morning. I love plants and learning about them, so I found the special open house access to the production greenhouses fascinating. An enthusiastic and well-trained docent guided us on our tour. Some of the original greenhouses remain along with their beautiful stone foundations. One of the newer greenhouses contains poinsettias and princettias (a newer plant similar to the poinsettia, but it is more compact and comes in various pinks and white) that will be part of the conservatory’s Winter Flower and Train Show opening on November 29, 2014. The specialist who takes care of these plants was available to talk and answer questions. He educated us on how he trains the poinsettias to grow from the shorter, smaller plants normally sold in stores and greenhouses to larger bush and tree-like poinsettias. I can’t wait to see these gorgeous plants in the winter flower show!
Saturday afternoon began with a bus ride (my biking plans were no longer an option due to the lingering rain) to the Warwick Allerton Hotel to visit the former Tip Top Tap lounge. There were beautiful Michigan Avenue views to be enjoyed.
Another site on my Saturday afternoon agenda was The Moody Church. This church is amazing! It has a huge 3,700-seat sanctuary, 36 stained-glass windows, and a 4,400-pipe organ. We had the opportunity to hear the organist playing solo pieces and accompanying a vocalist.
Sunday brought cooler, rain-free weather. A quick bike ride downtown brought me to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Open House Chicago attendees had the opportunity to see backstage areas and go on the stage. I had always wondered what the seating area looked like from the stage. Now I know!
Breathtaking views of the day were courtesy of the Sky-Line Club, Blackstone Renaissance Hotel, Hilton Chicago, and Spertus Institute. Access to Blackstone Renaissance Hotel’s Presidential Suite and one of Hilton Chicago’s Imperial Suites provided visitors spectacular views. The Museum Campus, Soldier Field (I could even see the fans at the Bears game!), the Chicago SummerDance stage, and the Spirit of Music Garden are a few of the sights I saw. Not to be outdone by the view outside its windows, Hilton’s Imperial Suite itself is incredible! With over 2,000 square feet, it’s larger than many homes. Sky-Line Club and Spertus Institute offer different, but equally impressive, views.
While the views always amaze, the details are incredible too. My husband took this photo of the detail on a neighboring building from the roof of the MDA City Apartments. These two eagles are great! Many of the buildings in Chicago have wonderful details–details that we may miss in our day-to-day activities. All we need to do is stop and look.
I am already looking forward to next year’s Open House Chicago. Lake Point Tower and 190 South LaSalle (both first-time venues in 2014) are on the top of my list for 2015.
