Open House Chicago is one of the favorite weekends of my annual Chicago calendar. On a Saturday and Sunday every October, you can visit so many unique places throughout Chicago - all for free! My lovely wife and I will even volunteer for a few hours every year at one of the sites, it really gives you an opportunity to enjoy a venue in detail while experiencing the energy of the visitors whether they are locals or visitors from afar. Thank You Chicago Architecture Center for spearheading this annual architecture fest! Hey it's not just about architecture, but every year some prestigious architecture firms open their doors to curious visitors. You can visit some amazing spaces, rooftops, spaces, and you are sure to be wowed by the views of our great city. read more

I wish I thought to try Open House Chicago before. I'm not sure how I missed it all these years. I walked through some of the South Loop architectures. They tried to make it interactive. There was something for everyone. There was a group tour at the Glessner House. They have music performances and holiday events. The Second Presbyterian Church had some amazing Tiffany stained glass windows that could not be seen from the outside. From the outside, it was covered by plexi glass. What a treasure trove. The South Asia Institute, I had no idea that it exists. We saw an environment focused exhibit on bird migration and an exhibit of women artists' work. There is a big lecture space so something to look out for. I did not know that the Wheeler Mansion is a boutique hotel. The rooms are fancy. There was plenty of art there for those who enjoy art. We had apple cider at the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm. It was bigger than I thought. They had edible flowers for tasting and I tried nasturtium (a little spicy), marigold, and pansy (light flavor). They even gave us each a pack of wildflower seeds. I took some milkweed, so hopefully will see some Monarch butterflies next year. All these places were walkable from each other. All in all, a wonderful day and experience. read more

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I was lucky enough to be in Chicago for Open House Chicago this year. I attended one a few years back and loved the experience. At time I was towing a 4 month old. This time around, I had 2 kids with me. An 8 year old and a 4 year old. We enjoyed seeing all the skyscrapers and learning about the architectural firms. We were able to visit 7 out of the 8 building I mapped out that day. The best view of the day was the rooftop terrace at the Prudential building. We also enjoyed meeting and talking to people as we waited in line. The lines weren't too bad. We got to ride a manual operated elevator in the Fine Arts Building. See vacant floors and so much more. Overall, if you haven't checked Open House Chicago, give it a go. It usually happens on a weekend in October. read more

Open House Chicago is one of the premiere programs of the Chicago Architecture Center. During this weekend, many places throughout the city (and some suburbs) open their doors for the general public to come and explore. I have considered attending for years, but never made the time to do it but this year I wanted to make sure to go. This year (2022) they added a couple neighborhoods that haven't participated in the past. One of them was Chatham, where the Whitney Young CPL branch was part of the day. I visited that when I was down in South Shore to see the Avalon theatre, which was a fantastic site and I hope they get the funds they need to restore it. I also visited Pilgrim Congregational Church and Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, both lovely places. The most disappointing was the architecture firm in Evanston, which really wasn't much to look at. My interest in that site is that it was once a Masonic Temple of the Prince Hall variety, which is the branch of Freemasonry that was developed for Black people back in the 1800s. That was a bust, but the other sites were nice. I found OHC interesting and I will certainly look at the locations they partner with in future years. But I think it's too short. Two days and only 5-6 hours isn't a lot of time, and some of the spaces either aren't open both days or may have shorter hours on one or another day. So I think it would be nice if it was at least two weekends. The number of places, combined with the size of the city, makes it difficult to visit too many. Especially if you want to go more than one neighborhood, or you want to visit a place that's particularly popular and has long lines. read more

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I was able to visit the Federal Reserve Bank, Board of Trade and Harold Washington Library during the 2019 Open House Chicago event. I had no idea there was a money museum in the Federal Reserve Bank and it was a fun place to wander around and learn a bit about the history and see some old currency! The main thing I've learned looking at architecture here is that is you don't immediately see anything interesting, look up! That's definitely was the case here. There were so many options for places to visit during this special event, and I'm looking forward to using the list to check out interesting places around the city on my own time. read more

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Literally one of the coolest things to do in chicago! A must in my book! One weekend a year, the chicago architectural center partners with over 300+ locations around the city and they open up their doors to the public to view and experience their space. It's all FREE. Some are historical buildings, some are residential, some might companies, architecture firms, etc. quite a diverse list. I look forward to this every year. It's typically late October. Some select sites require a reservation in advance or for you to be a member of the CAC read more

48 Hours to visit a ton of cool places that open their doors in Chicago? You're lucky that it's every year, thanks to the Chicago Architectural Foundation. They do a great job with site write-ups and hours, the only sad trombone moment is that a lot of businesses are only open one of the two consecutive days, which made us miss a few on the Saturday Wish List. Still, chalk that up to an event that runs largely on volunteer power! In a super rainy Saturday in 2017, I visited: - Big Monster Toys- a think tank for bringing the big company's toy ideas to life! Imagine if "Big" (from the movie) was real! This place had a full on caboose as a kitchen, and was a great example of re-use of an old space into a playful office space - Publishing House Bed and Breakfast- a hip new B&B in the West Loop! Got the tour with one of the owners, too. - WeWork Fulton Market- a shared membership workspace, that claimed the space from an old meat processing plant. Although the name says Fulton Market, they espouse their West Loop home with a nice neon piece that says as much, inside. Cool tour! Great event for a great City. read more

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Wow! What a fun way to spend an entire weekend. Two day of peeking in churches, schools, banks, office buildings, etc. that you would never get to see normally. The Father at the Orthodox Church gave a fascinating explanation for why the church was designed as it was. His explanation of the symbolism was one of the highlights of the day. We also got to tour a private school that we did not even know existed. And the opportunity for one-of-a-kind views of Chicago were such a treat. We were members of the Chicago Architecture Center at the time, but it is open to the public as well. To get the most of the two days, plan in advance which open houses you are going to see and group them by location. Be sure to note which are the most important too. And also add a few extra per day. Once day we only got to half of what we planned, and the second day we went through everything and picked up a few extra spots. Be prepared and plan. It is important to note that some places will have a bit of a wait to get in. read more

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What a great way to spend a couple of hours in Chicago! This event is held one weekend every year sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Center with around 250 sites around Chicago open to the public that you would likely never get a chance to explore and they're totally free! We were able to see a lot more in just a couple of hours than anticipated. We started at The Federal Reserve Bank, which allowed you to play with some really fun money exhibits including how to spot a counterfeit. City Hall let us sit in the Aldermen's chairs and do photo ops in the Mayer's seat. One of our biggest surprises was the gorgeous Chicago Cultural Center which was definitely a great stop. The McCormick Bridgehouse with the big drawbridge gears & tight stairwells was also super cool. When planning your stops, make sure to check the hours and which day(s) some of the places are open. Some of them aren't open both Saturday & Sunday and some close earlier than 5pm. We'll definitely do this again next year - it was a lot of fun! read more

My only regret was I really wished I had more time today to visit more places. After doing Open House, I was really impressed and I didn't realize there are so many amazing hidden gems all over Chicago and Evanston that I would've never known existed if it weren't for CAF's yearly Open House!!! I only visited four places today. I had a late start heading out to the following four places: Elks Veterans Memorial and National Headquarters - Lincoln Park, Chicago St. Ita's Catholic Church - Edgewater, Chicago Frances Willard House - Evanston, IL Evanston History Center (Charles Gates Dawes House) - Evanston, IL All four were spectacular and not only do you get a chance to appreciate architecture for free but you get an opportunity to know more about the building and its origins from their volunteer docents. This was my first time doing this and would definitely do this again next year. (With planning/mapping out my sites and route). The event is still going on though Sunday 10/18, so if you get a chance get out there and do it! There are so many cool places to explore and tons of photo ops/selfies. read more

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This is one of my favorite Chicago Events, a unique opportunity to visit spaces that are typically off limits otherwise. I've attended the last five or six, takes place on a Saturday and Sunday, mid October. Most of the tours start around 9 am ending around 5 pm, check the schedule carefully, some locations have limited viewing hours and might only be open on Saturday or Sunday. I prefer using the printed tabloid guide which is available at all sites, I usually grab mine a few days earlier by picking up the RedEye on Thursday. You can also view the schedule on the website of the Chicago Architecture Center previously known as the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Highly recommended, I highlight this on my calendar every year. read more

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I love this event both as a volunteer and as a participant. This is an event not to be missed. It's so wonderful to see so many different types of buildings in one weekend. If you love architecture this is a must. All of the sites are so interesting to see...especially the older buildings. read more

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Sometimes it's hard making the time to play tourist in your own city, but events like Open House Chicago make it a little easier. This is the second year I've taken advantage of the free Chicago Architecture Foundation event, which opens 150 sites of architectural significance across the city for a weekend (some not otherwise accessible to the general public). Sites include landmarks, homes, museums and architectural firms. Last year, I focused my efforts on the Loop and was rewarded handsomely. I got to learn about a lot of buildings and architects and saw places I didn't know existed. This year my focus was Bronzeville, where I discovered the Welcome Inn Manor, a truly beautiful restored B&B with a bathroom that I want to move into. (http://www.welcomeinnmanor.com/info_natkingcole.php) Along with the gems, Open House also shines a light on those less fortunate sites that have fallen into disrepair. This saddens me and I hope the exposure might help restore them to their former glory. I hope Open House Chicago is here to stay, I already have my eye on a few sites for next year. read more

I used to love this festival and look forward to it, but it has become sparse and spread out.  Nonetheless I planned to check out the one place in Hyde Park I wasn't already familiar with, the Piccadilly, in the mid-afternoon, and then head downtown to see some other buildings.  I got there about 3 and the desk clerk smugly and unapologetically told me they had closed at 1, like it was my problem. They were advertised as being open till 5. I appreciated this because it helped me understand that these places don't necessarily honor their commitments, notwithstanding the free advertising the festival gives them; and that it made no sense to get on the bus and go to the loop when the "open spaces" close whenever they feel like it. If you're rich and have a chartered limo all of this might not be an issue, but if not you might be better off giving this corporately sponsored exercise a pass and exploring on your own. At least I was spared an aerial view of my alma mater, Kenwood High School, which I am fond of but whose overall design never did much for me, especially when I was trying to figure out exactly where the French teacher was being told by the assistant principal to station himself on the third floor in the event of an invasion by the Weather Underground . . . but that's another story. And no one from that organization ever showed up anyway. read more

In general, I am a big fan and can't wait to participate again. The only reason I have given a 4 for now is because of the River City site. This was THE site for me this year (2016), and I went as soon as it opened. Three problems: (1) No photos were allowed, even though the official site stated they were; (2) Our guide blew through the building, making the tour last I swear, less than 5 min (including elevator rides); (3) related to (2), as the guide was way ahead of us for most of the time, he didn't tell us much about the building. I simply feel this is unacceptable while being part of Open House Chicago (as it was featured pretty heavily in the ads too!) Other 2016 sites I visited: (a) Palmer Printing - free posters!; (b) 231 S. LaSalle (Wintrust Bank Building) - basement vault system was cool; (c) MediaScience - it was okay; (d) House of Blues Foundation Room - funky and excellent photo ops; (e) Lake Point Tower - building cool, garden okay; (f) Edgewater Beach Apartments - building okay, relaxing garden/yard 2015: (a) Aon Center - long line but great view; (b) Kemper - good view of corn cobs; (c) McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum - lotsa fun; (d) Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist - okay; (e) Sigma Alpha Epsilon - gorgeous stained glass windows read more

Open House Chicago - House of Blues Foundation Room - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I like that there where places close together to see so there didn't have to be a lot of going all over town. Love that the foundation does this for the public! I've been wanting to go to so many of these venues and with them being free this weekend it gave me the incentive. I plan on getting a family membership with the Architecture Foundation. It's a good deal for us and I love going on tours! Thank you to all the venues, organizers, & the foundation! read more

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We went here while visiting Chicago. The view is amazing once you get to the top. We ended up Have a glass of in the bar and sharing some food. It was busy so the service was slow, and the food was a 3 put the view is a 5 star so im giving 4 . read more

Open House Chicago - Festivals Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

During the past 48 hours, some of Chicago's 150 best [and most discrete] museums, mansions, theatres, places of worship, architecture firms and other unique spaces were open to the public (for FREE!)! Thirteen individual neighborhoods (Downtown, Bronzeville, Chinatown, Garfield Park/North Lawndale, Gold Coast, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Little Village, Pilsen, Prairie District, Rogers Park/West Ridge, South Shore and Uptown) had its own brochure with a map and description of each open site. It was a perfect opportunity to explore a new section of our world-renowned city, or to discover spots in your own neighborhood that are often abandoned, closed to the public, or only open for special venues or concerts. Open House Chicago is basically a Lollapalooza for architecture, designers and historic preservationists alike! [Heck, the one time you can bring together architects and designers without a brawl...] As a Chicago resident for the past 8 years, yet a new Uptown neighbor, I was able to explore many buildings "behind-the-scenes" that I had passed countless times on the El or by foot. I was in awe at the abandoned Agudas Achim Synagogue, gaudy Aragon Theatre, historic Green Mill lounge where gangsters use to hideout, ornate Bridgeview Bank, theatrical Charlie Chaplin's Essanay Studios, and rugged Riviera Theater. All of these sites which sit in the background of our daily lives were now open to exploration. Thanks to Chicago Architecture Foundation, sponsors and community partners, this event was possible and completely free. I hope to attend another area of the city during their third year in 2013. Be sure to check out their website to plan and map out where you would like to visit: http://www.openhousechicago.org read more

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A-MAZE-ING. I really don't think I can describe this weekend well enough...I have walked my legs off, in the rain, with clompy yellow boots, to be able to see over 20 places that I was so blessed to see. I can't even pick one favorite. It was thanks to a Yelp event posting that I (being far out in the suburbs) even heard about this...I basically was in Chicago from 9-5pm Saturday and 11-5pm on Sunday because I wanted to squeeze in as many visits as I could. I almost didn't eat if that tells you how into this I was!!! I often had no idea what to expect. I picked a handful of locations from the website, made a general plan, added places along the way when I didn't want to wait in line for the Jewelers Building. And because of it ended up seeing far more than I ever thought. (like the Kemper building...such a neat 360 view of the city!!!) I can not wait to be able to try again next year...especially as I start to read about what others went to see! As mentioned the Agudas Achim synagogue was breath-taking but also in need of help!! It hurt my heart to see such a beautiful building lacking support...(Same with Thalia Hall!!) On the other hand the Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica looked outstanding. The replica of the Pieta literally brought tears to my eyes. I didn't expect that!! The model of the city in the Railway Exchange building is fun...and the Google Offices had me more impressed than I would have guessed!! I loved exploring the Cultural Center before the weddings there started and after visiting Cantigny in Wheaton, the Tribune Tower offered a neat look into another side of Col. McCormick. The Spertus Institue, the Auditorium Building, the Fishers Building, Auditorium Theater, Wabash Tower, International Hostel, the McCormick Bridge House, the Monroe Building, the original Sears Tower, St. Procopius, Casa Aztec, the Drake, the Wit, Scottish Rite Cathedral...I can't even remember everything...each place had something special or unique that I appreciated! You could not have asked for a better FREE way to spend a weekend...the Chicago Architecture Foundation did an amazing job. The volunteers at each place were so friendly and the docents are really so excited about the city that its contagious. read more

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As usual the many unique spaces that make up this annual event were cool. I am beginning to look forward to this event almost as soon as the previous years is finished. read more

Outstanding organization of Chicago's finest and most unique cultural offering, it's architecture! From iconic 19th century building lobbies, boardrooms, temples, banks and offices to mid century modern and 21 century design, it's available and fabulous. I loved it all, found the Federal Reserve Bank Museum terrific. Unique to Chicago and not to be missed! read more

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Over the past weekend, I attended the open house Chicago event. This is my third year doing it. Previously, I visited Evanston and the North Western University sights, however, this year I decided to venture out to the Hyde Park neighborhood. Everything was very well organized. I saw the Quadrangle club, Robbie house, and the Cinderella ballroom. I have been to the University of Chicago campus many times before, but wasn't aware of the Quadrangle club. It was very impressive. Even though the furnishings were dark, there were so many windows, that the house still had a lot of light. The Robbie house is one of my favorite examples of the Frank Lloyd Wright designs. They had a docent in every room explaining about the house and its history. I found it very helpful. The Cinderella ballroom was stunning. What a great venue for a special event. My daughter had a lot of fun looking for the Cinderella elements there. We also enjoyed just walking thru the University of Chicago campus and visiting the Oriental Museum. Thanks to the Open House Chicago, our Sunday was fun and educational. read more

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I've wanted to walk through the Emil Bach house ever since I could remember. It was one of my, "If I won the lottery..." fantasies to buy it even if the owners weren't selling. Last week, a friend turned me on to this Open House Chicago thing, sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. I scanned the offerings, free access to 150 buildings across the city over the course of 48 hours. THE EMIL BACH HOUSE WAS ONE OF THEM! I was booked Saturday and couldn't do anything, so made sure to get there early on Sunday. It was open from 9am-4pm. A couple friends and I rolled up at 8:30-something and there was already a line. Aha. I'm the only one with lottery ticket dreams, it seems. We did that and I scratched one off my Bucket List. Didn't even have a Bucket List until that Sunday. Had to make one just to cross that off. While there, we decided to walk through Cat's Cradle Bed & Breakfast, which was another OHC offering next door. Wow. Built in 1919, five years after the Bach House, it was nothing short of delicious noir with modern amenities. Who knew? Afterward, we went to Susie's Noon Hour Grill (I stand by my 2007 review to this day, unaltered) to debrief and gas up. An Octogawa Scramble and coffee later, what should be a couple doors up across Morse, but the Glenwood Sunday Market! Picked up a Mexican Hot Chocolate to warm up, and a block of Jalapeno Brun-uusto cheese from Bronkow Cheese of Wisconsin. Hell yes. Out of nowhere, a friend suggested we check out the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club down at Clarendon Park, in Uptown. The what? Why not? I'm no model train freak but when I saw this set-up I nearly became one. Amazing! Who, besides its members, could ever know this was going on in the basement of the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse? Amazing! So, after 1,500 feet of model railroad track guiding scale model freighters to luxury liners, we had no choice but to dive further south into Pullman, the namesake neighborhood of the late Pullman Palace Car Company. What an experience that was. The history, the neighborhood, the old factory, hotel, church, residences, the locals, and a can of Wildwood Creme Soda from Athens Grocery on 113th and St. Lawrence, which has nothing to do with Greece (did it used to?). All I'd ever previously known of the Pullman neighborhood was what I'd seen in The Fugitive. Amazing history. Did you know the old Pullman factory site is home to an apiary? Do you know what an apiary is? Before Open House Chicago, I didn't. Did I say amazing? Amazing! I wouldn't call myself an architecture buff, but you needn't be to tour these locales. Just have a healthy appreciation for our city and its history, and crave a day of hopping about a bunch of spots you'd never think twice of visiting - if you even knew they were there. It does help to have a car, but if not many neighborhoods have clusters of openings that are within walking distance of each other and public transportation. This was their third year, and I hope there's a fourth. Noon Hour Grill, Glenwood Market, Athens Grocery, these may have had nothing to do with the OHC tours, but the event itself gets you in the mode of exploring. It's a perfect day out, even if you can only hit a few places, and an excellent way to cure those October blues. read more

The Chicago Architectural Foundation has done a magnificent job over the last couple of years of building this event up to be one that people plan around and look forward to all year long. With so many different options in so many different neighborhoods, a group of friends and I all decided we could get the most out of our time by focusing our cool but pleasant Sunday morning and afternoon in and around the Loop. Practically every block had at least one building open to the public as a part of this event, and coordinating a little walk downtown became a fun task (and one mastered by the fine logistical skills of my personal favorite Sri Lankan Yelper- Nishan P). First stop- The House of Blues: Out of all of the places visited (including an architectural firm on the day), HOB made the most out of selling their space by inviting everyone back for either a show or dinner. What seemed to be the favorite spot amongst our group- the Ganesh Room very cool. Rarely open, even for HOB members, the room houses relics and Indian artifacts that are centuries old in a small, intimate lounge style room that made us all dream it could be our TV/entertainment room at home. The rest of the venue was fun to see as well - riding up the same elevator that Ted Nugent used to ride a bison onto the stage made for a fun story, and the HOB staff gave us stories and spoke on some of the art and decoration's history everywhere. This stop surprised me at just how rich in history and art it held - and I'd definitely recommend anyone coming back here next year to check it out. Second stop- Bridge House Museum: One that I was especially looking out for and had bookmarked for some time. Not sure why I never just went on my own before and paid the $4 entrance fee (though I will go back because it really is a cool spot). This tiny museum is packed with interesting statements, photos, maps and diagrams that make you realize what an incredible journey the city of Chicago has taken in a very short period of time. It makes you think about things like the importance of logistics, public health, commerce and so much more. Without the incredible undertaking of so many civil engineers and social architects working together to form bridges and proper water management systems, our city's ancestors would have all died a long time ago from dysentery or cholera. Kind of like Oregon Trail, but just with kids playing in dirty water filled with rotting beef carcasses from the neighborhood tannery. Third stop- Kemper Building: Nice vantage point along Wacker (at State) which gives a different angle of the city than what you'll find at Willis Tower (Sears) and the Hancock Building. Plus, they only open up that observation floor to the public once a year - specifically for this event. *Fourth stop- Hotel Burnham: Okay, this isn't an official stop on the OHC agenda, but worth a stop on your own if you are near the intersection of Washington and State. The main elevator lobby is remarkable, historical and stunning. We stopped here so that our favorite Sri Lankan could snap some photos of us at the spot where Aurore L and I had our wedding reception almost five years ago. Fifth stop- City Hall: A good amount of history of the building was provided to us by the building's engineer before heading up to the 2nd floor to take a look at the chamber where the alderman sit and yell at each other while the benevolent mayor looks down from his elevated seat. The building's history is interesting- particularly how it is attached to the County building, in which the perimeters and hallways are shared, but were built separately over 100 years ago. Sixth stop- Sky Chapel: What a unique and fascinating place! Considered to be the highest chapel (above street level) in the world, the history of not only the building but the congregation's footing on this place and how they remain in existence is very cool. I won't ruin it here - because they run free tours throughout the year on their own and it is worth checking out (I believe weekdays at 2:00 PM). Seventh stop- Palmer House: Not that walking into the Palmer House is ever disappointing, but the space they had available as a part of this event was nothing more than a big ballroom. A nice big French one, but still just a ballroom. The area leading to it is prettier and more fascinating anyway- and that is open to the public anytime you want to see it (go have a drink there, or get tea one afternoon). Eight stop- Monroe Building: Renovated by the hands (no- pocket book) of one who wanted to honor the beautiful design within that had started to decay with time. The elevator bank is very similar to what you will see at the Hotel Burnham. Interior Architects was showing off their office space and a military library is on the 2nd floor. More stops followed for the Sri Lankan and other friends- but we were done. Tired from the walking and gazing. A wonderful day in deed! read more

This is the best! You get to go into so many great places! I never get enough time to see everything! Everyone is so nice every where I went! Well organized! I love it & go every year! read more

This was my first year doing Open House Chicago and I had a great time! You're able to view over 200 normally off public access buildings/landmarks in a 48 hour time span. No RSVP's are necessary and you plan your own agenda. It's a great way to check out other Chicago Neighborhoods. See my blog for pics! http://chiataglance.com/2015/10/open-house-chicago/ Best view was from the Aon building! read more

Finally, took advantage of this event this year! We went on Sunday and really enjoyed it. It was a chilly day so, fortunately, only had to wait a short time for most places. It also helped that I'm a member of the CAF so we received a priority pass. We stuck to the downtown area and saw the Chicago Board of Trade, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago (Money Museum), HOK (in the CNA building), Chicago Hilton, the Blackstone, McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, & the Tribune Tower (disappointed we couldn't see more than the lobby). Next year we will definitely opt to do both days and try to squeeze in as much as possible. read more