Monday, August 12, 2013

Free, Fabulous Open House Chicago Returns To Uptown

Mark your calendars:  Uptown is participating for the second consecutive year in Open House Chicago, taking place on October 19th and 20th.  It's when 150 of Chicago's most interesting buildings open to the public for a weekend, and it's all completely free and completely fascinating.

Many of the ten Uptown sites -- eight returning from last year and two newcomers -- aren't open to the general public.  Take the opportunity to walk around and see spaces that are usually hidden from view.  Click on each link below for more information.

The two new featured buildings are:
  • 1050 W Wilson, aka Wilson Avenue Theater, aka FLATStheater.  Explore the inside of the former bank and theater built in 1908, now owned by Cedar Street Co.  Hours:  Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm.
  • Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad ClubWe had absolutely no idea that one of the country's largest model railroads was located in the Clarendon Park Fieldhouse.  Come see what 1400 feet of track and the village surrounding it looks like.  Hours:  Saturday and Sunday 10am-4pm.
If you didn't get a chance to see these sites last year, or you want to see them again:
Of course, there are plenty of other sites outside our borders, and you can take a look at them all here.

Open House Chicago is looking for volunteers who can commit to a four-hour shift at one of the 150+ sites, with plenty of rewards. Click here if you're interested in helping out.

3 comments:

  1. Looking forward to it, but no Uptown Theater this year? Too bad, I was hoping to see it! Perhaps its absence from this list is related to some of UU's earlier speculation regarding possible filming locations?

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    1. No Uptown Theater. It would be great to have it open, but we hold out hope that it will happen eventually.

      Last year's line-up is here. No Uptown on it, either. A few have dropped off since last year, a few new ones have joined.

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    2. Thanks for clarifying - For some reason I was under the impression it was open last year. I stand corrected. Still would love to see it though!

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