All Hallows’ Eve comes but once a year, yes, but so does OHC – Open House Chicago. What is OHC? Open House Chicago is an event that occurs once a year when buildings that are generally not available to the public become available for viewing. Some museums that normally charge a fee for admission will allow you to check them out in a “lite” version; you don’t get the full shebang. Basically, it’s a way to show off, or admire rather, Chicago architecture. I have to say, Chicago has some really good architecture! OHC takes place over a weekend, & it takes place all over Chicago. It even reaches out to the suburbs.

I feel like there’s always something to do in Chicago, even when there’s “nothing to do.” Throughout the summer, there are festivals every weekend. Nearly every neighbourhood has their own in some form or another. In the winter, around Christmas, there’s the Christ Kindl Market. That’s always cracking. There’s always the theatre –in the theatre district! The city has like 500 breweries. There are many museums. Let’s not forget the magic shows! 😉 Chicago has a team, or two, for nearly every major sport. I’ve heard about OHC before, but I didn’t really pay any mind to it. I was just like, oh… But this year, I decided to take FULL advantage. It’s a great way for me to get more acquainted with the city & work on photography. The idea hit me like a big white CTA bus driven by a miserable CTA worker. Plus, it’s free!

My number 1 must-do was the Rookery building, the Oriel staircase. I waited an hour & a ½ to view it for about a minute & a ½, max. It was all worth it. I’m glad I was on a time limit, because I could’ve been there for hours making sure I got the best shot I could &/or shots from every angle possible. I did sacrifice a few places for it, time wise, but it was all worth it. I’d still take a tour there though.

The Driehaus Museum was a must for me. I have been LONGING to go here. The Driehaus was where I started the journey of it all. I wasn’t able to see the whole estate, per se, but I fed that need to see it. Maybe I’ll go back.

The Arts Club of Chicago, too, was on my must list of places to visit for the longest. Everything that I had been longing to go see & anything that normally charged an admission to see or anything that I knew would be nearly impossible to get in to because it’s a “private club” of some sort, I pushed that place to the top of the line.

The Old Post Office: I read that Walgreens is expected to make that it’s new [Chicago] headquarters, well, at least have it be 1 of the 2. Or, “campus” rather, as a lot call them now. There was so much “open space” in there & I was like, where are all the cubicles & office spaces. HELLO! Back then, everything was open & people had desks instead of cubicles, even though there is a desk at your cubicle [now]. Makes sense? Probably not. Fine by me. ½ the time I don’t, but I do to me, & that’s all that matters. Now, a lot of people get to work from home. How about that luxury for you? That was probably NEVER a glimpse in the eye for them back then. Hell, for some places now, today, it’s still not an option.

The Blackstone Hotel had some good artwork. I got old school vibes in the Crystal Ball Room. The restaurant there though, I don’t know… The venue called me, not the menu.

I got good shots of Sears Tower, or Willis Tower I should say, from the Gentleman’s Cooperative/ Penthouse Private Club @ 111 W. Jackson rooftop. I also got good shots of downtown buildings & a view of the lake.

The Surgical Museum. I read it’s free on Tuesdays for you Chicagoans. I didn’t know what to expect there. I want to go back when there’s no one there to get a better picture of the room with the statues. Otherwise, there’s nothing really there unless you’re some doctor historian or something.

There was really nothing too special about the Fine Arts Building or Goettsch Partners. At least, I didn’t think so. Maybe better art is produced there than actually displayed? Again, we didn’t have access to everything!

The Elks National Memorial headquarters was nice. There was some detailed work there.

St. Benedict the African Roman Catholic Church & the Columbus Park Refectory were on my list, in high ranking, but unfortunately, I did not get to see them. Those were too far out there for me to go to & it came down to choosing this or that. Sacrifices!

I felt vintage-ish checking out the Grand Ballroom at MacLean Center.

The Monroe Building was also at the top of my list. That was the 2^nd longest line I waited in. The lobby is beautiful.

The Cliff Dweller’s Corner was nice, except for the fact that the fog was hanging low, so I couldn’t get as good of shots that I wanted to.

I waited longer to see Room 13 at The Old Chicago Inn than the actual venue. It had a cool, speak-easy underground feel. I wouldn’t mind checking out a cabaret there. I’m sure some haunted shit goes down there.

I felt successful after the event was over. I even incorporated time to volunteer at my favourite Chicago library, the Newberry Library. When I started my mission to conquer as much as I could, especially the museums & private estates, I had this form of high when I started. It was surreal. Sadly, I didn’t see everything I wanted to. Is it the end of the world, no. I feel very pleased over the places I did. I didn’t just feel like a Californian in Chicago, I felt like an actual Chicagoan. A lot of the venues & “open houses” were along Michigan Blvd. I definitely got to do downtown. I checked out things that were not on my list. Because of OHC, I now have more leads on where I can visit, also in reference to those places I wasn’t able to check out.