If you've ever wanted to get a backstage look into the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum, the hidden Chicago Magic Lounge or the iconic pink Edgewater Beach Apartments, the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is making that, and more, possible with the 15th annual Open House Chicago.
"It's a weekend in which sites across the city of architectural, cultural or historical interest are open to the public to come in and get a behind-the-scenes look at some spaces that normally they wouldn't be able to access," said Adam Rubin, Senior Director of Public Engagement for CAC.
He said this year, participants will be able to access 210 locations across Chicago, including penthouses, breweries and distilleries, theaters and houses of worship. Each year, the festival welcomes about 35,000 people from across the region and around the U.S.
This year's festival also includes more than 30 new sites, including the Chicago Magic Lounge in Andersonville, the newly opened Aspire Center in Austin and the Intuit Art Museum in West Town.
"We've really tried to focus on a handful of neighborhoods, usually about 25 neighborhoods, that are spread out across the city so that we can encourage people to really get out and explore a neighborhood that they want to learn more about, to go to sites that they wouldn't normally be able to see."
He said it's a great opportunity for Chicagoans to visit spots that have become part of their daily routine but that they haven't necessarily had the chance to learn about.
"A person participating in the festival might be learning about a neighborhood that they've lived in for years but haven't had the opportunity to pop into that church, or that old bank, or that theater while they've been commuting back and forth to work or living their lives, but this is a chance to learn their own community better," he said.
Rubin said the idea of an open house festival originated in Europe in the late '80s and early '90s, with one of the earliest festivals taking place in London, where the festival still exists today.
Since then, the festival format has spread to other cities, including New York City, Miami and San Diego.
But Rubin said there are a few things that make Open House Chicago unique.
"Chicagoans love architecture," he said. "This is something that's so built into the fabric of the city, built in the DNA of the people who live here, that you really have an audience that isn't just people who come to lectures or take a river cruise with CAC, but it reaches an audience that's much broader, and I think that's something that is unique to Chicago."
He said Chicago's festival is also more accessible to participants.
"Every site is accessible at the same level," he said. "We don't have any special members-only sites. You don't have to pay any fees to participate in a tour. It is truly a democratic experience, and we really pride ourselves in keeping it that way."
For the festival's 15th year, Open House Chicago is also piloting a program of Neighborhood Headquarters meant to serve as gathering places in different regions of Chicago.
These headquarters are the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport, KOVAL Distillery in Ravenswood and Starling by Duo/ in North Lawndale. These spaces will act as natural starting points (in addition to the CAC’s downtown center) where guests can gather, pick up materials and plan their day.
Rubin said he hopes the festival instills a sense of awareness and agency in Chicagoans and builds "civic pride."
"I hope that people come away from Open House really feeling that good architecture and design makes their lives better," he said. "Having resources in their neighborhood that draw them into into local history is really critical at this moment in time where there's so many differences that are being accentuated."
Open House Chicago takes place October 18-19.