Appreciating Chicago Once Again at Open House Chicago 2024

I got to open up Chicago a little bit more once again for the annual Open House Chicago weekend 2024.

Saturday, October 19, was my volunteer day.  I rode the Green Line to Central Avenue, and then walked about 5-10 minutes to St. Martin's Episcopal Church, in what was turning out to be a great weather weekend.  Juding by two windows near the church's entrance, I figured this church was named for St. Martin of Tours.

I kept company with some members of the church seated near the typical entrance of the church in an area joining the sanctuary and additional offices/rooms.

When another church member showed up and suggested opening the main doors, I offered to sit there and watch for visitors.  By this point, the pleasantly mild temperatures were already present, and it was nice to sit the doorway and feel the air.

A woman came with her son, and at one point, they went up to a podium with a microphone and someone from the church encourage him to sing.  I eventually got in on the act and sang some songs I know.

I moved back to the other entry hallway around 4 PM when some of the church members left.

From the front steps looking side St. Martin's

The sanctuary

One of the church members photographed me posing near the altar.

Exterior of St. Martin's

At 5 PM, the visitation period ended, and about 5 minutes later, I was on my way back to the Green Line and then back to Oak Park.  On the platform, I got a great view of the Austin Town Hall, and the Notre Dame Church.  As the train headed west, I got a great view of St. Martin's through some trees.

The next day, Sunday I departed homebase between 11:30-12:00.  As I walked to the Harlem Station, I felt it was definitely another great weather day. I got the eastbound Green Line train departure around 12 noon.

I detrained at Morgan and found some cafe seating to eat my lunch before heading to the CTA Control Center.  When I learned it was suddenly unavailable for tours, I decided to visit the 345 N. Morgan Office building nearby.  This building has lots of great amenities for its workers, including an outdoor terrace.

View toward the Loop from a conference room

Seating

View looking west from the outdoor area

Above and below are views of the outdoor seating.

While I missed out on the CTA Control Center, I did get a great view of a CTA car on top of a nearby building.

By 1:00 PM, I was on the Green Line again.  I rode it to 43rd Street, further south than I've ever gone before on it.  When I disembarked, I walked right next door to the station to visit The Forum.  It was once a performing arts venue in Bronzeville.  Now efforts are underway to restore it.  While there, I was also glad to learn that the neighborhood is now part of the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area under the auspices of the National Park Service.

The stage

Looking out a window toward the east along 43rd Street

Interior view of the Forum

Above and below are pieces of artwork on the walls of The Forum.

Plaque on the exterior wall of The Forum

The Forum as viewed from the platform of the Green Line 43rd Street Station

Next, I rode the Green line to Cermak-McCormick Place and walked from there to the Wheeler Mansion.  On the way to Bronzeville, I saw an OHC volunteer who was headed to this mansion.  I decided, on a whim, to check it out.

Front of the Wheeler Mansion

Inside one of the bedrooms

A model of the USS Constitution

ABove and below are photos of other bedrooms

A parlor space near the front entrance

The kitchen in the lower level

The two mansion dogs, Chloe (right) and Windy (left) with their handler

Decorative window over the staircase

The backyard space

Patio out the back door

Outdoor seating on the north side of the mansion

Then it was back to the Green Line for a short ride to the Loop.

I intended to visit teh Cliff Dwellers' Club, not realizing it was open only on Saturday.  Yet it was right by Orchestra Hall, so I visited there instead.

I got to go up on stage and pose at the conductor's stand.

View of the stage

View from the stage toward the seating

People could go up on stage and pose at the conductor's stand, and I certainly took advantage of the opportunity to strike a pose for conducting my own symphony:

I believe someone on the CSO staff took my photo, as she was doing for others.

Then I went to the Thomas Room on the ninth floor, which had outstanding views of Grant Park and the Lakefront.

View looking southeast toward Grant Park, with the hourly jet plume shooting up from Buckingham Fountain

View looking northeast toward the Art Institute and Millenium Park

View looking straight east toward Lake Michigan

View of the terrace outside the Thomas Room

Inside the Thomas Club

View looking out from the Thomas Club

View inside the Thomas Club

To cap off my time of sightseeing, I got some more great skyline views at 333 S. Wabash.  There was an empty floor space with great views toward Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, and Lake Michigan, to the southwest, and to the Sears Tower to the west.

View looking southwest

View of the inside of the floor open for viewing

View to the east-southeast toward Buckingham Fountain

View to the south, including the elevated CTA tracks

View to the west, including the Sears Tower and 333 S. Wacker

View looking up at the exterior of 333 S. Wabash from the ground level outside

A fellow visitor photographed me with Grant Park in the background.

A fellow visitor photographed me with the Sears Tower in the background.

Following my visit there, it was just a short walk to the Green Line and then back to Oak Park.

Once again, OHC was a great weekend in which I connected more deeply with Chicago.  I got to see a great mixture of places, even when my plans worked out differently than I thought ahead of time. There were also some pleasant surprises along the way in visiting places I hadn't planned for ahead of time. All in all, I enjoyed everything that I saw, and it gave me a profound sense of satisfaction and pride to be part of Chicago.