Openhousechicago 2011

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OHC (openhousechicago) (http://www.openhousechicago.org) was a free, city-wide event held October 15-16, 2011. The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society worked in cooperation with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and was the North Side coordinator. Hours were 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The openhousechicago 2011 hub on the North Side was located at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Avenue. Attendees gathered there to register. Free trolley-like buses provided transportation to the various locations.

The Historian, Vol. 27, No. 4, Fall 2011 Article

by Hank Morris

Your Society was approached by the Chicago Architecture Foundation to designate this year's North Side sites for the new openhousechicago event, which previously has been held in London, New York City, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Dublin, Barcelona, Galway, Rome, Melbourne, Slovenia, Milwaukee, Denver, Glasgow, Niagra, Winnepeg, and other locations.

This year, 2011, openhouse comes to Chicago and the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society is in on the ground floor! CAF sent out requests for proposals to many local organizations to find those that could help make this annual event a success. Our proposal won for the North Side!

The openhouse concept was originally developed in London nearly 20 years ago and has become an international phenomenon with programs in many cities worldwide; branded as either "Open House" or "Doors Open." No matter the name,the concept is the same; large scale, free, public events aimed at providing access to outstanding places and spaces (many not usually open to the public) as well as programs and activities that help draw participants into a better appreciation of the city and the role that the architecture, design, engineering and planning play in supporting quality of life and economic vibrancy.

Visitors will have unprecedented access to some of the really interesting locations in Rogers Park, West Ridge, and Edgewater--21 in all.

Our new Society location at 1447 W. Morse Avenue will be one of the stops along the way. We'll host hundreds of visitors during the two-day affair, greatly advancing the public's knowledge of us and what we do. This is a great opportunity for your Society to gain new members.

We'll be providing the volunteers at each location, who will act as outside greeters, checking visitor I.D.s, etc., so we will need over 100 volunteers. Those interested may register at our offices or on the CAF's website.

Whether or not you decide to volunteer, you won't want to miss openhousechicago 2011. It is sure to be one of Chicago's greatest events in 2011.

Only the Rogers Park and West Ridge sites are listed here

The various locations were (alphabetically):

Rogers Park Locations

Cats Cradle Bed & Breakfast, 7421 N. Sheridan Road

Emil Bach House, 7415 N. Sheridan Road

Greenleaf Art Center, 1806 W. Greenleaf Avenue

Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood Avenue

Lifeline Theater, 6912 N. Glenwood Avenue

Mayne Stage, 1328-30 W. Morse Avenue

Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, Loyola University, 1032 W. Sheridan Road

Richard J. Klarchek Information, Commons, Loyola University, 6501 N. Kenmore Avenue

Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, 1447 W. Morse Avenue

Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon Avenue

United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Avenue

West Ridge Locations

Casa Bonita Condominiums, 7340-7350 N. Ridge Boulevard

Hema’s Kitchen, 2439 W. Devon Avenue

Indian Boundary Park & Cultural Center, 2500 W. Lunt Avenue

Park Castles Condominiums, 2416-58 W. Greenleaf Avenue

Park Gables Condominiums, 2438-84 W. Estes Avenue

Patel Brothers, 2610 W. Devon Avenue

St. Scholastica Monestary, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard

Sari Sapne, 2623 W. Devon Avenue

The Fish Keg Restaurant, 2233 W. Howard Street