The Marquee at Block 37 may I say more like Orange Building. Yes, exterior you were none of the sort but internally you embodied an orange. Orange rugs. Orange Pillars. Orange bars. For pete sakes I am pretty sure you had a orange or tangerine scent about you, didn’t you? I do not understand why there were so many people there to see you but they all seemed to be excited about the orangeness more than I.
There is not much to say about you 1611 West Division you are as basic inside than you are out. You are just gray with black and white undertones. You were close to my home and I feel that is why most of your audience was there. Maybe a few yuppies looking for a new basic home or maybe just a crazy foreigner pacing around your dull halls talking to himself. You did have a nice view of the city though. Polish Museum of America. Getting back to my roots. You had an antique outside and inside. But not much to complain about your staff outnumbered this visitors with their creaky voices trying to help me and make me feel uncomfortable. I did see that one room where that famous Polish musician was all about. I guess he must've been a big influence. I wish I knew more about him. I wish I knew his name.
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Stop #1: City Hall
There was something serene about the whole experience. Everyone moved through city hall so carefully, as if they were worried about disturbing the pre-established peace. Being in the council meeting room was fun, too. The chairs were comfortable. The alderman are lucky. I kid. I felt a sense of importance when I sat down on one of those chairs. I knew important matters had taken place in that room and someone with some pull in the city of Chicago had been seated in that seat. But my favorite part of City Hall was the mural of Chicago's architecture. It was magnificent. Stop #2: Wintrust Bank Building This stop was much busier than city hall, mainly because there was so much to see at one location. You could go to the basement, up and down a few levels, and even to the rooftop. In the basement was a really cool experience. I didn't think i would like walking through and old bank vault, but it was quite remarkable. The vault looked like something straight out of a movie. The rooftop was my favorite part of the building, however. the view from up there was unbelievable. Willis Tower was right there. Even though it was cloudy, there was still a beautiful serenity that I felt while being up there. I unfortunately used Snapchat to record the rooftop apartment and the deck, so I wasn't able to save it, but I could have stayed on that rooftop for the rest of the afternoon. And I have decided that I would model my future home after the apartment. Stop #3: Infinite These were some student apartment buildings. This stop on the tour wasn't quite as exciting for me. I liked the space and it was interesting how the tour guide pointed out how this building was a melding of the old and the new, but other than that it wasn't anything too special. I did like that there was a cute little coffee shop in the alley between the two buildings. It was a nice little surprise at the end of the tour. I might have to check that shop out one day when I have some free time. What a fun filled day at #OpenHouseChicago. I must say, that as a Chicagoan, I've taken a lot of things for granted. Immediately upon looking through the listing of sites, I knew I would stop and run through City Hall, Stop #1. As I entered the building, it was a dark and musky smell with dim lighting and a long line of people. Taking the elevator to the 2nd floor, I noticed the building to be very outdated and in need of repairs. Stepping off of the elevator we saw many easels that held pictures and gave background of the city. There was a tour guide giving a verbal tour of a picture of the old Chicago skyline. The highlight of this stop was the Board Room, where all of the "official" city business takes place. Stop #2 Was directly across the street from my job, Wintrust Bank. This was my favorite location as I found great history behind the safe in the basement. The smell here was very dank and smelled of abandonment. I frequent this building daily and had no idea that it houses one of the city's most infamous bank vaults in the basement. Though is has been unused since the 1980's it has a rustic feel and feels like the spirit of the city. The 23rd floor sky deck which is used for the buildings tenants is super awesome, complete with a nice 360 view outside, a fridge, inside lounge, shuffleboard, televisions, microwave and anything you might want access too during a lunch or break period. Stop #3 was Infinite, which was surprisingly a student apartment complex. Two buildings put together by a sky bridge that joins together on the 16th, 17th, and 18th floors. Also complete with an outside sky deck and activities for the college kids to enjoy. The best part is the Italian styled coffee shop downstairs called Pickwick. It is lined with cobblestone in the street at you walk to purchase your fancy schmancy cup of java. Overall, I am ecstatic that I participated in this event. the city really is art in motion. What a fun time.
youtu.be/HNGwDF0KeEg Open House Chicago October 15 2016 by Sam Tocci
1st stop: City Hall at 121 N. LaSalle Upon entering I immediately noticed a musty smell. The atmosphere was friendly and I felt welcome. The lobby was a wide open space with roped off areas. The tour began on the 2nd floor. A highlight was the Chicago architecture painting by Richard Haas from 1933. It shows the Chicago skyline including Ft. Dearborn. Next stop was the chambers where city council meetings take place. I felt a sense of importance in the room, despite tourist feel caused by the people taking photos sitting in the mayor's chair. Next stop was the Jos A. Bank bldg. at 221 N. LaSalle. This place seemed like more of a tourist attraction. It had a classic feel with marble floors and ornate railings. The lobby was noisy, crowded and had a moldy smell. In the basement there was a long line of people waiting to enter the huge bank vault that is no longer in use. The massive door brought to mind every bank heist movie I'd ever seen. The empty former safe deposit boxes looked ancient, like something out of the Titanic footage. Up on the 23rd floor, the rooftop was available to the public. The breezy patio gave me a feeling of freedom as the sun peaked out for a moment. Final stop was the Infinite bldg. at 28 W. Jackson. The lobby of the Seeger side had the look of an old hotel. The elevators were dark and spooky. We were guided across a skywalk to the Gibbons side of the building which had a more modern look. The upper floors which now serve as apartments for DePaul students had the feel of a college dorm complete with a mail chute. All in all it was an enjoyable afternoon with my delightful travelling companions. |
Students & Facultyof MST 4990 / MCOM 6070 Social Lab & TAPS 4390/6390 Seminar in Theory & Practice Archives
December 2016
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