After attracting an estimated 91,000 attendees last year, the Chicago Architecture Center has unveiled a 250-plus lineup of sites for its eighth edition of its yearly Open House Chicago weekend, set for October 13 and 14. With a first-time presence in the city’s Austin, Beverly, and Morgan Park neighborhoods and a return to Rogers Park and West Ridge following a hiatus, the free event offers unique access to more than 50 new or returning locations.
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Visitors to Beverly shouldn’t miss a rare chance to peek inside Optimo, Chicago’s only custom men’s hatmaker. Normally closed to the public, the factory occupies a historic former firehouse renovated by Chicago architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). The facility is essentially a working museum, utilizing functional hatmaking equipment dating back to the turn of the century.