Aloha to the Place de la Musique - The Sanfilippo Collection (part 2)

Here's the exterior shot of the Sanfilippo House.   Notice the
railroad tracks ... it leads to the carousal house.

A gorgeous clock greets visitors.

Inside are restored railroad engines ...

  

.... and the Eden Palais Carousal!

  

The Carousal House is also home to dance, fairground,
and band organs  from Europe and America.
The detailing is amazing!

  

The guide noted that European organs featured
scantily clad women while American organs
were decorated with landscapes.

The collection is clearly a labor of love ... 

... of Mr. Sanfilippo's fascination with mechanics.

We climbed aboard the carousel ... 

.... for a ride back into the past!

   

It was better than Disney!

  

Another wing houses vintage steam engines ... 

  

... antique fire truck ...

.... and even a Mercedes!

What is your favorite "ride" on a carousel - horse?  carriage?  tea cups?   One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open though Saturday, April 21, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winners on Sunday, April 22.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii

Mahalo, Kate, for organizing this tour!

April's month long promotion is CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH. I will select one US reader, one Canadian reader, and one International reader from all my blogs posts in April at SOS ALOHA, THE READING REVIEWER, and ALOHA ON MY MIND. The US winner can select up to 10 books (to fill up a small flat rate box) from my current convention stash to make room for new books coming from RT 2012. The Canadian and International readers can select one book, too!

CLEAN OUT MY CONVENTION STASH is open through Monday, April 30, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Tuesday, May 1.

Aloha to Place de la Musique - The Sanfilippo Collection (part 1)

Aloha!  I'm back from the RT Booklovers' Convention!  I'll blog about the convention itself at SOS Aloha.   We have a winner from last week's blog here at ALOHA ON MY MIND - Liz!  


Last Tuesday, I joined the pre-convention tour of Chicago.
Kathryn Falk and Kenneth Rubin (above) arranged for us to visit the Place De La Musique - The Sanfilippo Collection.   From its website (at this link),

The Sanfilippo "Place de la Musique" is known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines, phonographs, arcade and gambling machines, chandeliers, art glass, the world's largest restored theatre pipe organ, the most spectacular European salon carousel in existence, street and tower clocks, steam engines and other functional mechanical antiques, displayed within a breathtaking French Second Empire setting.

Walking into the foyer, I was transported to an European castle!

The stain glass window was breathtaking!

Our guide played rare recordings on the phonographs.  Despite their age, the sound was magnificent!

The vintage machine below played music from the piano and violin - it was literally music to my ears!

Each room offered a glimpse into our glorious past ... 

... notice the music on the piano below.  Mr. Sanfilippo includes many loving tributes to his wife, Marian!

The restored figureheads below decorated larger music machines.

The Tiffany lamps offer a kaleidoscope of colors!

Downstairs, we entered the world of antique arcades ...

... some are a bit naughty! 

Who wouldn't want this vintage saloon in their house?

 

The editors from RT Bookreviews are ready to party!

Marian Sanfilippo (right) joined us on our tour!

Every machine is unique - I love the banjos!

The organ below spans two floors, leading up to the ballroom.

The Sanfilippos treated us to an organ concert - I felt as if I was royalty!  If you live in the Chicago area, check out the concert schedule at this link.

The Place de la Musique was only the beginning.  On Thursday, I'll post pictures from the Carousel House!   



What is your favorite musical instrument?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, April 21, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 22.


Mahalo,


Kim in Hawaii