Just Looking

No matter how hard you try, you simply cannot prevent your eyes from wandering to the windows of the apartments in Center City; the hope of catching a glance of the glamorous glitz or shabby-chic sofas pulls your pupils past the pane. Yet what if for one day, for four glorious hours, you had the chance to not only catch an outsider's perspective on the smart lifestyles of upscale Philadelphians, but go inside their houses? Well, on Oct. 20, the Center City Residents' Association gives the architecturally inclined, the artistically motivated and the downright curious a chance to soak up as much sleekness as they can handle. The 44th Annual CCRA Fall Tour takes a posh pilgrimage from Chestnut Street to Lombard Street, exposing the fashion tastes of homeowners, their restorations, antiques and art. In addition to viewing over 15 homes, visitors can see the intricate interiors of Trinity Memorial Church and historic buildings such as St. Patrick's Hall. Best of all, you can visit the residencies in any order you desire, so if you have a favorite fantasy of what lies within a particular home, start there and be amazed as it exceeds your wildest expectations.

CCRA Annual Tour, Sun., Oct. 20, 1-5 p.m., $15, tickets available at the CCRA Office, Suite 810,1616 Walnut St., and other outlets. For more information, call 215-546-6719 or visit www.centercityresidents.org.

—Kristina Weise