A Victorian Palace: The Sanfilippo Estate

Eden Palais: A Victorian Palace from Gardenia Hung on Vimeo.

Courtesy by G.C. Hung for Consulting Media Arts, Communications, Languages & Culture, Inc., 31-minute digital video from the Eden Palais Victorian Palace at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington, Illinois, featuring classic organist maestro Frank Pugno playing the five-keyboard antique organ and the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest with the French-American Chamber of Commerce of Chicago with members of the Groupe Professionel Francophone and the Alliance Française of Chicago.

Browsing through Sr. CONNECTION, I found the Sanfilippo Estate, once again, on the front page, for the Victorian Palace in 2010 XXI. Have you ever visited a Victorian Palace in the 21st century? Look for the European Salon Carousel and the Tiffany Dome at the Victorian mansion with crystal chandeliers in Barrington Hills, Illinois USA.

Seven years ago, the Italian American Chamber of Commerce Midwest and the French American Chamber of Commerce Midwest invited joint members with the Groupe Professionel Francophone for a Sunday afteroon soirée at the Victorian Palace for the Sanfilippo Estate Plum Tree Farm in Barrington Hills. All guests were personally greeted by Jasper Sanfillippo and his wife. We were treated to a special tour of the Victorian Palace at the Sanfilippo Estate, valet parking, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, refreshments, good-hearted hospitality and a warm personal welcome from Jasper Sanfililippo and his wife at the Plum Tree Farm in Barrington Hills.

Everyone was dazed and amazed at the objet d’art and wonderful memorabilia displayed at the Victorian Palace.

I remembered the beautiful antique organ played by classical organist Frank Pugno who entertained the guests all afternoon at the Grand Salon. During his performance, I interviewed Ray Pugno, who was kind to share his impressions with me during the visit to the Victorian Palace. I filmed a Digital Video for San Filippo Plum Tree Farm, Barrington Hills, Illinois, English in color, 2H30, 2000 for Communications, Languages & Culture, Inc.

Now on May 22, 2010, Catholic Charities is sponsoring another dinner event at the Sanfilippo Estate. Hearts for the Homeless in the Eighth Wonder of the World Tour is making a public effort to raise funds for homeless families in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. This fundraising dinner and auction offer unique auction items which include a yacht cruise, a TV news station tour and talk time with Garry Meier, WGN Radio personality, to benefit Catholic Charities Northwest Regional Services and the New Hope Apartments Program, a supportive housing initiatives program intended to help end the cycle of homelessness for local families.

The Sanfilippo Estate reminds us of Victorian Times (1837-1901), when young Victoria became Queen of Britain at age 18, on June 1837, and many changes took place along with her reign until 1901. Queen Victoria defined her time, trends, fashions, mores, world exploration, navigation, progress, thought, and places, as a turning point in the history of Europe and the world. The 19th century is also known as Victorian Times; in turn, these gave way to the Industrial Revolution. Victorian times marked a transition point between the old and the new modern era in Europe and the Americas, driven by new thoughts, ideas, and man-made machines during the 20th century.

The Victorian Palace is a private residence displaying treasured antiques which include the world’s renown theatre organs with 8,000 pipes, the 1881 Grant Steam Locomotive, featuring the 1890 European Eden Palais Carousel at the Sanfilippo Estate; Victorian memorabilia, antique music, arcade, gambling machines; original Comfort Tiffany lamps and dome; an old-fashioned ice cream parlor; 200 gramaphones used as mechanical music boxes; phonographs; 64 coin-operated pianos; automated violins; and a street clock standing 20 feet tall.

In the 21st century, the Victorian Palace is still drawing attention and recollections when we remember things from past centuries at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills, Illinois USA.