Photo: Timothy Hursley

Access is an intangible bought by privilege, and for one weekend a year Open House New York brings privilege to the people. On Saturday 8 and Sunday 9, the great unwashed will be able to visit more than 150 offices, lighthouses, apartments, transfer stations and any other kind of city structure you can think of—for free. The number of venues participating is up from 100 last year and 86 in 2003, the year of the inaugural OHNY. "The south side of Ellis Island has been closed for 50 years," says OHNY director Scott Lauer. "We're very excited to have it open to the public for the first time ever." That would be the hospital, where little Vito Corleone recovered from his TB. Other must-sees: the conservation studios at MoMA, an MTA substation on West 53rd Street and the control tower at Floyd Bennett Field in deep Brooklyn. As long as you're there, you might as well head out to the Rockaways and see the refurbished Jacob Riis Park Bathhouse and Fort Tilden. With so many sites, could there be any on Lauer's wish list for 2006? He laughs and says, "Ask me on Monday."—Katherine Pushkar

For venue and tour information, visit www.ohny.org or call 917-583-2398.