Neighborhood House Tour Opened Doors to Community

By Genevieve McDowell Owen, House Tour Committee Chair

Rain, schmain! The 2026 North Woodside House Tour was a success by every measure that matters.

Turnout was excellent despite a rainy late afternoon — proof that a brush with a nor’easter is no match for neighborhood enthusiasm. Guests donned their rain gear and protective booties with good cheer intact.

Ticket holders were treated to a delightful variety of homes that beautifully illustrated the range and character of North Woodside’s housing stock. The houses, all built between 1894 and 1949, showcased some impressive upgrades: stunning new kitchens, thoughtfully designed living spaces, and at least one complete backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that had folks buzzing. But equally appealing were the period details like century-old built-ins and cozy fireplaces still in their original glory.

In front of her Sears kit home, a North Woodside neighbor holds a commemorative tile featuring the house in the house tour logo.

Outside, the decks, patios, gazebos, screened porches, water features, and gardens were equally memorable. Flowers were still in abundance, and a few guests spotted some extraordinary trees, including an African baobab and a Japanese chestnut. Many neighbors and guests on the tour also stopped to admire the new native plants and flowers in the tree triangle.

The tour, organized by the North Woodside House Tour Committee, raised over $14,000 for two meaningful community projects: the Community Tree Triangle Project, which recently transformed our long-neglected neighborhood gathering spot into a native plant oasis, and the Linden-Lyttonsville Museum, which will tell the remarkable story of one of the area’s earliest Black communities.

Commemorative tiles and bouquets for homeowners, House Tour committee members, and volunteers at the post-event celebration.

The 14-month effort ended in the best possible way with a celebratory gathering for the House Tour Committee and homeowners at the gracious Kandell-Weil residence. Cupcakes generously donated by our neighborhood’s own Nothing Bundt Cakes made the celebration feel extra sweet, and each homeowner received a truly special thank you gift: an embossed handcrafted commemorative tile, individually made by North Woodside’s own talented Carly Bond.

None of it would have been possible without the generosity of the homeowners who opened their doors, the sponsors and advertisers who provided essential support, and the many volunteers who gave their time and energy to make the day run smoothly. To every single one of them: Thank you. North Woodside is lucky to have you.