[This is the piece that I originally submitted for the June issue of
The Primrose. We went through several rewrites before it was ultimately rejected for publication. See below for what was actually published.]
“The plane! The plane! Gee Boss, what are you wearing?”
“Shut up Tattoo, I don’t want to attract attention to the fact that today my white suit includes a cute pencil skirt rather than trousers. And please, call me Miss Boss.”
That’s right, this month I want to talk about fantasy, and a place where fantasies can come true. No, not at a mythical island in the South Pacific, but at an unassuming building just west of the Loop in Chicago.
Several months back, those in attendance at the monthly CGS business meeting were treated to a play that was written and produced by some of the very special ladies of Chicago Illusions. The stars included these ladies along with the officers and members of CGS. I am certain that everyone present would agree that the play was a high point of 2008. It might also be the only chance we will ever have of seeing Sheila D in a strait jacket or of hearing a crowd chanting for Jackie to show her panties (well, THAT could happen again I suppose, in fact, it could be a good program idea Christine).
In the months prior to the play, it had been my great pleasure to meet some of the Chicago Illusions ladies at Be All and CGS functions. But I really did not have a clear picture of what Chicago Illusions was all about. After seeing the play, I decided that I would like to learn more, and that I would like to share what I might learn with you. Lexi, the founder and Head Mistress at Chicago Illusions, was very receptive to the idea of giving me a tour and an interview, and we made arrangements to meet. Sadly, personal circumstances curtailed Lexi’s availability for several months. Then Senior Mistress Luna jumped in and volunteered to be my tour guide and interview focus. So, dear readers, let me tell you about my recent visit to Chicago Illusions!
The first stop for any visitor to Chicago Illusions should be their web site (
http://www.chicagoillusions.com/). Do note that if your business uses filters to prevent access to adult-themed sites, you might have to wait until you get home (of course I only heard about this from other slackards who web surf when they should be working). The web site provides a basic description of some of the types of fantasies that Chicago Illusions can help a visitor explore. The site also introduces the visitor to some of the people that make Chicago Illusions the special place that it is. What the site does NOT say is exactly where they are located. So, you will need to make a call to set up your visit.
I arrived in the area well in advance of the agreed time (3 minutes). As I had been told, there was plenty of street parking around the building. Unfortunately, all of the parking spaces were filled with cars that didn’t seem to understand that I had a very important appointment! After circling the area 3 times, I was able to snag a spot about 2 blocks away. Happily, the street parking is free in the area, so I didn’t need the sack of quarters that I carefully laid out at home, and proceeded to forget to bring with me. I used the 2 blocks between my car and building to practice swaying my hips, negotiating puddles, and walking in heels on uneven pavement. I was wearing my dark brown outfit, that I felt conveyed my status as enthusiastic yet vulnerable young reporter. Surprising on one I’m sure, the skirt was short and form fitting.
Turning onto the semi-busy street that contained my destination, I began looking for the right door. I had the street number and I had been told what to look for on the door (it doesn’t say “Lexi’s Whips Are Us”), but I still managed to walk right past it. I heard a door click behind me. I turned and retraced my steps and the door clicked again. I pushed the door open and was greeted by the open arms of Mistress Luna!
The security arrangements at Chicago Illusions start with a camera above the front door. So, several of the staff were watching my approach, and no doubt laughing hysterically as I tried to find the door. Hmm, they didn’t tell me what they thought of my walk. Anyway, the entering guest finds a very nice reception area and a warm welcome. Typically, a guest would first meet privately with a member of the staff to discuss the guest’s needs and other important matters like safe words and signs. For me, there was to be no such rest, for my tour involved climbing up and down endless stairs, probably with the intention of wearing me out so I couldn’t ask too many questions. In fact, let me rest for a moment now and giving you some overall impressions and information before we begin the tour itself.
Chicago Illusions has been in business for 17 years. They proudly display their City of Chicago business license, and they are an integral part of their local community. They make an effort to be somewhat unobtrusive, so guests are very rarely thrown out onto the street bound, gagged and naked. I suspect that many of their neighbors have no idea that their neighbor is known as the Premier Dungeon of the Midwest. There certainly are no signs to advertise their presence.
The whole idea is to provide a very safe and discrete setting for making fantasies come true. As my tour moved from room to room, there was always a positive check to ensure that the way ahead was clear of any other guests. Unless arrangements are made to meet with another guest, the only people that a guest will encounter are members of the staff. Very discrete. I should also mention that the staff is obviously very concerned about keeping the building, the furnishings and the equipment clean and well maintained. The place was spotless. I didn’t ask, but I wonder if they keep cleaning costs down by using slaves? Hmm.
On with the tour and with some introductions! As I mentioned, I was initially greeted by Senior Mistress Luna, who was to be my principal tour guide, and by Miss Lola who was in charge of the reception desk.
I must digress for just a moment before I continue with introductions. By all that is good and right, I should attempt to convey the individual beauty, charm, and infectious enthusiasm that I saw in every single one of the wonderful ladies that I met at Chicago Illusions. Unfortunately, my talents as a writer, and the space allotted to me by our beloved editor-published, are insufficient for the task. I pray you and the ladies will forgive me for not providing more superlatives in the introductions (except for Luna, about who I am about to gush, and one other particular person whom you will meet shortly).
As the tour begins, I follow Mistress Luna down to the basement. As for gushing, I hope I will be forgiven for saying that it would always be a pleasure to follow Mistress Luna, but in the gold gown that she was wearing that day, it was particularly delightful. Anyway, on to the basement.
Ah! This I suspected would be the location for the most diabolical of bondage and torture devices! Dripping ceilings and cold stone walls to contain the screams of the unwary who wandered in. Well, not so much. In a space planning and decorating decision that must be fiendishly clever (because I don’t get it), the basement holds the nursery and the school room. Go figure.
Before inspecting these seemingly ill-placed rooms, we entered the one room in the basement that truly seems to fit the basement image. This room is dubbed the “suspension” room. The central piece of equipment here is a chain hoist that could probably be used to pull the engine out of a muscle car. This hoist is permanently mounted through the ceiling and, one assumes, to strong structural elements of the building. It sounds perfect for my Tinkerbell fantasies! Alas, we moved on to the next room by walking rather than flying.
Outside the nursery I met Mistress Noelle. She is fairly new to Chicago Illusions, but as a fan of my writings in spite of her education (poor deluded girl) she deserves special recognition (Hi Noelle!). Inside, the nursery is equipped as a child’s bedroom. A small bed, a toy chest, diaper changing table, bondage device on the wall . . . what? Your child’s room doesn’t have a bondage device on the wall? Well our motto was always “spare the restraints and thumbscrews, spoil the child”. I was told that this room appeals to those who would like to have a chance to go back and relive their early days.
Since it was occupied during our initial visit to the basement, I didn’t actually see the school room until the end of the tour, but I shall mention it now so that you will be less confused than I was/am (this disclaimer made because of my high journalistic standards and integrity – note how I said that with a straight face). The school room is equipped with a desk, bookshelves, blackboard, cage, and a bondage device on the wall (see above, same basic motto). This room is used for any number of teacher/student scenarios. It is also used as an office setting for things
like secretary/boss interactions. Here I met Mistress Leona, who thoughtfully took some photos of me trying to look like a teacher. I should mention that not enough of my teachers wore short skirts and perched on the edge of their desks.
Next, I followed Mistress Luna up 3 flights of stairs to the 3rd floor kitchen (see comment above about following Mistress Luna, but greatly increase emphasis as a result of following her UP the stairs). Fortunately, we stopped there for some introductions because I seem to have skipped my stairmaster workouts for the last 30 years (sorry, make that 5 years since I’m only 25) and someone had sucked the oxygen out of the air around me. While recovering, I was introduced to Mistress Gianna, who is another recent addition to the staff.
At this time, Head Mistress Lexi joined us long enough to add another participant to the tour. Mistress Lexi explained that Sophie is her slavegirl, and that Mistress Luna could use her to demonstrate some of the facilities. In a very soft voice, Miss Sophie asked Mistress Lexi if she could greet their guest (meaning me). When given permission, Miss Sophie knelt down at my feet, spread her arms to her sides, and bowed her head. I truly don’t recall that last time a beautiful woman did that for me. Oh, that’s because they never did! Having no idea how one should properly respond to such a greeting, I am certain that I stammered and stuttered like an idiot. When she rose, my power of speech seemed to return, and I was able to absorb a few more details. I found out later that Miss Sophie is also a member of the staff, but where the other ladies I met were garbed in gowns or other finery, Miss Sophie wore a short, black skirt, black boots, stockings with exposed garters, a sleeveless black crop top, and a collar with leash attached.
Mistress Luna accepted the leash from Mistress Lexi, and we headed off to see the 3rd floor. There was a moment of logistical confusion at the door to the first room. Mistress Luna was leading the way and holding Miss Sophie’s leash. Miss Sophie graciously (and properly for a slave) waved me through the door ahead of her. Oops! The leash was a bit short for that to work well, but after a bit of fumbling we made it into the room.
I didn’t find out if there is a formal name for this room, so I will just call it the bondage room. The prominent features of the room are a 7 foot diameter, upright wheel and a device that everyone would recognize as a rack (as in torture, not as in spice). The wheel allows the participant to be attached in spread-eagle fashion, and then be rotated like a wagon wheel to an inverted position (I might loose my lunch if I think too much about that). The rack features stationary cuffs for the feet, and a turnable drum where cuffs for the hands can be attached and tightened. Do you suppose that’s why so many of the ladies at Chicago Illusions are tall?
The room also features a rather small cage (large enough for Miss Sophie I was told but not shown), and a trio of devices that Mistress Luna demonstrated using Miss Sophie as the center of attention. The first was a stock that held Miss Sophie’s head and arms securely so that
Mistress Luna could administer some punishment to Sophie’s undefended derriere (Miss Sophie counted as she was lashed, and I do believe I heard a contented moan as well). Next was a device that I was told is occasionally used for serving appetizers at parties. The unit is essentially a box on wheels with a bottom, open sides and a lockable, two-part, hinged top with neck sized opening. Miss Sophie sat on the bottom shelf and just her head showed out of the top. I understand that the appetizers are placed on the table top around the head for the enjoyment and amusement of guests. The last device was a diabolical device, but only effective for those with male equipment. The device was shaped like a chair, except the lucky participant would sit backwards with his legs on either side of the back. Strategically placed in the center of the back was an opening with a sliding door that could be clamped in place to hold the aforementioned male equipment. If I weren’t a girl it would make me shudder. Miss Sophie demonstrated the position of the participant, but she was not equipped to demonstrate the use of the restraint.
As we prepared to move to the next room on the tour, Mistress Luna handed Miss Sophie’s leash to me so that we might avoid additional problems going through doors. I accepted, although being a submissive in my heart, I found the role of dominant to be a bit uncomfortable, even if it just meant holding the leash.
Our next stop was the medical room. The focus of this room was a regulation hospital gurney. Mistress Lexi joined us long enough to point out that this particular item is a particular favorite of Mistress Luna, who apparently has more than one of her own at home. Hmmm, perhaps she runs a charity clinic in her off hours? I was invited to lay down on the gurney to see just how comfortable it was. Now I must admit that I hesitated. Once on the gurney, would Mistress Luna force me to undergo some undefined, but worrisome, medical procedure? What the heck, I climbed on and reclined on the gurney. In the movies, I would have been instantly restrained, and an evil smile would have crossed Mistress Luna’s face. An equally devilish Miss Sophie would have said something like, “May I get the knives now Mistress?” Instead, she squealed with delight when my short skirt rode up revealing that I was wearing thigh-highs and black panties. Of course I feigned embarrassment, but I doubt that anyone was fooled.
Rising from the gurney with all of my organs still in place (no wisecracks please), I took leash in hand and we set off for the last room on the 3rd floor. This might best be described as the bondage bedroom. It contained a very comfortable water bed that was conveniently equipped with eye bolts around the headboard as well as on the wall above and around the bed. There was a large board in the rough shape of a person. All around the perimeter of the board were eye bolts so that a lucky participant could be lashed down much like Gulliver in the land of the Liliputians. There was also a device that I will call a bondage chair. At Mistress Luna’s direction, Miss Sophie happily demonstrated how one sits on the chair and then can have her arms secured either outstretched to the sides or above her head. There was a bit of short-skirt payback when Miss Sophie was required to spread her legs to be secured to the chair, thus exposing her own unmentionables. Like me, she pretended to be embarrassed.
We then moved down to the 2nd floor. Here we found a wonderful open space in the front of the building that includes another kitchen and a large living room area. But before we could enjoy the living room, we headed down the hall to the spa.
The spa room contains a beautiful old barber chair where guests can sit for makeovers, facials, and so on. There is also a manicure station and a pedicure chair. The room has shelves filled with wigs and various beauty products. Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? Well just wait until you go next door. There we find a bedroom with a large closet that is just filled with clothes and shoes. Close the door honey, it is time to try on clothes! Miss Lola tore herself away from the front desk to pose for a picture with Mistress Luna and the cornucopia of goodies. Alas, our schedule did not allow time to truly appreciate this treasure trove of sparkly, frilly and sexy things. Sigh.
Back in the living room we were joined by Lady Celeste, Mistress Gianna, and Mistress Noelle for some photos and a bit of chatting. Unfortunately, it was discovered that I had a run in my
stocking, and it was deemed appropriate that Miss Sophie should be punished for allowing this to happen while admiring my legs. Mistress Luna administered 10 spanks as Miss Sophie bent over a chair (she was innocent of the alleged infraction, but enjoyed the punishment too much to
protest).
Sadly, that was the end of the tour. Happily, I was asked to join Mistress Luna and Miss Sophie at Pops For Champagne to conclude the interview and to top off a wonderful visit. I took my leave of all the other wonderful ladies of Chicago Illusions and we made our way to State and Ohio for a bit of the bubbly.
I should mention that both Luna and Sophie changed for the visit to Pops. They ceased to be Mistress and Slave Girl, and reverted to being the beautiful and sexy ladies who make me extraordinarily jealous!
As we sipped champagne and flirted with the waiter (he liked Luna’s taste in oysters, but I think he was more attracted to me), Luna told me about meeting Lexi around 8 years ago. Recognizing that they were kindred spirits, they became friends. A year or so later, Luna joined Chicago Illusions. Much as Sophie is doing now, Luna passed through a period of slave training herself before being accepted as a Mistress. She confessed that she was much more stubborn and difficult to train than Sophie has been.
There remained a couple of topics that I was reluctant to bring up, but which Luna was happy to discuss. These are money and sex. To be a guest at Chicago Illusions, you need the former, but don’t expect the latter. The staff at Chicago Illusions are Mistresses (and one Master) of fantasy, and they will help the guest to fulfill their fantasies, but any sexual contact will be mental, not physical.
Based upon your needs in terms of time, staff and facilities, you will be asked to provide a “tribute” in an appropriate (and not insignificant) amount. For those of us who, to paraphrase Robin Leach, have champagne fantasies and tonic water budgets, visits to Chicago Illusions are not likely to be frequent occurrences (rats!). But it would certainly be a great way to celebrate a special occasion or to spend that inheritance you don’t know what to do with.
On a personal note, I would like to say that I had a thoroughly wonderful time visiting Chicago Illusions. I was welcomed as a friend and a sister by everyone that I met, and I extend my thanks to all of you all being so very gracious. Special thanks to Lexi and Luna for devoting your time to the tour and for the excellent champagne! Finally, extra special thanks to Miss Sophie who was a delight and who liked my legs (maybe I can be YOUR slave girl one day).
*****
Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? Please send to me at greercd@hotmail.com.
The standout costumes of the night were The Terminator and Nosferatu. Both were excellent costumes and well deserved their first and second place wins in the contest (they were costumes weren’t they?). I entered the contest at the last moment, but the judges sent me around to the servants entrance and then sent me for more drinks when I tried to step onto the stage. I would have been less disappointed if they would have at least pinched my bottom.
I thought I looked pretty sharp for the November CGS business meeting in my black jacket and short black skirt. But Gina showed me up in her “new” outfit of boots and dress from ebay. Alas, Jill put us both to shame in her very “butch” outfit featuring blue jeans, t-shirt, backwards cap, and 5:00 shadow. Ah, what ever happened to the lovely long blonde hair?
As we enjoy this special time of year, I am grateful for the gift of friendship. The gift that I have come to share with many of you over the last year or two, and the gift that I hope to share with all of you in the future. Thank you for sharing yourselves with me, and for helping me to enjoy all of who I am.
