Today I set up a new office in downtown Chicago. I set up my desk, organized files, telephone, Internet access, iPod, finished paperwork, put up a picture of my wife, etc. Because of this change, I took the “EL – Green Line” into the city from Oak Park Avenue. When I last worked in the city, I used to take the Blue Line.

It has been 10-15 years since I commuted downtown to work, first at 742 N. Wells, then in Printers Row. It took me about 45 minutes from door to door today – not too bad.

I was able to have lunch with a friend named Mark Goeke who works downtown only a few blocks away. As I was going to meet him for lunch, I ran into another old friend, Lee Hoffner, who now works for RMG Connect located in the Mart. I am having lunch with another friend, Patrick Flanagan, tomorrow. It can feel like a very small world sometimes!

Here’s a picture of the building I am in, one of my architectural favorites, right on the curve of the Chicago River. It reminds me of a series of illustrations I did back in the 80′s for a group called “Friends of the Chicago River.” Here is a sketch I did for that study.