Located in the 60606 is one of my favorite buildings in the loop. Right off the Washington/Wells stop, near a Starbucks, Goodwin’s, Cosi and even a small convince store in the lobby, stands the One North Franklin. It is located near everything to keep you running during the rush of an average day at the firm.

This building has some of the fastest elevators that I have every ridden. When going from the top floors down to the lobby, I can feel my ears pop.

Height (struct.) 151 m / 494 ft
Floors 36
Office Space 617,000 s.f.
Parking ratio  1:21000
Construction End 1992

Watch out when trying to haul equipment out of the building because the tall security guard that works the morning shift always demands to see a equipment pass. One time I was hauling out a small computer tower that was no bigger than a book, and I had to go get a pass. This particular client was out of passes so a series of confirming phone calls ensued, wasting 10-15 minutes of my time.

Despite the sometimes annoying security happenings, it remains in my top five buildings to work in. LPChad tested and approved.

I hope that everyone enjoyed the day with working BlackBerry units. Yesterday, if you didn’t notice, the majority of North America was without email and PIN functionality. I actually had to make a few phone calls and use my voice to talk to people.

Business got done with my desktop Outlook program, but thought the morning I would play with the scroll wheel in anticipation that it would suddenly come back to life.

David Callaway of MarketWatch has a great withdrawal article describing his journey into San Francisco without service.

Today on the Brown Line I saw a student studying a Microsoft office book. He was reviewing exam questions for Excel 2002. I’ve been creating graphs and analyzing trends in Excel since I was in high school.

Microsoft Excel 2002

Also, does he know that Office 2007 is about to be released? The information that he is studying is horribly out of date. Sometimes I feel sorry for people that don’t get the latest technology from the Firm. I’ve been running Office 2007 since it was at Beta 1.

The holiday season is fast approaching and office secretaries have been planning holiday parties for a while now. I will be attending the firm’s office party this Friday. Here are a few guidelines to survive the holiday office party.

1. Bring your hottest Trixie as an accessory. She will not only impress your boss with her hot little Armitage-bought boutique dress, but will serve as a bubbly distraction when conversation goes dry with your co-workers. She will giggle with champaign and delight co-workers with jokes about popular culture if you are stuck talking to the stoner mail room clerks.
2. Don’t drink too much at an office function. We at lpchad.com always enjoy the open bar, but often over indulge at them. Too many Goose Island’s will make that voice in your head that judges what you say before it comes out will go numb after the twelfth beer. You might end up telling your Trixie date that you really want to sleep with her roommate Jenny, oops. You will have plenty of time to drink after the office party is done at 9/10PM. Head back up to Armitage to meet your fellow Chad’s at Kinkade’s later for the real party.
3. Even if the office party is over the river in River North from your office in the Loop, drive your car. Borrow your friend’s M5 if you only have an M3. Don’t forget to tip the valet and tell him that you’ve “counted the change in the ashtray” in order to add touch of arrogance to your persona.
4. Only talk to your fellow investment bankers and attorneys. Get free tips on hedge funds and ways to work our Mayor Daley’s red tape. Associate with people that you would like to be, or manage someday when you become partner. When in need for conversation, your new set of golf clubs and the stock market are your safest bets. Steer clear of politics, religions or the Sox v. Cubs debate; you can save those for impressing future girlfriends at your sister’s next dinner party.
5. A smart Chad always compliments the partners’ wives, no matter how middle aged they are.

Every day of the week as a feeling and Monday is no  different. Monday is a day of waking up at 8AM, taking a hot shower to shake  away the last feelings of your weekend hangover, getting a clean shave and  sporting your best blue (dark peri also acceptable) button down. Grab a cup of  coffee at the Starbucks at Armitage and Sheffield;  grab a copy of the Red Eye outside Armitage to read on your 10 minute commute  to Washington/Wells or Quincy.