Office Hours Are T, TH From 3 – 4:45

I had the honor of speaking to a Media Business class at a local university this last week. I can now cross off College Professor on the list of jobs I want to try but don’t really want to do (that joins elevator operator, ice cream scooper, handyman, public works guy, and bartender). As for the class… let me give you a piece of advice: the week that YouTube sells for $1.6 billion is not the best time to dazzle the youth of America with your plans for non-profit radio. Eventually, they warmed up to my talk and even peppered me with some tough questions at the end. In response to one question, I referenced Friendster. Not one of them had heard of it. How quickly fortunes fade. Next time I speak to a class, I’ll be ready with all the right lingo. Hilarious.

That New Office Smell

Kind of like a new car, but less vinyl. The new offices at Chicago Public Radio are really great. The central City Room, home of the public affairs staff, is an amazing open space. You can feel the gears of journalism turning as you walk through it. And it feels really good to have the whole staff under one roof after a long separation. My cubicle is one floor up from the main action, but it’s quiet – a place where I can hunker down and focus on work. As for the Pier, I have not yet left the safety of the studios for the wilderness of the tourist traps. I am going to see how long I can go until I have to venture out there. For now, I will continue to close my eyes and cover my ears while I run from the bus stop to the office. And I forgot to mention the best part of getting new offices: chair ergonomics training! Best 10 minutes of my life. A few more pics of the new space at my flickr page.

Last Days at the Grotto

Ah, Playboy Enterprises, Inc. – I hardly knew ye.  Friday was my last day working under the shadow of Hef.  While the radio station was undergoing some serious construction, I (along with numerous co-workers) have been housed one floor below Playboy’s Chicago HQ.  We are all excited about the new offices, but I have to say that I’m going to miss 680 N. Lakeshore Drive.  It has everything you could want in an office building: a  coffee shop (not a Starbucks!), a hardware store, a pharmacy, a grocery store, even some familiar faces working in the building.  Plus, as a bonus, lots and lots of rich ladies with small dogs.  In addition, ample eateries can be found throughout the immediate vicinity.  Not impressed?  Well, you have to remember, I was used to working on Navy Pier, with its kitschy wares and terrible food court.  So to me, 680 was like stumbling into an oasis after 8 years in the desert. Monday, it’s back to the Pier.  Back to making pb&j’s for lunch.  Back to the #65 bus.  Back to the 6th circle of hell.  I’ll give you the tour of the new digs later this week.