If you’re in the holiday spirit and want to “window shop” – head over to Macy’s on State Street to check out their spectacular window display.  You can also head inside to see the Great Tree – it’s the 103^rd year that the 45-foot Great Tree will be lit to celebrate the holidays. It will feature 10,000 LED twinkling lights and 1,200 amazing ornaments.

Holidays not your thing? That’s OK – you can join in on Chicago’s winter tradition: ice skating at Millennium Park’s McCormick Tribune Ice Rink.

Located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets, the Millennium Park Ice Rink draws more than 100,000 skaters annually. The rink is open to the public every day of the week and skating is free. (You read right – FREE!) Skate rentals are available for $10. The rink is in its 11^th season and is open until March 11, 2012, weather permitting.

For Ice Rink hours and additional information, click here.

Also, through January 8, a bit further down the road from OfficeLinks’ Chicago offices, the Navy Pier will host Winter Wonderfest. Escape any winter blahs and enjoy rides, lights, and even fireworks! Admission is free (yes – I said it again! Twice in one post: FREE!), but you do need to pay for an Activity Wristband for any rides or attractions.

For Wonderfest hours and additional information, click here.

Chicago is a wonderful place to be around the holidays and during the winter. Get out there and enjoy every second of it!

Looking for a unique Halloween-themed experience? Come here after dark on October 20th!

Celebrate Halloween at the Adler Planetarium, about 2 miles from OfficeLinks’ Chicago location, on Thursday, October 20, for a “Spooky Space” celebration. Get into character and dress to impress for a Halloween costume contest (yes, there are prizes!), get spooked with scary constellation stories in the Atwood Sphere, sip on this month’s signature cocktail, the Rummy Worm, while you dance the nightmares away as DJ Tim Zawada spins records.

In addition, there will be screenings of some rare sci-fi films hosted by Odd Obsession, as well as some ghostly hauntings in the historic galleries on the lower level.  You can even create your own gooey monster capable of slithering through the states of the old planetarium.

Both the Adler’s Grainger Sky Theater and the Definiti will be running. You can also check out Adler’s newest show, The Searcher, or see what’s happening in the night sky in a special, one-night only Space Mysteries show in the Definiti Theater.

The Doane Observatory will be open for drop-in visitors until 6:45 p.m. From 7:00 p.m. onward, tickets are required for entrance to the observatory. Tour tickets can only be reserved when you purchase advance tickets; tickets will not be available with on-site sales. Please note that access to the Doane is subject to weather.

Advanced tickets to Adler’s After Dark Spooky Space event are $12 for non-members, $9 for members and students (with proper ID); tickets at the door are $17 for non-members, $12 for members and students (with proper ID).   Advanced tickets sales end at noon the day of the event. A cash bar and full cafe menu is available.

The fun doesn’t stop on October 20^th. The third Thursday of every month, 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., the Adler Planetarium offers folks 21 and over to enjoy cocktails and appetizers against the award-winning view of the Chicago skyline seen only from the Adler with their Adler After Dark events. Each month Adler After Dark reinvents itself with a new and exciting theme, so there is something new to discover and experience.  Want to find out more? Click here.

Today’s modern offices and its workers are on a path of constant transformation.  Many employers, aware of how work patterns have changed due to technology and globalization, are looking to proactively align their office environments with the needs of 21^st century workers in order to maximize performance.

As a result, the potential of office design and its role in impacting productivity and creativity is limitless.   Cost containment is also driving changes in the workplace.  Companies looking to reduce their fixed real estate costs are embracing alternative workplaces like shared office environments, which because of their flexibility; enable businesses to hone in on property costs.  Office fluidity is as important as an agile business plan and designers are stepping up their game.

And, while more open spaces and floor plans are being incorporated to fuel collaboration, it may not be preferred workspace for everyone.  There is a quiet debate brewing about four walls versus an open plan.  So are you the type of person that finds comfort behind four walls or in an open plan?

Let us know where you do your best work.

Vacancy rates have now dropped for four straight quarters and the latest numbers are at their lowest level since 2009.   Could this be a true sign of recovery for Chicago?  Possibly as an uptick in demand from large companies who are expanding continue to acquire more space.  Groupon Inc., United Airlines and Ifbyphone, a tech firm, are just some of the big names that are moving offices into Chicago.  A consequence of this real estate rally is that asking rents are increasing as a result of growing demand.

Of all the space options, Class A space at premier addresses in newer buildings, appear to be the most sought after.  Landlords at these locations seem to have the upper hand for now and are starting to get asking rates without concessions.

The CB Richard Ellis report also points out that Class B vacancy rates for downtown Chicago edged up – a sign that the downtown recovery may not be evenly spread across all types of spaces.

Uniqute 4th of July experiences are all apart of how Chicago celebrates Independence Day!

We saw this and just had to share it with OfficeLinks clients and friends in Chicago.

You have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the 4^th of July in style: 2 hours on a charter yacht, enjoying the city views, the sunset, refreshments, and fireworks.  The evening starts with a short River and Lock Tour. Then you’ll cruise along on Lake Michigan as the sun sets over the Chicago skyline while you enjoy light appetizers (antipasto display of meats cheeses and breads, crudités, and a dessert bar), as well as a cash bar. You’ll remain on the lake for a gigantic Independence Day fireworks display over the lake.  Tickets are $100 (for all ages); boarding time is 7:45pm at Ogden Slip at Navy Pier.

There are other 4^th of July Fireworks Cruise options available as well:

$75 Sunset and Firework Cruise (boards at 7:45 pm at the West Dock of the Navy Pier)
$45 75-minute Architecture Fireworks Cruise (boards at 7:45 pm at Ogden Slip at Navy Pier)
$45 60-minute Lake Fireworks Cruise (boards at 8:15 pm at Navy Pier)

Please note that these cruises sell out quickly, so advance ticketing is strongly suggested.  You can purchase tickets to any of these wonderful 4^th of July celebrations by clicking here.  Your Independence Day already booked with barbeques?  There are fireworks cruises all summer long!  Click here for more information.

Start your own garden with Garfield Park Conservatory's seedlings.

Looking to grow your own garden this spring and summer?  The Garfield Park Conservatory, located less than 5 miles from OfficeLinks’ Chicago office space, is offering you an opportunity to come pick some special seedlings for your garden on Saturday May 21, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm.  There will be a unique, exciting and tasty variety of herbs, veggies, and fruits for your own growing pleasure, including heirloom varieties of tomatoes, corn, beans, squash, tomatillos and peppers, as well as former and current All-American Selections varieties.

University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer all of your questions.

Garfield Park Conservatory volunteers started all seeds in a Garfield Park Conservatory greenhouse, and all proceeds from the sale will go directly to the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance to help fund programs. Seedling prices vary by plant.

And while you’re there, you can pick up some FREE tulip bulbs at the Garfield Market Place Gate (just north of the Conservatory’s front doors).  Bulbs start to be given away at 9 am, but the line forms much earlier, and it goes until the bulbs are gone (which is usually around 11 am, so arrive early!).

So head on over to Garfield Park Conservatory, located at 300 North Central Park Avenue, to pick up your seedlings and tulip bulbs to support the Conservatory and your own green thumb!

Michael J. Evans, CEO of The Cogent Advisor

After recently speaking with Michael Evans about his company, The Cogent Advisor, it is clear to me that he heeds his own advice.  Michael was a trader for 20 years before starting The Cogent Advisor, based out of OfficeLinks’ Willis Tower location, in 2010.  What made him want to go out on his own?  I asked that very question and the answer is evident: his passion.

Well, there is some back story to his transition.  While trading, Michael was also managing his own money.  One day he lost 44% on a “safe” investment, leading him to become a plaintiff in a class action law suit.  Lesson learned the hard way, he adopted a strategy for avoiding this type of single-holding risk. It also inspired him to become a financial advisor, to help individuals and families avoid making similar mistakes with their own life savings.  His goal in creating his company was to serve clients like himself, to whom he can deeply relate.  The Cogent Advisor helps successful financial professionals make informed decisions with their money to free their wealth for something more – such as giving back to their communities.

Michael’s vision is reflected in his company from the inside out.  The Cogent Advisor is a Registered Investment Advisor firm that operates on a fee-only basis; Michael and his team is not incentivized by percentages of gains nor is he product-based.  This helps ensure that Michael’s interests and his clients’ interests are well aligned and his role is always a fiduciary one.  The Cogent Advisor coordinates a team of experts and design solutions for clients’ unique situations focusing on five key areas including:

1.    Preserving wealth

2.    Minimizing income tax

3.    Preserving legacy

4.    Protecting wealth against liabilities

5.    Making charitable pursuits more meaningful

I found Michael’s long-standing devotion to his work inspirational.  In closing, I think we should all consider some of his final words from our interview. “Get into an industry you are passionate about, believe in what you are doing, and desire to produce the best outcome for yourself and others.  Not only is this a powerful force for success, it’s also more fun.”  To learn more about Michael and The Cogent Advisor, visit thecogentadvisor.com.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently ranked U.S. cities based on the total number of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified buildings present in each city.

According to last month’s report, Chicago ranked first.  Among the buildings that helped boost Chicago to the top of list is Willis Tower, located at 233. S. Wacker Drive, which is home to our Chicago office.

Chicago currently has 223 LEED-certified buildings, far surpassing the next closest markets – Washington, D.C. and New York.  Each of those cities has 146 LEED-certified buildings.  Chicago can’t afford to get complacent.  Both Washington and New York are ramping up development.  Each city has more than 600 buildings in the construction pipeline that have registered for LEED certification.   Right now, Chicago has 516 construction projects underway.

So why does LEED certification and going green matter for prospective office tenants?  First, it can certainly strengthen a business’ corporate image as it demonstrates a commitment to a sustainable workplace with minimal impact on the environment.  Secondly, it also reduces operational costs for a tenant and provides employees with a safer work environment.

Does working in a LEED-certified building matter to you?  Let us know.

Despite the challenging climate, we have found businesses are willing to invest in relationships with partners, suppliers and, yes, office providers, that will enhance their business, boost their productivity and put them in a position to succeed.  Our newest location in midtown Manhattan at 1140 Avenue of the Americas is a perfect example of this.  Businesses could have easily secured space in another part of town with fewer amenities and a less desirable address – especially with the amount of space available in New York.  However, when they weighed their options, our clients made a purposeful decision to secure space that meets their complete business needs – from floor plan design, to technology and from location to amenities.
As the article said, most businesses require an office at least some of the time to conduct business.  Companies just need to secure the one that best matches their needs.

 In a BusinessWeek column, Neal Soss, chief economist at Credit Suisse Holdings USA said: “Lending is no longer collapsing.  That is a very good thing compared to where we were. The credit system is not getting weaker.”

 Other news to support the loosening of the credit markets came out of Bank of America who announced it will expand its services to small businesses and will hire 1,000 employees by early 2012 to focus on supporting companies with less than $3 million in annual revenue.

 Hopefully, this brings a sense of optimism for small businesses as it appears larger institutions are stepping up and helping small businesses to receive financing.

 The recession combined with the credit crisis forced business owners to hold off on expanding, hiring and investing.  Many entrepreneurs and start-ups leveraged their own personal assets to keep their businesses open.  As a result, businesses have learned how to do more with less and have come to expect the unexpected.

 With the tide appearing to take a turn in a positive direction, these same small businesses will need to be prudent and cautious – should they be lucky enough to secure extra capital.  They should direct the money to activities that will move their business forward and give them the flexibility to optimize their performance.