Change in Chicago

I have been working here for 10 years and much has changed. And most of it for the better. The construction of Millennium Park has been transforming. I was giving thought to that as I walked to the Park Grill at lunchtime. Ten years ago this was an unattractive wasteland bisected by rail tracks. It is now one of the great attractions for tourists, as well has having contributed to a major regeneration of South Michigan Avenue.

And north of the river we have the addition of the Trump Tower, which appears at last to be completed, externally at least. Here you see it this morning sandwiched between two Chicago architectural icons, the Mies van der Rohe IBM tower and the Wrigley building.

I have had another useful day getting to grips with some important things. An early morning breakfast meeting with a board member started things off. And I have begun slowly to figure out the details of the 2011 season, my schedule for the autumn when much of the detail of that season will be put together, and how we are going to manage the change occurring as we come to the end of the current Board presidency cycle. New faces and a new dynamic are in prospect. This will provide great opportunities. I hope that we will be able to get it right.

I am happy to be moving at a slower pace than that of the last four weeks -- pause for breath is good!