We're here!

We got to Chicago at about 11:00 this morning, and took the shuttle to our hotel. We're staying at the Hampton Inn Hotel and Suites on W. Illinois St. again this year, so we're pretty much in the thick of things downtown (and a mere three blocks away from Whole Foods!). Once we arrived, the hotel needed a bit more time to get our rooms ready before we could check in, so we all went to Rockit Bar & Grill, right around the corner on W. Hubbard St., and had a nice lunch. Jeff Epstein from the Chicago Portfolio School recommended Rockit to us the last time we visited, and it was just as yummy this time around. Note: the servers were incredibly wonderful to us, considering we laid an unexpected party of 21 on them as soon as they opened.

Now we're all checked in to the hotel, and people have gone their separate ways to explore the city. It's cold here!!!

Our agency visits begin on Monday. This year we'll be making stops at Novus Media (thank you, Karen King!), Draft FCB, Rise Interactive, Starcom, Leo Burnett, and Laughlin Constable.

Finally, today's most efficient flier award goes to Thomas Pulliam. The kid is amazing! He brought all his stuff in just one carry-on rolling bag, and the only thing he carried in his hands was his umbrella.