New Years REVOLUTION

It's the first full week of 2008 and I'm sure many of us have already given into our cravings to eat junk food, sleep in and skip the workout, or wait another day to quit that bad habit. Of course, if you're a trying-to-quit smoker, Chicago's new smoking ban will help you out a bit by keeping you from lighting up in public places.

Since I am not a big fan of New Years Resolutions (who really keeps them anyway?), I'd instead like to talk about something else - Chicago's New Years Revolutions - not the things we resolve to do in our lives, but the changes that we'll witness over the course of the next year.

1. Green home ownership on the rise. As oil prices spike (last week it actually hit $100/barrel), even those less-concerned with the environment will begin to adopt more environmentally-friendly concepts for their homes such as energy-saving light bulbs. If anything, it will at least save some "green" on the utility bills as gasoline costs cut into the budget.

2. Increased celebrity sightings. With the increase in paparazzi trailing celebs and the explosion of TMZ TV and such over the last couple years, those who aren't currently working on a Hollywood project are likely to want to find a summer getaway. Chicago is a relatively undiscovered hub for shopping, attractions, fine dining, business, and night life. The only thing we are lacking in the Windy City are the exorbitant housing costs of Manhattan and the environmental disasters of Cali. And we have the Lake - how many of them do you really think are swimming in the Pacific Ocean? We've got sand and we've got sun; isn't that all they really need? Not to mention that just last year there were at least 2 major motion pictures shot in Chicago.

3. Southward movement. The South Loop is growing at an unbelievable rate considering the serious market constraints other parts of the U.S. are experiencing. Driving down Roosevelt Rd. you'll see more than 15 cranes putting up new buildings all in one 360 degree view through your car windows. And you thought developers were having problems? That wouldn't explain why Donald Trump is currently putting up a 92 story Trump International Hotel & Tower right downtown. Its close proximity to the lake, museums, Soldier Field, Columbia College, School of the Art Institute, Grant Park, McCormick Building, the Loop, 3 CTA trains, and major highways promises a thriving South Loop economy.

I wish everyone the best in keeping their New Year's resolutions. However, if all else fails, at least you still know you live in the best city in the world!