On his continuing search for the meaning of life, Steve the Philosopher makes a side trip along the Chicago River and is drawn in by the buzz of activity around a building just West of Congress...

Stepping inside an elevator, he presses a random button and emerges in a vast, softly lit space he guesses is a hotel lobby. “None of these people look like would know the meaning of life,” Steve thinks to himself.

Failing to find a seat at the lounge where he was hoping to fortify himself with his usual coffee and shot of vodka, he moves on with his search.

He saunters along the gallery above the hotel lobby.

He looks down into the lobby, noticing that some of the tables have freed up. “No time for that now,” he thinks, “gotta keep looking.”

“Oh my god,” thinks Steve as he turns a corner to emerge on the other side of the faceted glass wall and sees that it is in fact made for climbing. “I hope that man doesn’t fall and kill himself before he discovers why he’s been put in this world.” But he says nothing and moves on.

“An escalator? I wonder where it goes. Too bad it only runs up. I’ll just take the stairs.”

To his surprise, he discovers the golf driving range. Three people are playing, but fun is not what Steve is there for. Anyway, he doesn’t know the first thing about golf.

“What was that?” thinks Joe, trying to keep the strange intruder from messing up his putt.

Continuing his wanderings, Steve accidentally walks in on a Very Important Meeting. “Excuse me,” he blurts out, backing out of the large conference room.

Somewhat taken aback by his mistake, he takes a ramp up one floor, where he is faced with a broad view of the river. “Too bad I have such an important mission. I wouldn’t mind enjoying this view for a while,” Steve thinks.

The ramp leads him up to what appears to be an expansive office. He sees two men talking intently. “Looks like a big deal going down,” Steve thinks. “But what does this have to do with the meaning of life?”

Turning around, he sees yet another climber on the wall. “I’ve just got to check this out,” thinks Steve. Steve does a lot of thinking. It’s what he’s best at.

Running up a ramp, he approaches the climber, but is soon disappointed. “It’s a strange thing to do, but gets me no closer to the meaning of life. Dang.”

One more floor up, he sees office workers looking at the climbers on the wall. One of them keeps sneaking looks at the rock-climbing gear stashed under her desk, but continues working.

Confused by his experience, Steve continues his search for the meaning of life. Clearly the elderly couple he first saw checking into the hotel a while ago couldn’t possibly know what it might be. “Doesn’t look like I’ll find the meaning of life here,” he thinks, looking for the exit.