OTL: Episode #467- Taste Talks Chicago, The unsung heroes of local craft beer, Pop-up retail in Chicago’s public spaces

Mike Stephen talks with:   Taste Talks festival director Will Levitt about the future of food and the future of taste in the Chicago food scene;   Working For Beer creator Matt Tanaka about the stories of the men and women who make the local craft beer industry what it is; and   Activate! founder and Latent Design owner Katherine Darnstadt about the movement to create pop-up retail spaces across the city.   Meanwhile, we announce that OTL no longer crashes the WGN Radio app!   This week’s local music is provided by Clip Art.   Sniffly OTL host Mike Stephen doesn’t mess around with mere pocket tissue packs.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #455- Why Chicago won’t go bankrupt, Urban Sketchers Chicago, Fighting residential parking permits

Mike Stephen talks with:   Roosevelt Institute fellow and ReFund America Project director Saqib Bhatti about his In these Times piece “Why Chicago Won’t Go Bankrupt—And Detroit Didn’t Have To;”   Urban Sketchers Chicago co-administrator Wes Douglas for a preview of his organization’s seminar next weekend; and   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about “How To Avoid & Beat Residential Permit Parking Tickets.”   This week’s local music is provided by Armitage.   Outside the Loop host Mike Stephen shows off one of his many City of Chicago parking tickets. [circa September 2013]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #451- Exploring analog photography in Wicker Park, Fighting airport noise pollution, A pet pig lives in Portage Park

Mike Stephen talks with:   Lomography Embassy Store & Emulsion Gallery Chicago owner Piper Robbins;   Fair Allocation in Runways (FAiR) Coalition co-founder Jac Charlier about the ongoing fight against O’Hare noise pollution; and   Linus… the pet pig of Jennifer & Matt Folino in Portage Park!   This week’s local music is provided by Low Spark.   Linus the Pig and OTL host Mike Stephen get real.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.  

OTL: Episode #430- Inside BreakRoom Brewery, The Secret History of Chicago Music, Live music from Go Time!

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “locally-brewed” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen visits a new brewery on Chicago’s north side, learns about Chicago Blues musician Albert Ammons, and welcomes the local band Go Time! into the studio.   Aaron Heineman, Michael Pallen, and Dean Ordzowialy – Owner, Head Brewer, and General Manager (respectively) of BreakRoom Brewery We go inside Chicago’s newest craft brewery at 2925 W. Montrose Ave.  This place a has a unique story…and is literally attached to a bar-making company!  Dean, Mike, and Aaron at Breakroom Brewery   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 20th century Blues musician Albert Ammons in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on his musical contribution to Chicago.       Go Time!– Live in studio! We get a visit from Go Time!  They play a few songs, talk about their new record, and preview their record-release show at Silvie’s Lounge this Saturday, 1/17.    Mike Stephen joins Scott, Marko, Paul, and Steve of Go Time! in the WGN Radio Green Room   OTL #430 local music provided by Go Time!…