OTL: Episode #239- Inefficient IL Townships, YMTE Mid-Week Review, Wal-Mart’s Proposed Lakeview Store

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “mid-week review” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen discusses the inefficiencies of some IL townships, previews a fun panel he’ll be a part of tonight, and learns about the possibility of Wal-Mart moving into the Lakeview East neighborhood.   Emily Miller– Policy and Government Affairs Coordinator for the Better Government Association The BGA took up the issue of inefficient townships recently as well as attacks on the Freedom of Information Act.  Emily joins us with the latest. Brandon Wetherbee– Host of the You, Me, Them, Everybody Podcast Tonight at 8:00 p.m. at Cole’s Bar (2338 N. Milwaukee) Brandon hosts a special YMTE Mid-Week in Review show.  OTL host Mike Stephen is one of the panelists so come on out for a discussion of local current events that’s way better than the McLaughlin Group! Maureen Martino— Executive Director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce Wal-Mart has proposed moving into the Lakeview East neighborhood (on Broadway and Surf).  Maureen gives us her reaction to this proposal. OTL #239 local music provided by Keith Scott…

OTL: Episode #237- The Roundtable Show: Making Chicago a Creative Hub

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the Creativity and Business class at IIT) (broadcasting on the “roundtable” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen hosts another in a series of occasional discussions, taking place in the community and covering different local topics/themes.  The topic of this roundtable is how to make Chicago a creative hub. Mike welcomes: Nik Rokop— Director of the IIT Knapp Entrepreneurship Center Erika Pfleger—  Asst. Director of the Institute for Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago Law School John Bosher— Producer, Beverly Ridge Pictures L to R: John Bosher, Erika Pfleger, and Nik Rokop The Roundtable is portable!  If you have an idea where we should record the next one or what we should talk about, let the OTL Staff know! ALSO, e-mail Creativity and Business instructor Tom Tresser what you think Chicago needs to be a creativity hub.  His class will compile the submissions and give them to Mayor-Elect Rahm Emanuel! OTL #237 local music provided by Jackson Bailey…

OTL: Episode #235- Organic School Project, Lakeview Area Master Plan, Local Improv with Tibia Ballerina

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “organic” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about the Organic School Project, gets the lowdown on the Lakeview Area Master Plan, and talks to the director of a new local Improv show featuring real stories from Chicagoans. Greg Christian— Founder and Executive Director of the Organic School Project The OSP works to educate children how to grow food and why eating right is important in their lives.  We get the story on the organization this week. Harvest Time at Lowell Elementary in Chicago Heather Way— Executive Director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce The residents and businesses of Lakeview provided their input to create a new master plan for that neighborhood’s future.  What is that future?  Tune in to find out! Adam Higgins— Director of Tibia Ballerina at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater We get the lowdown on this new local Improv show featuring Chicagoans’ real stories as Improv inspiration. OTL #235 local music provided by The Ultrasounds…

OTL: Episode #234- IL Beer Distribution, Green Chicago River, Center Square Journal Turns 1

Happy St. Paddy’s Day! TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “beer-distributed” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about the movement to change the IL beer distribution laws, plays a clip from his chat with the crew leader of Green Chicago River, and gets an update from the year-old CenterSquareJournal.com. Ryan Hermes— Co-Founder of GuysDrinkingBeer.com We explore how beer distribution in IL works and why some craft brewers are advocating for a change. OTL Rewind— Mike Butler, Head of the Green Chicago River Crew With this being St. Patrick’s Day we thought it’d be cool to dig into the OTL audio archives to hear a clip from OTL #25 that includes learning about the history of turning the Chicago River green. Mike Fourcher— Founder/Publisher of CenterSquareJournal.com This great local news site that serves the neighborhoods of Northcenter, Lincoln Square, and Ravenswood Manor turns 1 this week.  We hear what Mike has learned over the past year and where the site is headed in the future. OTL #234 local music provided by The Shams…