OTL: Episode #450- Developing Chicago’s riverfronts, A new NW Side linear park, The Secret History of Chicago Music: Redwood Landing

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “banks of the Michigan Ditch” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen discusses the future of Chicago’s riverfronts, gets the lowdown on a proposed linear park on the NW Side, and learns about a 70s local band that never made it to the big time: Redwood Landing.   Margaret Frisbie– Executive Director, Friends of the Chicago River The new downtown Chicago Riverwalk opened recently, but there are plans to explore the potential for the rest of Chicagoland’s riverfronts.  We learn about the Great Rivers Chicago Project.     Heather Cherone– Writer and Producer, DNA Info Chicago We get the lowdown on the possibility of a new linear park on the NW side of the city.   The proposed Weber Spur   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles Chicago folk-funk band, Redwood Landing, in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on their musical contribution to the region.       OTL #450 local music provided by Brontosaurus…

OTL: Episode #447- YMTE Podcast, Chicago Wildlife Watch, Inside the Koval Distillery

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “wildlife watch” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen previews a YMTE podcast recording event, learns about cataloging Chicago’s wild animals, and visits the Koval Distillery in Ravenswood to learn about local craft distilling.   Brandon Wetherbee– Host of the You, Me, Them, Everybody podcast We preview the YMTE podcast recording at Saki in Logan Square coming up on May 21st and learn about the Brightest Young Things Chicago site that’s starting up soon.     Dr. Seth Magle– Urban Wildlife Institute director, Lincoln Park Zoo Dr. Laura Whyte– Citizen Science director, Adler Planetarium The Chicago Wildlife Watch aims to find out what wild animals live in and around Chicago by utilizing a network of cameras.  We get the lowdown and this ambitious and very cool project from two of the scientists involved.       Robert Birnecker and Sonat Birnecker– Founders and owners of Koval Distillery We go inside this organic distillery in Ravenswood to learn about its history and how it revitalized craft distilling in Chicago.    Sonat and Robert inside the Koval Distillery   OTL #447 local music provided by Blind Moon…

OTL: Episode #437- Union influence on IL politics, The attack of the Emerald Ash Borer, Previewing the Hideout Harmonica Hoedown

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “rockin’-the-harp” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen looks at union influence on local politics, discusses the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer on our trees, and gets a preview of the 4th annual Hideout Harmonica Hoedown.   Diana Rickert–  VP of Communications for the Illinois Policy Institute We examine the role of unions in the Illinois political process.  The Institute just released a report entitled The Anatomy of Influence: Government Unions in Illinois.       Mark Cinnamon– State Plant Regulatory Official Have you noticed trees disappearing from Chicago streets?  We examine why the infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer is a serious wreaking havoc with our local greenery.     Bob Kessler– Harmonica “colorist” and founder/curator of the Hideout Harmonica Hoedown We get a preview of the 4th annual hoedown, the premiere celebration of the harmonica, taking place Sunday, March 8th at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia).  Bob and Mike share a jam sesh on the 50,000-watt blowtorch too!   Bob Kessler and Mike Stephen have a harp jam in the WGN Radio studios.   OTL #437 local music provided by Bob Kessler…

OTL: Episode #412- Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition, Losers web series, Crowdsourcing meals for a month finale

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 “green coalition” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen learns about the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition, previews the “Losers” web series, and gets an update from a local who crowdsourced every meal in August.   Eloise Karlatiris– President and CEO of the Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition We learn about this organization that helps Chicago restaurants reduce their environmental footprint.       Fred Pelzer– Creator of the web series Losers This new locally-produced web series deals with those times in our lives when we just don’t make it.  A new episode is released every Wednesday, so check it out!         Kurt Vanderah– Resident of NW Indiana who crowdsourced his meals for August Kurt hasn’t been eating well for a few decades.  He decided enough is enough and he turned to us to help him eat healthier in August.  We find out how it went.         OTL #412 local music provided by The Kuhls…