OTL: Episode #445- Living on a Chicago houseboat, Taking art to the streets with Opera-Matic, The Secret History of Chicago Music: Churchill Moor

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “houseboat” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen visits a couple who is living on a Chicago houseboat, learns about Opera-Matic’s mission to bring art into the community, and gets the story of 60s rockers from Des Plaines: Churchill Moor.   Colette Gabriel and Kevin Wright–  Residents of Cygnet, a houseboat docked at River City Marina We visit a Chicago couple who decided to live on a houseboat in Chicago…even through the winter.   Colette Gabriel and Kevin Wright standing outside their home   Mark Messing– Executive Director, Opera-Matic On June 6th the much-anticipated Bloomingdale Trail opens in Chicago.  We find out what participatory public art projects Opera-Matic has planned for this event.   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 60s rockers from Des Plaines, Churchill Moor, in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on their musical contribution to Chicago.         OTL #445 local music provided by Werewheels…

OTL: Episode #442- The Glass Slipper Project, RHINO Poetry, The Secret History of Chicago Music: Meade “Lux” Lewis

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “glass slipper” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen learns how The Glass Slipper Project helps thousands of girls attend their proms in style, discuses the local poetry scene with an editor of RHINO, and gets the story of Chicago Bluesman Meade “Lux” Lewis.   Amy Ross–  Board President of the Glass Slipper Project Prom season is upon us.  We learn about this organization that helps deliver prom dresses to deserving high school girls in Chicagoland.       Ralph Hamilton– Editor of RHINO We get the lowdown on one of the most prestigious poetry journals around and it’s based in Chicagoland.   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 20th century Blues musician Meade “Lux” Lewis in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on his musical contribution to Chicago.       OTL #442 local music provided by Unplugged and Reborn…

OTL: Episode #440- Abolishing the Red Light Cameras, The latest from The Parking Ticket Geek, The story of local Bluesman Big Moose Walker

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “Big Moose” radio station WGN-AM 720) New daddy Mike Stephen learns about the movement to abolish the red light cameras in Chicago, discusses transportation issues with the Parking Ticket Geek, and gets the story of local Bluesman Big Moose Walker.   Don Bransford–  Committee member of Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras The red light cameras are a pain for Chicago drivers.  We learn why a group of Chicagoans is working to get all of them removed from city streets.       The Parking Ticket Geek– OTL’s Official Parking Correspondent and Blogger at The Expired Meter We get an update on some important local transportation topics from the one and only Parking Ticket Geek.   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 20th century Blues musician Big Moose Walker in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on his musical contribution to Chicago.         OTL #440 local music provided by Archie Powell and The Exports…

OTL: Episode #438- Another look at unions and IL politics, Story Week Festival of Writers, The Secret History of Chicago Music: Baby Doo Caston

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “baby-doo” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen takes another look at unions and their influence on IL politics, previews Story Week Festival of Writers, and gets the lowdown on Chicago musician Baby Doo Caston.   Frank Manzo–  Policy Director, Illinois Economic Policy Institute We heard a lot of listener feedback on the topic of influence of unions on IL politics.  This week we get another perspective on this issue.       Eric May– Author and artistic director of Story Week Festival of Writers Columbia College presents this annual festival that celebrates the written word and the art of storytelling.  We get a preview of this event that runs from March 15-21.  Eric May discusses the upcoming Story Week Festival of Writers with Mike Stephen     The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles 20th century Blues musician Baby Doo Caston in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on his musical contribution to Chicago.       OTL #438 local music provided by Molehill…