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 #448- Hit Like a Girl drum contest, Chicago is taco heaven, The Secret History of Chicago Music: The Hounds

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “taco heaven” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen gets the story of one awesome local female drummer, discusses how Chicago is the best taco city in America, and learns about a 70s band from the south side: The Hounds.   Kaylee Preston– Local drummer and finalist in the Hit Like a Girl Contest We visit Kaylee in her practice space to get the story of how she was a finalist in a unique international drum contest.   Kaylee Preston on the drums.  Photo by Alen Kahn.   Jason Mathews– Writer, Playboy.com Recently Jason penned the article, The Windy City’s Top Taco Joints.  We catch up with Jason at a local taqueria to get his take on tacos in Chicago.    Jason Mathews after a taco dinner.   The Secret History of Chicago Music– Local music historian and artist Plastic Crimewave (aka: Steve Krakow) profiles Chicago rockers, The Hounds, in this week’s Chicago Reader.  He gives us the lowdown on their musical contribution to the region.       OTL #448 local music provided by Rabble Rabble…

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…