OTL: Episode #469- U of C’s impact on the neighborhood, Chicago International Map Fest preview, An education at Hot Dog University

Mike Stephen talks with:   South Side Weekly contributor/photographer Juliet Eldred about her “Outside That System and Hence Unspeakable” project that looks at the relationship between the University of Chicago and the Hyde Park neighborhood;   Chicago International Map Fair founder Sammy Berk about the upcoming (Oct 23-25) festivities at the Loyola University Museum of Art; and   Hot Dog University PHD (Professor of Hot Dogs!) Mark Reitman about how you can learn to run your own hot dog cart or stand.   Meanwhile, we congratulate the Chicago Transit Authority for winning a national award for its courtesy campaign!   This week’s local music is provided by Cannonball.   OTL host Mike Stephen is excited to bite into his post-show hot dog. This week’s comes from Mickey’s in Oak Park.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #466- Cabrini-Green rowhouses have a future, Breaking down Chicago’s segregated barriers, The Secret History of 60s local horn rockers The Mob

Mike Stephen talks with:   LAF (Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago) supervisory attorney Elizabeth Rosenthal about the recent Cabrini-Green rowhouse settlement;   My Block, My Hood, My City founder Jahmal Cole about working with underserved youth to break down barriers and explore the character of the city; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about horn rock pioneers The Mob for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Graham Byrne.   OTL host Mike Stephen critiques his on-air performance during the 630am newsbreak.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #462- Getting to the bottom of the Ventra story, Scarlet Architect’s Secret History of Chicago Music, A LEGO artist builds Chicago

Mike Stephen talks with:   Culture Bore freelance journalist Jason Prechtel about his FOIA lawsuit against the CTA to find out how and why we have the Ventra fare system;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about early-’80s all-synth techno-pop band Scarlet Architect for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   IIT College of Architecture student Rocco Buttliere about his to-scale LEGO model of downtown Chicago.   Meanwhile, we have some fun with Chicago Architecture Info’s “A Field Guide To Chicago NIMBYs.”   This week’s local music is provided by Local Motive.   OTL host Mike Stephen realizes a life-long dream by visiting Rocco Buttliere’s to-scale LEGO model of downtown Chicago.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #461- The new Cabrini Green documentary, Mick Dumke on Chicago politics, Making food carts legal in the city

Mike Stephen talks with:   Filmmaker Ronit Bezalel about her 20-years-in-the-making documentary 70 Acres in Chicago: Cabrini Green;   Chicago Reader senior writer Mick Dumke about his new job at the Chicago Sun-Times, House Speaker Michael Madigan’s not-so-public schedule, and Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto of a marijuana decriminalization law; and   Illinois Policy Institute managing editor Hilary Gowins about her Crain’s Chicago Business op-ed on legalizing Chicago food carts (see also NoCronies.com).   This week’s local music is provided by Mystery Crash.   OTL host Mike Stephen reflects on the fantastic question he just asked a guest.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.