OTL: Episode #535- Camera violation review notices, The Sanctuary Restaurant Movement, Plastic in Lake Michigan

Mike Stephen talks with:   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about how Chicagoans can challenge some old red light camera violations;   Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) Chicago co-director Felipe Tendick-Matesanz about local efforts to protect minority workers by establishing sanctuary restaurants; and   Rochester Institute of Technology mathematical sciences assistant professor Matt Hoffman about his study on the massive amounts of plastic debris in the Great Lakes.   Meanwhile, OTL celebrates the MANuary Beard Season!   This week’s local music is provided by Railway Gamblers.   Outside the Loop celebrates the 2017 MANuary Beard Season! [l-r] OTL host Mike Stephen, OTL producer Andy Hermann   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #534- Will tougher sentencing reduce violence?, Writers Resist preview, The Secret History of Barrelhouse Chuck

Mike Stephen talks with:   UIC Criminology, Law and Justice professor John Hagedorn about whether or not tougher sentencing can stop Chicago’s violent crime epidemic;   Chicago#WritersResist co-event manager Brian Kornell  resisting intolerance within the local literary community; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about recently deceased pianist Barrelhouse Chuck for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we the “camera violation review notice” Mike received in the mail this week. Apparently it’s part of the city’s last-ditch effort to wriggle free of refunding improperly-issued red light camera violations.   This week’s local music is provided by Steve Dawson.   OTL host Mike Stephen gets dinged for quite obviously running a red light camera in 2010. The City of Chicago reminded him of his infraction again in 2017.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #530- High School Bound, The Secret History of 6 Feet Under, The Fooditor 99

Mike Stephen talks with:   UChicago Impact co-CEO Elliot Ransom about how students and parents can take a look at every Chicago public high school via their new High School Bound website;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about influential proto-hardcore band 6 Feet Under for this week’s “The Fall of Punk” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Fooditor editor Michael Gebert about a brand new food guide that profiles everyday restaurants — The Fooditor 99: Where To Eat (And What To Eat There) In Chicago.   Meanwhile, we discuss how Chicago food trucks lost a 4-year court battle against the city and the industry’s reaction to the ruling.   This week’s local music is provided by The Way Down Wanderers.   The Secret History of Chicago Music mastermind Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) and OTL host Mike Stephen strike the most badass of badass poses on Western Avenue.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #528- Arts in the classroom, Feral cats help with rat control, The Secret History of Silver Abuse

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) executive director Amy Rasmussen about bringing art to public school classrooms and making a positive impact on the lives in students;   Tree House Humane Society Cats at Work program manager Paul Nickerson about about how feral cats can help control the local rat population; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about protopunk weirdos Silver Abuse for this week’s “The Fall of Punk” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss throwing your trash in the garbage bins — whether they’re “your” bins or not. Just don’t contaminate our recycling!   This week’s local music is provided by The Artist Formerly Known as Vince.   OTL host Mike Stephen practices good recycling habits in Chicago.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.