OTL: #584-Inside Make! Chicago, The Parking Ticket Geek Returns, The Secret History of Jimmy Davis

Mike Stephen conversationalizes with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about TBD for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music;    Joseph Buka, founder of MAKE! Chicago; and,   The Parking Ticket Geek.   Let us know about your favorite cozy winter neighborhood bars/taverns here!   This week’s local music is provided by The Evening Attraction.  Mike attempts to find his inner craftsman at MAKE! Chicago.  To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

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 #526- Film crew parking, Funding charter schools, The Secret History of The Imports

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago’s 2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins about media production companies paying for lost parking and extending The 606 past the Kennedy and the river;   33rd Ward Working Families spokesman Nick Burt about his organization’s successful referendum against charter schools in the election; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about moody Hyde Park band The Imports for this week’s “The Fall of Punk” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, let’s take action. Now is the time to get your skin in the game.   This week’s local music is provided by The Claudettes.   OTL host Mike Stephen re-familiarizes himself with the microphone before broadcasting from a seventh floor radio studio in the Tribune Tower.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #523- Chicago’s Equality Index score, Local parking and transit roundup, A new fun kids book inspired by the CTA

Mike Stephen talks with:   Human Rights Campaign legislative counsel Xavier Persad about how Chicago ranks in the fifth annual Municipal Equality Index, a nationwide rating system of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law and policy;   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about Wrigleyville parking restrictions, raising parking meter rates around Wrigley Field, and the closing of all the Chicago vehicle emissions test facilities; and   local author Patrick McBriarty about City Railways Go Above and Below, his latest children’s book about riding public transportation.   Meanwhile, we learn how long you should #FlyTheW flag after a Cubs win!   This week’s local music is provided by riverhorse.   Local author Patrick McBriarty stops by the WGN Radio studios to talk with OTL host Mike Stephen about his new children’s book City Railways Go Above and Below.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.