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.

OTL: Episode #460- A Chicago teacher returns from the Arctic, The Secret History of VCSR’s Music, Visiting the Sugar Beet Co-Op

Mike Stephen talks with:   Urban Prep Academy math and science teacher Alex Kmicikewycz about visiting the Arctic Circle after being named a 2015 Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 1980s synth collective VCSR for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Sugar Beet Co-Op general manager Chris Roland about the new local and sustainable cooperative grocery store in Oak Park.   Meanwhile, we spin a tune from an actual tortilla record.   This week’s local music is provided by Adam Fitz.   Dressed-for-success OTL host Mike Stephen visits the brand new Sugar Beet Co-Op in Oak Park.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #459- Chicago Police shootings, Divvy’s fare increase, The real Six Corners gets some love

Mike Stephen talks with:   Better Government Association senior investigator Andrew Schroedter about his recent “Fatal Shootings By Chicago Police: Tops Among Biggest U.S. Cities” report;   Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield to get “More Deets on the Divvy Funding Situation;” and   Six Corners Association interim executive director Kelli Wefenstette about what her organization is doing to revitalize the historic Milwaukee/Irving/Cicero shopping district.   This week’s local music is provided by Andrew Wallace Lothian — support his Debut Full-Length Album Indiegogo campaign!   OTL host Mike Stephen is noticeably less excited after Divvy announced a rate increase for their bike sharing system.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.